Atlantis

Dreaming...

The boy felt the cold embrace of the Atlantic as he sank deeper into its depths. The surface of the ocean, a distant blur of light above him, seemed impossibly far away. All around him was a vast expanse of crystal-clear blue, stretching endlessly. The calmness of the water was almost eerie. There was no thrashing, no struggle—just silence and stillness as he drifted downward.

His lungs burned, and panic crept in. He was drowning. The water pressed against his chest, and darkness began to cloud his vision. But then, as if by some miracle, he gasped. To his shock, he could breathe. The saltwater rushed into his lungs, yet it felt... natural. His panic subsided, replaced by a strange sense of calm. He kicked his legs and found he could move effortlessly. His body glided through the water with the grace and speed of a fish.

Confused but exhilarated, he swam through the ocean, faster than he ever thought possible. Schools of colorful fish darted past him, their movements hypnotic. Coral reefs rose from the ocean floor like underwater mountains, vibrant and alive. He marveled at the sight—had the ocean always been this magical?

He ventured deeper and soon stumbled upon something breathtaking—a majestic underwater city. Its towers, carved from shimmering coral and adorned with glowing seashells, seemed to pulse with life. The boy swam closer, his curiosity piqued. As he explored, he noticed figures moving gracefully among the buildings—mermaids. Their long tails glistened in the dappled sunlight that pierced through the water. He had always thought they were myths, but here they were, real and magnificent.

One mermaid caught his eye. She was beautiful, her flowing hair blending with the gentle currents. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with curiosity as she swam toward him. Without words, they understood each other. She led him through the city, showing him wonders he had never imagined—glowing jellyfish that floated like lanterns, sea creatures as large as ships, and mysterious caverns full of ancient treasures.

They spent what felt like hours together, exploring the vastness of the ocean. But something stirred in the boy. A rush of energy overtook him, and he felt the need to push his limits. He sped through the water, faster than ever, leaving the mermaid behind. The thrill of freedom surged in his veins as he darted through the currents, but soon he slowed, realizing he had returned to the place where his journey began.

He hovered there for a moment, letting the peace of the ocean wash over him. But then, from the corner of his eye, he saw something strange. A figure was sinking, drifting slowly downward. He squinted through the water’s clarity and swam closer to investigate.

It was a humanoid figure, lifeless, its limbs limp as it sank into the dark abyss. A chill ran down his spine. He swam closer, dread building inside him. As he neared, the realization hit him like a tidal wave—it was his body.

The boy stared in horror at his own face, pale and still, sinking ever deeper into the depths of the Atlantic. His mind raced. How could this be? Was he... dead?

A surge of terror gripped him. The mermaid, the city, the ocean—it all vanished from his thoughts as he frantically tried to grasp what had happened. His body was gone, lost to the deep. He had been exploring, breathing, swimming like a fish... but none of it was real.

Suddenly, the world around him began to fade. The blue water darkened, the vibrant life dimmed, and the calm dissolved into chaos.

With a violent gasp, the boy awoke, his chest heaving as he sat bolt upright in bed. His heart pounded in his ears, his sheets tangled around him like seaweed. His lungs burned as though he had just surfaced from the depths. He could still feel the cold water clinging to his skin, hear the faint echo of the ocean’s roar.

"What... was that?" he whispered, his voice trembling. It wasn’t just a dream—it had felt too real. Had he just seen the afterlife? Or was it some strange warning? The boy sat there in the darkness, terrified and shaken, trying to make sense of the dream that had brought him face to face with his own death.

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