Atlantis

Chapter 2

Hera could not sleep a wink that night. All she could think about was Vik. The Surface. What could possibly be beyond the dock?
"Hera." An annoyed Cyrus said. "I know you're still awake."
Hera rolled over on her bed so she wouldn't have to look at him.
"Is there something on your mind?" He questioned, concern suddenly palpable in his voice.
"No...not anything bad, anyway." Hera finally responded.
Cyrus swam over to Hera and sat on the edge of her bed.
"It's not...about your parents...is it?"
Hera paused. Now that he'd gone and mentioned them, she started to think about them.
"It wasn't, until you brought it up."
Cyrus sighed and turned to leave.
"I'm sorry. But if you need to talk about anything, I'll be listening."
"Yeah." Hera said. "Thanks, Cy."
He nodded, and left the room, gently closing the door behind him.
Hera sighed and shut her eyes. Now her parents had made their way into her thoughts.
She tried to recall the story as best she could, and her eyes grew heavy.
*****
"Oh, come on, love! The Surface can't be that scary...there's nothing up there!" Gina exclaimed, and dragged her husband up.
Their jaws dropped as they gained sight on the rare beauty that is the moon. It glistened on the calm waters and lay still in the dark sky. They watched as the clouds rolled past, and one by one, stars twinkled up above.
"Isn't it beautiful, Ray?" She asked her husband, and leaned on his shoulder. He only nodded, still mesmerized by his surroundings.
Gina turned her head and noticed something in the distance.
"Oi! What's that?" She asked herself, and investigated, leaving Ray behind.
It was a sight she's never laid eyes upon before.
A human.
"H-hello, there! I'm Gina!" She shouted, and the figure slowly walked over to the shore.
It was a baby human of some sort, with gorgeous tan skin.
"What's your name little one?" She asked, and extended her hand towards it.
"V..." He said. "V...Vi...Vik...ram." He stuttered.
Gina giggled and Ray finally made it by her side.
"This is Vikram, honey." She said. "Isn't he adorable?!"
Ray cringed.
"I suppose. And it's human. Can you please put it back?"
"It? It's a 'he'. And where did it come from? The poor thing appears to be alone."
"I don't know, love, but we should probably make our way home. He can be somebody else's problem."
Gina sighed and put Vikram back down on the sand. He frowned as she turned to leave.
"Don't worry, little one. I'll be back."
And she did come back. Every single day. Until one day, she just...didn't.
Vikram waited for her, at the same spot, but his mermaid friend was nowhere to be found.
He peered over the edge of the dock.
"Gina?" He called. No answer.
And suddenly, without warning, Vik was thrown off he edge into the water. He was only a baby, he couldn't swim.
Just as he started to sink, he was retrieved.
"Gina!" He exclaimed, and hugged her.
"Yes, it is me, Vikky. Now hold on tight, love."
And he did just that. Gina leaped over the waters and over to a ship.
"Do you see that, Vik?" Asked Gina, and pointed to it.
Vik also pointed to it.
"B...boat." He said.
"Yes! A very big boat. And it's hurting my people, Vik."
"Boat...hurt Gina?"
She giggled, and clutched him harder.
"Yes. Boat hurt Gina."
Gina looked at Vik, and looked at the ship.
"Hold on, baby."
With one mighty swing of her mermaid tail, Gina sent a ginormous wave crashing over the ship.
It turned, and almost immediately, a net rained down from the bow, and wrapped itself around Gina and Vik.
Gina sighed. She'd failed.
"Gina sad?" Asked Vik.
A tear cascaded down her cheek.
"Yes." She choked. "Gina very sad."
Vik started to whimper at the sight of his friend crying, and suddenly, they stopped moving all together.
"We've finally got one, lads!" A raspy voice exclaimed.
"Oi! The captain will be so pleased with us!"
"Rejoice, lads! We'll get so much money for this!"
Vik looked around and suddenly couldn't see Gina anywhere.
He started to cry.
"G...Gina. Where Gina?"
"Don't worry, kid! Gina is gonna be just fine."
And almost on cue, Vik heard a terrible scream.

So every day, Vik waited for Gina. He hadn't known what had happened. He waited until he grew tired of waiting, and crawled back into the city.

But Gina never came back.
*****
Hera shot upright in her bed. Tears streamed down her face.
Had...she been dreaming? Had that really happened?
She had to find answers! She'd have to see Vik again.
She'd...have to talk to him.
She sped over to the gates of the city, but alas, they were locked.
"Damn!" She exclaimed.

She'd have to wait until morning.