Serious. Atlantis had risen. I simply could not believe my ears when I heard that Atlantis had risen. I am a scientific person, and do not believe in myths and legends. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I'm the ruler of a legendary city, which turns out to exist after all, and am expected to leave New York and rule that city, which, though advanced in science and others, hadn't seen the light of day since forever.

Not true, my mom saw it thirty or so years ago!

That was Lia, invading my privacy.

I am NOT! Plus, I'm your BEST friend, and I'm the one who ask you to write a journal, and if you're getting it published, I'm going to edit it anyway, and besides, thousands of others will read your journal.

So anyway, back to my story about the death of my parents and what happened next that changed my life forever.

'I was awakened rudely at midnight by the shrill rings of my telephone. Scrambling out of bed, I picked it up and said groggily, " 'Ello?" And was greeted by an unfamiliar male voice. "Is this the home of Michael Laurence, in Manhattan?"

"Yup! Is there anything I can help?" I asked. "Your parents, Mr Carmichael Alfrenzo Laurence and Madam Cassandra Charity Atlas have sadly perished in a tragic car accident in Paris, France, at eight today," the voice answered. I was momentarily shocked. My loving parents, who have gone to Paris for some honeymoon recollections for a week, have perished in a tragic car accident? Oh my gosh! WHO KILLED THEM????!!!!

"Mr Buggly Borris, aged 32, killed them in a drink and drive frenzy. He was questioned just now, and unable to raise bail, so he is spending the night at one of the cells. There will be a trial held in the Parliament at the 22nd of January. You are informed to attend with some of your relatives. Some of the New York policemen are coming over to your house a short time later. Goodbye." There was a "toot!" sound, and the line went dead. I slammed the receiver down, and hurled my pillow across the room. How could Borris kill my parents? It's not their fault they just happen to cross that road! Whoever Borris

is, let him rot in jail.

Anyway, I had no relatives, no friends, being a geek who found history textbooks interesting, I was all set to curl up and reread the history textbook, when my door bell rang.

Thinking that a thirteen-year-old kid, home alone, should not open the door to strangers, I shouted through the peephole, "Who are you?"

A bemused voice said, "Your bodyguard."

I swear, I was so shocked, I actually thought that the police sent me a bodyguard, because they were afraid that someone might hurt me as both my parents were dead. So I ran outside and was all, "The NYPD sent you?"

"The NYPD? No, the Royal Atlantean Police Force sent me."

I was looking at him like he's crazy. The Royal Atlantean Police Force? Who does he think he is, the royal bodyguard from Atlantis, which have to mean I'm something of a royal? Oh, haha, very funny. Like real.

"Are you on crack?" I demanded.

The guy looked confused but didn't say anything. He peered past me into the living room, which is very dusty. He pursed his lips and said, "And the Ruler of Atlantis lives in squalor?"

I was ready to slam the door on his face. "Are you crazy? Talking about Atlantis and stuff? Get out, or I'll call the cops."

He just stood there, sighing. "So you haven't read the paper?"

"What paper?"
"The New York Times or something?"

"Oh, no, why?"

"You should."

I, being immersed in National Geographic and Animal Planet, do not read any newspaper or watch the news, unless it's about the environment, or anything to do with science. I opened up the paper delivered on my doorstep. There, blaring at me, was the headline news:

Lost Continent of Atlantis Resurfaced After Thousands of Years

Atlantis' resurface due to seismic activity in the ocean by unexplained phenomena in the Bermuda Triangle