Just beneath the surface

The imprisoned Adventurer

"That book is an abomination!" a woman shouted glaring heavily on Andres. He felt like the world clamped down on him from all sides, just looking at his enraged mother.

"But mother I-"

"Enough! Speak not of that book ever again! The next time I see you near it, you won't know what hit you!" his mother shouted.

"Yes mother", his heart still aching with refute.

When his father was alive, Andres would hear tales of his father's adventures with words that would enlighten his very imagination. His father used to tell him that the book was his greatest find.

"Someday, you'll be destined to explore this world, and when that day comes, this book will guide you to your heart's deepest desires", his father once said. These words always resonate deep in Andres's bones.

"That book, everything your father found, they cursed him! They destroyed every fiber of his being. And now look. Your father is no longer here. Has he ever returned?

"No!" his mother continued.

All Andres could do was to look down, and surrender. He felt cheated by his own mother. All he wanted was at least to take a glimpse of what was inside, but his mother just wouldn't let him. There was nothing he could do, but to face his own powerlessness. He went to his room and slammed his head to his pillow. He missed his father, especially the stories his father would bring. His father died three years ago when he was twelve, yet he still couldn't let go. He always dreamed of going on an adventure with his father to see the wide stretch of never ending horizon atop a ship so majestic, but he just couldn't. There was no chance anymore, as that dream had slowly faded away. He fell asleep still grumbling and murmuring. Around midnight, he woke up, still eager to see what was inside the book. He snuck into his father's storeroom and looked for the book. He searched the entire area, but the book was nowhere to be found. In the corner, there was a crate. It seemed quite suspicious, but it seemed like a good place to hide a book. Besides, he checked everything but the crate. On top of it, was an iron bar. Andres knew that he would have to be very careful, as the iron bar could cause such a noticeable noise if it would fall. He picked it, and opened the box, but there was nothing inside. Frustrated, he lost grip of the iron bar and it fell to the ground. Andres immediately put the iron bar back in place and dashed out of the room. He knew that his mother hadn't woken up, but as he climbed the stairs, he tripped and fell. He heard footsteps from above, and he began to tremble.

"What are you doing this late at night?" his mother asked.

"I-I was drinking water".

"Ah, I see. I'll get a drink too"

She went down the stairs and headed to the store room. Andres' heart tightened. He didn't want to get scolded again, and he knew it was inevitable.

"This iron bar is too far to the left".

"Mother I was just looking at the collections and I accidentally hit it!".

"You thought the book was there didn't you?", his mother asked.

"I wasn't looking for the book at all! Stop jumping into conclusions!", Andres exclaimed.

"Watch your tone, young man. I am your mother, I know what you're doing. I bear you for long months", his mother answered back with a loud voice but painstakingly heart warming..

"Just what is with that book that you want so badly? It's just a book!", his mother asked.

"Just why do you badly want to separate me from my father's legacy?"

"Because I know that when you open that book, you will leave this house at that instant and follow your father's stupid footsteps!"

Santiago, clearing his eyes, walks down to see to his mother and Andres.

"Could you two please be quiet! It's too early, I need some sleep!", Andre's brother, Santiago, shouted from upstairs. Once again, Andres ran up to his room, slammed the door, and locked himself in.

On that morning, Andres went out to the field to tend to their goats.

"So, what was that all about those arguments so early?" Santiago, Andres' older brother by five years, asked.

"Ah, it's your brother again. Still hungry for the accursed book", his mother replied.

"What is with that thing anyway? There's nothing written inside it anyway", Santiago asked.

"That's exactly why I'm scared. Your father told me that Andres could see the inscriptions in the book.

"Within the royal lineage, there are few who can decipher the glyphs within that book"

"And you believe that? That could be just some sailor's myth", Santiago asked.

"I believe them. Your father told me that for his last mission to be successful, Andres has to reach in the right age then let the book guide him to whatever it hides, but I am not risking my son's life for a reckless man's selfish goals. A man whose glory was all he sought", she continued.

"If you could, please help me put some sense into your brother's thick skull", she asked.

"Yes mother", Santiago replied.

Andres sat under a tree as his goats grazed on the wet plains. The wind relaxed his thoughts giving him a moment of peace. Suddenly, a hooded man walked past him, and brought chills to his entire body. What could a man like him be doing at a time like this? He thought. He decided to follow him. A decision he partially regretted. He followed the man until they reached a cave.

"He must not have noticed me yet", Andres thought. The hooded man walked towards the cave, then looked back. Andres immediately hid behind a bush.

"Would you mind coming in?" The hooded man asked. Andres froze, and began to get really nervous.

"I'm damned", he thought, then made a break for it. But just as he made his first stride, the hooded man appeared right in front of him.

"I'd rather talk to people in dark, secluded places, which means that the cave is the best place for a little chat", the hooded man said. Andres trembled. Now, he really regretted his decision.

'Don't worry, I'm here to help you with something you can't achieve on your own", the hooded man continued, and slowly walked back towards the cave. Andres turned around to run, but once again the hooded man appeared right in front of him.

"I'll ask you one last time, come in ", the hooded man said, with a more forceful voice this time.

"What do you want?" Andres asked.

"They all ask me that. Be a little more original. Like I said, I'll explain inside. It' about this book of yours that you cling to so dearly", the hooded man replied.

"Now come, it's a matter of urgency", he continued. Reluctantly, Andres followed the hooded man into the cave. Inside, the only illumination was a beam of light that shot from the ceiling.

"I know of your father, the great Balthazar Del Magillione. A great adventurer he was, a noble captain, an excellent sailor. It's a shame, to think he'd die to his own quarry, only to leave his son with a book his son can't even obtain", the hooded man said.

"I did not come inside to hear your condolences, or to hear you mock my father! Just who are you?" Andres exclaimed, putting his hand near his waist, preparing to unsheathe a knife.

"Well, I wouldn't do that if I were you", the hooded man said. Andres reached for his knife, but the sheath was empty.

"You have a stout heart. You seem to possess your father's pride. That'll do you good, but not in all aspects. It is exactly why you can never get your hands on that book", the hooded man explained, fidgeting the knife in his hand.

"In the face of overwhelming power, arrogance and pride are for naught. Sometimes, you need to flow alongside the current to reach a good point to start swimming again", he continued.

"What do you know about me, my father, and the book?" Andres asked.

"Quite a lot actually. When I do something for the glory of my kingdom, I take a close check on my subjects", the hooded man replied.

"I came here because you have a mission to complete, one your father couldn't. And I'm here to tell you that being arrogant with your mother won't work. I am also here to discuss to you what your mission is about. Will you listen?" he asked.

"Go ahead", Andres replied.

"Your father's greatest treasure was that book, yes. But there's something more profound. It wasn't a treasure he could obtain by his own means. Only certain individuals from the royal bloodline of the last Atlantean king can decipher and can see what is written in that book. That book you seek is one of the three books that hold the key to locating and raising Atlantis. There lies great treasure, treasure your father sought", the hooded man said.

"What are you trying to tell me?" Andres asked.

"I need you to get that book, as soon as possible. If I let you on your own, you'll never get it. It's hidden behind her closet. I can't take it because the book contradicts me. Now I need you to be calm around your mother, and slowly earn her trust. Only then do you get the book", the hooded man replied. After that, the hooded man disappeared into thin air.

"Andres! Where are you? It's time for lunch!" Santiago shouted from the field. Andres where are you? came out of now

Santiago saw his brother Andres running and waved.

As Andres went nearer. "Where did you go?" Santiago asked.

"A persistent pee, let's head back home", Andres replied.

That night Andres had to face rough sleep. He felt constricted, bound to his bed. It felt like the world pummeled him from all sides. The wooden walls of his room began to crumble, and shrieking sounds flooded Andres' ear. The walls began to turn to stone, and slowly precipice rocks molded out of the cracks, and the room slowly turned into a cavern. The binding disappeared, and immediately Andres jumped out of his bed.

"Mama! Brother!" Andres called out. He ran through the cavern, but his legs felt heavy to lift. He knew he was in a dream. Suddenly, he could hear his breathing. He slowly walked towards a part of the cavern where a beam of light shone. Under it was a man, holding a goblet.

"Cheers, to life anew", the man said. Suddenly a serpent crept from behind Andres, and hissed. Water rushed into the cavern, submerging it. The ceiling began to crumble, and fell apart. Andres swam up to the surface, and realized he was in a vast ocean. In the distance, three ships fired volleys of cannonballs at another, ripping it to shreds. As the wrecked ship began to sink, Andres' heart began to tighten. Then a giant wave towered out of the surface, and a massive serpentine creature reared up. It was bigger than the first one by a gargantuan level. It towered like a mountain, with its scales glistening under the red sun. The massive creature lunged into the distance, at a city looming in the horizon. Its wake submerged Andres, and he could no longer move. Suffocated, he woke up panting.

"Andres, are you alright? You're hardly breathing, and you seemed like you were struggling. Were you having a nightmare?" Santiago asked.

"Yeah, a horrifying one. It felt so real, and I couldn't do a thing", Andres replied, still panting heavily.