The Fall

She woke at the first violent shudder, still half-wrapped in the silver gossamer of dreams. The air was heavy and still, the humidity closing in on the city with quiet menace. Startled shouts and fears flew about just beyond her parents' home and she crossed to the window with hesitant steps. Hands quivering, she pushed at the wooden shutters and peered out into the haze-filled night.

The streets below stirred warily, servants stepping out of the stately villas, knowing caution written on their lined faces. Dark clouds tinged with green hung heavy in the sky, throwing a veil over the island metropolis. Kaia felt the heaviness of fate settle over her heart just as the sea beyond the ridges retreated in ominous agitation. The world shuddered in dark anticipation and Poseidon's Bells rang a throaty warning.

Screams tore from frightened throats as the waves swelled and began a thunderous gallop toward the shore. Kaia's breath hitched and she scrambled back from the window, turning to yell for her mother.

The ground undulated and tossed the buildings from its back, throwing stone and mortar about in black delight. The rafters above her head creaked and groaned, fighting against the buckling earth. Kaia ran through the halls, sleeping gown tangling with legs not quite grown, as she called to her family. But the villa echoed hollowly and she burst out into the night, now lit with flame.

Her eyes widened at the towering ocean, unwilling to believe in Poseidon's fury. Fleeing masses pushed at Kaia and she felt swept up, pushed to the hill at the center of the mighty white city. But as the water built itself to touch the clouds, Kaia feared even their great island could fall before the gods' wrath.

Death knells followed them as the sea swept over the city's ridges and through its noble streets. Ever it chased them, those frightened and fleeing souls, as they raced over bridges and hills. They reached the pinnacle of the island, panting and pleading with the sea god, lips pressed in supplication against his cold, marble form. But the colossus in the temple's depths stood silent, condemning. His prized people had acted with hubris, challenging the power and divinity of the Pantheon. Their sins could not be erased; their lives were forfeit.

Kaia turned in those final moments, arms wide in welcome as Poseidon stretched out his watery hands and wrapped them about the temple's columns. She had not known the insult to Olympus's pride but she would offer herself freely as toll. Closing her eyes in joyless acceptance, she stepped into the swirling current and tumbled freely to the depths of the Ocean black.

The angry tide ate up the last vestiges of its meal made of civilization before settling back in quiet repose. As the skies cleared and the full light of the moon searched for the Ancient City, only the ocean remained, jealously guarding its prize of earth and stone. The sea stood still, content for the first and only time in its tempestuous life. It had risen to wipe away everything in its path and lay content with its stomach full. Nothing of the ringed island could be seen; it had sunk beneath the waves.

Atlantis was no more.