Atlantis

The Fabled Sunken City

615 miles off the west coast of Africa near the Canary Islands, seabirds began to flock overhead as a small rusted boat populated by two men glided swiftly across the waves.

On deck Isaac continuously examined his gear. He was always cautious when plunging into unknown waters and the last thing he wanted was for something to go wrong. Finally satisfied by his thorough search he sat in the shade and once again fixed his eyes on Lord Mortlock’s tattered journal he had expertly retrieved from the 11th century chateau.

He carefully flicked through the old damaged pages, full of illustrations and sketches, anecdotes and descriptions of strange locations, before reading once again his favourite quote: In the fabled city of Atlantis rests the most precious thing to be found: a flawless raw sapphire of the deepest darkest blue, larger around than the reach of a man’s arms.

A hand-drawn map illustration accompanied the quote revealing the North Atlantic Ocean. On the right sat Morocco, Spain and the Canary Islands, on the left one word in faded letters – Atlantis – and below the words 620 miles off the west coast of Africa.

The engine died and Haytham let go of the helm.

“Alright kid this is it…620 miles off the coast,” Haytham said in his unmistakably deep voice and distinctive accent.

Both men gazed down into the water before Isaac slipped into his gear. After putting on the wetsuit he proceeded to don his rubber flippers and breathing apparatus. He tested the small microphone that was contained within the mask allowing Isaac to keep in vital contact with Haytham.

Haytham helped Isaac lift the oxygen tank onto his shoulders and secured the straps.

“Ok kid, you’re set to dive. Good luck, and don’t ...

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...d on the floor beneath him.

Who was this man, Isaac pondered as he began to kneel, dusting the book off and opening it in search for answers.

I await my death here; the Abenaki have grown too powerful, they have slaughtered my people and now come for me. They are searching for the sapphire and my only hope is that if they find what they seek that they will destroy it. Its power is too great even for beings such as them and it will destroy their minds as it did ours. For any who come across this message, do no enter Atlantis as what lies beyond these gates is both a treasure and a poison, a paradise and a hell.

The ground shakes. I cannot get out. Shadows lurk in the dark. I cannot get out… they are coming.

Isaac froze; the book slid from his hands and slammed shut on the ground. The chamber torches died. The room was engulfed by darkness.

The ground shakes