Paige and the Lost Library of Atlantis

Paige and the Lost Library of Atlantis Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Paige awoke, tangled in a rough white sheet. She reached out for Billie, and panicked when her hand felt nothing but space. She sat up quickly, spotting Billie sitting on the edge of the bed. She had her head in her hands and was breathing out slowly through pursed lips.

Paige put her hand on Billie's shoulder, and she turned around and looked at her sheepishly. Her eyes were shining, and her smile was pained. She knew what a real Billie smile was, and this wasn't it. She looked at Billie with questions in her eyes.

"I dreamt last night." Billie's voice broke. "It was all ocean waves, and my family and I were walking along the beach. I remember, they each held one of my hands and were swinging me along with each step. I was so happy." Billie closed her eyes, and her bottom lip started to quiver.

Paige embraced her. "Sweetie, it sounds like a happy memory. Why is it making you so upset?"

Billie broke out of the embrace and stood up. "Because they are gone. Because I've tried so hard for so long to block those memories out." Billie paced back and forth, her voice growing louder.

"I can't let myself go there. I can't let myself remember. I am not strong enough. My parents are gone, and my world is gone. If I let myself fall apart, I might shatter into a million pieces. If I am going to keep myself going, I can't fall apart. Paige, I can't do this."

Paige stood up and grabbed Billie by the shoulders, stopping her from pacing back and forth.

"Billie, maybe your parents gave you memory wards, to protect you. If so, this place wipes them all away."

"Oh, no-no-no. I can't break down. Not here, not in the middle of saving literally everything." Billie kneeled on the floor, trying to calm herself.

"Billie honey, Listen to me. We're going to get through this together. I am in the same memory situation as you. They said our memories would return in flashes. We are going to take this one breakdown at a time." Paige laughed bitterly.

Billie stood up angrily. "I feel like you're not taking me seriously. How can you laugh about this?"

"Because I'm scared," Paige whispered. "I am terrified of shattering what I know to be true. I can feel this something just at the back of my mind. I am afraid that what's behind the curtain will shatter me. I can't promise you that everything will be ok, because that's not realistic. But I can promise you this: If you fall apart, I will still love every piece of you." Paige leaned in and kissed Billie's forehead.

Billie took a deep breath. "I know you will. I am scared to hun. I don't know what will happen, but I do know if you shatter, I will be there to hold your hand. Maybe we can gather out broken pieces and rebuild ourselves together."

Paige and Billie embraced like they were going off to battle. Like if they held each other tightly enough, they could keep all the pieces together.

Interrupting their embrace was the familiar clack of heels striking the ground. The Curator leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed against her chest.

"Ladies, why is it that I always find you in the midst of some emotional love fest. All the hugging and tears and whatnot. If you are quite done with the drama, I believe we have an all of existence to save. Come now, we mustn't dawdle." With that, she spun on her heel and strode off down the hallway, her shoes click-clacking as she went.

"I suppose we should follow her," Billie said.

"Yeah, or she'll be back, and all in a tizzy." Paige laughed.

The girls broke apart, the tension erased with laughter. Paige looked across the stark white room at the beautiful girl in front of her. She was grateful she had Billie, but fear still filled her mind. She couldn't shake the dread she felt growing in her heart. Love meant pain. Love meant having your soul ripped out of your body. She didn't know exactly what memories were causing this heavy sense of dread. What she did know was that she couldn't stop loving Billie. Even if it meant risking her heart, she loved her. Trying not to love Billie was like trying not to breathe. She would die without the air.

They left the room, following The Curator down the hall. They stopped in front of two paintings of what they knew in their hearts to be their homeworld — gazing upon them, with something like reverence. Billie made the motion of the infinity symbol across her chest. Paige watching her, did the same. It just felt right. They clasped their hands together in solidarity, ready to face whatever lay ahead of them. Ready to face the unknown together.