Part 11 to 15
Guy stood frozen in place, paralyzed by shock. He stared blankly at the pile of dust and rubble that had been the building, his mind swirling. This wasn't the first time he had witnessed something like this, but the difference was that this time, someone he loved had been inside.
Angela instinctively tried to rush forward, but Guy, in a hollow voice barely above a whisper, stopped her. "Stop. It's too late."
Tears streamed down Angela's face as she struggled against Guy's grip, her eyes fixed on the ruins in desperation. The ground was still shaking beneath their feet. Just as she managed to break free from Guy's hold and rushed forward, crying out, "Dad!" a voice called from behind her.
"Angela!"
Angela spun around, and what she saw left her stunned. Her father wasn't inside the building-he was right there. For a moment, even Guy's attention was drawn to the scene as he looked over at them.
"Dad!" Angela screamed.
Her father ran toward her, and they embraced tightly.
"Dad, I thought you were inside," Angela sobbed.
"I'm just so glad to see you," her father said, holding her close. I had just stepped out to the market to buy something two minutes ago because I knew you were coming."
Guy, still in shock, lowered his head into his hands. Thoughts raced through his mind: What should I do? What should I feel? Where should I go? He began sobbing uncontrollably.
The tremors gradually subsided and finally stopped.
Angela's father motioned to her and quietly asked, "Who is this?"
"A friend," Angela replied. "I'll explain later. He's in really bad shape-he just saw his girlfriend cheating on him, and then... she was in that building when it collapsed."
Her father's face filled with shock. "No," he said involuntarily, his voice loud and filled with disbelief. "That can't be."
Holding Angela's hand in one of his own, he stepped closer to Guy. "Son, I'm so sorry," he said softly.
To his surprise, Guy leaned into him, wrapping his arms around him and crying even harder.
"All right, son. All right," Angela's father said, patting Guy's back.
Though the man was a stranger to him, hearing him call him "son" in this moment, so far from his own family, gave Guy a sense of comfort he hadn't expected.
Suddenly, Guy pulled away, sniffing and taking a deep breath as he tried to compose himself. He looked at Angela's father and stammered, "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be, son," Angela's father said reassuringly.
"Dad, this is Guy," Angela interjected. "He's my friend."
"Nice to meet you, son," her father said, looking at Guy kindly.
Guy only nodded once, unable to muster the strength to do more.
Suddenly, a second tremor began, this one so intense that it was nearly impossible to stay on their feet. They extended their arms for balance, looking like they were trying to walk a tightrope. At that moment, Angela's motorcycle shook violently and toppled over. Angela tried to lift it, but a large crack started forming right beneath her feet.
"Leave it!" her father shouted.
Angela ignored him and kept trying. "Guy, help me!" she yelled.
Just as Guy moved to assist her, a fissure opened up between them. Realizing the danger, he pulled back and shouted, "Angela, get over here now! The crack is widening!"
Reluctantly, Angela abandoned the motorcycle and leaped across the fissure, landing on Guy and her father's side. Within seconds, the crack deepened into a chasm, and the ground tore apart, creating a massive pit that swallowed the motorcycle as it tumbled violently into the void.
"Angela," Guy said, pulling her into a hug. "That was too dangerous. Please, don't ever do that again."
Angela glanced at Guy and then at her father, finally realizing what she had done. She had nearly lost both of them in her attempt to save the motorcycle.
"Let's get out of here," Angela said, her voice firm.
Leaving the collapsed buildings and the growing destruction behind, the three of them began running toward a safer ground.
- End of chapter 11 -
They ran to a nearby park, found a spot among the trees, and started catching their breath. Angela stretched backward, placing her hands on her hips, while Guy bent forward, resting his hands on his knees, breathing heavily. Angela's father stood with his hands on his hips, looking around.
"So, what now?" Angela asked.
"Look," her father said, "Take a careful look around and listen closely."
Angela observed the scene. She saw collapsed buildings, a brown haze of dust, cracked roads with vehicles struggling to pass, and people running, crying, hugging each other, or carrying children. She focused on the sounds: wailing, shouting, sirens, voices, whispers, radio broadcasts, walkie-talkie chatter, and barking dogs. She realized how much she hadn't noticed in the rush of events.
"And then?" she asked her father, curious.
"I'm staying here," he replied, "to help the people as much as I can."
Angela wasn't thrilled with his answer; staying in one place wasn't her style. She turned to Guy.
"What about you?" she asked uneasily.
"All my things are at the hotel in the city," Guy replied. "If it's still standing, I want to retrieve them and come back here to help you and the others."
Angela placed a hand on his shoulder. "Guy," she said, "if you ever need to talk, you know... I'm here for you."
Guy was beginning to like this understanding woman, but his heart was too overwhelmed with panic and unease for any tender feelings to surface.
"Thank you, Angela," he said. "But I really need to get my things from the hotel."
Angela thought for a moment, then said, "Oh wait, first you should call to make sure the hotel is still there."
"Ah, yes. Who knows what the city center looks like now. You're right; I'll call first," Guy agreed. Then he remembered-his phone was dead.
"Could I borrow your phone?" he asked Angela.
"Of course," she said, pulling her phone out of her pocket, only to realize it was dead too.
Angela's father handed over his phone. "Use mine," he said. "No point in going all that way for nothing."
Guy thanked him, took the phone, and searched for the hotel's number through the maps app. He dialed, but instead of a ringtone, there was only irregular static. He hung up and tried again. Still, no ringtone.
"I think the lines might be down across the city," Guy suggested.
"Or the hotel's no longer standing," Angela added bluntly.
"Look, I don't want to go," Guy said, "but all my belongings are there-clothes, my wallet, my ID, my charger, everything. Right now, I've got nothing."
The words "I've got nothing" unexpectedly brought memories of his family and girlfriend rushing back, and he lowered his head, overcome with sadness.
Angela, a little agitated, said, "You just watched everything I owned get buried underground a few minutes ago, didn't you? Nothing about this is normal, and I don't want anything to happen to you too."
This was a subtle indication that Angela was giving more meaning to Guy than she would to an ordinary person, and both Guy and Angela's father had understood what it meant. Angela's father took this moment to excuse himself. "I'll go check out that wreckage over there," he said, giving them space to talk. Besides, people needed help, and he didn't want to waste any more time.
"Alright, Dad," Angela replied.
"Alright," Guy said after her dad has left. "So, what's the plan?"
"I don't know," Angela admitted, "but I just feel like going into the city after everything that's happened to you won't end well."
Guy pursed his lips, and siad "Good point," unwillingly. "How about this: we check out that electronics store over there, see if we can get some news. Maybe they'll even let us charge our phones."
As they walked toward the store, they took in their surroundings. Buildings taller than two stories had collapsed entirely. The few single-story structures that survived bore heavy cracks, looking barely stable.
At the store, they saw staff moving products from the shelves to another part of the interior.
"Hello," Angela called out.
"Hi," one of the staff replied.
"What's going on? Do you have any news about what's happening? Both of our phones are dead, and we're completely out of the loop."
First, the man took both of their phones to charge and than looked at them with a mix of surprise and unease before beginning to explain.
"Right now," he started, "how should I put this? The world is collapsing."
"What do you mean by 'the world'?" Angela asked. "The city, or...?"
"No," the man replied. "I mean the entire world. Something's happening everywhere. Some places... have already ceased to exist."
"What do you mean, 'ceased to exist'? You mean they've been damaged, right?" Angela pressed.
"Ma'am, just a moment," the man said, stepping toward a display window. "Let me put on the news on one of these TVs. You need to see this for yourself."
- End of part 12 -
After a while, the man returned with a remote control in his hand and turned on a news channel on a large television in the display window. The moment he turned it on, Angela's mouth dropped open in disbelief almost simultaneously.
"We continue broadcasting images of disasters from all around the world," the reporter's anxious voice accompanied the catastrophic scenes on the screen. "And now, we turn our cameras to the United States. The famous San Andreas Fault has ruptured with a magnitude of over 9. Many parts of California have been reduced to rubble due to consecutive powerful earthquakes. Los Angeles, as we speak, is unrecognizable, buildings have collapsed, fires are spreading, and thousands are trapped under the debris."
The anchor paused for a moment, his voice becoming even more serious. "Major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco are among the hardest-hit. The destruction is almost unimaginable. Rescue teams are working tirelessly, but the damage is so widespread that it may take days, possibly even weeks, to reach every area in need. Emergency protocols have been enacted, and military personnel have been deployed to assist with evacuation efforts."
Angela stared at the images of crumbled buildings and chaotic streets on the screen, her eyes wide in shock. Guy, standing beside her, was visibly pale, his mind grappling with the scope of the devastation.
"But this is not just a disaster confined to one part of the world," the anchor continued, his voice tense with urgency. "The Pacific Ocean has experienced a massive earthquake, generating deadly tsunami waves that are now threatening Asia's coastal regions as well as the Pacific Islands."
A large map of the Pacific Ocean appeared on the screen, red alert zones spreading quickly across the ocean, signaling the scale of the crisis.
"Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands are facing enormous threats as well," the anchor added seriously. "Countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu, which are made up of low-lying islands, have already been completely submerged. Coastal cities of Australia are also bracing for impact as massive waves head their way. The world is facing an unprecedented global disaster."
Angela, processing the severity of the situation, wondered if this catastrophe in the Pacific might be even worse than the destruction in California.
The screen shifted again. "Now, we turn our focus to Japan," the anchor said. "Our team had to travel by helicopter to capture footage, as a significant portion of Japan is now submerged under water. Tsunami waves from the Pacific Ocean have flooded the coastline, with cities like Tokyo, Yokohama, and Sendai now completely under water. The remaining areas are being pummeled by ongoing earthquakes."
The camera shifted to show the scenes of Japanese cities, submerged under water, while helicopters flew overhead rescuing survivors from the wreckage. People were desperately climbing rooftops and trying to escape as the ocean continued to swallow their land.
The anchor's voice grew heavier as he continued: "The situation in Japan is truly dire. The entire country's infrastructure has collapsed, and the death toll is expected to rise into the tens of thousands. Experts are warning that parts of the Japanese archipelago could sink entirely into the ocean."
"Could this get worse?" Guy muttered under his breath. He instinctively stepped closer to Angela, moving slightly to his right, seeking the comfort of her presence.
The screen now displayed a larger map of the Pacific Ocean, with red alert zones spreading not only across Japan and the Pacific Islands but also covering the eastern coast of China, South Korea, and the western shores of the Americas. The scale of the catastrophe was impossible to fathom.
"Unfortunately, things are not looking better on the western side of the world either," the anchor continued, his voice grim. "The Maldives, a popular vacation destination, shares a similar fate. The Maldives, dear viewers, no longer exist."
Guy and Angela stood frozen, horror etched on their faces as they watched the broadcast. Around them, others had gathered, watching the unfolding catastrophe in stunned silence.
The images shifted again. "Now, we focus on volcanic eruptions," the anchor announced. "As many of you who have been following the news may know, Iceland experienced ten eruptions last year. But now, all the volcanoes in Iceland have become simultaneously active, spewing thick black ash clouds into the sky. Lava flows are unstoppable, turning the country into a dangerous wasteland."
The camera shifted to Italy. "Mount Etna," the anchor continued, "is the largest and most active volcano in Italy and the highest active volcano in Europe. Unfortunately, the situation in Italy extends far beyond Etna. Like Iceland, Italy's volcanoes have erupted simultaneously. Mount Vesuvius, Stromboli, and Campi Flegrei are also active. The ash plumes from these eruptions are affecting not only Sicily but also neighboring countries, including Albania, Croatia, and Montenegro. People are trying to protect themselves by covering their faces with scarves or cloth as they continue with their daily lives."
Wind patterns suggest that these ashes could soon reach Greece and Turkey. Meanwhile, a tsunami risk looms along the coastlines of Spain and France.
The anchor paused for a moment, delivering an even more alarming update. "In the United States, Yellowstone Supervolcano is also showing signs of activity. While it hasn't erupted yet, it is emitting large amounts of smoke and ash. Experts fear that if Yellowstone were to erupt, it could trigger a global climate event, leading to catastrophic consequences for the entire planet."
Guy and Angela, like everyone around them, stood frozen in disbelief. The weight of the unfolding disaster was almost too much to bear, yet they couldn't turn their eyes away from the screen.
"We don't like reporting this news either, but it's our duty to bring you the facts," the news anchor said. "Now, let's continue with the next category—earthquake news."
"My heart feels heavy," Angela said softly, "but at the same time, I want to see what's happening."
Guy glanced at her, troubled, then both of them turned their gaze back to the television screen, silently watching the news along with dozens of others, as if hypnotized.
"The earthquakes are severely affecting many countries," the anchor continued. "Let's start with America. The famous San Andreas Fault, which even has a movie made about it, has ruptured with a magnitude of over 9. Many of the country's available health and emergency response teams have been directed to the region."
"Turkey, as you know, is often associated with earthquake disasters, and unfortunately, this time is no different. The country has been torn apart by fissures caused by the quakes. Entire cities, mostly made up of older buildings, have been reduced to rubble, especially in the eastern regions. And in a development that concerns the entire world, the North Anatolian Fault, which runs through Istanbul and has been the subject of long debates in recent years, has ruptured with a tremendous roar just yesterday. Yes, you heard that right. It wasn't just a tremor—witnesses reported hearing a booming sound as if the sky itself was splitting open, and some even claimed to have seen fireballs emerging from the sea. The famous Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul has also been severely damaged. It is now in two pieces and is no longer usable."
"Let's continue with the earthquake activity in other parts of the world," the news anchor said, his voice growing more serious. "The Pacific Ring of Fire, particularly areas including Japan and Indonesia, is experiencing earthquakes at any given moment. This region is home to some of the most active fault lines in the world, and in recent years, many lives have been lost here."
"Chile and Peru are also among the areas that need to be closely monitored," he continued. "These regions frequently experience tremors due to tectonic movements from the Pacific Ocean. And now, these countries too face the possibility of a similar disaster."
The anchor paused again, his voice shifting to something more mysterious. "And now, we move on to an incredible development, one that experts are still debating. The mythological and often questioned reality of Atlantis has resurfaced."
- end of part 13 -
The store assistant picked up the remote and turned up the volume on the television. All eyes were glued to the screen as breaking news banners flashed red, and anchors with somber expressions detailed the astonishing discovery. "Today, the world is in the grip of an unprecedented series of natural disasters," said the anchor in a somber, grave tone. Behind them, massive screens displayed a map of the Atlantic, where red alert zones were spreading rapidly over the ocean.
"Yes, you heard correctly," the anchor continued. "We can't believe it either, and we are waiting for confirmation from the authorities, but we can report that, as a result of the recent powerful tectonic shifts across the Pacific, a massive continent has risen from beneath the ocean depths. According to the first images from news helicopters, it seems highly likely that this is Atlantis. Based on ancient descriptions and the historical remnants seen on the continent, it appears that the ancient land of Atlantis has returned."
The anchor's voice, filled with rising urgency, cracked slightly as he gestured to the screens behind him. "Atlantis is holding steady for now," he said, leaning forward. A visible swallow tightened his throat, and he paused. "Excuse me," he murmured, reaching for a glass of water. He took a few quick sips, his hand trembling slightly, before placing it back down.
"Sorry about that," he said, clearing his throat. "But while this ancient land has reappeared in one piece, other parts of the world..." His voice faltered momentarily before regaining momentum. "Other places are not so fortunate. The San Andreas Fault has ruptured, triggering powerful earthquakes that have torn California apart. Entire neighborhoods have collapsed. And worse—some areas are sinking beneath the Pacific."
The camera cut to a live feed of Los Angeles: shattered highways, crumbled buildings, and emergency vehicles struggling through wreckage. "Rescue teams are doing everything they can," he added quickly, "but the damage... it's overwhelming."
He gripped the edge of the desk now, visibly trying to steady himself as he continued. "And in Japan... coastal cities are gone. The earth is shifting under their feet. Seismologists are warning that entire sections of the archipelago could slip under the sea. The question isn't just about what has risen—it's about what might be lost."
He glanced briefly at his notes, then up at the camera, his eyes wide and glassy. "This isn't just about Atlantis. This is about a world in flux—unpredictable, unstable. We are witnessing history—and catastrophe—in real-time."
The anchor took a deep breath before continuing. The map now highlighted Australia, New Zealand, and the eastern shores of Hawaii. "Tsunami waves are currently spreading across the Pacific. Eastern Australia and the Pacific Islands face significant threats. Evacuations are underway from Hawaii to Chile and Peru. The full scale of this catastrophe is still impossible to gauge."
The screen returned to a wider map of the Pacific. The anchor's voice steadied, attempting to offer a glimmer of hope to viewers. "The world may be engulfed in chaos right now, but rescue teams and scientists are mobilizing everywhere to combat this unprecedented crisis. We'll keep you updated as more information comes in."
"So, this is it?" Angela asked, her eyes glued to the television in the store window. "The end of the world? For real?"
- End of Part 14 -
They had no idea how long they'd been watching the news. Quite some time had passed, and with it being winter, the sky was already growing dark. Guy turned to Angela and asked, "Wait a minute, you don't have anywhere to stay, do you?"
Angela, still absorbed in the worldwide disasters unfolding on the screen, had momentarily forgotten her own predicament. She didn't want to say no—couldn't say it—and for a moment, she just stared at Guy in silence.
"I'm sorry," Guy said quickly. "I didn't mean it like that. What I was trying to say is, maybe my hotel hasn't collapsed yet."
"That's okay, I understand what you meant," Angela said, her voice laced with hesitation. "But Guy, we can't rely on the hotel. You know the phones didn't even ring; for all we know, the hotel might not even exist anymore."
"Yeah, but what else can we do? I want to give it a shot."
Angela nodded thoughtfully. "Alright," she said, "let's try, but... if we find someplace else to stay along the way, let's plan to spend the night there. Just in case."
Guy nodded in agreement, but a new question popped into his head. "How are we even going to get to the hotel?"
"Bikes," Angela said. "Next to our building, there's a container like shed where we kept the bicycles. If it's still standing, we can use them."
"And if the bikes are gone?" Guy asked. "We should probably start walking fast from now on, just in case."
"But first," Angela said, her voice steady. "We need to go find my dad. I hope he hasn't gone too far."
Angela looked around. It was extremely crowded, and the air was thick with dust and smoke, severely limiting visibility. Realizing that searching like this wouldn't work, she decided to think differently. If I were my dad, where would I go? she thought. She paused for a moment, considering her father's personality. "I'd go straight to the place in the worst condition," she muttered to herself while scanning the area.
Meanwhile, Guy had turned on his phone and was checking his messages and missed calls.
Angela tried to find the building that looked the most devastated. Finally, she spotted one and nodded decisively. "Come on," she said to Guy. "He must be there."
"How do you know?" Guy asked, looking up from his phone, bewildered.
"If I know my dad," Angela replied, "he's in there, desperately trying to save someone."
"Dad!" Angela shouted. "Dad, where are you?"
A head emerged from the rubble, turning toward her. "Angela!" the man called back.
"Dad!" Angela cried as she ran toward him, with Guy close behind.
"Dad, you won't believe what's happening in the world. Atlantis has—" she began, but her father raised a hand to cut her off, his voice quiet yet firm.
"Angela, we're trying to listen for voices under the debris," he said. "I know you have important news, but can we talk about it later? Every second counts for these people."
Angela's face grew serious as she nodded. "You're right. I'm sorry," she said. "Dad, Guy and I are going to look for a place to stay. When will you be able to leave?"
"You two go," her father replied. "Let's divide the work. You find somewhere safe for the night, and I'll stay here a bit longer to help. What do you think?"
"Alright," Angela agreed. "We'll try to find something quickly. But when we come back, how will we find you? You'll still be around here, right?"
Her father nodded without looking, his attention already back on the rubble.
"Okay, see you later," Angela said softly before heading off with Guy. Together, they made their way to the shed where the bicycles were kept.
Angela pulled out a small key from the keychain she always carried and unlocked the container. Inside, she immediately looked toward the spot where her and her father's bikes were stored. Her bike was there—but her father's wasn't. The lock that had secured it lay broken on the ground.
"I think," Angela said with a sigh, "someone stole it. Do you think we could both fit on my bike?"
"Hmm," Guy began, considering. "I don't think we could." He paused for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "Wait! I just remembered—there were scooters lying on the side of the road, you know, the ones that you ride while you're standing," Guy began, his words tumbling out faster than he could organize them. "They're electric, I think, part of some shared system... You unlock them with an app, and they're kind of everywhere now—on sidewalks, in parks. People leave them wherever. It's like this whole new thing for short trips, micro-mobility, or whatever they call it..."
Angela tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"Guy," she said softly, "I knew what you meant after your first sentence."
He blinked, his mouth half-open. "Then why—why did I—" He let out a baffled laugh, running a hand through his hair as his expression twisted between amusement and disbelief. "Why did I explain all that?"
"I don't know," she murmured, her cheeks turning a shade pinker, "but... you were really cute when you did."
"Oh," he said quietly, the word slipping out like a startled breath. His eyes widened briefly, his lips twitching into an uncertain grin. Then, with a sudden wave of energy, he gestured ahead. "Anyways!" he burst out, diving back into his thoughts with renewed excitement. "I could grab one of those. My phone is charged now, so I can unlock it with the app."
"Great idea," Angela said, relieved. She didn't have a better solution anyway.
One on a bicycle, the other on a scooter, they set off toward the hotel where Guy had been staying. Focused on their mission to find shelter for the night, it was almost as if they'd forgotten the chaos unfolding around them.
- End of part 15 -