The Lost City

A soft murmur from beyond the window gently roused Leah from her tranquil slumber. Blinking her eyes open, she found herself met with the serene sight of Aiden peacefully asleep beside her. With tender care, Leah delicately closed Aiden's slightly parted lips, casting a loving gaze upon him.

Yet, the faint murmur outside soon escalated into urgent shouts, jolting Aiden awake. Their attention turned to cries emanating from the exterior, prompting them both to swiftly rise. In a shared moment of mutual concern, they exchanged a brief, solemn look before hastily preparing themselves for whatever lay ahead.

As morning tiptoed in, delicate rays filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow. Perplexed, Leah pondered the contrast—though the hour suggested daybreak, the sky bore an unexpected darkness. The night had faded, yet light eluded the horizon.

Peering through the window, the land lay before them, cloaked in mosses and seaweeds. It resembled ancient ruins, evoking memories of sculptures etched in their study notebooks. But time had not been kind; the relentless embrace of saltwater over millennia had eroded and submerged everything, leaving behind a haunting tableau of desolation.

With a hint of hesitation, Aiden stood in front of the door, uncertain of what lay beyond. Sensing his unease, Leah gently placed a reassuring hand on Aiden's shoulder and offered a nod of encouragement.

Drawing strength from her support, Aiden turned the knob and opened the door, intertwining his fingers with Leah's as they stepped outside. The lower base deck appeared deserted, indicating that the source of the unsettling sounds emanated from the upper decks.

His gaze briefly flickered toward the door where the captive man had been confined. A rush of dread coursed through him as he realized the door stood ajar. Aiden distinctly remembered securely shutting it the day before.

Reacting swiftly, he dashed towards the room, with Leah following closely in tow, both fueled by a growing sense of apprehension. As they reached the now-opened room, their fears were confirmed—the space was eerily empty, and the man was nowhere to be found.

As they were checking out the room, a sudden shout from the upper decks grabbed their attention. Without hesitating for even a moment, they sprinted for the stairs. Just a deck above, folks were scrambling and making a ruckus, darting into rooms as if they were trying to vanish. It was eerily quiet as if everyone had disappeared. Aiden and Leah attempted to inquire about what had happened, but the folks they approached couldn't provide an answer. So, they made their way back up the stairs.

On the third floor, people appeared frightened, but there was a strange silence. There were unsettling signs of blood on the floor, and their comrades tried to comfort the distressed passengers. Aiden and Leah hurried to find out what was going on, but it was too late—Jeff spotted them approaching out of the corner of his eye and desperately signaled them to stop.

A guy suddenly showed up from the room on the left, Leah's room. Leah was right there, and this dude came out holding a knife. Aiden quickly tried to grab Leah and pull her away, but before she could step back, it was too late. The guy had her in a chokehold with the knife in her face.

Everything went dead quiet. Aiden put his hands up, kinda giving up, begging the guy to let Leah go. But the guy wouldn't listen to anyone. 

"Wow, you smell like you've had quite a night, huh, hero of the ship," the man remarked as he leaned in to sniff Leah's hair. His unsettling action caused onlookers to stare in horror, while Leah fought to maintain her composure, aware that one wrong move could endanger her life. "Your continued existence poses a threat to my plans," he muttered, casting a suspicious glance at Aiden. "I must remove you," he declared, tightening his grip around Leah's neck, forcing her onto her tiptoes and making it difficult for her to breathe.

"Let her go. You said you need me, so let her go," Aiden interjected, attempting to reason with the man.

However, the man paid no heed to Aiden's plea and simply chuckled. "You've got him under your control," he remarked while casually dragging the knife along Leah's face, causing her to squint tightly. "But I won't end your life just yet; you're too valuable to me." With that, he loosened his grip on Leah's neck, allowing her to finally breathe properly, prompting a sigh of relief from Aiden. Leah took deep, measured breaths to steady herself. "Take it easy... Now, where is that book?" the man inquired, referring to the Vastaus.

Aiden and Leah shared a meaningful gaze as if engaged in an unspoken conversation. A question lingered in their eyes: How did the man have knowledge about the book? This query seemed plausible, given the concept of mind manipulation. With a touch of tension in her voice, Leah inquired, "What connection does this book have with your plan?" 

"Oh, you know precisely what I'm referring to," the man leaned in closer to Leah's ears and spoke softly. Leah, still confined by the man's grip, felt utterly helpless. It was clear to everyone that she held significant value.

"I refuse to tell you," she exclaimed defiantly.

The man forcefully twisted Leah's arm, causing her to scream in agony. "It would be wise not to speak against me. I won't end your life, but I am capable of inflicting wounds that won't easily heal," he whispered threateningly into her ear.

"I'll tell you where the book is," Aiden suddenly interrupted, prompting a disappointed look from Leah. "Please, trust me. I can't bear to lose you," Aiden pleaded, responding to Leah's question about his motives. "Come with me," the man nodded in agreement. 

"However, before proceeding," the man turned towards the other comrades and refugees. "You there, what's your name?" he asked, prompting a series of exchanged glances among the group as they tried to decipher who he was addressing. When no one came forward, the man gestured with his knife towards the woman. "You, with the hijab," he said. The woman happened to be Rukbat. Slowly, she rose and shared her name. "Everyone, move inside the room, except for Rukbat," he ordered. The group swiftly complied, filing into separate rooms. "One comrade in each room... we can't take the risk of assembling powerful men in a single place," the man stated. Once he ensured that everyone was indoors, he called Rukbat and ordered her to lock the doors from the outside.

"You, Aiden, tie her hands." The man said referring to Rukbat. "And don't act smart, I have your sweetheart under my hold." He said tightening his hold on Leah's arm earning a hissing sound from her. 

As Aiden stooped to retrieve the fallen rope near Leah's room, his attention was immediately arrested by a shocking sight within. Spread across the bed and scattered on the floor were numerous bodies, almost a dozen or more, among which lay the chief's lifeless form. The wave of anger surged through Aiden, coursing through his veins, but he felt utterly helpless in the face of this gruesome scene. It appeared that the man had been hastily concealing the bodies before Aiden and Leah could reach the room, a fact that dawned upon him as he took in the tragic sight.

The man's words echoed in his mind, revealing a rationale behind this ghastly tableau. "They interfered with my plans, leaving me no choice." Despite the turmoil brewing within him, Aiden reluctantly grasped the rope, his steps carrying him towards Rukbat. His demeanor conveyed a mix of subdued fury and resignation, as he found himself bound by circumstances, unable to act upon his intense emotions.

"Secure her tightly and confine her in Leah's room," the man instructed, prompting a shared moment of surprise between Aiden, Leah, and Rukbat. Aiden, yielding to the unforeseen command, proceeded to bind Rukbat's hands, leading her with a heavy heart towards Leah's room. His actions were weighed down by a sense of reluctance, despite Rukbat's pleas imploring him not to proceed. Eventually, he locked her inside the room, suppressing his own conflicted emotions to fulfill the given order.

Leah and Aiden suppressed their emotions, swallowing back the tears and the tight knot in their throats. What they yearned for was a fresh, promising start to the day, but instead, they found themselves facing a grim and unsettling morning. The weight of their apprehension hung heavy in the air.

In this tense moment, Aiden guided the man downstairs, heading towards the basement, a place he and Leah had occupied only a short while ago. As they entered, Leah remained under the man's control, her predicament unchanged. Aiden, taking swift action, retrieved a book from the desk and flung it in the man's direction.

"I've given you the book. Release her now," Aiden demanded firmly.

The man's response was sly, his grin filled with mischief. "No, no, that wasn't part of our agreement. You stay here while I take Leah for some essential tasks."

Aiden was faced with a difficult and intense situation. He had the instinct to intervene, to stop the man who seemed disoriented and a potential threat. However, the man's condition made it clear that he was not in control of his actions. Aiden realized that any sudden move on his part could lead to dire consequences for Leah, someone he deeply cared about.

The man, in his delirium, conveyed an unsettling ultimatum - a warning that any interference from Aiden would result in harm to Leah. It was a perilous dilemma for Aiden. He understood that the man had a keen perception of his intentions. The man was acutely aware that Aiden's priority was ensuring Leah's safety, even if it meant putting his own life at risk.

In this critical moment, Aiden found himself at a crossroads. He weighed his options: either to confront the man, risking the safety of Leah, or to let them go, remaining in the dark about what fate awaited her. The man's chilling words reinforced the gravity of the situation, emphasizing that as long as Aiden didn't impede, Leah would remain unharmed.

Aiden, cognizant of the gravity of the situation and having a sense of restraint, opted to postpone his actions, letting the man and Leah depart from his view. It was a choice made with the understanding that an impulsive move could lead to disastrous outcomes. The man, still maintaining his hold on Leah, moved away, leaving Aiden to grapple with the unsettling silence that enveloped the room as it was locked, confining him within darkness.

"Princess, please guide me to the sailor's room," he softly murmured into Leah's ear. Despite her reluctance, Leah accompanied him upstairs. Aiden, feeling powerless, keenly listened to the fading sound of their footsteps. When he was convinced, they were at a distance where they couldn't hear him, he hurriedly attempted to turn the knob and push the door open. Regrettably, all his efforts were in vain—the door remained firmly shut, causing him to slump to the floor in defeat. Leaning his head against the door, tears streamed down his face. He found himself in the very room where he had been with Leah the previous night, a moment that had filled him with happiness. Now, all that remained was the darkness of the room and his solitary presence.

A knock echoed through the sailor's cabin, interrupting their anticipation of reaching land within a day. The head sailor, eager about the sight of the nearing land, anticipated a swift arrival at the port. He motioned to a comrade to open the cabin door, assuming it might be the chief seeking entry.

Unbeknownst to them, a significant incident had occurred on deck number 3, shrouded from the view of both the outer decks and the sailor's cabin. The crew remained unaware that the chief had passed away.

As the unsuspecting comrade turned the knob and swung the door ajar, a gasp escaped from his lips, revealing a shocking scene within. 

"Who's there?" The sailor inquired; his attention piqued by the sudden gasp from his comrade.

"Leah, what's happened?" questioned the comrade, a mix of surprise and concern evident in his voice as he observed Leah standing in the doorway. She was visibly injured, clutching a knife, a sight that instantly put him on edge. Reacting instinctively, he tightened his grip on his gun, preparing for potential self-defense. But within moments, the tension shifted as the knife slipped from Leah's hand, and she broke down in tears.

"Leah, are you okay?" Neo, the caring comrade, asked gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Leah remained silent, appearing emotionally drained, almost devoid of feeling, like a shell of her former self.

The comrade, concerned for her well-being, gently guided her to sit in a chair within the cabin and checked for any additional injuries. Upon finding a few, he promptly instructed one of the cabin staff to assist her. Amidst the commotion, Leah suddenly exclaimed, "Aiden, in the basement, locked."

Perplexed by Leah's statement regarding Aiden being locked in the basement, the comrade felt a sense of confusion. However, understanding that Leah required his help, he acknowledged the importance of addressing her concern. Glancing at a nearby sailor, who nodded in affirmation, he made the decision to leave the cabin and search for Aiden in the basement.

Aiden had a sinking feeling that hours had passed since the man had taken Leah hostage. He had been relentlessly attempting to open the door, but each attempt ended in failure. The darkness outside had deepened, shrouding the lost city in an eerie gloom that made it nearly impossible to discern the time of day. Aiden found solace in sitting against the door, clutching a makeshift rod that he had used in his attempts to open it.

As time crept on, a distant sound of approaching footsteps reached Aiden's ears. In desperation, he began to bang on the door and shouted for it to be opened. His heart leapt with relief as he saw his comrade Neo on the other side, pushing the door open to reveal himself.

Neo couldn't contain his flood of questions, "Why were you all locked in? I went to deck 3, and there, Rukbat was locked, and the chief..." Neo began to speak, but his voice faltered as he couldn't bring himself to complete the sentence.

Aiden, overwhelmed with emotion, pulled Neo into a tight embrace, silently conveying his relief and gratitude. Neo managed to regain his composure and continued, "Leah came to the sailor's cabin, covered in blood!"

Aiden was taken aback by the shocking revelation. He abruptly broke the embrace, ready to rush upstairs to investigate the situation. However, Neo firmly blocked his path. "Answer me," he demanded, a solemn and worried expression on his face.

Aiden immediately grasped the unspoken question in Neo's eyes. He deduced that Neo had likely come across the lifeless body of the chief, leading him to suspect that Leah was responsible for the chief's demise. In response to Neo's silent accusation, Aiden firmly shook his head and uttered a resolute "No."

Within the sailor's cabin, all attention gravitated toward Leah, whose form was marred by injury, and cloaked in bloodstains. Despite numerous inquiries, she maintained an eerie silence, refusing to utter a single word. Meanwhile, an unexpected shift in the atmosphere altered the environment; the once serene skies became veiled in ominous, dark clouds, portending an imminent downpour, visible through the cabin's window. Unfolding before their eyes was the sight of the mythical lost city of Atlantis, ascending from the depths below. The land they beheld was a breathtaking spectacle, as if the very tectonic plates had stirred, compelling the long-lost city to ascend into the heavens.

Amid surprise among the sailors and others present aboard the ship, Leah ended her silence with a mysterious statement: "We have arrived..."