Atlantis: The Rebirth of the Empire (I)©

Chapter 1: A Dream

Mina

 Do you ever feel like you don't belong here? Just one of the crowd, someone who would just like his life to be different, I mean, like an animated series or an action movie, even like a novel written by a lover of science fiction and unimaginable fantasy worlds. At the moment I feel like that, my world full of problems, school, family and ordinary hobbies that have reached the point where I'm fed up, where I want to go in search of something more...

 I find myself on the beach meditating on my existential problem, watching how the sunset is becoming present, giving me a beautiful range of colours that I would like to capture on a canvas if I knew how to do it, but all that peace of the moment is affected by my dear friend Jordan.

  —Mina. At last I find you. —He says greeting me a few steps away from where I'm sitting. I roll my eyes and slowly turn around.

  —What are you doing here? —I try to tell him as nicely as I can. For most people, it's good to have a friend to support you in times when you feel aimless. Unfortunately, that's not the case for me, especially knowing that this is Jordan, the guy who technically forced our friendship, even when I was telling him to fuck off, he was still there, wanting me as his friend, which I never fully understood.

  —Brook is throwing a party and he asked me to give you this. —With careful steps he walks over to where I am, sitting down next to me.

  —Good. —I take the invitation he extends to me and wait for Jordan to stand up and continue the way he came, but that's not what happens. He stays beside me and we both admire the scenery, but I know he can draw this later if he wants to. He's an all-purpose guy.

  —Why do you like coming here? —He asks and I look sideways at him.

  —I like to come here to think. The sea gives me a very satisfying feeling, it's as if I connect with it and it takes away all my problems —I speak with total sincerity and an almost imperceptible smile appears on my face.

  —I only see a huge chance of drowning and the watchman killing us with his eyes. —It's true, they're supposed to close the beach at this hour, but they've always made an exception for me.

  —Time to go, then. At this time of day the beach is usually too dangerous for fear-mongers like you. —His onyx eyes meet mine as we stand shaking the sand out of our clothes. I know he doesn't take my comment personally, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I look bad. We head to his bike, the ride home is quiet and pleasant, as we reach our destination, Jordan and I say our goodbyes.

  —See you later, Mina, can I count on you for tomorrow night? —I take off my helmet and get off carefully, I've always had a problem with motorbikes. Jordan puts away the helmet he gave me and waits for me to answer.

  —Thanks for the ride and I'm really sorry. I'll be working late tomorrow. —I say "sorry" and he grumbles.

  —I hope that's really it and it's not about going to your beloved beach. —I watch as he starts the bike again, Jordan turns around and slowly rides away from my house. Finally he's gone, it's not that I don't love him, I've grown to like him and I can say he's the closest thing I've ever had to a best friend, but it's just a hopeless case of friendship being such opposites, I get home and as usual my dad is drinking on the couch watching TV, what else has he got to do in his fucking life?

  —What's this time to come home, little girl, haven't I told you not to stay so late at night on the beach? —He drags the words out a little, so I watch my movements as I walk, taking short, slow steps.

  —I was with Jordan. Besides, what do you want me here for? To see how you hit mum or to see how they fight?

  —You're not going to talk to me like that. More respect, I'm your father! —I see how he wants to start getting up from his place of comfort, my defences are activated and my body tenses up, he wants to hit me and my room is across the hall from the living room, up the stairs. But of course, my forte has never been to stay quiet in the middle of an argument.