Drake followed the man soaring through the skies, being led to the ocean of Corrana Beach. Drake glanced around, remembering his arrival to Darmen not long prior. He scanned the area, looking in vain for the exact spot that he met Gurdy. Looking ahead he realized that the hover bike just glided over the water instead of slowing down on land.
“Where in the world is he taking us?” Drake turned his head slightly to show that he was directing the question to either one of his friends.
“I’m not sure, mate.” Mu-nue said in response, “He’s obviously a Drifter, so he might be helping us out.”
***
Going further to the open ocean, Drake watched the man closely as he held his fedora on his head and stuck a breathing device in his mouth. The flying creature he was on, dived into the deep blue water. Not knowing what to do, Drake just stared at the sea as if it were hard rock, thinking that it was impossible to go through.
The man stuck out his head out of the ocean while he was still mounted on his pet that was underwater.
“What’s wrong?” the man asked impatiently.
“Huh, we can’t breathe underwater, mate.” Mu-nue replied, “I mean, come on, I’m a land mammal.”
The man chuckled and then put the palm of his hand in his face as he ducked his head and nodded. Looking embarrassed, he took three more breathing devices and tossed one to each of them.
“Good thing Lyth-an told me to bring more of those. He said we would be having more guests. Glad you reminded me.” he said as his mounted beast peaked his head out of the water to be petted.
“So, that is Lyth-an?” Drake asked, pointing at the man’s scaly animal.
“This girl!?” The man laughed, “No, this is my Enteleon. She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” He said as he rubbed her head.
“Enteleon!?” Drake asked
“Enteleons… alien life forms that choose a Drifter to partner up with. They come from an array of different crystals.” the man paused for a second, hoping to help Drake understand, “Lyth-an will explain as soon as we get there.”
“There!?” Drake questioned as he raised his right eyebrow.
“The City of Atlantis.” The man smiled, then he realized that he didn’t know anyone by name, “I am so sorry, we have been talking and I don’t know any one of your names. My name is Jeremiah, I’ve been a Drifter for five years.”
“I’m Drake, I’ve been a Drifter for nearly two days. This is Gurdy, not a Drifter, and the little furry of fury on my back is Mu-nue.” Drake introduced him and his friends before asking, “I thought Atlantis was just a story told by Plato centuries ago, and you know where it is?”
“Yup, right in the middle of what used to be called, The Bermuda Triangle.” Jeremiah looked toward Drake and continued, “It seems that Drifter’s are the only ones capable of finding this ancient city.”
“Why is that?” Drake couldn’t help but be curious about the matter.
“The enteleons, they have a sort of electromagnetic radiation that provides access to the so-called, ‘Lost City.'” Jeremiah explained, “Therefore, they seem to allow us to enter as well… That is the best way I can explain it anyways.”
“It makes sense… I guess.” Drake replied, still sounding confused.
“Huh, sorry… It really isn’t all that important anyways, the fact of the matter is, we are safe in that city. So, let’s get a move on, shall we?” Jeremiah said just before putting the breathing device in his mouth and submerged back into the water.
Drake, Gurdy and Mu-nue followed Jeremiah under the ocean’s surface. They went deeper and deeper, looking into a bowl-shaped valley under the water. In that valley, was a majestic city with a giant air bubble around it. The buildings appeared to be made of marble and the roof tops made of jadestone. Vines grew upward along the pillars that were built around the structure of each building. Also, a bright light that floated over the center of the underwater metropolis provided light and food for the city below.
When Drake went through the liquid shell that surrounded the city, the enteleon that he was on changed back into a large armored humanoid and started running further into the city.
“Where’s he going!?” Drake asked.
Jeremiah watched as the enteleon was still running, “Going back with it’s partner, more than likely.” he said as he took a few steps towards Drake.
“So, you’re not it’s partner?” Drake continued with the questions.
“Two enteleons for one man, interesting concept…” Jeremiah said, “Drifters are usually chosen by one enteleon. So I imagine it is practically impossible to have two.”
Drake wondered how these incredible beings chose who they are going to be paired up with, and how they come from these small crystals. He couldn’t believe how much things have changed since that wave pulled him in during the destruction of New York City. He ran his hand through his drenched brown hair, remembering how stupid he was for running toward the speeding torrent just so he could hitch a ride on his street bike.
“I miss home… if only I had ran alongside with Justin, maybe none of this would have happened.” Drake whispered to himself.
“Something the matter, mate?” Mu-nue asked, after he noticed Drake murmuring to himself. Drake stood in the same position as he was when he complained quietly to himself, hunched over looking down to the ground with his arm straight down to his sides and fists clinched.
A few seconds past before Drake denied how he was feeling, “No, nothing’s wrong.”
Jeremiah looked at Drake, realizing that something was going on in his head but couldn’t do anything about it. After facing the facts that he couldn’t help, he turned to Gurdy and recognized him instantly.
“I know you!” Jeremiah sounded astonished, “You’re Gur-dish, the one politician that was willing to save the Drifters! Man, this is an honor!”
Gurdy simply smiled for a second before gently scolding Jeremiah.
“I prefer to be called, Gurdy. So if you don’t mind… call me by it.” Gurdy told Jeremiah.
“Okay Gurdy, I am glad to meet you in person.” Jeremiah grinned while shaking his hand, “You must come to my place. You are definitely welcome here, you and your friends!”
Gurdy continued to smile. He was feeling welcome, knowing that he had a good reputation with the Drifters.
Drake came out of his trance of despair, realizing that what’s done, is done. He became more aware of his surrounding. He eyes spotted different Drifters in all directions of the city. Greeting each other as if there was nothing to worry about.
“Come with me, I want to introduce you to a friend of mine.” Jeremiah invitingly said, putting his arm behind Drake’s neck and putting him in a somewhat friendly arm lock.
As Jeremiah released Drake, he began to lead them to a neighborhood of marble buildings. The stone looked like sparkling water ran along the pillars, giving a slick shine. Magnificent in color, the buildings made the roadway of the neighborhood glow bright, as if they complemented each other.
Jeremiah led them to his home. It was a large round building, with the same marble walls and pillars. Three rooms surrounded the round building with an entrance between each room. Marble steps went up towards each entrance of the building.
Jeremiah opened one of entrance doors and the inside of his home was a round room. Golden chandeliers brightened the large circular room. Around the room, were six doors, three led outside and three went into one of the three rooms surrounding the whole building. Forming a significant pattern, one door would lead outside and the next would lead into one of the rooms.
“Welcome to my humble abode!” Jeremiah said loudly.
The round room appeared to be a lounging area, with sofas and loveseats placed neatly around a glossy square coffee table that had no legs, but floated in place.
A man was sitting in one of the seats. Drake could only see that he had blonde hair that was down just above the shoulders and that he was wearing a black bandana around his neck.
Jeremiah looked at the back of this man’s head before saying,
“Justin… We have guests.”
