Paige and the Lost Library of Atlantis

Paige and the Lost Library of Atlantis Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Paige found herself walking down a quaint street lined with black lamp posts straight out of Narnia. The shops that lined the street lit up and came to life as they approached. They walked up to a coffee shop called 'The Buzz.' It was dark and empty until they got close to the entrance. It then filled with workers and customers, people sipping coffee, reading books, and people writing on laptops. There was even a couple making out on an old, comfy-looking red couch. But as they passed the shop, it went dark again.

"Ok, what was that" Paige asked. "That is super freaky. Where did all those people just go?"

Billie turned around and walked backward, answering her question.

"Think of it as a computer simulation. There aren't enough people in this town to staff every possible shop and business. So your desire shapes what you see in each shop. You may see a hip coffee shop circa Seattle mid-2000s, and I might see Parisian coffee shop complete with french pastries and espresso. But we can still both hang at the same coffee shop. Get it?"

"Um...I guess so. So the town sort of gets tailored to each person?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Billie replied.

The Curator let out a frustrated sigh.

"Will you turn around and walk like a normal person? Hurry up, I see the Library up ahead."

Billie turned around and started to walk faster. Paige hurried to catch up with them.

Paige saw a small little library. The building had a statue of a creepy robin in the front yard. As they approached the front door, they heard a whispered 'Hey.'

Looking around, Paige didn't see anyone. She walked towards the door when she again heard the word 'Hey.' Then she heard the voice speak again, louder this time.

"Hey, Hey, you guys. Hi. I'm George. Nice to meet you. No one comes down here to see me anymore. It's nice to talk to someone else besides that creepy fake robin over there".

Now, Paige had seen a lot of unbelievable things in the last few...days...weeks? She wasn't even sure how long this 'fantasy story' had been going on.

Anyway, looking to her right, she saw a tree. The tree was talking. It had large, surprised-looking eyes, nestled between its trunk and branches, mouth full and smiling in the cracked trunk. As he...she...she didn't know if trees had genders... it spoke, it's arms or branches were flailing about.

The tree spoke to them very animatedly.

"You have to answer a riddle to get past the tree, that's why no one comes down to see me. Answer my rhyme, and I'll let you in. Lose, and you'll have to come back tomorrow, now my friends let's begin."

Growing impatient, Paige answered the tree.

"Ok, we don't have time for this...uh George. We just need to go into the Library. Excuse us."

The tree started to speak in the third person. Or the third tree.

"Now you have gone and made George mad. When George gets mad, George gets sad. As punishment, you will answer riddles two, answer them, and I'll let you right through."

Billie calmly walked up to the tree.

"Ok, George, we will do as you ask. Please tell us your riddles, and we'll give you the facts."

Paige walked up to Billie. "Why the heck are you rhyming back at it?"

Billie turned back to Paige. "Shhh..we don't want to make it mad, no need to earn a third riddle. This is a Talking Tree, from Earth realm 2, although they are popular in many realms. They like to rhyme, and they like you to do it too. We must be on the right track. Why else would they guard a library with a Talking Tree? Now, let's hear old George out, huh?"

Billie turned back to George. " Ok George, give us the lot, let's hear what you have to say, let's hear what you've got."

George spoke loud and clear, well, as loud and as clear as a tree could speak.

"Stories are made from my death, rings, not gold, within me. I reach up high to the stars, standing strong and steady."

Paige groans softly. "We have a universe to save..."

"Shhh..." Billie says softly. "Dead stories, gold rings, stars," She mumbled to herself.

"Oh, come on, ladies." The Curator scolded. "He is obviously talking about a tree. Is that correct, Mr. Tree, man?

George just stands there, crossing his twiggy arms, looking indignant. Did you know trees can look indignant?

"Oh, for goodness sake, the rhyming thing." The Curator spat out. "Mr George, well, you see, the answer to your riddle is a tree."

Paige looks between The curator and George, growing mildly impatient. She wanted to be angry. She knew she should be furious at this whole situation. The Erasers could begin their reign of terror at any moment, and here they were, chatting with a tree. An indignant tree named George. She should either be furious or laughing hysterically on the ground. She should be. All she felt, though, was a vague annoyance. She wanted to be angry that she couldn't feel, but honestly, she just didn't care at the moment.

Billie looked at Paige nervously. "What do you think, hun?

Confused, Paige spoke up. "What was that, sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

George sighed. "It's ok, It's alright, this place makes it hard to fight, the fogging mind and wondering brain, I'll repeat my second riddle once again."

If you can believe it, George clears his throat. "There once was a happy girl who protected a big, big world. Greed and corruption, it did see, though there were many good things, even trees like me. What was her name? What was she called, who found her voice, who stood strong."

"Stop," Billie shouted. "Stop that right now, you know she doesn't know...".

"It matters not what she knows, her name, I need, her name, the key it bestows. She will..." Paige, interrupting George's rhyme and walked right up to him.

"I know I should be more concerned about this. What are you talking about? What do I not know?"

As she placed her hands on his trunk, a vision slammed into her mind. Paige was standing on a hill, under a tree, a talking tree, just like George. She sat down against the tree. It chatted with her about the birds trying to live in its branches and peck holes in its limbs. Soon their peaceful chat was interrupted by a thunderous crashing sound. Paige looked up as the sky was being ripped apart by blackness. Everything around her was disappearing faster and faster. As the darkness approached her shoes, Paige snapped out of her trance. She looked at Billie, silent questions in her eyes.

"What was that? Are you alright, Paige?" Billie stepped closer and put her hand on Paige's shoulder.

Paige turned to Billie, "What did you say to George?"

Before Billie could answer, Paige's eyes rolled back in her head, and she collapsed to the ground. A defeated Billie sank to her knees and cradled Paige's head in her lap.

She turned to the talking tree and said. "Paige, the answer is Paige."