Paige and the Lost Library of Atlantis

Paige and the Lost Library of Atlantis Chapter 26

Chapter 26

They stood on the front steps of the hideout, the four of them looking like heroes ready for battle. At least that's how Paige would write it. In truth, she assumed they looked like a haggard bunch of runaways, making a last-ditch effort to try and save the day.

At least they were trying. Paige wasn't sure it would be enough. But giving up was not an option. They had come too far to throw in the towel now. She couldn't believe she had ever not remembered the truth about who she was. It was like waking up from a dream and into a nightmare. But it wasn't all bad. She had Billie, and she had herself back. She was going to try her best to keep those things close to her and save existence.

Paige stood between Billie and The Curator. Billie grabbed Marcus's hand as he touched the tablet and proceeded to lift the wards that kept them all safe. At the base of the steps now stood the town.

Paige gripped Billie's other hand, and reached out towards The Curator. She patted Paige on the shoulder, and clasped her hands in front of herself demurely.

Paige snickered at that, in the face of imminent danger, The Curator was still unapologetically herself. If only she had brought Fig Cookies.

They stood, almost hand in hand, ready, well, ready as they'd ever been, to face The Erasers. As the warding lifted, the fake library hiding the hideout disappeared. Those still running for cover in the town gasped at the sight.

Paige saw George, the talking tree, out in front of them. He turned to see what all the commotion was about. Seeing the girls ready for battle, he stood a little straighter. His tree mouth set in a grim line, determination in his time-worn eyes.

"What about all the people still left in town, shouldn't we evacuate them or something?" Billie asked, worry seeping through her voice.

Marcus bowed his head a bit. "There isn't time, I'm afraid."

Placing his tablet in a pouch on his hip, he made the sign of an infinity symbol across his chest, The Curator following his motions.

The wind around them picked up, seemingly out of nowhere. The air turned electric, as if a coming storm eminently threatened to break loose. A very familiar chanting sound reverberated off the nearby buildings, sending eerie chills down Paige's spine. She held tighter to Billie's hand and did her best to steel herself for what was to come.

Shadowy monk-like figures filled the space in front of them, standing in a formation, not unlike that of our ragged heroes.

Their chanting suddenly came to a stop, the silence cutting through Paige's bravery. They began to speak, eerily in unison, although they didn't seem to have mouths, or even faces.

"You are all in violation of the treaty. This entire word is a violation. A destructive safe harbor for those that threaten the balance of the light and the darkness. We shall erase you all."

The Eraser in the middle, who was slightly taller than the rest of them, stepped forward, an inky shadow raising where his hand should be.

"Wait!" Paige broke from their formation and ran as close to The head Eraser as she dared.

She bravely looked into the beings non-eyes and spoke. "Your very creation upset the balance of the universe. That is why you are never satisfied. That is why the light and dark are never in balance. It's because of you. You spread darkness as you try to protect the balance between the two."

The Erasers seemed to consider this. They seemed to be turning to each other and discussing the idea among themselves. One by one, The erasers started to disappear.