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Fantasy Lost eye of Atalantis (Yes it's spelled like that)

HEY HEY, BIG 'OL WARNING. LOTS OF SELF DESTRUCTIVE MANNERISMS AND OTHER LIKE THINGS ARE PRESENT.
READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION, PEACE.


Ubel frowned, his grip tightening on Jacques hand. "Sol always gave me the creeps, talk about being Ruthven being Narfi's lapdog, this scum is the bottom of the barrel in anything." he scoffed, "Let's just check though. He has that face...Definitely up to no good.." Both of them crept towards the ledge once they saw Sol leave the area. Ubel was the first one to reach the ledge, quickly swimming over and peering into the darkness. Not seeing much until he gasped, backing away quickly. In shock before returning, grabbing Jacques's arm. "IT'S WAVERLY!!" He shouted, pointing at the slight glimmer of scales in the darkness. "THAT ASSHOLE PUSHED HIM IN!!!" He shouted, grabbing Jacques and shaking him. "WHAT DO WE DO??? WE BOTH CAN'T JUST GO IN THERE!! THE PRESSURE WOULD KILL US BOTH!!" He shouted.

Ubel ran back and forth, he couldn't ask Narfi. That would be the worst decision he would ever make in his life. Nope, not happening. He could ask a fellow fish that lived in the Ghetto that is also accustomed to the pressure of the midnight zone but who could he ask on such short notice? And he hates the Ghetto with all his life. Blegh, why was he even thinking of that? Wait...what was he thinking about...WAVERLY!! THATS RIGHT!!! Ubel quickly shot out of his shocked expression, peering over the edge and seeing Waverly sink deeper and deeper. That kid wouldn't even survive. Heck he would be mauled before he reached the ground. What was he thinking?! It's now or never!! He isn't going to let some kid waste his life away as fish meat!! He took a deep breath, turning to Jacques for one final glance before jumping down into the chasm.

His skin felt tight and it felt like needles were embedding in his skin as he dived deeper. He wanted to turn back, his instincts screamed at him but he wasn't going to give up so easily, this is someones life on the line. If he dies, at least he died trying. As he kept descending down, he lost visual track of Waverly which caused his nerves and anxiety to sky rocket. What if he was too late? What if someone got to Waverly first? Was he really doing this self sacrifice move for some kid he barely knew? Was he risking his life, his future. For this kid that he called pathetic? If he was, was he out of his mind?!! Ubel, not happy with the conflicting voices in his head, shooed them quickly away. Moving his hands around wildly in hopes to be able to grasp onto something, or someone.

Akijan was sitting on the ground of the chasm. The pressure slowly felt like it was caving his insides in but he paid no mind. As for all, he had something else to take his mind away from the excruciating pain and heartache. Meat. He smelled blood, as soon as he exited the caverns. He was drawn to it, and with some searching had found a dying fish that had been left floating aimlessly in the abyss. He snapped it up before any other predator swimming in the waters could. He needed it, usually he wouldn't be craving meat as he had feasted just one night ago. But recent events made his hunger for the blood and the rich meat rise to the point he was dying to get his hands on anything that would fulfill his thirst.

He was getting through the meat and flesh, tearing through the bone like it was nothing. He lost himself to lust and the overwhelming taste, how he craved it for so long. And now he has it. His hands were bloodied, sending waves of blood through the water. It attracted some sharks and other carnivorous animals but one look made them back away and find an easier meal. He felt drunk, dazed over the smell and the texture on his mouth. Normally he felt disgusted and downright shamed about doing this and acting so revolting and distasteful but he could care less. The taste mingled with his bring, sharpening his senses and making him sensitive to any movement. Including a helpless fish with blood lingering on their glittering scales.

He quickly shoved his meal aside, wanting a taste of a fish that he could sense through the water, struggling but failing. His eyes glowed a faint red, mouth and hands stained with blood as well as his razor sharp teeth showing. A feature he keeps hidden with limited open mouth movement. His hands moved across the water, the pain of the water depth long forgotten. He had another meal to look forward to, what luck. He kept swimming forward with ease, getting closer to the thrashing fish. The blood just on the tip of his tongue, so close. He could taste it through the water. His hand latched onto Waverly's arm. Blinded by his desire for something fresh. A mermaid it seems, with a rare colour pattern. Oh how delicious this will be...

Akijan portrayed a sadistic smile, his hands moving over the gag and the chain. "Someone tied you up...didn't they." He smirked. "How cruel of a fate...how cruel indeed..." He was about to start at the limb, mouth raised over the arm that he held firm in his hand when he noticed something he hadn't noticed before, the face of the fish he was about to devour. As soon as he saw the scar and the eyes, his face dropped. His skin felt cold and clammy, his heart froze to a stop. Waverly...Waverly. He was about to eat Waverly. Waverly. Waverly. The name repeated itself in his head, the sounds pounding in his skull. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He really couldn't. His throat ran dry, and his lungs ached. What has he done?

Akijan snapped out of it, covering his mouth. He was going to throw up, the bile rose up in his mouth. Mixing with the blood and the flesh that he once tasted with relish. He let go of Waverly. Backing away before realising, if he wasn't going to eat Waverly. Someone else will. He quickly swam up to the surface, his senses were still sharp so he spotted Ubel slowly descending down, using his arms. He thrust Waverly up to Ubel who caught him, surprised to see an unharmed Waverly rushing at him out of nowhere at full force. Ubel grabbed Waverly's arms and using the rest of his strength, made his way back up. He tossed Waverly to Jacques as soon as he saw him and he himself climbed from the abyss. Exhausted and close to fainting.

Akijan covered his mouth as soon as he let go of Waverly, vomit filled his hand with a warmth that made him gag. He felt despair overcoming his body, his release that he held dear to him. Gone just like that. He hoped Waverly didn't know who he was, but he knew. He knew that a face like his, crazed eyes and blood stained mouth. Would not be a face easily forgotten. Oh the horror that befell on him. WIth his demented state gone, the pain of the water settled in. Making a home beneath his skin, twisting his bones so they felt close to snapping. Skin feeling tight and unease washing over him.

He wanted to die, he needed to die. He can't look at Waverly's face again. And he most definitely can't let Waverly see him either. Imagine, someone that told you that they were going to protect you. Was about to devour you with no remorse. He would never live it down. He would never. He never wanted to cause any of this, he never wanted to hurt anyone. He didn't know. He didn't know anything. He knew Narfi wouldn't be pleased with Waverly but he didn't know Narfi wouldn't say anything. His breathing became rapid and sporadic, he was out of control this time. He dug himself a hole he couldn't swim out of. He lost himself to his fantasies and delusions. He was a monster. He is a monster. His cravings were kept on the down low and very restrained. But now. What was he now? Just another predator, who feasts for their own pleasure.

His anxiety heightened when he heard a voice. Perhaps more if he listened hard enough. Not now, not here. Not ever. He scrambled from his feet, looking for something. His mind going blank, all that could be found was "Kill yourself you monster." It repeated inside his head, drowning out all other thoughts. He ran his hands through his hair, eyes blinking rapidly before settling on a small object, laying near him. A huge stone with a sharpened edge. His smile grew and grew. He reached for it, grasping and tightening his grip. Making the edges cut into his palm. He was never like this, never in his life. Never even thought about being self destructive, but now. With it being so close to him, it was the only thing on his mind.

He brought the dagger close and pressed it against his neck, so close...he could taste it. Ignoring the whispers surrounding him, ignoring them all. It was only him. Only him. Only him. Only...him. His face twisted in mild discomfort, getting small second thoughts. Before he could do anything though, his arm was jerked away. He still held onto the stone though, his only hope of freedom. He could feel gashes being ripped into his skin, who was this? He wondered. The pain was searing through his skin but...it felt nice. Like he was finally getting a release. But why? I mean. Was there much to say? He was alone in the midnight zone, filled with creatures of all shapes and sizes. Most much larger and stronger than him but he didn't have to think much more. For he felt his life fading away as his arm was ripped from his body and chest being pierced with the same stone that he would end his life with. Oh humanity, forgive me. Malgosia. Mother of pearls. Another child of yours has perished beyond the mortal realm. Fallen from grace, forevermore, may he lay in pieces.
 
Jacques nodded “yeah he wasn’t exactly one I’d want to bump into in the middle of the night..” he shuddered, then frowning at Ubel “hey, I only said that out of annoyance Ruthy is still a homie, this guy however is worse on a whole other level. Tch.” He scoffed.

Jacques nodded agreeing to check it out as he held Ubel’s hand they swam over to where Sol just came from “I don’t trust he hasn’t done something bad, feelings or a fight..yeah maybe a scarple with another fish perhaps and tossed them over the edge when he was done? either way let’s take a look and what ‘trash’ he seems to be throwing out.”

As they both neared the edge Jacques peaked over the side, staring into the darkness his eyes looking from left to right,up to down he couldn’t see much, maybe they had already hit rock bottom? He was about to give up shrugging with a ‘there’s nothing we can do’ he came away from the edge about to swim off but he heard a shriek coming from Ubel as rushed over to him, gripping his webbed claws onto his arm tightly, panic stricken and flustered as he tried to talk to him.

Jacques attempted to calm Ubel down but the words he was saying profounder him Hardly believing what he was hearing Jacques froze for a moment “wait, wait, wait….he threw the kid overboard? Now that’s something, alright the kids not all that but you don’t send him to his death.. that’s just stopping low man..” he exclaimed as he peered once more over the edge unable to see Waverley himself he went into his mind for a moment but in seconds later the feeling of Ubel shaking him violently through panic jolted him back. He started to feel a little sick but it subsided just a quickly as he stared into the darkness, unable to imagine what had or is happening to Waverley right now.

As Ubel’s yelling intensified and his panic increasing with every waking moment, he grabbed hold of both ubel’s arms and yelled “FIRSTLY CALM THE HECK DOWN PANIC THINKING IS GONNA CAUSE YOU TO DO SOMETHING STUPID..” he pulled Ubel into a quick embrace and then pushed him back looking into his eyes “I don’t know what we can do all I know is we both can’t go down there and be lost to the pressures there, we cant just play hero that’s for the stupid old books and you know they are fake we wouldn’t make it…”

He watched Ubel pace both still lost on the best option to do, in his head he was thinking all they could do was say ‘sayonara’ pray and some other stuff, But he took the moment to ponder other options but looking at Ubel’s expressions he was thinking the same and the options were extremely limited.

This wasn’t exactly the side where people help others, it’s a ‘you struggle you die end off’ kind of area. Narfi often explained to those stupid explorer fish that came to him pretty much doing a Waverley told they couldn’t do it, won’t make it so don’t bother trying, got shot down basically, after that they would think that they are worthless jump the edge and end things for them they weren’t going any further…

He wondered if for a moment they read it wrong the whole situation and Sol may have fulfilled the wishes of Waverley. But all that was pushed to the side as he brought himself back to the here and now and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing it was all in slow motion his webbed hands just out of reach as Ubel jumped of the edge lost into the abyss of darkness.

Watching his boyfriend descend with great speed he hit the cliff edge causing it to crumbles decent sized chunks that began to fall he begged that it didn’t hit Ubel as they fell. But sadly it hit them both not helping their current situation.

“UBEE YOU IDIOT HES A DUMB MERMAID WHY THE ARGGHHH, YOU BETTER COME BACK ALIVE OR I SWEAR TO NARFI, WHEN YOU DO IM GONNA SLAP YOU SO HARD FOR BEING SO STUPID.” He had little hope and was beginning to sweat profusely through his pores he didn’t once take his stare away from the dark abyss that laid before him his eyes darting from left to right hoping any second Ubel will emerge from the black plume with his heart beating faster with every second he was down there.


As Waverley descended thrashing with all he had, he became weaker and weaker as the pressure grew higher and higher.
Trying to breath normally was not an option in these kind of pressures one would usually use their mouth to lap up all the existing air that was a available, but his mouth was covered and tied tight, his nose the only source of breathing and even that was limiting.

The chain that gripped his tail was delved deep into his scales blood draining as the gravity force pulled him down making the chain crunch deeper int his tail, making the what was already lack of movements he had impossible to move at all.

The depth, he couldn’t see, how long he’d been falling he couldn’t feel. His perception on anything was gone as disorientation kicked in along with his head feeling lighter by the second his thrashing seemed like feeble attempts to move as he continued to fall the chain dragging him faster than a shark on pursuit but to him it felt like an eternal never ending fall

‘maybe I deserve this fate, maybe it’s better for everyone if I just…..die alone and forgotten just like they did with the traveler.

How cruel and ironic of a fate to go as the tales said the traveler died , the story told to the merpeople was that the pressure of finding that one hidden gem of Atalantis
and the fame that they got along with all the trauma they faced, it was told the traveler died alone and was left no one knew where their body was but was said to have a devastating end.

He just about felt the ball from the chain touch the ocean seabed while it lodged itself in a spot on the sand. He looked around with his hazy eyes not seeing much as it would take a while for the eyes to adjust to seeing things again from being emerged in darkness for a good while not to mention the lack of oxygen he had.

With his senses being thrown off and his hearing not quite ready to adjust to sound, it was only when he felt a hand latch onto his arm that he tried to turn? Move? Anything he could do but the hand latched tighter, his worry rose to new depths as his eyes had the smallest amount of haze reduced to be Abel to see what grabbed him and what he saw scared the living daylights out of him, sending panic fight or flight mode into affect.

His thrashing came to a standstill, he froze in place as he heard words? "Someone tied you up...didn't they." "How cruel of a fate...how cruel indeed..." That voice…it sounded so…familiar… but he couldn’t place it as the distortion in his hearing made things sound slightly different. He looked up at the creature vaguely making out features, the sharp teeth, the blood around its mouth the lust for flesh, it all quickly changed his perception of thinking he knew who this voice belonged too. He knew it was too late to thrash the teeth were getting closer to his arm and in that moment they locked eyes.

Akijan carried on looking panicked by who it was and what he was about to do, but Waverley blissfully unaware as he closed his eyes and in that moment Waverley went limp, not resisting, not moving just floated there awaiting his fate.

He hoped, prayed and wished it would be quick thoughts running through his mind.

‘is this what my mother had to endure before her death? Hmph, least I know how she felt in those final moments before she was devoured to death.’The screams she gave, the pain she felt was all going to be his in a matter of seconds’

He floated there not paying mind to the actions of his predator, letting them do whatever they needed to prep for their meal. He knew it was an agonising process make them suffer so you get dinner and a show presumably. He let his thoughts run wild, all the hate from Sol playing over and over in his mind sol pushing him knowing he wouldn’t comeback alive he did it on purpose he knew it.
Could he blame him though? He wrecked everything who would want that around? Then his mothers words…

“your strong my baby boy, you can do anything you put your mind too and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, there will be others who will support and love you just as much as I!”

Shooting back to the day she went poof and how his father blamed him for wrecking that ship and for them monsters taking her and eating her alive his father wishing that it was him that got devoured and not her.

His body flinched at the thought.

Then back to when he met AkiJan, his savour, his hero. He remembered the black lotus in his hair it gave him comfort like Akijan was right there with him telling him it was gonna be okay he will save him before he meets fates end…he promised after all to take care of him, nothing bad will ever happen to him. The one who gave him hope, love,support all those things his mother did, he cared for him and he did the same. But he was long gone, would he even think to come find him? Was he too mad at him.? He felt bad enough like he let AkiJan down.

He thought for a second..

“well least he’d be free and not have a child around him that he felt obligated to look after because of poor living conditions”

Nope In a matter of minutes it will all be over and the sea and life in it will move on like it always does, it did with his mother, with his life everything, life doesn’t wait for no one especially for a mermaid with an unrealistic dream.

Finally, it was time.. the creature grabbed his arms, he begs in praying to himself for it to be quick, he kept his eyes tightly shut, but instead of pain he felt strange as he was thrusted upwards at full force. With no time to think he closed his eyes tighter than before as his body raced through the water cutting through it like butter but I doing so the mix in pressures Didn’t fair well for him he fainted almost immediately as Ubel grabbed him and brought him back up to the surface.

Jacques squealed seeing Ubel and he had Waverley ‘he did it the slippery eel actually did it!’ He gleamed reaching to grab Waverley from Ubel placing him down on the ground gently, checking he was still breathing releasing the gag from his mouth and rushing over to Ubel “UBEE YOUR ALIVE YOU IDIOT BUT I LOVE YOU, DON’T YOU DARE DO SOMETHING SO STUPID, I LOVE YOU FOR IT BUT I HECKING AINT LOOSING YOU…” he held Ubel in his arms as he looked down at ubee he noticed he wasn’t doing well. He looked around and not so far in the distance picking up friction for Narfi was Ruthven. Jacques placed Ubel down gently “I’ll be back Ubee just hang in there you too kid!”

He swam with all his might towards Ruthven so much so he stumbled into him making Ruthven drop all the fruit in the basket making him not best pleased. “Ooops, sorry Ruthy but this is important hate me later Ubee needs urgent care I’ll tell you the deets on the way c’mon hurry, he needs us the kid too!” He exclaimed grabbing Ruthven’s webbed claws and dragging him over to Ubel and Waverley as he explained what he assumed happened and then what Ubel did with his heroic actions.
 
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Ubel fell into Jacques's arms. Eyes closed and his breathing ragged with heavy gasps. He was clutching onto his chest as he tried to breathe properly but failed. Eyes fluttering open before closing again. He wasn't sure how Waverly was doing but at least he survived. That's all he can ask for. He watched through lidded eyes as Ruthven and Jacques came barreling at the two of them. He vaguely felt Jacques's hands around him before he fainted. Frantic shouting ensued as Ruthven struggled to keep them both awake. Ruthven, after being rudely smashed into was quite annoyed and peeved but it all dropped when he heard what had happened. Ubel? Ubel. UBEL! He had rushed over there and quickly went to Waverly, checking his pulse and taking everything off.

He was extremely surprised to see only a couple nicks here and there and one small gash but neither of these looked to be done by the hands of a predator. Perhaps hitting a rock awkwardly was all he could think of. He hauled Waverly in his arms, making sure Jacques did the same with Ubel before heading to the skull caverns. Bursting into Narfi's with the two of them. Narfi was in the same position he was in when speaking with Waverly. He didn't say much before waving them off. Ruthven did a small bow before leaving the chamber. Beckoning Jacques's to follow.

They entered another hall, setting Ubel and Waverly down on beds as two other fish immediately surrounded them, checking their vitals and any other visual injuries. It was confirmed they were suffering from decompression sickness but since they didn't stay in for too long and they got immediate care, full recovery is the most probable chance. They had just fainted. When they do wake up, they will most definitely have sores and cramps as well as numbness and fatigue. But lots of rest and minimal physical activity will do wonders.

Ruthven gave out a deep breath he wasn't realising he was holding in. "God damn it Ubel. You could have died for a fish you barely know." He rubbed his face in annoyance before sighing. "You did the right thing though..." He muttered quietly, moving Ubels hair out of his face. "So what exactly happened? I only heard a panicked version. I would like to know...who caused this." He frowned. "They will be served in the judge as this is a penalty offense. Aughh.." He groaned, leaning against the wall and tilting his head towards Jacques as he listened to what he knew. "I see, thanks. I need to write this up for Narfi to see. He likes things written then being spoken to him. Odd but I ain't questioning." He shrugged, scribbling what he heard down on a piece of paper.

Hours past and Ubel awoke with a splitting headache. His eyesight was dizzy and uncoordinated but he could vaguely see someone over his bedside. "Jacques....? Is that you?" He whispered, clenching weakly on the hand that lay in his. He blinked a couple times, not being able to speak before looking over. Seeing Waverly on a table next to him. Feeling a surge of energy, he leaned up, grabbing onto the arm next to him to provide support. "God i'm sore as hell." He gritted his teeth, rubbing his back awkwardly to look at the person next to him who was most definitely not Jacques. "HUH!?!' He shouted, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

The person chuckled. "I'm not Jacques, i'm sorry if I disappointed you but my name is Varuna. Pleasure to meet you!" She smiled, "I'm one of the medical experts here. Your friend is doing good as well if you were wondering! He woke up just a bit before you but I think is taking a rest. Is that right?" She asked, turning towards Waverly. "Jacques? Your boyfriend I presume? He is asleep but I'm sure he would be ecstatic to hear you woke up. You've only been out for a good four or five hours. Not bad for most cases. How are you feeling? Sore I presume?" She questioned.

Akijan's body lay in the deep, the predator had gotten its share and left the rest for scavengers or to rot. Kolohe had heard what happened and dropped everything to rush over to the chasm, not thinking another thought as she dove in. The pressure affected her less as her body was suited for the deep waters so she made a quick pace down to the bottom. Roaming her hand all over the sand, rocks and the occasional bones. Freaking out but trying her best to stay calm. She knew she was close when she smelled blood in the water. Going a bit farther, she saw him. Saw him for what he was. A corpse. As soon as she saw what had happened, she felt the urge to puke. He looked mangled and most likely dead. Surviving this would be a feat of it's own.
 
As Jacques panicked grabbing Ruthven and dragging him to help aid Waverley and Ubel, when they got back to the Skull Caverns, met with Narfi finding the best help, Ruthven guided Jacques to a small hall, with two beds. They both placed each of them down and stood back to let the medical fish take over.

Once they did their inspections and gathered things to speed and aid their recovery Jacques watched Ruthven head over to Ubel, Jacques floated there holding his head down he felt the same as Ruthven ‘Why Ubee, why?’
As Ruthven turned his attention back to Jacques he sighed “well we don’t know much all we saw was Sol swimming away from the cavern edge and we felt an eerie feeling coming from him something didn’t sit right so we swam over to take a look, personally I couldn’t see nothing but Ubee found the reflection of the kids scales and we tried thinking of all options which as you will more were very limited and so Ubee decided to jump the silly eel…. Then by some Miracle it couldn’t have been that long he was down there he got Waverley and that’s when I came and got you…I don’t know much else…” he looked away waiting for a small lecture from Ruthven how it shouldn’t have been him that went down not Ubel.
“Do we question anything Narfi does? I feel that’s a worst decision to ever be made.” He scoffed.

After the few hours had passed Waverley woke up first his gaze still slightly blurry as he opened his eyes looking around seeing the room, he sat up looking seeing Ubel on the bed next to him. He rubbed his head in confusion what the heck happened here?
He laid back down trying to recollect anything but it was all fuzzy he couldn’t remember much, though the only thing that came to mind is Sol…

He pondered his mind while it was racing what was he doing talking to Sol? He couldn’t remember.. he looked around wondering if anyone else he knew was around was AkiJan there? He was worried about him, worried he’d upset him. Truth be told he was wondering when he might leave him, his father always told him no one would want to hang around him for long.

In that moment he frantically reached his hand for his hair and felt the black lotus flower still there and sighed deeply “least I haven’t lost you” he smiled softly laying back down as he saw an medical profession walk in, greeted him but didn’t say a word just curled into himself.

His mind raced he knew where he was it wasn’t going to be just any hospital now was it, fix his tail and then of to an asylum damn it Waverley, what have you done to yourself?

He looked down at the markings on his tail, his mind still foggy hearing the doctors outside some words he could make out talking about harming, mental capacity, vitals, small talk with them…
The words swirled in his mind as he stared at the gauge in his tail did I do this too….myself?

Waverley questioned a lot of what happened is there a major part of what’s missing here than he didn’t remember?

He turned to face Ubel seeing him lying here he titled his head “why are you here?” He questioned silently to himself.
When Ubel awoke frantically like a deer in headlight Waverley watched the panic rise on him blinking as he watched.

Jacques came swimming in and went straight to Ubel “UBEEEE YOUR AWAKE!” He hugged into him smiling ecstatic “you had me so worried why did you have to pull a silly stunt like that for the kid Ubee, Ubeee I could have lost you.” He gripped onto Ubel holding him “that’s it im not letting you outta my sight I’m gonna be on Ubee watch till you’re on your tail again!” He insisted as he sat on the end of the bed.

Waverley sighed “saved?” He questioned under his breath. Getting up he swam to the door opening it and swimming out looking he now realised where he was “great now am I some sort of prisoner here?” He scoffed… seeing Ruthven coming back from seeing Narfi Waverley painfully swam over to him “mr Ruthven, have you seen Aki at all? Is he waiting to come collect me yet?” He asked his voice sounds shaken, uncertain with a hint of worry. Knowing deep down AkiJan wasn’t coming to get him. Suddenly he felt alone once again wrapping his arms around himself… “if he doesn’t come back does that mean I have to head back to my father?” He asked Ruthven the fear struck in his eyes as he floated down leaning against the wall. Like a lost child in a supermarket who couldn’t find their parents was how he felt once again.
 
"He is too sympathetic. Sometimes he gets a bit too reckless. When is it ever enough?" Ruthven asked, sighing before tilting his head back giving a weak laugh. "I know he isn't going to die yet I'm acting like it...he always pushes himself to save those who he cares about. But that of course causes him to be careless about himself...you know how he is don't you?" He asked, turning to Jacques. "The incautious acts he did just for someone in trouble. Hmph. He ought to learn and think before acting. He could have gotten both of them killed.." He chuckled and turned towards the entrance of Narfi's chambers. "Heh, I suppose not. But he isn't the type to get upset it's a light hearted joke between friends. He isn't all that bad. That's just how he is...99% of the time."

Varuna tended to Waverly once he woke up, she gave him a smile when he felt for the lotus hair clip. "Don't fret my dear, you had just woken up from fainting. Make sure not to get up as you might faint again." She gave him a cup, most likely tea mixed with medication. "You took quite the hit. How are you feeling?" She asked. Doing another physical examination. "Your wounds are healing up quite nicely, I'm glad you didn't get that harmed while taking a dive.." She frowned at the thought. He looked far too young and naive to have known what had happened to him. Seeing his confusion, she gave him a quick rundown of what she was told. "You will be staying here for now, as lord Narfi has signed for your stay." She bowed before exiting the room, leaving them be.

Ubel coughed when he was practically tackled by Jacques. Weakly patting Jacques's on the back. "Ribs...please." He coughed. Taking some deep breaths when Jacques moved away. "Because, even if I don't like him. Everyone deserves a chance to have a life, I ain't just going to let someone die. It's not...morally correct." He frowned at his odd word choice but said nothing, turning to Waverly. "You're awake...how are you feeling?" he asked. Rolling his eyes at Jacques's comment. "I'm not a fragile flower, you can lay off the protection stitch. It's nothing some rest can't do wonders on. Now let me be...thanks for being here though.." He whispered, giving a small smile at Jacques before turning to Waverly.

Ruthven shook his head. "Akijan hasn't responded to anything. I auctally did take a detour to his house but there wasn't anyone in there. I did send a message to Kolohe though if she knows his whereabouts." he reassured Waverly. "Though, Narfi has you staying here for the time being till someone signs you out. Though your father and your...brother aren't allowed to collect you. Narfi made sure of that so don't worry about seeing them for a good while. If you would like to ask more questions, Narfi is free as of right now." He handed Waverly a platter of fruits to snack on before leaving the medical wing to most likely cover some personal affairs. Jacques and Ubel quietly talked amongst themselves leaving Waverly to his thoughts.

Kolohe entered the wing shortly after. Holding a gift, well two of them. She handed one to Ubel and gave him a hug. Saying some words to him before swimming over to Waverly. "Hey, I hope you're feeling better after this whole event." She smiled, handing him her get well gift. She seemed less hyper and more tired and uptight. Though her smile never left her face. "I got these gifts for both of you after hearing what had happened, I wasn't sure what to get you in particular..." She frowned at Waverly's gift. "So I got you something Akijan mentioned that you might enjoy. It's a...how would I say this.." She pursed her lips as she tried to explain what she had gotten Waverly. "It's...a bundle..? Well just open it. He commented how he always saw you fidgeting with anything in your reach so this might keep your hands busy."

Waverly opened the box to see a variety of items, all items from the world above. Mirrors, cutlery, toys and other sorts of items. Since Akijan's father is from above, it must have been easy for him to obtain these items. She gave a smile before turning to Ubel. "Is Narfi free? I have something...to say to him. It's very urgent." She said, getting confirmation she was about to leave before Waverly stopped her. Asking about Akijan. She froze at that, her voice becoming quiet. "I...erm....well...you see...." She stuttered with her words before coughing in her fist and giving a grin. "He is...sick! Sick. He is sick. Sick with a...bad case of...poison? Food poisoning! Yep...food poisoning..." She brushed him off quickly, saying she had to get to Narfi before rushing away.

Kolohe couldn't tell him. She couldn't. She couldn't tell Waverly that Akijan was in fact not sick with food poisoning. And was in fact laying in her bed, asleep from the blood loss. Just the thought of him when she first pulled him out of the water made her gag. How he was straight up missing a leg, torn away from his body. Same with an arm and an ear. His eye gouged out by a claw or a stone of some sorts as well as cuts across his chest and other body parts. She was praying to every god when she felt a faint heartbeat. Him being alive was so rare for his condition. She had hauled him out and covered him with a blanket. Immediately handing him to the medics she had called for and rushing back to the Ghetto. Making sure not to be seen.

After she had her viewing with Narfi, explaining what she knew of the incident as well as the state of Akijan. She was told that she had to either tell Waverly what had happened as he would either figure it out himself and go looking for Akijan or something else. Lying wasn't good in this situation and holding it off would make it worse. "The kid is already traumatised enough, lying isn't going to help in any situation you may think of. Tell him what has happened and let him think for himself." Echoed in her mind, she trusted Narfi with her whole heart but she had her doubts. Breaking it to Waverly was something she hoped she never had to do. She didn't want to do it. She didn't want Waverly to see the mangled corpse of Akijan. She wasn't sure if Waverly was ready for that. And frankly, neither was she. She joined Waverly in the chamber room and sat next to him. "So, did they tell you anything?"
 
Jacques sighed “yeah, he has a big heart sometimes and doesn’t think before he acts, wears his heart on his sleeve.” He looked at Ubel and reverted back to Ruthven “the consequence could have been recklessly high fro him and the kid but they are both here and on the road to recovery I suppose we shouldn’t dwell on what he did, more just making him a little more aware of there ever was a next time..I hope there isn’t..” he scoffed leaning against the wall.
Jacques raised his eyebrow looking at Ruthven “light hearted joke between friends…right?” He sounded unconvinced by that statement but didn’t delve anymore deeper into the matter.

Waverley looked around darting his gaze straight to Varuna not wanting to say a word he just focused on calming his breathing as he was handed the tea. He looked down into the shell cup and watched the liquid swirl as the steam rose. He took a sip then giving a side eye to Varuna once more. As she asked a question he hesitated just replying with a quick “fine!” As he resumed sipping on the tea.

Waverley listened to Varuna’s explaining of what went down he titled his head this can’t be?
He stared blankly at the wall infront of him before placing the cup down and he himself laying down, curling his fin up to him as much as he could but the pain made it too hard to do so.
He didn’t say anything more to Varuna but thought about what she had said trying to retrace any steps, nothing matching up though especially Narfi signed for him to stay? Do they think he’s that far gone down looney lane that he would believe Narfi the one who told him to leave and agreed without saying that he was a pathetic fish? It just all wasn’t adding up in his mind.

Jacques frantically pulled away but still standing close beside the bed “sorry Ubee, I was just so happy to see you’re okay and awake.” He brushed the hair from Ubel’s face and sighed deeply “yes but you could have got yourself and the kid killed by doing what you did.” He shook his head, startled when Ubel turned his attention to Waverley he almost forgot he was in the room.
Waverley shrugged “fine I guess…thanks for saving me…” he turned his back facing the cave wall not seeming to want to talk any further on anything.

Jacques scoffed at Ubel “you’ve just been through something major let me look after my Ubee! What kind of *he whispers boyfriend* would I be if I didn’t now?” He questioned Ubel’s response, but it wasn’t soon before long before Waverley upped and outed of the room with Jacques turning back to Ubel “wonder what’s up with the kid?”

Waverley sighed “I hope he’s okay? Man I really screwed up this time, first his ship..now his trust, I hate how curious I got of his ship, I mean you’ve seen them right? They are just…” he stopped and in doing so Ruthven continued “he’s not my brother….we’re not even related in anyways, he was just someone he found was good enough to replace me.. even held a calling event for it, people signed up did the tasks on the list and the most competent was the one who got the place…ha! It’s funny do you know the whole mermaid race thinks I’m dead? That sol is actually his son..it’s just..argh sorry I’m rambling again..” he rubbed the back of his head sighing “I may take that chance actually I have other questions not to do with the traveler…” he trailed off as Kolohe entered the wing

Waverley looked over at Kolohe mixed feelings on her approach though he couldn’t pinpoint why…why did his mind feel so…empty?
“The most major thing that happened was the gauge in my tail, I suppose the exposing of my true fin colours nothing that is a biggie though.”
Waverley good the gift and held it in his arms looking down at it “thank you Ms Kolohe but you really didn’t have to do this you and Aki have been far too generous to me…I think?”
He questioned though after a moment he nodded trying to reassure himself.

He rummaged through the gifts finding all the gizmos the toys, cutlery mirrors and other pieces he smiled at each one “he knew I loved to collect these kind of things.. thank you it’s very thoughtful of you both…” he stopped for a moment as she addressed Ruthven asking if Narfi was free to talk on an urgent matter Waverley grabbed her hand before she went to swim off “hey, erm Ms, Kolohe where is Aki? I thought he would have come with you or come to collect me at least? Is he okay? Do I need to come to him?” He asked his eyes visibly full of worry.

He looked startled blinking once or twice “food poisoning? Don’t you normally only get that from meat?” He pondered “I swear I only seen him eat seaweed bars thus far…argh she’s covering the fact he doesn’t want to see me isn’t she…dang Halibut! Argh….why did I have to go and ruin one of the only things that was important to me… he’s still so kind and thoughtful of me but he’s hurt because of me” he floated to the ground re rummaging through the gift box at all of the items and touching the lotus “if only you were here to explain what each one is and tell me stories of them dang it Aki! I’ve known you such little time but it feels I’ve known you my whole life, it’s a scary sea bed out there without you to guide me” he looked down at the box breaking down in tears as he gripped the box tighter.

After some time passed he had wiped the tears and again began looking at the items trying to figure out what they did and what they were used for he pulled out the toy that was shaped like a duck everytime he pressed it bubbles came out where it should have squeaked. He looked at it sighing “well I guess I have you now….bubbles?” He questioned as he held the toy upside down and observing it every angle. As Kolohe appeared to sit next to him he looked over to her holding the duck toy in his hand he looked up at her “not much, only that I was found dropping into the depths of the deeper sea abyss and Ubel saved me…there was some other parts but I forgot them I remember seeing Sol but what happened then after is kind of blank..I think I was heading back to Aki’s and I must of got lost or something I was chained up so maybe I got myself into a little trouble but one thing that is still there in my mind…” he flinched grabbing hold of Kolohe’s arm in reflex and his breathing got more rapid as the one stuck out memory came flooding back.

“I remember feeling panic, I was held by a monster with sharp…..teeth? These scary eyes that…he erm..” he started to shake “the monster was about to eat me I can still hear the words he said to me…”

He paused looking down at the duck “Someone tied you up...didn't they." "How cruel of a fate...how cruel indeed..." he looked up at Kolohe “the strangest and confusing part of this is that I thought I recognised the voice of the monster but for nothing can I put on who’s voice it reminded me off..”
he looked at her “please I need you to keep this a secret I haven’t told the medics and i don’t want to be whisked away to an asylum but I can’t remember much and even some basic things I can’t remember how to do it’s like a part of my my memory has just gone…disappear. They say I’m fine but I don’t feel fine I can’t remember crap. He sighed looking down “it’s that bad I know Aki isn’t called Aki but what the heck is the last part of his name?” He questioned looking quite in distress with the matter, without thinking he broke down in Kolohe’s arms crying,deeply sobbing on her.
 
Varuna gave a smile and a nod after hearing his response, rummaging through a drawer and placing some pills in a jar. "If you feel sore, take two of these with some water. It helps relieve pain." She said, pointing at the bottle. "If you want some more tea, let me know. If you have any questions, you're free to ask me or get someone to send a message to Narfi. I'm sure he would be willing to answer any inquiries you might have." She placed a small bell near his bedside table before leaving the room to tend to other patients. The door closing with a thud.

Ubel gave a sigh, patting Jacques's on the head. "I'm fine. No need to worry about me, you shouldn't get yourself worked up so hard to begin with." He tipped his head back, drinking the tea before frowning. "Well, i didn't. I call that an accomplishment...speaking of which. Waverly, how are you?" He asked. "Well..." He pursed his lips as if concentrating deeply. "I..well when I was heading down to get you, you suddenly came flying up out of nowhere to me. Like if you landed on a geyser and it shot you up. That's all I can think of as a reasonable explanation. But there aren't any geysers in the abyss so how would you have...gotten the height per say?" He frowned. He gave a small chuckle at Jacques's comment and ruffled his hair. "I know you care, but don't be Ruthven 2.0. I'm not sure if I can handle another."

Ruthven gave a small knod. "Ah, I see. Now that you say that, I can see the differences. It's quite narcissistic of him but who am I kidding? Shoulda seen this a mile away." He coughed awkwardly into his fist when Kolohe entered. Leaving the two alone as he left the room. Kolohe gave a small wave to Ruthven as he passed her, swimming to Waverly after handing Ubel his gift. "Well, your natural colours are quite beautiful." Kolohe commented, admiring the scales. "Oh don't be, it's a gift between friends. Nothing more than that, now open it! I hope you like it!" She smiled as she watched Waverly go through the items in the box. "Akijan knew you were always intrigued by this so he thought it would be a wonderful gift." She waved goodbye to Ubel after asking something of Ruthven and was to swim off in a hurry before she was stopped.

Kolohe gave a weak laugh as she darted her eyes around the room. "Akijan...can't come. He is fine, as of right now. Just isn't able to move from his current location. Don't worry about it though!!! He is getting...treatment..?" She frowned at her words before waving frantically at Waverly. "It's...from seaweed!! Seaweed. He got food poisoning from seaweed!! It's very...common and he ate so much he got sick!!" She gave a frazzled smile at her attempt to excuse Akijan and quickly swam away. After a while she came back, seeming to be in a calmer mood yet still having frayed nerves. "That's a rubber ducky, at least I think so...I'm not that well versed in what these things are. I know Akijan is so i'll give him a visit after."

Kolohe gave a thoughtful hum as she listened to Waverly. Fidgeting with her fingers nervously when she heard about the supposed monster. She was about to say something when she was shaken by Waverly. "Please, take deep breaths. They already know that your mind is fuzzy but that doesn't mean you're insane. You're not going to an asylum. It's a natural symptom to be a bit slow after recovering from compression sickness. Just wait a bit and i'm sure your memory will come to you!" She gave a sad smile as she held Waverly, letting him cry his heart out. "It's..Akijan..my dear. Jan, like January. The month. Akijan..."

Kolohe helped Waverly calm down and helped him retrieve the missing bits of his memory. Telling him what she knew had happened and comforted him through it all. Though she went silent when Waverly asked about Akijan once more and the monster who had helped. She looked away, fear creeping over her face. "Oh..I don't think your ready for it but..Narfi said it would be better to tell the truth as soon as possible." She took a deep breath and held Waverly's hands. "The monster..was Akijan. He fell off the deep end and was going through...a phase. He went to the abyss to find someone to feast on..because he is a natural carnivore. Despite being a human and nymph, his body craves meat and meat only."

"So he was down there when you got thrown over, he must have found you first before any of the other predators that live in the deep sea. Thank god but he must have been in a crazed state. A state, even I have never seen before. And well, we have been friends for years and I thought I saw it all. The maniac episodes, depression and such. He got the same disorder from his aunt, he told you about it no? Bipolar disorder is..genetic. His family line is known for having problems with mental health so it wasn't..the biggest surprise when he got diagnosed. So what I'm saying is that he was going through one of the worst manatic episodes I have ever seen. And when he found you, he was off the deep end. He saw you as food and that's it. But somewhere along the line, he must have realised the helpless fish was you and snapped out of it. So he helped you get back to the surface."

She held Waverly's hand tightly, taking a deep breath. "After that, I don't know what happened but when I went down, he was mauled to pieces. Self harm is of course, something you need to be aware of. But the injuries he sustained were nothing done by him, I can't..believe he would..no can do that to himself. So that's why he didn't visit you, he physically can't. And...he isn't well. Physically or mentally and he might need to go to an asylum or some ward if he doesn't get better. I'm so sorry if this is too much but I can't keep it from you. You deserve to know...who he is besides the facade of a happy go lucky teenager. I suggest..not seeing him. For who knows how long, it might trigger something and get both of you hurt. I don't want Akijan to go through any more pain, he has been suffering for enough. And I know he wouldn't live if he found out he harmed you while in an unstable state." She held Waverly's shoulders, tears spilling down her eyes. Her best friend, the one that had been with her all her life. Was losing himself and might end it all. Oh how cruel, Malgosia. How cruel indeed.
 
Waverley just about comprehended what Varuna was saying to him as he stared blankly at the wall “thank you..” he said hesitantly still working incase this was some sort of Asylum.. he didn’t trust anyone, not anymore anyways.

Jacques slapped his hand against his forehead in disbelief to what he was hearing “so worked up? SO WORKED UP? Ubee do you not realise how serious what you did was?” He exclaimed seeming more worked up than he did five minutes ago.
Jacques sighed folding his arms at the end of Ubel’s bed listening to the talks between Ubel and Waverley, still peeved on how naive now Ubel was being about the whole situation…

Waverley shrugged “I’m unsure… all I remember is seeing something when I was down there that’s still a blur to me. I’m sorry I can’t answer more than that, but again I’m thankful for what you did for me.” He nodded to Ubel before heading out the room.
Jacques snickered at Ubel swimming next to him on the bed smiling with a hint of mischievousness “so is that a challenge to try and be Ruthven 2.0 I can do that perfectly” he cleared his throat “Narfi oh Narfi how I love thee, but I can’t tell thee because dare if I told thee my feelings you (plot twist) might actually like me too and our love will not be secret no more..” he said in his best dramatic tone “so how many points for my acting” he giggled doing his best to see Ubel smile.

Waverley looked down “yeah I understand why they call me pathetic and all that I never went to school I learned basic things from what I picked up or fellow prisoners taught me.. occasionally when Sol wanted a “proper” answer from me he would slide things in that I had to pass if I wanted food..the mermaids can be quite harsh to keep their sold perfection look on the outside” he looked as he then saw Kolohe enter, watching her head to Ubel then back to him.

“Thanks I’m the only mermaid of its kind to have a tri colour fin, guess that’s why my father inked over it..” he shrugged but smiled at the present now rummaging its contents “well thank you any gift is more than just a gift to me , huh..”he laughed a little “he did, did he?” He looked over each thing baffled what they were but couldn’t stop staring at them as each individual gift peaked his interest.

Waverley tilted his head, he knew he wasn’t the brightest fish in the sea but something about Kolohe’s story wasn’t adding up “seaweed, food poisoning from seaweed?” He questioned in disbelief all the times he had it was he seriously lucky or was something not right? He felt more the latter but didn’t press the matter I mean who was he to call her a liar?

While Waverley sat there rummaging the box to figure things out what they were, what they did he held the duck looking it over intently “a rubber ducky… I see” he said as squeezed it once more then pulling it close to him.

Waverley tried drying his eyes with his arms as he looked back up to Kolohe worry still across his face as if her words hadn’t quite reached him “but what if it’s getting worse? Like what happens then, my head hurts so bad but I refuse to take anything they give me I had the tea and now I’m wondering if that even helped or made it worse I don’t trust them I can’t even trust the wording that Narfi wanted to help me and protect me from my father and Sol… after how he treated me… and now I just feel alone I just…” he cried into Kolohe also frantic on how he’d forgotten AkiJan’s name. “AkiJan, how could I forget that…” the guilt swamped his face as his thoughts surrounded him in that moment.

Waverley calmed down feeling a little more reassured with the missing pieces filled in some clicked and others he was still unsure if he did that but as Kolohe was saying it. It must have happened right? He listened carefully to each word she was saying “the truth?” He questioned his heart sinking knowing that something had happened was AkiJan dead and she was just appeasing him? Was he actually being sent off to a mental asylum? What, what was it that was seen as the truth?

Waverley’s heart pounded hearing all the words especially “AkiJan was the monster” the look, the eyes, the teeth…that voice swam around him, he felt sick, he didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or cry…HE PROMISED HE FREAKING PROMISED!

Waverley pulled his hand away from Kolohe’s placing the duck and pulling the lotus from his hair into the box and the lid sealed tightly. He breathed deeply unclear by his demeanour what this meant.
He watched as Kolohe was crying herself it made sense why she lied now, it wasn’t the easiest news to digest.

He kept the box close looking unsure on what to do with it he looked up at Kolohe “you should get back to checking on him, send him my regards and thanks for the gifts, to make a speedy recovery, I have to speak to Narfi….thank you for telling me, I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you…” he spoke, eerily calm, his words seems sincere but alarmingly cold. As he swam off heading down the cold hall placing his gifts by his bed and swimming back off down to see Narfi.

He got to the waiting area and paced left to right constantly he didn’t know what to do, what to think, who to trust or where to go..his mind raced the picture of the Monster well AkiJan about to devour him repeating over and over making him feel he was loosing his mind. Holding his hands to his head begging for the pain and the thoughts to stop.

The announcement rang for Waverley to be able to see Narfi and he snapped out of the small craze but when he looked down at his red raw hands he saw strands of hair in his hands. Things weren’t good, nor were they looking good. He just prayed to who they all did Malgosia that Narfi could give him some direction, help and comfort on this or else he truly would be in serious trouble.
 
Ubel sighed, turning away. "We weren't harmed, besides some sickness but even then, that's not avoidable." He crossed his arms, leaning against a pillow. Frowning at Jacques. "I know you care but I think tracking my every move is a bit over the top. I know you think I'm being Naive but I knew of the risks and I took it, if I died. Well oops I guess." He snickered. "Oh don't worry about it. Not going to let someone die right under my nose. Besides, you just woke up from fainting, no doubt your mind is going to be a bit fuzzy. Hope you get better soon though." He turned to jacques, pursing his lips. "Well, no. That's not what I meant but-" Stopping to watch Jacques make an overdramatized reenactment of Ruthven during his denial phase. "Oh come on man!" Ubel chuckled. "You know Ruthven hates when you bring up that, though it was quite spot on..." He smirked, to the dismay of Ruthven who shot Jacques a dirty glare.

"It's not going to get worse, even then. You're not going to be sent into an Asylum just because..well. You're forgetting things." She held him close to her, whispering soothing words. "A headache love, you need to drink liquids. It's not going to get better if you don't treat yourself. Please, take care of yourself. I trust Narfi and I know he wouldn't try to poison you out of nowhere." She said softly, rubbing comforting circles in his back. "Even if it doesn't feel like that. Narfi has his own odd way of showing love and affection. He may have been...rude about your journey with the traveler but that doesn't mean he doesn't care about your well being." She held him close, tears spilling out her eyes. She couldn't. She wouldn't. Oh Malgosia, give me your strength. And your honesty. For may I reach peace.

Kolohe gave a shaky breath. "I...can't." She whispered, covering her face as she sobbed louder. "He, he..." She couldn't make a coherent sentence before another stream of tears ran down her face. "I came here...because I couldn't stand the thought of seeing him. I can't go see him...not now anyways..." She whispered something under her breath, watching as Waverly swam away quickly. "I can't...I can't..." She repeated before staring blankly out a window. Knowing deep inside her heart, she doesn't know if she will ever see him again. She knows that he has a higher chance of being sent to an asylum than Waverly ever will. And that is what hurts so deep. Knowing that her best friend will succumb to the same evil fate of his mother. Being seen as a monster...because he is one.

The door opened and there stood Narfi, not in a throne but rather sitting on a small stool. His back turned to Waverly, the sound of piano keys being hit slowly echoed loudly. The darkness covered the whole room in a shade of inky black, Waverly could only hear the sound of the piano as well as the faint outline of Narfi's body. "I see you have questions you wish to be answered." He said. Getting up from the stool and turning to Waverly. Though his face was still not able to be seen. "Speak or forever hold your peace." He listened to Waverly's rant, not saying much till Waverly was finished. Narfi tilted his head, seeming to stare at the wall. "Your questions regarding the traveler, was no mistake. I found it ill-worded and quite incoherent. That doesn't mean I'm going to let you die. You entered my domain with the protection of two I hold quite dear to me."

"Those two sworn their protection over you, as well as Ubel putting his life on the line to save you from harm. I find it quite intriguing that you just waltzed right into their lives without care and they already find love within you." He produced a small shard, most likely from a mirror. He held it in front of Waverly, slipping it into his hand before going deeper into the room. His voice being all that told Waverly, Narfi was still here. "Take a look, child of the sea. I extend my hand out of hospitality for you to have a life outside those who pushed harm against you. You may accept it or decline it, I hold no grudge against you. If not, I bid you farewell." He reappeared on the same throne that Waverly saw him on during their first meeting. When Waverly took a look at the shard, he saw himself looking back at him. Frazzled and confused, hurt and betrayed. The emotions swirling inside him as Narfi spoke again. "You're not quite satisfied yet, aren't you. What else captivates your attention?"

Akijan blinked open his eyes, staring at the wall. He felt dazed and weak. As if he was pumped full of pain killers and other such drugs. He could barely feel his body, like needles sticking in him. Whenever he tried to flex a finger or raise his leg, he couldn't. As if he was stuck in a vat of concrete that had hardened. Attempting to turn his head yielded no results. He settled on just rapidly blinking, trying to calm his beating heart as he tried to dig through his head and pull out what was going on. He didn't get far before feeling a sharp pain in his leg, he tried to jerk away but he couldn't. He was left weak and defenseless as the feeling of a knife cutting through his flesh continued.

He tried to scream but nothing came out. He lowered his eyes when he noticed it. A muzzle. A metal mouthguard blocking any access, secured tightly to the side of his face. Seeing it, he started to thrash around but was quickly subdued with another pump of anesthetics. Making him lose consciousness once more. As he drifted off, voices started to talk. Something about...medications and therapy....asylum..? He didn't register the last word before falling back into the inky void. His head feeling lighter than ever. What was going on? What was happening to him? What was going to happen to him? Oh Malgosia, let me walk the path you could never see. For blindness turned to to a darker path.
 
Jacques sighed “I know, I know.. but still..” he looked away “but still what about me did you think of me or Ruthven or Narfi in that moment wjat your actions may have caused us? A whole lotta upset, for a fish that let’s face it no one cares about I don’t mean it in a horrible way just saying it like it is…” he shrugged.

Waverley sighed “so I hear.. well thanks again!” He tired to face the opposite way back to Ubel and Jacques, though he could hear them his mind wandered elsewhere.

Jacques snickered after doing he’s amazing impression though leaned back into Ubel when Ruthven shot him a look which meant Jacques was done mocking him. For now anyways.

“What about all my stories with the traveler I was always being told that I was mad for even trying. My father has been trying to put me in an asylum for a while now with my “destructive tendencies” he sighed.
He knew deep down that he was slightly overreacting but then again who could blame him? After the events unfolded he wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
Waverley cried into Kolohe as she cried into him he couldn’t think that after how cold Narfi was that he would actually care for him or was he forgetting something vital and jumbling things up… he wasn’t so sure anymore but he got up after thanking Kolohe and swam off to see Narfi.

Waverley entered the room the black dark ink impaling the rock as it did before, but things weren’t set up as they were before, there was now the sound of a piano, the tune was eerie but quite pleasing, the music heard from where Waverley came was much different more jolly and up beat, this seeming more dark and deep with reeking purpose.
“I do..” Waverley sighed explaining all his questions on the matter here and how he was confused That Narfi was helping him…it all just seemed well Bizarre!

He listened to Narfi and sighed “they said you were the best one to ask, tales spoke of you being the one who knew them, they thought it would be best, I don’t need to explain much about me you probably know more of me than I do myself, I’m not the smartest I know but I do know how much they mean to you, so I will take full responsibility for my actions in coming here in the first instance.” He bowed to Narfi, but as he straightened his Back again he heard Narfi continue.

He listened and as they all said to him Narfi really was the wisest of the sea, he his words had some layer of comfort to them but again when he came near and placed the small shard in his hands, he flared there bewildered by it’s sparkly beauty. When Narfi’s voice spoke to him he startled “extending hand of hospitality..for me…” he thought for a moment shaking his head “I accept, thank you Narfi. Does this mean I work for you now I’m like a maid or something?” He asked genuinely not fully understanding what his voice said.

He looked back into the shard and sighed deeply, seeing his reflection for the first time making him drop the shard almost but he saved it in a just about way. As Narfi promoted noting there still may be more on his mind he looked away “it’s about Aki….erm Aki… what did Kolohe say it was” he pondered for a moment “JAN AkiJan… I erm heard you wanted me to know the truth about me I guess you know he tried to devour me in his…current state… I hear Kolohe’s view and now I want to hear yours…” he breathed deeply “what’s your views on me going to see him?” Looking at Narfi he knew the answer and he nodded “okay understood thank you for your time and thank you for your kind generosity.” He swam off leaving Narfi’s quarters and sighed.

He swam outside the skull cavern looked around and sat on a rock to ponder “Aki was never like that, how can they be acting like he’s the monster? He helped me so much and promised to protect me but I refuse to believe he’s the monster..” he swam up pacing for a moment remembering Jacques mention to Ubel about how Narfi likes notes written up before relayed back to him. He clicked his fingers “there’s got to be a file roll or something. I’ll wait till night fall.” He thought heading back in to the room where Ubel and Jacques were he laid down saying to them he felt tired and was going to sleep. Which he pretended he did eating for night fall, Jacques and Ubel were asleep, Ubel in Jacques arms perfect. Hopefully easy get out card. He got up silently and stealthily made his way through, still unsure of the place he spent at least a good hour trying to find even the closest point to an office.

Eventually sometime later he came across it using his fin painfully as a key to unlock the door, surprisingly as an old trick it worked a charm begged the question how he didn’t get himself out but there were other measures put in place for this reason.

He looked around and set eyes on the filing cabinet, opening it slightly he saw it was alphabetical order and but chronological order via dates.

He sighed knowing too well he wasn’t good with this sort of stuff, he liked for what he could assume was the nearest date and he came across something with AkiJan’s name, he pulled it open and behold all the latest information was there and the location of where he was..an asylum… interesting. He quickly threw the papers back in not caring if it was in the right place or not. He swam back out closing the door behind him and heading out the caverns.

He swam for a while asking the odd random fish that was out on this unearthly hour, lucky the few he pestered knew the general direction assuming he probably wanted to send himself in a mermaid swimming around skull caverns at this time was unheard of..

Though he traveled for a while getting lost a few times, the sun began to rise and he finally set eyes on the asylum. He swam over to the entrance noticing it wasn’t open he sighed looking at the opening hours on the clam to the left. He waited until that time placing the lotus in his hair and holding the rubber ducky in his hands he went in and asked to see AkiJan claiming he was a close friend which he hoped to see him as but when they are unsure he panicked “he’s my I mean was my caregiver” he said he was what now?

Finally making it passed the last hurdle now je knew he was here but surly it can’t be tjst bad right he gulped knowing everyone told him not to do this he was here slightly regretting being here but he had to know he had to see for himself. The nurse knocked on the door announcing AkiJan had a visitor, as Waverley entered the door and was speechless beyond words at what he saw before him.
 
Ubel pursed his lips, crossing his arms and huffed with annoyance dripping off his words. "First off all, don't call Waverly useless. That's quite rude and unjust. And besides, i'm sure you can do just fine without me. Sure it would suck ass but even then..." His voice faltered, as if he didn't know what else to say. Wasn't sure if what he was going to say would be helpful or just useless and another self sacrifice play. He stopped there, as if a new conversation topic propped up that was more interesting. He gave chuckle, opening his arms for Jacques. Playing with his hair as he gave a playful smirk to Ruthven who was ready to crush Jacques's skull open.

Narfi played the song with remorse and emotion that filled the room, making the black ink feel like it was a thin cover up instead of a suffocating layer that squeezed the light out of anything. "Well speak then, time is of the essence." He spoke, his words cutting through the air. "Best one to ask..." he mused. "While they are right, your visit was unprecedented. While perhaps I was harsh to you during our first meeting. It is what I believe in, royalty and the olden way is not something to be taken carelessly. You are pardoned, don't make me regret it." His ending sentence held a bite but it meant no harm. He swam through the water, the inky darkness rippling with every flawless move of his body.

"No, my hand has you staying here for the time being till you find inner peace. You have questions that will be answered in other manners later on so I hope you find your peace after you see the truth." He sat delicately on the throne, his tentacles settling at the ground. The tips of them could be seen as Narfi looked down at Waverly. "Akijan...Kolohe didn't want you to visit him correct? I believe that you have the right to see your former guardian in his state that he is in now. Truth is in the eye of the beholder, see him for who he is and decide on what to do later on. It is no good hiding from someone because of fear and betrayal that laces your tongue. The worse you keep yourself from the light, the darkness suffocates you whole." He dismissed Waverly away with his hand, the room slowly shifting back into nothing more than a grand piano and a stool in a brightly lit circular room.

The nearest office he came to was a huge door with a singular lock on the door. Easy to open and the door creaked as Waverly peeked in. The room felt endless, there were cabinets everywhere, touching the ceiling with their towering height. Each neatly sorted in their own separate departments as well as being apathetically ordered and then chronologically. There was also a separate area for incidents involving individual creatures. Waverly's best bet would be to check there. After more searching, he found Akijan's name and the newly updated file with status. "Akijan Shenzi Volturi - Status: Mentally unstable - Location: Insane asylum"

The person working at the table gave a blank stare at Waverly. "A close friend? For Sir Akijan? Sorry mate, he is currently in a secluded location of the ward that means only close family members or those with permitted access can see him i'm 'afraid." The fish yawned as he blinked slowly at Waverly. "Caregiver..? That wasn't in his file..." He frowned. Pulling it up on his computer. WIth some more pestering, Waverly was pointed to the location of Akijan's room. Just wanting him gone and away. "Make sure to turn right, don't turn right. You might end up dead." He snickered to himself as he watched Waverly speed away.

The door opened slowly, revealing Waverly to a huge white padded room. No windows and nothing else of notice. Just a mattress and a bed with straps securing the person to the bed. The nurse watched as Waverly's eyes widened as he took in Akijan's state. The huge metal muzzle locked onto his face as a heart monitor beeped slowly. Tubes connected him to a multitude of medication inducers. His eyes were closed, must be sleeping. Or knocked out. Waverly could see a faded red stump of where his right arm used to be. The nurse frowned at Akijan giving a small statement on Akijan's current condition. "He attacked a staff member so the muzzle had to be put on. He is missing his right arm and left leg, and other like things." Listing off every injury Akijan has as well as his current mental wellbeing.

"Currently on drugs to keep him subdued, we don't know if he will ever go back to being just a fish since his condition is just worsening the effects. He might become resistant to the drugs so make sure not to get close or you will become his next snack." She closed the door quickly in Waverly's face. "Sorry, no one is allowed in. His condition is unstable and he is dangerous to be in the same room with. His mental state and physical state are damaged heavily, you may see him through a one way viewing window but you need to sign in first. Do you have any legal documents with connections between you and the patient?" She asked.
 
Waverley reframed from moving as he spoke with Narfi, all while he was playing the tune on the piano, as if the place wasn’t eeerie enough it was now more so, but the sea was more clearer and less thicker than before.
Waverley looked down relieved but yet a tinge of annoyance rang through him at Narfi’s statement but he brushed it off and nodded “thank you you won’t regret it, I promise, it means a lot to me.” He smiled softly.
Mesmerised he watched Narfi move through the water, so elegantly and so flawlessly. Explains why he is the idolised one down here.

“Inner peace? How am I gonna find that? I mean sure I guess it’s not gonna be too hard but it sounds kinda cryptic..” he shrugged rubbing the back of his head.
Waverley hung onto Narfi’s words a little more relieved knowing he understood where he was coming from, unlike the others. “I’m touched at how much you understand what is best here, knowing what might be going on inside my head also.” He noted, And just like that Narfi was gone with a flash and Waverley was left alone once again. His thoughts wondering “well if I have somewhat permission I,l will go see him, I have to! It couldn’t have been him who tried attacking me” he just couldn’t see it being him, all the kindness, the love and support how could that have gone just like that, yes he had something hereditary from his aunt, not that Waverley understood fully what it was. He needed answers though and this was final.

As Waverley made it to the office peaking through he gingerly swam in to the never ending cabinets it seemed to be. It was overwhelming for his foggy brain right now, his headache seeming to be worst than before when he walked in.
He looked around feeling slightly hopeless until his eyes gazed up the section for incidents involving individual creatures.
He browsed over finding AkiJan’s and as he shakily lifted the file up and browsed over its contents closing it. What was he doing?

At the Desk he frantically worried internally about not being able to see AkiJan for himself he went and threw the caregiver card when he was meant to say guardian but it what’s the same thing right? Right?

He looked around “well erm it was more of a recent arrangement…I believe papers are in the processing stage..” he said in his most confident persuasive voice he didn’t even know he had.
Waverley gleamed a little as the worker allowed him access though his directions were not the best for him in the comfort department. “Sure go right only I got this.” He sped off and sighed deeply that all that even worked. Hes never lied as big as that before though there was a hint of truth, he was looking after him just the terminology used was inaccurate that was a later Waverley problem.

Waverley looked his eyes upon AkiJan they weren’t lying what the hell happened to him!
He looked in shock and not really registering it was Aki, happy go lucky Aki…was this something he’s caused him to do? He spiralled the questions as he then looked at his body disfigured, torn apart this couldn’t happen the guy traveled the ocean and one thing and his reduced to this someone must have done this he’s not mad, he’s not got issues someone harmed AkiJan and Imma hunt down ever last fish till their insides are outside for what they done to someone I care about!

Waverley still not convinced him being a monster just nodded no words “thank you for telling me..” was all he said as he stared at AkiJan.
Waverley watched the door slam in his face bringing him back to the here and now facing the nurse “oh…paper work? It’s erm being processed right now as far as I’m aware..” he hoped he could still use the line though it was seeming unfathomable with how much they were asking he wouldn’t know :who has papers on them to just state their relation to a person I don’t exist on any of mine only what Narfi had..

The questions ran through his mind he needed answers this didn’t answer nothing sure he may have attacked a nurse but he’s trapped and scared he wants and needs out, don’t worry aki I’ll come save you and break you free from this forsaken place.

Waverley swam away for a moment he knew they would ask for more documents he just wanted to talk to him
Tell him comfort like he did with him if only Malgosia hear my words please let me help Aki he needs me.. he held his hands together closing his eyes sitting on the sea clam he wanted thinking up how he was going to work this maybe if his Kaito heard him speak then he would snap out of it… he wouldn’t hurt me….
 
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"Recent arrangement you say? I think I would have gotten a notice. Besides, you don't look to be related to the patient." The clerk glared at Waverly, leaning over the table to get a better look at Waverly. "If he is your caregiver, sorry mate. He went insane just like everyone else in this ward." He snickered, waving Waverly off as he pointed Waverly to the correct area. The nurse who was standing near a couple rooms and writing on a notebook, noticed Waverly and when asked for directions. led him to Akijan's room. Slowly opening the door, allowing Waverly to peak in. When she closed the door and asked for paperwork but received no answer, she gave a scoff and turned away. Leaving Waverly alone near Akijan's room.

A few moments later, a doctor arrived with nurses trailing behind him. "Please excuse us, we need to see the patient." They opened the door and slowly entered the room. Shutting the door behind them and deadlocking it. The nurse went up to Akijan's bed and monitored his vitals and drug intake. "Shall we try again?" She asked after confirming the stability. The doctor gave a nod and the nurse took off one of the tubes. Other nurses clambered around his bed, arms ready in case Akijan spasmed or tried to get away. Waverly was allowed into the viewing chamber since the supposed "documents" got into the database and Waverly was now registered being connected to Akijan by personal reasons.

Akijan awoke with a start, his arm jerking out and attempting to backhand whoever was closest to him but the nurse who was near, grabbed his arm and pinned it against the bed. He started thrashing around but with a pump of medication, was quickly subdued. Ceasing movement and just laying on the bed with a blank stare. The doctor swam forward, taking Akijan's right arm stump in his hand. Slowly taking off the wraps to reveal a healing bite wound that must have been the cause of the missing limb. The doctor then moved to his leg and then the rest of his body before greenlighting him. The doctor left and the nurses started unhooking all the tubes connecting Akijan to monitors and drug inducers.

The nurses rolled in a wheelchair and helped a slightly unconscious Akijan into it. He seemed very limp as if he was knocked out but the frantic movement of his eyes searching the room told a different story. Since the viewing chamber consisted of a one way mirror, Akijan couldn't see Waverly but despite that, stared directly at the wall where the mirror was located. As if he knew there was someone watching him as he was placed into the wheelchair. Strapped into it like some sort of torture device. His head drooped to the side but the nurses helped him back up, yet were careful not to go near his mouth to avoid the fate of the last nurse that had tried. A nurse opened the door to the viewing room and stood next to Waverly. "He is paralyzed as of right now, a vegetable state if you will but his mind is still conscious. Regular protocol for when a carnivore is in an unstable state."

"Why? It's to prevent any attacks he might ensue. Same with the muzzle, it's used to guard his mouth and if he does attack someone else, his mouth can't be another weapon at his disposal. Currently they are preparing him for physical therapy since with the two missing limbs, he needs help working on maintaining the functionality in his remaining two. You're free to watch of course, since the document allows you full range involving the patient." The nurse was about to leave before being stopped by Waverly who asked what had happened to Akijan and more so, who had caused the injuries. "Hm, well the report said multiple instances of self harm as well as injuries being sustained from another factor. Most likely another carnivorous predator. We aren't sure who or what took off his limbs as well as adding huge cuts and bites in his chest and torso area as there was no evidence but that isn't our mainest concern. Wrong place at the wrong time if you will."

Akijan was wheeled out and Waverly now was able to get a closer look. Akijan was wearing a basic hospital uniform, a white shirt with matching pants. Though the most striking feature being the silver muzzle and the bloody stumps of his missing leg and arm. His arm, leg and neck was also bandaged and below the shirt, bandages wrapping all around his torso could be seen as well. His head was leaning against a pillow, his striking cobalt teal eyes followed Waverly as he passed by the fish. The nurse gave a nervous chuckle as she kept pushing Akijan through the halls, heading towards a room with bars connected to the floor. As well as other various things filling up the room.

The nurses shuffled around, leaving a incapacitated Akijan in a wheelchair sitting next to Waverly. Akijan was staring blankly at the nurses who rushed around preparing the area, he was still under painkillers as well as drugs that left him relatively weak and imobile because of the fear of him going feral again. Akijan slowly moved his eyes back to Waverly, his mind was blank. Dulled under the effects of heavy drugs to reduce responsiveness. He felt like he knew this...fish. He didn't wear a white coat like everyone else did. Nor was this fish trying to keep him from moving. Just floating their blankly as if there wasn't a care in the world. Odd, he wanted to talk. Ask a question, ask where was he. Why was he here. Who was he. But his mouth couldn't move, like his voice was stolen from him. He should be trying to get out, get away but he couldn't move anything. Like needles were pinching into his skin and keeping him still and silent.
 
Waverley panicked as he felt the sweat drip from the pores of his skin “yeah, like only in the passed week or so…” he reluctantly stated even though it wasn’t true it had been what 2 days now of that, he was lying through his teeth something he wasn’t the most comfortable doing.
Waverley scoffed under his breath “so everyone keeps telling me…” he sighed smiling back as the fish behind the desk allowed him in. Relieved not only that it worked but to get away from the guy at the desk.

After nearly getting lost having to ask for directions the nurse he asked pointed the way and also came and opened the door but immediately shut it asking for papers he didn’t have scoffing and walking off. He was now alone, looking in at AkiJan.

Waverley was lost in thought, was he actually seeing this, it was like two completely different beings, he contemplated the thought that like Ruthven and Ubel maybe he was a twin and didn’t know it they picked him out as Aki for the sake of only knowing his name? Right? It just seems though the more he placed excuse after excuse to refuse to believe it was Akijan the more absurd things came to his mind.

All thoughts were immediately haltered with the doctor and nurses needing to head to the room, Waverley swam to the side to let them past nodding to each one waiting for one of them to escort him from the premises for lying.
After they entered the room watching them deadlock the door, rubbing Waverley the wrong way why are they treating him like some sort of monster he needs help not dragging ten feet under?

He watched them, doing all things he didn’t understand writing stuff down, poking at the baggy on the side filled with some reddish liquid, then they gingerly walking around him as if he would attack them any second.
He watched unsure if it was disbelief or whether it was disgust at the way he was being treated everyone he encountered was so high spoken of Aki, this couldn’t be right..

He made his way to the viewing chamber now watching everything more clearly seeing the state of his dearest friend, it broke his heart and filled it with pure hatred and anger to whoever did this to him…though the niggling thought in the back of his mind said “that’s you, you idiot.” He sighed focusing back to Aki.

Waverley’s eyes darted to arm wound, it looked bitten see I knew he was attacked he’s innocent I tell you! He looked over not able to see the wounds themselves that well but assumed by their expressions he seems to be recovering what a relief! He watched them unhooking tubes adding new ones but less than before it seems promising just some TLC and the boy will be back to himself and they can finally go find the traveler….he stopped his eyes darted to Aki’s missing limbs..”okay maybe let’s give up that dream.. unless…no, Wave no..” he held the rubber duck in his hand and sighed is taking care of Aki my new…..calling?

Waverley watched as the nurse wheeled in the wheelchair smiling as he saw “not as bad as they all claimed he was, do they think I’m just a baby who can’t take in this? Am I too weak in their eyes to take this. Tch, I’ll show them” he placed his hand against the glass looking at AkiJan “don’t worry Aki I’ll look after you, just like you promised me I’ll do the same for you and you know what least this way it means you get to keep your promise I know you’d be saddened to think you couldn’t but you saved me so now it’s my time to save you.” He wiped a tear from his eye watching as they placed a half unconscious Aki in the wheelchair.

He was uncomfortable seeing all the straps to hold him in place not really understanding the extent of what they meant just thought it was to help him sit upright with all his missing limbs and being a bit on the “sleepy” side.

Waverley looked at the nurse “paralysed? Meaning he can’t move?” He questioned trying to understand, he was never taught the big words or to understand these things.
“But he’s not a monster? He wouldn’t hurt anyone he was probably just scared, these things happen by accident..” he tried to persuade the nurse but the nurses face was a look he knew all too well “oh you naive child you really don’t know anything do you? He’s a monster…”

Waverley sighed but perked up when he heard he could come to the physiotherapist with Aki he nodded “of course I wanna be there! And glad you were able to find the documents!” He smiled as sorry struck him how the heck are their papers?…..Narfi? It’s gotta be he’s the only one who could have…crap that means he knows I’m here..argh that’s later me’s problem right now Aki is my focus!”

Waverley stopped the nurse before they continued about how Aki ended up this way, hearing the story again some adding uk others not he contemplated a lot of things mainly why the heck was he down there in the first place? He’d understand his aunt had mental health problems and wondered if that was a link but surly the guy went 18 solid years without a problem why now…the only thing he could think of was that perhaps he got worried looking for Him swam down there to find Waverley l deed was not down there and terror struck…. Or better yet Sol was just there so everyone told him did they fight and Aki slipped to his doom down there? Of all the possibilities he kept coming back to one factor everything changed when he entered Aki’s life… was it possible he wasn’t just a wrecker of physical things but of other beings if they got too close, was he wrecking his mind some how?
He wondered trying to brush it off this is fantasy talk wave how the heck can you destroy a fish internally….”

Waverley watched as Aki was pushed to be beside him seeing all the injuries and the shiny silver muzzle that beamed at him. “Why..” he mumbled under his breath.
Waverley floated in one spot as AkiJan was wheeled and placed next to him.
Waverley glanced up watching the nurses prepare the area, then turned his gaze back to Aki but found he was already looking at him.

He looked back holding the duck and ignored the warnings of everyone he floated right next to the wheelchair looking up at Aki, he placed the duck on his lap for a moment “soon you’ll be able to tell me what this thing is and where it came from I know it. I’m sorry you’ve been reduced to this, but please if you can hear or comprehend anything I know this isn’t you and your gonna be okay I’ll be here I promise you.”
He placed his hand on Aki’s so that Aki’s was on top so he didn’t feel Waverley was dominating him, he swam lower to express he wasn’t a threat to him, gave him then duck to show he holds no weapons to harm him. How did he know of how to show body language of this nature? It was almost like he knew how it felt to be in Aki’s position unable to talk, unable to understand what’s happening or why. He knew it all too well, it’s why he feared being placed in this place…
 
Akijan watched the nurses parade around him, dancing lightly on the ends of their tales or feet. Their nervousness that one wrong move would make him snap and eat them all up. Making the pristine white walls look like a child threw cans of red paint everywhere. The head doctor it seems was busy checking all the vitals and inserting more tubes while taking others off, pumping in more medications to make sure that he was stable enough to be hooked off everything. The trauma that was induced on his body would be one that would be hard to walk off. The doctor slowly unwrapped the bandages to replace them, Akijan's words echoing through Waverly's mind about bandages. "Make sure to keep the wound wrapped but not so tightly that it would cut the blood supply off...no. no. Wrong way around...you do it like this...."

"Correct, they induced drugs that render him weakless. A rag doll they call it." The nurse noted, keeping a watchful eye on Akijan's body for any movement of the drug losing its effect. "One can never be so sure. We wouldn't want to end up on the headlines for letting a loose predator out from his captivity. Monster or not, he is still dangerous. I tried to get them to take his teeth out but they said that would lead to more blood loss and trauma, hah. Predators.." She hissed. When Waverly turned to look at her, he got a better look. A nymph. A species known to be strong herbivores and very...subjective to those who feast on meat. "Now let's go." She snapped, opening the door for Waverly to exit with her following close behind.

Akijan kept still in his chair, blankly watching what was happening before turning his attention to Waverly. His head swam with foggy thoughts and dizziness, this...fish. He knew this fish. He knew this fish from somewhere but he wasn't sure where. But it felt like...there was something more. He wanted to reach out, touch the scales that he could see peeking out from the inky black dye. But he couldn't, his body denied his thoughts so he kept to himself. Giving a blank look as Waverly got near him. Watching every move Waverly made with interest. This fish wasn't wearing any of those lab coats, perhaps someone from outside the building. The plastic duck...the hairpin...His eyes widened, as if his brain just woke up from sleeping.

They were just about done and were about to help Akijan out of the wheelchair when an alarm rang loudly, startling Akijan and making him lean forward, almost collapsing on his face but Waverly stopped him just in time. The nurses and doctor rushed out quickly as there was a supposed breach on the second floor, leaving him and Waverly alone in the room. Akijan relaxed his body, but the sound of rapid breathing still echoed loudly without ceasing. Akijan watched as Waverly was quick to unlock the tight straps before hovering over his muzzle. Akijan's teal eyes watched Waverly closely, analyzing every small twitch and movement that Waverly made.

Akijan sat limply in the chair, his head leaning against the pillow. The drug was slowly wearing off, he could feel his body again instead of being in a state of his mind being active while his body lay submerged in ice cold water. Rendering any body function such as moving, useless. As soon as the sound of the soft click and the muzzle hitting the floor with a thud, it felt like time stopped. Who was going to move first, who was going to say anything? Akijan watched Waverly, his eyes narrowing. Akijan's movement was jerky, uncoordinated and very strained but Waverly could tell what he was about to, but by then. It was too late.

Akijan leaped against Waverly, shoving him roughly to the ground. His mouth was leering right above Waverly's neck. His teal eyes that showed hope and happiness, gone. Replaced with crazed and lust filled eyes. Anger swirled around his head, mixed with fear hellbent on screwing him over from the inside out. He grinned sadistically, his hand clenching tightly on Waverly's arm. Bruises will most definitely appear with how tight he held onto Waverly's arm. He was about to sink his teeth into the flesh when he stopped, he stopped. He stopped. His grip loosened just enough for Waverly to shove Akijan off him, allowing Akijan to fall back onto the floor. He tried to get up but failed, his leg couldn't support the weight of his entire body. He crashed back into the ground, jerking around like a helpless fish out of water. It was at that point, a nurse rushed in, holding a dart gun.

She yelled for Waverly to get away as she shot Akijan in the chest. Akijan coughed from the impact, sputtering out blood from his mouth as he collapsed. His body twitching as the medicine from the dart kicked in, he clawed at the floor, desperately trying to feel something besides pain. He needed the agony to stop from coursing through his body. Feeling like every nerve was cut off and then set aflame. Voices swam around his head as screaming and yelling continued from outside the inky plane separating him and his consciousness. It only took one more minute before his eyes rolled up into his head. Halting every movement, going still on the floor. Blood still trickled out of the corner of his mouth.

Nurses pooled into the room, grabbing Akijan and rushing him out quickly, while others cleaned up any evidence there was something amiss in the room. Waverly was left in the room, alone. When the nurses cleared out, he could see Kolohe standing there at the door entrance. Her eyes were glassy and wide so she rushed to Waverly. Checking him over before crying her eyes out. She was scared, she had just come since Waverly was missing and she suspected this would be where he would be. But wasn't ready to see Akijan leering over Waverly. So close to devouring him whole. She was the one who called for the nurses. She was the one who got Akijan shot in the chest with a dart. She knew she wasn't ready. She knew. So why was she here, breaking down in front of Waverly as she sobbed into the ground. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair.
 
As Waverley watched the nurses setting up everything he looked back over seeing AkiJan staring back at him. He remembered looking at him before eyes filled with life, joy and mostly care..but now there was nothing his expression was blank like it wasn’t even AkiJan anymore. He wondered if he had things wrong with the niggling doubt of “I told you so” from everyone once again.

His gaze didn’t break only his facial expression as he watched what AkiJan had been reduced to “a vegetable state if you will” the words pained him to here he wasn’t like that, he was gonna get through this he just knew it not can someone like Akijan run into monster after monster across the seas and be fine and this happens in hours?
Though once again Waverley knew he wasn’t the smartest but this all wasn’t adding up for him, it just didn’t make sense.

As the nurses were finally done setting everything up they headed to AkiJan to release the straps from the chair to start the physiotherapy when a loud alarm rang through the entire facility.
AkiJan leaned forward in a startle reaction, seeing the wheelchair about to dip, Waverley swooped down breaking AkiJan’s fall. His heart beating faster himself in a panic on what was going on, he brushed that aside for the moment brushing Aki down and telling him he is okay. Waverley looked up watching the nurses run and he looks back at AkiJan no facial expression changed it was still the same dazed, spaced out look. Waverley took a deep breath running his fingers through his hair momentarily.

He placed his hand on AkiJan’s knee reassuring him once again as he looked at how restricted and uncomfortable he must have felt, if he doesn’t do something soon he will turn into a monster no one wants to be a functioning mind in an unable body that’s self torture to the finest degree. No he couldn’t have this, this was wrong in his eyes he had to do something.

Waverly started to unlock the straps the held AkiJan in place on his arm and leg and his hands hovering over the muzzle, hesitating a bit he knew there was a reason this was on but he just wanted to talk to him so he untied that letting the muzzle drop to the ground, AkiJan was free from restraint.

At first Waverley smiled feeling relieved he could help his dear friend from the restraints that were holding him like some monster they thought he was..though instinctively he didn’t move, nor did he react this joy he felt, instead he felt uneasy a sense of….danger? His eyes watched as if in slow motion AkiJan’s eyes Narrowed looking at him, through him a thought of escaping crossed his mind he wasn’t? He couldn’t no this can’t be happening! But it was too late…

Waverley tried to swim away but he couldn’t a mix of shock and the pure strength of AkiJan’s force holding him down.
He tried squirming his way out for AkiJan’s grip trying to look into his eyes to find him, to hope he sees it’s him, he was only trying to help…although was he? Or did he selfishly not want to be proved wrong…again.
He yelped at the pain of the grip AkiJan had, pulling his neck away as far as he could stretching it far away he didn’t care for the pain it caused. Then there it was that smile…that same one that monster gave when he was about to devour him….it was him…it was him!”

He watched AkiJan fearfully as he was about to sink his teeth into his arm, unable to break his stare. He watched until he noticed that AkiJan stopped, in that brief moment Waverley kicked AkiJan off him breathing heavily as he watched AkiJan from a distance flopping around the floor trying to get up. He felt hopeless, he’d let him down once again.

He watched the nurses run in and pull a dart gun out she bellowed for Waverley to move which he did watching he yelled “no,no,no don’t….” But the shot was fired, AkiJan went limp almost instantly his body only jerking as reflex as he collapsed out cold on the floor.

Tears streamed down Waverley’s face the more and more he was in this place the more insane he felt, his head still her from lack of self care, no food, no water no sleep and flashbacks of that sadistic smile AkiJan gave before wanting to devour him.

The nurses ran in scooping AkiJan up back into the wheelchair strapping him up it seemed tighter than before. As they wheeled him out he saw laid their on the floor covered in AkiJan’s blood was the rubber duck and his lotus flower. He stared at them for a moment as his tears dropped down in the small pool of AkiJan’s blood that was missed in the 🧽 . He scooped his hand picking them up staring at them some more before holding them close to his chest. He cried why Malgosia, why must you harm and take away all that are precious and mean the whole damn world to me….why?

He hit the sea floor with his fists, looking up in despair at the doorway he saw none other than Kolohe.. she ran over to him checking him over frantically she saw the whole thing, she knew the whole thing he was gonna get yelled at for THE WHOLE THING!
He stared blankly at her not really registering her checking asking if he was okay he just shrugged with “I’m fine”.

At that point Kolohe broke down. He watched her cry not really knowing what to do so he remembered what his mother taught him and he wrapped his arms around her holding her tight in an embrace as she leaned into the ground breaking down. He patted her on the back and pulled her chin up to face him “it’s okay to feel upset, it’s okay to be hurt and scared but don’t you dare loose hope in him, he’s just a little lost right now, we will get him back I promise, he’s gonna go back to the Aki we all know and love. He will get better…I’ll be here to help him..” he smiled though not in a happy way.

He helped Kolohe out taking her down to the cafe allowing her to get a warm beverage for these times. He looked up at her grasping her hand as he lead her out the doors, “I’ll come back tomorrow, no doubt they will just do something to say I can’t see him for the rest of the day anyways, he just needs some rest today has been a big day for him.”
He spoke as if nothing happened to him, as if Aki the guy he idolised looked up to gave everything for didn’t just try to devour him for the second time. It was alarming, as if he was avoiding it on purpose.

He couldn’t describe his feelings it was all jumbled, he was scared and frightened but it gave him some weird sense of comfort? Perhaps cause it’s AkiJan and he felt safe with him or That perhaps there is a chance that if things got too much and he coudknt handle them no more he’d have AkiJan there to Finish things off so there wasn’t no more pain and thst it wasn’t done by anyone else…selfish and unruly to put such a guilt on another…but when it comes to it he did try to do that the last two times he tried to eat him with no remorse…what’s one more to the list. Did he mean those words…no surly not. It must have just been the affects of spending a day in a mental asylum.
 
As soon as the muzzle fell to the ground, time stilled. The heartbeat of Waverly was all he could hear besides the blood rushing to his head. Akijan sat in the chair, unmoving as his head felt like it was plunged underwater. Eyes narrowing at Waverly, he should have never touched the restraints, they were there for a reason. They were there to keep him, a monster. Under wraps and subdued, without any hindrance. If Akijan could speak during that time, he would have told Waverly to run. Like a cat and mouse, a predator chasing their prey. Akijan leapt from his chair, pinning Waverly down with ease on the cold padded floor. Akijan, despite losing two limbs still had the immense strength of any predator with all their limbs. His grin spreading across his face, razor sharp teeth showing up as they glinted under the fluorescent light.

Akijan stilled, his eyes roaming up and down Waverly's body. Feeling the sense of familiarity flooding in him, the daze state he entered was enough for Waverly to kick Akijan off. Now off balance and on the floor, he struggled to get up. Not used to not being able to rely on two legs to keep him upright. He clawed at the floor, ripping at anything near him as an attempt to gain leverage and get back up. He failed to get up, failed to notice the nurse rushing in. Failed to notice the dart heading straight for his chest. It penetrated all the bandages as if it was nothing, hitting his skin and triggering the medication to kick in. He halted movement, spasming as he tried to get the pain to stop. Get the agony coursing and ripping through his body to stop. But to no avail, he failed. His vision darkened, fading out as he heard the steps of nurses and doctors consuming him whole.

Kolohe whispered as she held him tight. "Your..not. You're not fine. You should have been resting, why did you come out here?" She asked frantically, words incoherent as she fussed over Waverly until she stopped. Realized what she was doing and broke down. She couldn't take another loss, another hit to the face. It was killing her, just like Akijan was killing himself. Kolohe held tightly onto Waverly, her sobs echoing loudly through the empty room. "A little loss? He ignored every warning sign. He wouldn't be here if he just took care of himself! If he attacked you, who knows if he will attack you again. Who knows if he will ever come back to us??" She wailed. She knew that it would be dangerous for Akijan to take Waverly in, and he knew it as well. He was too foolish, too blinded by his sheer will to take in any fish in danger without thought. He could have prevented this but he didn't.

Kolohe sat with Waverly, calming down but tears never ceased to leave her eyes. She gave a blank knod, downing her third cup of coffee in one go. "I'll stay here, there was something they needed me for...so i'll stay. Ruthven is out there to pick you up since you need to get some rest." She hugged Waverly before he left, bidding him farewell as she sat back down. As promised, Ruthven was there to bring Waverly back. He didn't say much, didn't need to. Silence was all they needed. When Waverly came back, Ruthven had him drink some water and eat something. As well as getting him checked up. Afterwards, Waverly was too restless to get some sleep so Ruthven brought out some games and they played throughout the afternoon.

One day passed, Waverly was not allowed back in. Another day, still the same pathetic answer consisting of "Akijan can't be visited as he is being moved to another part of the building, it will take some time. Check back later." The next day, Waverly came back to get the same answer and response. "Those closest to him can be considered applicable to visit Akijan, unfortunately. You are not one of them." Four days have passed. Kolohe gave an update that Akijan had been officially moved and is settling down in the new area but they both knew, there wasn't going to be any "settling down" for a while. Not until Akijan managed to get his life back together....well. His mental health and physical health at least. But even then, that felt like a far off dream that Akijan would ever get better. Ever be normal, ever get back to the state he was before his mental breakdown and maniatic episode.

It was one week. One week since Waverly nearly escaped with his life. One week since Waverly was last able to see Akijan. One week, that was all it took for Akijan to be sent to a new facility, on new medications. On new drugs and restraints, as well as being in a new stage of his life. Kolohe wasn't able to see Akijan either, she said nothing about it. Still having her hyper demeanor on full display as she chatted with Ruthven and Ubel as well as doing activities with Waverly to help get their minds off Akijan. It wasn't working but at least they tried. Another day passed, yet it felt like time wasn't going quick enough. What was going on? What was taking them so long? Why couldn't they see Akijan? Only time could tell. Narfi had private matters so no visits were available to be sent out, for the next couple weeks. But another day and they got the light of hope shined onto them. Akijan was able to have visitors once more.

As soon as both of them got that message, they rushed over to the rumoured new facility that he was stationed at. It looked the same yet had more security and everyone had to travel with a guard, patient or visitor. Kolohe slammed open the door, swimming up to the clerk at the front desk and asked for Akijan. He was put under new anesthetics but would be waking up soon since his new area allowed for easier access to the patient and for visitors. Kolohe nodded and they waited impatiently for a guard to come get them. When a guard did come, they had to go down a couple floors to reach the level where Akijan was being kept. At the end of the hallway was a bolted door, a necessity for any loose, unstable carnivore.

Akijan's cell had him in a separate room, translucent bullet proof glass separated him and the room where all the medical supplies were. In his portion of the room there was a singular mattress that was molded into the floor. Crutches as well as prototype prosthetics that were in testing. Waverly were led into the opposite room, allowing both of them to see Akijan with a barrier in between them. Akijan was currently getting treated by nurses, getting his daily dose as well as taking him off the anesthetics and the drugs that made his body paralyzed. As soon as they were done, they left in a hurry. Not wanting to stick around more than they had to. Akijan was still before a flailing arm hit the wall, scratching the pads off it. There was a sound before the blankets shuffled and Akijan hit the floor with a thud, most likely still getting used to balancing on one leg.

The guard was silent, watching the group from behind. Eyeing every move that Akijan made, as to be sure he wouldn't try to break the glass. While the glass is quite strong, you can never be sure it can withstand a blast from a hungry carnivore. They couldn't let him near any meat so he was sure to be starving as carnivores can only survive on vegetables for so long. Akijan managed to hold onto a wall, leaning against it as he stared at Waverly and Kolohe through the window. He looked the same, albeit more drained of life and malnourished. Yet his strength never wavered, nor did his blood thirsty look leave Waverly. His stumps seemed to have healed up nicely, as well as his newly missing eye. Covered by an eyepatch. He stared at them intently before looking away, roaming his hand around the room for his crutches. After acquiring them, he moved his way to a small cabinet bolted to the wall. He gingerly tried to pry open the drawers, realising they were locked he banged on it angrily. The guard frowned before taking out a key and opening a small door into the room and tossing it in.

Akijan caught the key and fumbled with the lock, his hands obviously shaking from meds and the withdrawal of his main source of energy. He frowned as he tried again but to no avail. Seeming to have given up, he threw the key against the wall in fury before turning back to Waverly and Kolohe. He hasn't said anything, most likely the muzzle still on his face blocking any talking from happening. He didn't do much, just stand and watch before he had to sit down and rest. Yet always had to be doing something, rather it be scratching more holes in the wall, tapping his foot or playing with the bandages. Clearly agitated and nervous. No signs of aggression, thankfully but it didn't help cease the overlooming feeling of "will he try and attack again? And this time, will he succeed?"

Akijan watched Waverly, analyzing every small movement and twitch. It was the same fish he had tried to attack just a week or so ago, why was he back. And this time, why was he with someone new? He frowned at the thought, his headache grew worse. Voices flying around in his head as he tried to search for memories of these two. They seemed distraught with him, hah. What else is new? Everyone is disappointed with him in some way or another. Finally losing his head and hurting himself so he couldn't heal. These people must be no different, just pitying him like a caged animal on the other side of the bars. He heard them say something but it just went through one ear and out the other. Odd, most just stared at him before leaving.
 
Waverley pulled himself away from Kolohe and looked at her it’s true his words sounded strong hanging onto his own words but his eyes told another story “I just…wanted to see him, I guess I didn’t believe that he could have gone like this..” he trailed off his words sounding distant.

He felt himself be fussed over and pulled back into an embrace by Kolohe though he just stared blankly the image of AkiJan for the second time about to devour him made his body involuntarily flinch from time to time as the image remerged in his mind.

“We will get him back, he will come back these things take time, I know you probably know all this and have seen all this before but he never once gave up on me even though he knew it would have been impossible. I’m not giving up on him and neither should you! Friends don’t quit,give up or say goodbye!” He looked down trying to stop the tears from flowing, but as he liked uk at Kolohe seeing her braking down made him break down so they needed to get out from this room. Fast.

Waverley looked at her alarmingly “well of your staying I’ll stay” he insisted but with Kolohe and her explaining there was no way a fish like him could stand a chance arguing with Kolohe. So reluctantly he waved her off after giving her a hug goodbye and made his way to Ruthven outside.

Little was said on that journey home, Waverley didn’t want to speak about it, he was surprised he wasn’t screamed at for disobeying that’s normally what wound happen no matter if it was the right or wrong thing to do.

Upon returning home Ruthven made sure that basic needs were met on Waverley and that he was checked over from anything that May have been missed from AkiJan’s attack.
He was urged to rest get some sleep considering he hadn’t had any he tossed and he turned too restless to sleep, was it fear? Or was of determination to prove still get that Aki wasn’t a true monster. For a moment he racked his brain about how someone could have done something and the only thing cropping up on his mind was Sol, did he inject something in Aki? Something to make him go feral?
He didn’t know, soon enough though Ruthven saw how relentless he was pacing up and down, so decided to bring out some games to preoccupy his mind, at least for a bit.

A day passed he made a visit to the asylum to go see Aki, instantly was turned away “Akijan can't be visited as he is being moved to another part of the building, it will take some time. Check back later." So he left and was determined to return the next day.

A second day passed he returned once more to be hit with the same answer but in a different way. "Those closest to him can be considered applicable to visit Akijan, unfortunately. You are not one of them." She revoked his access, how quaint. He turned away.

Four days had passed with Kolohe giving an update “he’s moved and settling in a new area” like Waverley believed that? How can anyone settle in an asylum, he was struggling to settle here at skull cavern feeling like his own prisoner only difference was he was treated with care and respect. He sighed allowing the news to process and continued waiting.

A week passed and still nothing, it was taking too long restless was no just an understatement. He needed an update, he couldn’t wait much longer. Kolohe ruthven, Ubel and Jacques tried to keep his kind of things but it wasn’t he appreciated the effort but it wasn’t enough. He’d have little interaction with the others but spent most the time in his room thinking, knowing exactly how Aki must be feeling, alone, trapped, confused, blank,confined, a monster… all the things he was felt to believe himself. The shipwrecker. He reverted back to that days events and remembering it as clear as day… but it wound always turn dark as when Aki turned back to smile that sinister smile would creep in and him nearly being devoured started to taint all his good memories with Aki.

Another day passed and finally the news was out Aki could have visitors again!
Waverley was eager to get going to see him and he could see Kolohe felt exactly the same.
They rushed over to the new facility marking the large amount of guards and the high sea bed walls surrounding the facility.
Waverley’s followed closely behind Kolohe as she did all the talking, his mind wandered.

Was he happy and excited to see AkiJan? Or was there other reasons now? He had time to think…a lot of time to think it’s all he thought about his wounds all pretty much turned to scars except one the one Jacques made. Though the medics told him that the type of bite it was took longer to heal they didn’t worry too much and left it as is but finally He was healed from the bruising AkiJan made to his arm.

They made their way to the lower levels under more security and protection for staff and patient Waverley was mixed feelings as they got closer to Aki’s padded room.
They entered the viewing area a lot more packed out than the last one, Waverley’ looked around feeling a cold chill as he looked through the glass seeing AkiJan the first time since the attack.

Waverley gazed upon AkiJan seeing a difference but no difference in him, he seemed a bit of a better state, not covered in bandages, his eye covered and able to hold himself in the crutches. Though when AkiJan’s eyes locked onto Waverley the look and feel of the lust for meat crawled back, he waited for that smile that sadistic smile…that did not appear.

He watched an agitated Aki roaming the padded roam angry at not being able to open the cabinet,’throwing the key in anger.
He got it he understood it, he sympathised with him. Though he couldn’t deny he feared AkiJan the wall and glass were not thick enough in his mind as the repeated image flashed back from time to time. He pulled the rubber duck from his small satchel up to his chest closing his eyes as if praying before he moved closer to the glass.

As he got closer each move Aki made, caused a slight flinch in Waverley’s body, though determined not to let it over take he just stared blankly in the room. Placing his hand on the glass as he looked down. As he asked if there was a voice communication between them and Aki when nodded with a yes he floated down leaning against the wall his back against the wall of the glass, he pulled out a story book he found on the clam shelf back at Skull Cavern.

Waverley cleared his throat and spoke “Aki, if you can hear me, I’m gonna read you a story, I think you’ll love it.” He turned the page inhaling deep “it’s called Sail, it’s a story about how Out at sea anything can happen, whether trials or triumphs, there are infinite possibilities to explore once we leave the shore. And what lies under the water's surface, in the darkest depths, can often lead to the most beautiful discoveries.”

He started to read making expressions in his voice with different characters, emphasising at certain points lucky it was a children’s book so the words seemed easy to pick up though occasionally he turned to Kolohe asking what certain words were, his hands shook as he held the book asking Kolohe to update him on AkiJan’s reaction as he continued to read.
 
Akijan narrowed his eyes at Waverly, roaming up and down his body. Noticing every small twitch or shiver, no surprise there at least. The water down here was always freezing cold. He flicked something off him as he returned to standing in front of the duo. But had to sit down as his leg grew tired with the weight all relying on one leg instead of two. He threw his crutch against the wall, watching it clatter against the ground. He stared at the guard, making frantic hand motions. Though when he wasn't receiving a response, he gave up. Instead making a cutting motion through his throat as he said something using clicks and whistles. The only sign of any vocals coming out of Akijan. The guard didn't seem phased as he walked to the door, making a tapping motion before opening the small door again and throwing in a seaweed bar. Akijan caught it. Looking over it with disgust.

Akijan tapped on the muzzle, the guard nodded and pressed a button that was hidden in his vest. The muzzle made a hissing noise as it fell off, now revealing his scarred face. Kolohe turned away immediately, almost throwing up. She was a carnivore sure, used to seeing blood and flesh but seeing it missing on her friends face? She wasn't sure if she could make it without puking her stomach up. The cause of this was because Akijan is missing a huge chunk of his face, allowing the bone and jaw to be seen. There were also some claw marks covering his other eye that Waverly must have missed the first visit. The missing chunk stretched from his jaw up to the corner of his eye. There were attempts at stitches but it was obvious, there wasn't much they could do. It was horrendous and quite unnerving to look at as it felt like Akijan was some broken toy being ripped apart. Akijan paid no mind to his predicament as he opened up the seaweed bar, eating it carefully before seeming to get tired of it and leave a half finished seaweed bar next to him.

His eyes twitched as he slowly placed the muzzle back on, the small click could be heard as it locked back into place. Akijan watched as Waverly leaned against the glass. Opening a book and reading it to him. How childish, he doesn't care for a picture book made for newborns. If he wanted entertainment, he would have a staring contest with the guard for Malgosia sake. Kolohe held onto her arm tightly, breathing heavily as she watched Akijan closely. She sat next to Waverly, facing Akijan as well as paying attention to the story Waverly was reading. Akijan moved away from the glass when Kolohe got close, turning to the corner and leaning against the wall. Kolohe watched nervously, playing with her hair as she listened to Waverly. After the story was finished, Akijan gave a dismissive look at Kolohe before looking back at the wall. Drawing random incoherent shapes on the wall. At this point, the padding was barely recognizable. Claw marks littered the ground and wall like graffiti.

An hour passed, silence overtook the room. Akijan tapped the ground only twice for some paper and crayons. Being underwatch carefully lest he tried to harm himself or others. Kolohe was talking with Waverly as they watched him, the story didn't seem to go as Akijan didn't seem receptive but he was much calmer than before. That was until there was a bang at the door. The guard frowned and opened it, there was a hushed conversation before the guard reluctantly left. Leaving the duo alone with Akijan. He gave a glance at the duo, seeing they were still there. He got up, walking to the glass separating the two. His mind was foggy, still full of random voices as well as whispers of memories flooding back faintly to him. He tapped on the glass, almost spooking Kolohe who twirled around. Hesitantly walking up to Akijan

He tapped against the class, Kolohe frowned. She wasn't that skilled at...morse code was this called? Hm no. Definitely not that. She definitely would have to look up that later. She tapped the glass in the same pattern, in an attempt to grasp what Akijan was trying to do. She heard him make these sounds before so perhaps it was some new language he made or learned since his voice was a no go. He gave a sigh, tapping the wall again. Pointing at himself then a small waving motion at Waverly. Kolohe tilted her head, frowning. She wasn't sure what the heck she was seeing but might as well try. She fumbled around in her bag, slipping a piece of paper to Akijan who took it with shaky hands. Struggling to write his words in coherent sentences. He slipped the paper back to Kolohe who slowly read it. The dialect chosen was Phoenician. Which Kolohe was vaguely familiar with. She handed the paper to Waverly as she tried her best to speak Phoenician. Which didn't go well.

Frustrated with her lack of knowledge, she muttered curses under her breath as she watched Akijan stare blankly at her. Seeming to get that she wasn't able to read his writing. So he tried again, this time with something more common. He handed it to her, she read it quickly. Eyes zooming over the page. She seemed shocked at what she saw but schooled her expression quickly. Giving a stare at Akijan as if she wasn't sure she read it correctly. He gave a small nod and she pursed her lips. Giving a look at Waverly before at Akijan. He seemed lax with his expression, tapping his foot impatiently as he tried to block out the sounds coming from his head. His headache had gotten worse, not helping with the memory loss but this one question seemed to have swallowed him whole. He needed to know the answer. He gave a nod to Kolohe who turned to Waverly. "Akijan...asked if you were scared of him. He isn't sure why he asked this, but ever since you last came to visit. Your body is more tense and he senses dread in your head. And since he can't remember things that well anymore, he doesn't know what happened..."
 
Waverley watched seeing what Aki had been reduced to, it was like two different creatures he saw, the one he met so full of life and this one angry at the world and its beings. It was truly terrifying the dramatic change in a short time, but least he seems less “I want to eat you” as his gazed upon Waverley left him on slight tender hooks.

Seeing his reaction to the seaweed bar confused Waverley but then remembered the conversation with him before come to think about it Aki seemed to doge the “what’s your favourite food?” question a lot was he true desire actually that he enjoyed the flesh of meat? No it couldn’t be….could it? No he’s a predator they kill for fun not because they enjoy the taste…but that was just it Aki was a hybrid so did he in-fact enjoy it? The thought made Waverley’s shiver as he found himself staring at Aki accidentally.

As AkiJan tapped the muzzle to be released and the muzzled buzzing dropping to the ground in an instant it revealed AkiJan’s face which Waverley had seen slightly before but not in great detail as he could see now. It was an unsightly sight, Waverley understood Kolohe’s urge to puke at the sight it was pretty nasty, it took a lot of guts to look at him like that.
Waverley turned to the guard wanting to ask one question in specific “so if he had meat of any kind would that drive the desire to have more or actually calm him down? I thought he would be okay surviving on seaweed bars but if he’s a carnivore isn’t that essentially starving him to death?” He questioned, rubbing his arm in hopes he hadn’t asked a silly question.

Waverley watched AkiJan place the muzzle back on as he left the half eaten seaweed bar not wanting it anymore. He leaned against the glass and started to read the book, he looked down at the page not looking up making contact with Aki was it from fear? Or was it just annoyance that he was so helpless, he didn’t know he read further occasionally glancing at Kolohe seeing her react this way was mildly concerning for him but he kept reading.

Waverley finished the story closing the boom feeling a mild sense of accomplishment again was it for what he done or the the fact he hoped he’d made some impact with Aki. Though as he finally turned and looked at Aki though his demeanour seemed somewhat calmer he seems most disinterested in the story at all. See he can’t be himself, he’d have loved that story.

As the large bang was heard ringing through Waverley’s ears he watched the exchange of words unable to read or hear what was said he looked over watching the guard go, again almost immediately drawing his gaze back to Aki who he saw walked up to the glass the only thing separating them and him, shudders raced through Waverley’s body and and fear was present in his eyes, but his body didn’t falter to retreating, but yet staying firmly still locked in to AkiJan.

As AkiJan Tapped the glass, it seemed Kolohe was at a loss as he was he didn’t understand at all the taps? Even pointing at himself and waving around Waverley did nothing to help them understand what he meant, Though Kolohe tapped back Waverley interpreted it meaning she understand but their facial expressions said otherwise. Kolohe Now reverting to a piece of paper he watched as AkiJan wrote down something passing it back in a hurry. He glanced to Kolohe, her reaction once again said it all, she had no idea what he meant. He saw her get flustered held her hand for a small moment “it’s okay don’t force it we all want to know here here it’s okay don’t be too hard on yourself.” He reassured her.

On that note, AkiJan tried one last time something with a bit more understanding it seemed. He watched though the glances seems the same though it didn’t, it was different? He watched looking at them both back and forth until Kolohe turned to him.
She asked the question and he looked shocked hearing what he was hearing, he looked at Kolohe unsure of how to answer this, doesn’t he remember trying to devour him not once but twice? Clearly not the fact he’s asking this question, he butted heads with himself. Taking the piece of paper and with the best writing to his ability he responded “ I am, I mean I was.. there was a couple of incidents that occurred in our last interaction, you may not remember them, but it’s okay, it’s gonna be okay. I know you won’t remember much but if I slid this lotus in with you and this duck it might trigger a memory or two, I’d like to come visit you daily and tell you if it’s not too much the story of how the island no one survived travelling to or from but the great AkiJan did.” He was about to hand the paper to Kolohe but quickly swiped it back adding “I’ll be here beside you to support you like you have for me AkiJan I promise!” He handed it back sharply looking and watching AkiJan as he’s eyes looked upon the words. He hoped he’s calligraphy writing was clear enough for him to read I mean he must have seen worse right? He waited eyes darting between Kolohe and AkiJan as they waited for his response.
 
The guard frowned. "It's a long story kid, well. Not long, just complicated. Some, it drives the desire. The lust, the hunger for the flesh of a living being. Others, it helps cease their hunger and pain. Like getting a hit of serotonin to live on till they need to feast again. The seaweed bars are just snacks to him, every carnivore. No matter what, they need to eat or they will die. So in this case, yes they are somewhat...starving him.." The guard gave a mutter as he himself, was a carnivore. "Don't know why, not my business to know. But I don't think...it's doing anything good. But you didn't hear anything from me." He watched as Akijan gave a hiss of annoyance, he could tell they were talking about him. The guard looked at the clock before patting Kolohe on the shoulder. "Visitor limit i'm 'afraid. You have an hour and thirty minutes before they require you to leave." Kolohe scowled but gave a smile and a nod.

Kolohe listened to Waverly's response, slowly saying it out loud to Akijan in φθορά. Or tried to, she could read it fine but speaking it..? Not so much. But she knew this language was one that both of them were somewhat familiar with. Akijan knew many more than her but there were some they shared mutual knowledge with. Akijan held up the paper, eyes scanning the messy scribbles. He showed no emotion as he slowly wrote another response. Handing it to Kolohe who cringed as she set her eyes on it. The writing held mixes of different languages she wasn't sure she could translate properly. What was she looking at?? What happened to him? Did they really screw him loose? She pursed her lips, turning away to help get her thoughts in place. Akijan looked at Waverly, his hand tucked behind his back as he tried to lean against a wall but failed. Cursing his luck, he reached for the crutch he threw earlier to help him up.

"What is going on?" She asked no one in particular. "What did they do to you? You're...nothing like the Akijan I knew. I didn't even know you knew this??" She brandished the paper to the glass panel before sighing. "it's useless. You're really giving me a run for my sand dollars, like heck. I thought I was smart till I saw this." She slowly read through it again, coughing into her fist when she was done. "Well, pardon my interpretation but this was the best I could come up with. Now, I did switch some words around to make it grammatically correct as mashing different languages together with diffierent set of rules and grammar...it's not pretty." She turned to Waverly and took a deep breath. "The supposed Lotus flower, a black lotus. It's dangerous to mermaids. Why are you wearing it." She paused, moving to the next line. "Waverly. Your name is Waverly."

"I don't know who you are. I remember why I'm here and then I don't. Am I here because I attacked you. Your body language speaks louder than words, you seem wary of me. Are you afraid I'll eat you, because deep down you want it. That's what I get told. The last time I was here. An accomplice to a suicide. It's never ok. And it never will be." kolohe finished and gave the paper to Waverly, seeing a small scratched out doodle of a row of teeth. Odd choice of drawing. When Waverly looked back up, Akijan wasn't standing near the glass panel, instead sitting down on the bed. Further away but still looking at both of them. Kolohe tapped the glass window, Akijan responded by tapping the ground in the same rhythm. Kolohe sighed, sitting down as she waited for Waverly to finish writing.

She was about to hand it to Akijan when she was stopped by the guard coming in. Proclaiming visitor hours were closed and they needed to leave. Kolohe tried to protest but her pleas weren't answered as they were pushed out. Kolohe clenched her fist as she turned away in annoyance. Akijan watched them being forced out, he wasn't sure why they had to leave but he chalked it up as some other thought for another day. He had asked a couple questions, and..answered one. Oh well. It's not like he can do anything in his state besides sitting in the same place. Listening to voices whirl around his head. Whispers coming from the wall as well as random tapping that kept him awake. Accompanied with needles sticking in his body, claws scratching at what's left of him.

The claws, sharp as his own. With no mercy, and the phantom pains from his limbs didn't help with his overall health. Leaving him bedridden in pain as he suffered agony from parts that weren't even there. Sometimes, he would get nightmares. Loud flashes and bangs of what had happened to him and what he inflicted on others. Gasping for breath as he shot up from his bed, sweating bullets as he listened to the tick tock of the clock. In an attempt to help appease his aching brain and body, he started taking more meds dealing with sleep and night terrors. But those mashed with everything else led to heightened anxiety and he had to be put off certain medications. As well as becoming more resistant to ones that helped with the hallucinations.

Overall, his body was breaking down day by day. The drugs could only do so much before the wear and tear that he had kept taped up, falling down so gracefully yet so spontaneously. He would pace back and forth in his room as he couldn't sleep. Flinching at any sound, zoning out and then getting knocked out when he fell from numbness and weakness. He couldn't do it, he can't. There is nothing else that the doctors could do anymore but watch as Akijan deteriorated even more. His facade, so carefully built with precision and concise actions. Being destroyed in just one day. It didn't help that he couldn't speak. Not until he showed improvement but when was that ever going to come? He knew his fate, knew death and the thoughts were to arise soon enough. Looming over his head like a cloud of desperation to break free from the hell hole he dug himself into. He knew it was all in vain. He knew. But oh why did she keep him alive, just to suffer. Riddle me this, Malgosia.
 
Waverley turned his attention back to AkiJan after hearing this from the guard “starving him…so if he doesn’t drive himself insane to the point of that milking him the lack of meat will kill him?” He placed his hand on the glass looking sorrowfully at AkiJan and back down at his tail the gouged scales staring at him.

He wondered if it would be that it was just survival for him as he didn’t seem to go for him at any given point, he thought about the idea of taking some of his tail giving it to AkiJan so that he would survive but the other thought cropped up what if that made him AkiJan’s prey? He didn’t know him that well to whether it would work or not…but was it worth a try?

As Kolohe took the paper Waverley wrote his response, she translated it out loud to him so he’d understand, but he knew their dialect before did he loose it in the sense of being muzzled or the fact of nearly loosing his mind.
He watched nerves running through his tail.

Waverley’s eyes darted between AkiJan and Kolohe not understanding anything that was being said though more and more he looked at AkiJan the more he felt he didn’t know him anymore, he looked back as he saw Kolohe’s reaction and dread filled his eyes. The response wasn’t going to be good was it?

He watched Kolohe essentially flip out angry at the language Akijan was using, clearly something she wasn’t too fluent in but readied herself as she turned to Waverley.

He looked back at the lotus and up at AkiJan a smile beamed his face in that moment, but it was washed away quickly as Kolohe continued.
Waverley looked shocked his face speaking a thousand words he looked up at AkiJan and sighed he he shakily grabbed the pen writing his response “the lotus is a fake a replica of you will, when you showed me the original in the glass bottle it must have alarmed you that it was harmful but noticed I admired its Beauty, as for being wary of you..” he paused looking up at Kolohe then back down again writing swiftly “I will admit I’m a bit wary of you since you attacked me twice, not worried that you’ll eat me though as both times you stopped yourself and I seemed to have been willing to let it go ahead from how you seemed to have notice my demeanour in those times. But I can’t deny to you in those times it may have crossed my mind… don’t exactly have much to erm, live for.” He paused as slight tears ran down his face as he handed the paper to Kolohe but at this time the guard announced that visiting hours were up. And they were to leave as they started to usher Kolohe first, Waverley swiped the paper back shoving it in the opening before waving to AkiJan and swimming off as he was pulled out the room.

As they were ushered out looking upon an annoyed Kolohe Waverley rubbed his arm looking down, hoping she didn’t get a chance to glance upon the paper he just wrote. He swam over to her placing his hand on her shoulder “you okay?” He asked softly. He swam her down to the nearest but furthest clam the facility behind them in the distance as they now Waited for Ruthven. “He remember things, just cant connect the dots it seems tomorrow will be better, I’ll find a new book…wait.” He turned back then looked at Kolohe “can we divert to Aki’s house before heading back I wanna pick up somethings that might help us tomorrow…” he begged almost pleaded as Ruthven pulled up Waverley looked at Kolohe hoping she would give the instruction he hoped she hadn’t given up on Aki after todays events.
 
Kolohe sighed, giving a weary smile. "It...just hurts. Hurts to see him like this, stripped of his life. Devoid of expression because he isn't who he is anymore." She leaned against the chair, just wanting out of this hellhole and away from the asylum. The mental image of Akijan's face flashed in her mind, making the urge to vomit come back up. The sour taste just on the tip of her tongue but she remained composed as she coughed in her fist in an attempt to cease the bile from rising any further. Hearing Waverly's plea, Kolohe frowned, pursing her lips as she thought about it. "Well, that would be breaking in. Since I don't have the key, but if I remember correctly, he hid it somewhere on the outside of the house." Kolohe took Waverly's hand, taking a mail carrier fish and sending it off to relay the message to Ruthven that they would be swimming home instead of getting a ride.

Kolohe and Waverly arrived at the house after a while, the house looking the same as it was when they first left. The door still on its hinges but peeking inside, the remnants of the guards storming it could be vaguely seen with the faint claw marks as well as overturned furniture. Kolohe tried the door, locked. She peeked at the potted plants, ordering Waverly to look around the house as well. Nothing in the plants, or the bushes. She checked the mailbox, nothing. She was sure that he had a spare key somewhere, but where? Even worse. What if he didn't have a key at all and they were just running around for no reason. Wasting time. She tried to search at more obscure places, maybe somewhere on the roof? No luck. She was about to give up when she heard Waverly.

She rushed to the back to see Waverly standing over a grave. Akijan's aunt's grave to be more precise. She froze, eyes wandering from the grave to Waverly's hand. Covered in dirt, but holding a glimmering silver key. Adorned with a pearl at the head. She heard Waverly say something but she didn't register it. That key, that key. Thats...thats not the one to the house. That isn't. It couldn't be. She held her hand out, reaching towards the key. Eyes focused on the shining pearl that reflected light off its pristine surface. She was snapped back into reality when Waverly brought his hands up to her face, she gave an awkward laugh. Taking the key from Waverly and looking at it. "Not sure about you but I doubt Akijan is one to have a pearl on his house key."

Her mind was racing, the grave. The key, the meaning, everything. Everything felt like it was falling into place with...the traveler. The traveler. That was why she had met Waverly, it was because of the Traveler! The Traveler! She was sitting in Akijans kitchen after prying the window open. Leaving Waverly be as she turned the key over in her hand. The silver feeling cool to the touch. Why would this key be in Akijan's aunt's grave? And...why did he have it. He didn't have any affiliation with the Traveler did he? Or was there something more to this story. Something she wasn't getting told. She brushed off the thoughts but made a mental check to ask Narfi later. If he was open to chatting about it that is, the Traveler was always a touchy subject for some reason. She was never sure why though...

Kolohe gave a smile when Waverly returned holding a box with the requested items. She ushered Waverly out as she saw Ruthven speeding towards them with someone else behind him. Kolohe frowned, squinting as she saw the approaching duo. When Ruvthen arrived, he practically tackled Kolohe to the ground, making her slide and hit the house wall on impact. She squirmed around under Ruthvens gaze. "Hey! What gives?? Are you that excited to see me or something??" She yelled, trying to push Ruthven off her who just stared at her, his hand wrapped around Kolohe's arm. "you...you haven't heard?" He asked, his voice dead calm yet there was something sinister behind his words. Kolohe shook her head, pushing Ruthven off her as she got up. Brushing sand off her scales. "No? Heard of what? What is so important that you had to tackle me to the ground for?"

Ruthven looked at her and then at Waverly. "Akijan...he isn't in his cell anymore. He broke out." The words felt like a knife, cutting into her very being as she registered the words. Akijan? Escaped? Him? Someone who wouldn't even hurt a fly? He escaped? She felt the air being sucked out of lungs, suffocating her as her vision dimmed. She leaned against the wall in an attempt to support her numb body. Ruthven held her up as he explained to Waverly that he had gotten an urgent message for Akijan's whereabouts after Waverly and Kolohe left. He questioned why and that was when he got told that when they went to check on Akijan for his meal time and checkup, he wasn't there. They weren't sure where he went as there were no holes made by him that led to the outside. They believed someone had snuck him out or he had walked out under the guise of a visitor but cameras showed nothing.
 
As Waverley and Kolohe arrived at AkiJan’s place, he looked up the beautiful place that now sealed tainted and cold as dark memories tried to creep their way in masking the good ones that made this place feel like a home.

The place was left untouched, as of the guards only broke in yesterday, though it had been a while since then, he scoffed a small laugh “they wanted to put me in the mental asylum never dreamed it woudk be Aki they put there instead.” He sighed rubbing the back of his head trying to look for an opening of a way in, things were either boarded up or locked upon first glance.

As Kolohe ordered Waverly to take a look around the property he swam around looking in all places he could when he came across AkiJan’s aunts…grave? It was in the back yard why? He looked closer in it reading the stone and bowed his head to show respects and opening his eyes he noted something shiny in the sand.

Waverley didn’t think in that moment and started rummaging his hands in the sand to grab something shiny,upon brushing his fingers along its smooth rounded surface he clasped his hands around it pulling it out from the sand. It was a Pearl…and at the end of it a singular rusted key.
Tilting his head thinking he found the key he yelled for Kolohe who came rushing over.

Trying to explain and apologise for disrespecting the grave and that he was only trying to help, them words didn’t seem to register with Kolohe as she seemed too mesmerised by the key, reaching out for it, Waverley handed it to her seeming more confused by her reaction.
“I mean I can’t see it myslef but I didn’t know him as well as you did but erm….that Pearl, it’s funny it reminds me of the one in the tale of the traveler…I mean sorry for bringing it up, wrong time I know but that’s a Sea of Cortez pearl. “ he looked at Kolohe for the merboy who didn’t know much he did know a fair bit outside of this region.

After they made their way inside Waverley proceeded to gather some things he thought might kickstart AkiJan’s memory either that or he will be angry for them going into his house in but the latter was easier to deal with. He looked around homing in on the lotus in the bottle he picked it up gently looking at it again as he felt the one in his hair, despite the slight fear he had he couldn’t give up on him he still cared about him. He didn’t believe for one second he was a monster more that he was just troubled.

He picked up the bottle and wondered about his statement he rememenred him saying “black lotus kill mermaids?”’he looked down and there he could see the flakes from his tail fin began dropping off almost instantly. He put it down opting to not choose that item and his eyes gazed back to the black Pearl.
He remembered the story AkiJan was telling him about it and how he came across it and placed it in the box.
He gathered a few more bits he thought might help and placed them on the table next to Kolohe.

Waverley swam out the way as Ruthven practically tackled Kolohe onto the wall squinting as he phantomly felt the pain as she hit the wall.
Waverley watched concern washing his face as the calm yet sinister words of Ruthven filled the air cold.

Waverley shocked stared blankly at Ruthven “Aki broke free?” He repeated. Not sure he was truly processing what this meant, he raced in his thoughts as to why, he didn’t seem that way inclined, then again he didn’t seem like he would try to eat him when he took him in so caringly.

Waverley waved his hands “wait, how does one just disappear, no digging, no holes, no nothing jsjt poof and then gone? Didn’t think that kind of thing was you know possible?” He questioned.. though it somewhat made sense would explain how he traversed the island with the black lotus and be the only second perosn to survive him and the traveler though some say the traveler was lost to the island no one ever got there to se if it were true or not they all died trying. He pondered for a moment. Swimming away and floating outside Aki’s door to his bedroom. He wondered l, maybe just maybe there was something to tell him that Aki knew more about the traveler than meets the eye, as to why he was encouraging to help him learn more and to believe in it? Maybe the story traumatised him hence maybe it makes him go feral. He didn’t know but he sure as heck wanted to find out. He turned back to Ruthven “do they know where he was last seen? Someone must have seen a nymph swimming these parts, im sure if I remember logistics there are only 2.5% nymphs living down this parts….someone was bound to have seen him and which way he went…”
 
Kolohe nodded blankly, her vision focused on the key in her hand as she turned it over. "A sea of cortez, huh. He was always one for symbolism over anything." When Waverly showed confusion to her words, she gave a small smile accompanied with a sigh. "His aunt, loved pearls of any kind. Misshapen or off coloured, it didn't matter. If they existed, she would get them. And, well. A pearl adorning a key that he had buried into her grave? Something you don't see so often? Smart move." She tossed the key into the air, catching it before tossing it to Waverly. "Keep it safe will ya? It's quite important if my memory serves me right." She opened the door after some struggle, waving Waverly in as she followed soon after. Sitting in the kitchen chair and drumming her fingers on the table. Staring at the cabinets, and then her eyes drifted towords Akijan's bedroom. She has never been there, well. He made sure of that. Always keeping everyone out so he can keep his secrets in.

Kolohe took the box and asked if she could take a peek, when getting confirmation, she slid open the lid and peered inside. Pleased with what she saw, she put the lid back on and sealed it with a bow. For aesthetic reasons she proclaimed with a smug grin. She handed the box back to Waverly as they exited the house, Kolohe locking the door before getting body slammed against it. She struggled under Ruthvens gaze, what happened? What was making him like this? Or more so, who was making him like this. She managed to shove his body off her, giving a scoff as she brushed the sand off her scales in annoyance. Though all hostile emotions left her when the words were uttered, cutting through the air as if it was butter. She went silent, the blood rushing out of her body as she slumped against the wall. "Not again...not again..." She whispered, clutching at whatever she could grasp on as the words sinked in.

Ruthven gave a grave nod, staring at the water. Arms crossed as he scowled bitterly. "I don't know, they just told me that they went into his cell and he wasn't there. And that there wasn't any way he could have gotten out yet, he got out. How? I don't know and it pisses me off." He hissed, gritting his teeth as Kolohe tried to get her head back from the clouds and grounded. She had no other choice but to pick herself back up for her sake and Akijans but how much longer could she keep fighting for his freedom and sanity? She wasn't sure and now that she thought about it, she doubt she would be ready anytime soon. She turned to watch Waverly enter the house and head directly to his bedroom. She gave a sigh, "I doubt you can open it. At least without breaking down the door, he always made sure to lock it before anything else. Suspicious huh? He never wanted anyone in the place. No matter what."

Ruthven shook his head. "He likes to make things hard for everyone else...no I haven't seen him and everyone I talked to hasn't seen a tall nymph hybrid roaming around wearing white clothes which is the signature piece for a mental ward. Though there are a couple I haven't talked to yet..." He noted, he turned around and spotted Ubel and Jacques. Waving at them to join the group at the house. Ubel got there first, grabbing onto Ruthven. "I SPOKE WITH THE BOSS!!" He shouted, his words mashing together due to anxiety and nervousness. "HE SAID THAT HE SAW AKIJAN GO TOWARDS THE ABYSSAL PLANE!!! YOU KNOW HOW BAD THAT IS?!?!?!?" He shrieked, waving his arms frantically. "ONE WRONG MOVE AND THE CURRENT WILL COME IN AND SLICE HIM IN HALF LIKE FISH SUSHI!!!" Kolohe grabbed onto Waverly and both of them sped towards the location with Kolohe leading as she knew where it was. Though they stopped midway to yell for Ruthven or anyone really to grab the box that Waverly had left.

They reached the Abyssal plane at record speed, stopping just in time to see a dazed Akijan sitting at the edge, playing with something in his hands. He was dangerously close to the edge and even closer to falling over and dying from the current. The current, a force greater than all the others. Capable of decapitating any unlucky fish who gets caught during the random time it's active. It's never on schedule, meaning those who try to cross the plane, at any given moment, can die right then and there. Kolohe stopped, handing the box that she caught from Ubel to Waverly. Ushering him in front of her as they slowly made their way to Akijan. He didn't seem to notice them until Waverly was right behind him, then he stood up abruptly. Towering over Waverly with his menacing height.

Akijan was still wearing his muzzle but it seemed the medication sedating his throat wore off. He spoke, for the first time in weeks. "Ήρθες για μένα, όπως κάνουν όλοι." Kolohe swam up behind Waverly, translating what Akijan said to him.

"You came for me, like everyone else does." Kolohe parroted, watching Akijan closely for any movements as well as watching the water behind him, if she saw the current start to pick up, she would grab Akijan and pull him away. No matter what.

"Τι θέλεις από μένα, ή θέλεις να μου κόψεις τη σπονδυλική στήλη όπως οι υπόλοιποι ανόητοι." Akijan asked, leaning towards Waverly before backing away, his eyes searching Waverlys for any hint of emotion. "

"What do you want from me, or do you want to cut my spine like the rest of the fools." Kolohe said warely, she wasn't sure of what he meant but the meaning itself was something that sent shivers down her spine.

"Ταξιδιώτη, Πόσο ποιητικό για να μην υπάρχει τίποτα. Αλλά είστε εδώ, οπότε ο ταξιδιώτης δεν είναι πολύ πίσω." He spoke in rapid fire succession, his words holding questions as well as answers. But the meaning is hidden deep inside to never be found, a shame for what he used to be.

"Traveler, How poetic for nothing. But you are here, so the traveler is not far behind." - Kolohe

"Ερωτήσεις, ερωτήσεις. Οι γρίφοι σας δείχνουν απαντήσεις αν ξέρετε πού να ψάξετε." - Akijan

"Questions, questions. The puzzles show you answers if you know where to look." - Kolohe

Akijan turned away, his back facing the duo as he sat back down, leaning his back against the cool water that grazed his scales. Kolohe took a deep breath, it was hard translating words that she wasn't sure what they meant. She held onto Waverly's hand, her hand ghosting over Akijan's back. She wanted to touch him, to hold him and feel his warmth against her but all she felt was a cold stone. A hollow shell of the friend that she loved so dearly. That she cherished every moment being with him and hoped for the best future of them both. Tears rolled off her face as she translated for Waverly. Akijan sat motionless, slowly responding before going silent. The current started to pick up, just fast enough Kolohe didn't see it coming. Fast enough, that she knew if she moved, she would be too late. Too late to save herself, her friend. And everyone else.

"Είναι σαν να βλέπεις τον παράδεισο για πρώτη φορά, όπως και την κόλαση." - Akijan

"It's like seeing heaven for the first time, as well as hell." - Kolohe

"Προσευχήσου στον θεό μου, γιατί θα κρατήσει μια θέση μόνο για μένα." - Akijan

"Pray to my god, for she will hold a place just for me." - Kolohe

"Και ξέρω, δεν θα το χάσω." - Akijan

"And I know, I won't miss it." - Kolohe
 
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