Next following days the people of Colorado Springs didn't talk about anything else than a trial that was going on, the cruelty of Heart and Paul and the horror Atlantis went through. Anger boiled in them because no matter the differences they all had, they were all thinking the same; nobody deserved to suffer the way Atlantis did her entire life and that is why each citizen of Colorado Springs accepted to be a witness of their first meeting with Heart and Atlantis few years ago when the circus came into town. They all wanted to make sure that her son doesn't experience the same fate like his Mother did – or even worse.
Dorothy recalled the dinner at Heart's place years ago. She said Atlantis was quite silent whole night. Colleen, who arrived first at the dinner talked how she overheard their talk and how Heart told Atlantis not to wear the gloves so she would put other people at ease and how young girl replied "What about MY ease?"
During his sister's testimony, Matthew learned some things he never knew. Apart from that talk Heart had with Atlantis, he heard things that Atlantis wrote to Colleen; about how hard it is to travel no stop, how she wants to settle down, but that Heart doesn't show intention to stop.
Michaela recalled how, after the surgery she performed on Atlantis' hands, Heart said that she will give "a normal life to her daughter". Yet, nothing changed, it even became worse.
Lawyer who was in charge of defending Paul and Heart didn't have withnesses. His defending was based on "the fact that Mr. Cooper doesn't have concrete evidences that support the case, so it is just Atlantis' word against Heart and Paul's".
And that was something that truly worried Matthew without that bloody men pointing it out.
Later that afternoon"Dr Mike?"
Michaela turned around to see her oldest son walking toward her "Matthew, is something wrong?"
He stopped in front of her "I need your help."
"Sure, what is it?", Michaela asked.
Matthew took a deep breath in "Can you do some tests?"
"What? You mean to find out is Heart really not Atlantis' Mother?", Michaela wasn't sure what to think of this "Matthew…"
"I know, Dr Mike. I've been thinking about that ever since this trial begun", Matthew said, his face clouded with worry "It's a risk because there is always a slight possibility that Heart is her Mother", rubbing his forehead, he said "But, I've talked to Atlantis about it."
"What did she say?", asked Michaela.
"That she can't live in lies anymore", Matthew shortly stated "She wants to find out. Whatever the consequences."
For a moment, silence prevailed and than Michaela nodded "All right."
Few days laterHorace stood in front of the telegraph office, gazing toward the school house. He had to stay at the telegraph office, but wondered what was going on on that trial. Dr. Mike still didn't got the results of tests and time was ticking out…
Sound of the horse approaching snapped Horace out of his thoughts and he turned around to see a rider coming.
A young woman was holding up the rheins. Her hair was brown, reached her shoulders. Her face was serious and…sad? She looked around on the empty streets and noticing Horace, she stopped the horse and jumped of the seat. She walked quickly toward him.
"Excuse me, Sir", she said, her voice shivering a bit "Can you tell me where can I find Mr. Matthew Cooper?"
"He's in the school house, right across the bridge, he has a trial", Horace replied "Something I can do to help you? I can deliver him a message once he's finished", said Horace, looking intently at the girl. Something about her was familiar. Where did he see those big brown eyes before?
"Trial?", girl creased her eyebrows "What trial?"
"Oh, it's a case he is working on. Mister Cooper is a lawyer. Guess you're not from around so you didn't hear about it; it's a young woman charging her husband and a woman who claimed to be her Mother, but looks like she kidnapped her when she was a child…", Horace's voice trailed off as a young woman in front of him let out a silent sob and her eyes filled with tears "Miss? Are you…are you all right?", he asked, concerned.
"Uhm…please, tell me. What's the name of that young woman?", her voice was a barely audible whisper.
"Well, I am not sure of her last name as apparently she was kidnapped, like I said. But, her name is Atlantis."
The whole world stopped as young woman in front of Horace pressed a palm against her lips and tears ran down her cheeks "Oh, my God!", she breathed out "I've found her", she looked at the school house and than back at Horace "I've found my little sister!"
Horace felt the air leaving his lungs at the words she just said and he stared at her, his eyes nearly dropping out from his head "You…you what?!", he mumbled in shock.
Both crying and smiling, the girl grabbed Horace's upper arm "Sir, please. Take me to that trial."
Horace was completely stunned. This girl was Atlantis' sister?!
He took another look at her face and suddenly realized from where were her eyes familiar to him.
They were identical like Atlantis eyes!
Without a word, he nodded and quickly closed the doors of the telegraph office. Locking them, he quickly started to walk across the meadow with young woman beside him.
In the courtoomJudge looked up from his papers "Mr. Cooper, do you have any other witness?"
"No, your Honour", replied Matthew.
"All right. We will continue when I will…"
But, before he could finish the sentence, the doors slammed open and everybody turned to see Horace and young woman entering.
"Your Honour, I apologize", Horace started to talk while the girl who came with him started to walk forward and looked around the courtroom "Atlantis? Atlantis, where are you?"
Atlantis looked confused at Matthew and he shrugged, silently showing her that he had no idea what was going on.
Heart's face went pale and her eyes widened. She remembered this girl. She recognized those eyes. She remembered how she was trying to stop her from snatching Atlantis from her childhood…
"Atlantis?", young woman repeated desperately.
Something strange entered Atlantis' senses. She slowly took two steps forward, Matthew was right beside her as she took in the sight of a girl not much older than she is…
…and the world started to spin.
"NOOOO! Leave my sister alone, you witch!", a six- year - old girl was crying, holding onto a jacket of her baby sister.
"You little scumbag!", red - haired woman mumbled through gritted teeth "I said let her go!", she pulled the little girl stronger to her, but the oldest girl didn't give up.
"You can't have her! She is my sister!"
"I. Said. LET. GO!", red- haired woman snapped and kicked the older girl hard!
The child fell down on the floor, her grasp loosing on the jacket of crying little girl. As a woman ran away, carrying her, the little girl screamed through sobs "NICOLE! HELP ME!"
"Nicole?", Atlantis whispered, all coming back to her "Nicole, is that you?", she was afraid of taking another step.
As a young woman nodded, they ran toward each other and as they reached each other, Atlantis sobbed loudly as Nicole cried through sobs as well "My baby sister! I finally found you!"