Chapter Text
“Millennias ago, the universe was created.
A system known as the solar system was born, composed of planets orbiting around a star known as the sun.
One of those planets was the earth.
On this blue planet empires were born with their heroes and deities.
But there was one empire that was above all the others.
A civilisation that had gained multiple names over the following centuries. However, one stood out from all the others.
Atlantis.
Ancient text books spoke of how advanced the citizens of that civilisation were, but no scripture could actually encompass or describe accurately the full potential of Atlantis. The movies depicted it as a wide city using unknown or extinct energy sources with their high towers, futuristic buildings and flying cars.
In reality it was much more than that.
The people of that empire worshipped culture, knowledge, science and creativity. They revered their history and advancements and most importantly they venerated their protector and supreme deity the great Essence of Divine Art.
This supreme deity governed over three others that each represent a pillar of Atlantis.
The god of History.
The god of Science.
And the god of Eloquence.
They were tasked with the protection of the first humans from corruption, ignorance and destruction and to guide them into the light.
However, the three gods were so comfortable with the humans’ worship that they became lazy, arrogant and cruel. They completely disregarded their mission and in doing so the people were ill-prepared to face what was to come.
The slow and agonising neglect of Atlantis led to the birth of the first source of darkness. A sorcerer, jealous of the recognition and power retained by the supreme deity and the three pillars, sought to destroy Atlantis and build a world that will worship him instead. He created a monster that grew each day with the deities' narcissism and fed on the sins and decadence of the people of Atlantis and their deities. Soon the three gods no longer cared about the humans; they only cared about the worship, about the power they felt with each prayer, discovery and written text that was made in their name. And when the humans needed their protectors, their pleas fell on deaf ignorant ears”
“Miss Curie!”
The professor raised her head from the text book and looked at her curious students over the rim of her glasses.
“Yes Sacha?”
“I thought Atlantis was just a Myth that Plato created to discuss Greece's downfall…like some sort of parable….”
Curie smiled as if she held secrets that none of her students even suspected, and maybe she does. She removed her glasses as she spoke.
“All myths come from somewhere dear girl. Sometimes the truth is so awful that we prefer to turn a historical fact into a legend or story to make it more believable or to teach people a lesson and make sure that history doesn't repeat itself.”
Silence fell on the theater hall before the bell broke it. The older woman cleared her throat and closed the book while putting her glasses back on
“All right students, I want you all to finish reading this chapter at home and I expect a full report on my desk. Class dismissed.”
As the students all got up and left, Curie looked at the old textbook she was reading from. It was an old leather-bound journal that was withered down by time and was obviously used and cherished; it was nothing like the students’ brand new and pristine books. She stroked the cover almost wishfully before picking it up and gently putting it in her bag.
“Well that was an interesting theory you were weaving.”
The history professor looked up at the door and smirked.
“Well well, if it isn't our favourite IT guy. Prey tell What do you mean by theory, Stanley?”
Stanley chuckled and walked up to Curie with a cocky smile.
“Come on. The students might want to believe it but we both know Atlantis is just a legend. A nice bed time story.”
The older woman raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
“Dear all stories come from somewhere, if my brother was here he'd tell you that history, just like literature, stems from reality or at least a smidge of concrete events.”
The younger man rolled his eyes.
“Yes, Greece's downfall, not some mythical underwater city that was destroyed by God knows what. You're a woman of science Curie and your brother is probably just a myth loving dreamer.”
She hummed thoughtfully as her smile turned sad, when Stanley noticed her look he frowned.
“Hey…you okay?”
Curie nodded as she packed her bag.
“Yeah yeah…it’s just that talking about my brother is a bit difficult…”
Stanley flinched while looking guilty.
“Oh i'm sorry…I hadn't realized that he…i'm sorry Curie that was insensitive.”
Stanley said feeling bad about bringing a sour subject up, but the woman just shook her head with a smile.
“Don't be sorry. He's not gone. We just drifted apart, that's all.”
“Oh….”
“Anyway, let's forget about this. Can I help you with anything? You must have come for another reason other than discussing Atlantis being a myth or a true part of history.”
Stanley chuckled embarrassed while rubbing his neck.
“Well I was wondering if you had time to talk to Maeve…”
Curie smirked knowingly.
“Maeve? What would I be talking to her about?”
Stanley glared at Curie.
“You know about what!! If she has any date for the University's Crowdfunding night”
The professor chuckled.
“Calm down, I was just railing you up. Yes I did ask her. She said that she was asked a couple of times but hadn't given a definitive answer.”
She smiled.
“In my opinion, she's waiting for you to ask her.”
Stanley blushed heavily and stuttered.
“You….you think?”
The older woman just nodded while the young man beamed excitedly.
“Thank you so much!! You're the best!”
With that he left the classroom leaving Curie alone. She sighed with a smile as she looked at a representation of the three deities. Her eyes turned sad for a minute before she closed the projector and left.
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Stanley paced back and forth inside the cubicle that was his office. It was a small room with a few computers and servers mounted on the wall and the numbers ‘427’ carved on the door were hidden by a lopsided paper written “IT” in bold black letters. Stanley kept squishing the stressball as he thought about how to approach Maeve.
“‘Hey Maeve, do you want to be my cavaliere for the crowdfunding?’ Nonono… too direct!! ‘Hey Maeve I heard you haven't got a cavalier for the crowdfunding. How about we go together?’Nonono NO!!!!I sound like a creep who's stalking her….”
Stanley was so caught up in his thoughts he hadn't noticed his best friend Jim coming in.
“Damn Stan you're going to wear the carpet down if you continue.”
Stanley jumped up in surprise and turned around. When he saw Jim he exhaled and placed his hand over his speeding heart.
“Damn it Jim…don't sneak on me like that….”
His friend just laughed.
“Sorry man, I didn't mean to scare you. I just came to ask if you wanted to grab a coffee at the Garden.”
Stanley glanced at the time and sure enough it was nearly evening and he had a lot of work left that he didn't even start because of his stress.
He sighed.
“Yeah…I could use a coffee right now….”
Jim threw his arm over Stanley’s shoulders.
“Lighten up Stanley. I'm sure you'll find the courage to ask her out….after you turn grey.”
Stanley lightly pushed his friend away.
“Ha ha very funny Jim.”
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‘The Garden’ was a cozy little university cafe with some potted plants here and there, soft music and lights, a bookcase in a corner, comfortable sofas, beanbags here and there and, of course, cushioned bar stools. The coffee and the pastries weren't luxurious but it was good enough to attract both students and university staff. The owner, a young brunette named Mariella always made sure her little shop was a safe space for everyone to unwind and sure enough, on the bar were Jim and Stanley. The latter was lightly tapping his head against the countertop attracting some looks from the students who came to study, hang out and skip boring classes (most of the time it was that creepy science and physics teacher's classes but no one ever said that outloud).
Mariella stared at Stanley confused while Jim smirked behind his cup, she raised an eyebrow at Jim.
“Mae?”
He nodded, still smirking while Stanley groaned. Mari sighed and tapped his shoulder.
“Come on Stanley, stop banging your head against the table, students are staring.”
Said man raised his head dejected.
“I can't even find the courage to ask her out to the crowdfunding night…how could I even ask her out on a date!!!”
He tapped his head again which made Jim chuckle while Mariella rolled her eyes.
“Come on Stanley, it's not like she'll eat your soul or something. Just go and ask her if she'd like to be your cavalière for the night. Easy.”
He glared at her.
“Easy for you. Not me.”
Jim interjected.
“That's right Mari. Don't forget that he was so shy to speak to her for months when she first started that she thought he was non-verbal for a year.”
The young owner snorted amused.
“Right, I forgot about that.”
Stanley elbowed his friend.
“Seriously dude do you have to mention that everytime?”
“Definitely.” Grinned the other while rubbing his side
The young woman just chuckled before sliding a hot cup of coffee to Stanley.
“Here. You'll probably need this for the long night and week ahead of you. Just make sure you don't overdose on coffee.”
He took the cup and glared at his friends before walking out the coffee shop.
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As night fell, the old university building emptied out.
It used to be an old castle of the Tudor Era that the last descendants sold to the municipality and was renovated to turn into a University. In the morning it looked like a gorgeous gothic building but at night it was like living in a haunted castle. The only sounds that you could hear were those of the old stones grinding against each other, the wooden planks creaking from termites, wind howling through open or broken windows and Jim going through the hallways and doing his usual cleaning and inspection. Meanwhile in the server room, Stanley tapped into his computer, the sound of the keys clicking and the ventilators filled the room and drowned the eerie noises that the old castle was making. The young man thought that he got used to the creepiness of the atmosphere from the numerous times he worked late.
Still, he squeaked as some debris fell on his neck.
….
Ok he was mostly used to it.
As he worked his fear away, Stanley suddenly heard an unusual noise. It wasn't the usual creaking or sizzling.
No this sounded like…a voice.
Someone was calling his name.
“Staaaanley…”
At first Stanley dismissed it.
Maybe he was imagining stuff.
Maybe it was just the wind.
But he heard it again.
“Staaaaanleeeeeeey…”
The hair on the back of his neck rose, he whirled around in his chair and looked around his dark and empty room.
It was undoubtedly a voice.
A muffled, ghostly and creepy voice.
Stanley swallowed the anxious lump that had formed in his throat.
Maybe it was Jim pulling a prank on him. He wouldn't put it past the guy to do this.
Or maybe it was one of the old castle ghosts.
Or worse….one of the creepy Professor's twisted experiments..
Should he go check or just ignore it?
The choice was quickly made, as Stanley's biggest flaw was his curiosity. He could never resist a mystery and right now this was the biggest mystery ever.
He slowly got up and walked towards the door of his small office. He shakily reached his hand towards the handle and turned it.
Nothing but an empty hallway stretched out on either side and yet he heard it again.
Louder.
Clearer.
“Staaaaaanleeeeey…..find him….”
Find who? Stanley asked himself. Who even is this desincarnated voice ?
He stepped out of his room and started following it.
The voice was leading him farther and farther away from the familiar halls and rooms of the university and deeper into the old castle wings that were forbidden to anyone other than the director and some very specific personnel.
“Staaaaanley…”
Stanley gulped nervously as he walked closer towards the forbidden section. An old and eaten up wooden door stood before him with yellow tapes covering it. He reached his hand to open the door when; suddenly, someone grabbed his shoulder. He shrieked and whipped around only to find himself face to face with the creepy teacher.
“P…professor T…I…I'm sorry….you took me by surprise… I had no idea you were still in the building….”
The other man looked up at Stanley beneath messy bangs and bloodshot eyes. The man was actually taller than Stanley, but Professor T was always slouched with his hands in his lab coat looking like he was running on two hours of sleep with the dark circles around his eyes.
“‘I was looking for a pencil sharpener. I need to finish correcting the copies.”
He leaned closer to Stanley's space.
“And you? What are you doing wandering here on your own Stanley? And so close to the forbidden section. It's not wise.”
Stanley gulped.
“I..I heard voices…”
Professor T raised an eyebrow.
“Voices?”
“Noises!!! I meant noises not voices!! I'm not crazy!! I didn't hear desincarnated voices calling out to me but I heard noises!! Yup, definitely.”
Stanley rumbled, panicked and embarrassed.
Professor Timothy Kelson was a man of Science and he very rarely was surprised or annoyed by anything other than his pencils not being sharp enough and the hamster wheel in his office not turning right. However, looking at the blabbering mess that was Stanley and hearing him sprout nonsense about voices really annoyed him.
“I think you need to sleep, Stanley. There's no unusual noise aside from the creaking of woodplanks and the wind. I suggest you go home.”
He turned around and started walking away.
“Professor T!”
“What?”
Snapped the scientist barely turning back which made Stanley hesitate before asking.
“Why is the director forbidding access to this part of the building?”
The other man narrowed his eyes before turning away and shrugging.
“Heard they didn't renovate it yet and that it was threatening to collapse. You should probably stay away.”
The professor said non-chalantly before walking away and disappearing into the darkness of the hallway. Stanley kept staring at his retreating figure for a while longer before glancing back at the door.
He sighed and chuckled uneasily.
“God Stanley you're going crazy….”
He rubbed his eyes.
“Professor T is right, I should probably go home and sleep.”
Stanley barely took a step forward before hearing a loud and scary screech coming from behind him.
The young man froze and slowly turned around.
He gulped while staring at the black abyss.
The door, which was supposed to be locked ...was now wide open.
“Staaaaaanleeeeey….He is waiting……”