Deep Within

•{Chapter Four}•

It felt like hours. My back leaned against the cool damp wall, my head propped up against my arm. Some time ago, my arms were tingly before I had lost all sense in them. I was tired from constantly crying and my face was covered in dried tears. I'm sure my eyes and cheeks were red and puffy. My eye lids were slightly open as I kept my focus on my sister's figure. She still didn't move.

"Althea..." I forced out for the hundredth time. My voice was weak and airy and I was getting used to the itch my skin had caused. How long have we been on this ship? 2 hours? 4? We have never been out of water for this long, so I was not sure what would happen.

Suddenly, I see a shadow blocking the glow from the space at the bottom of the door. What are they planning now? The door creaked open and in came the man who sent pain through my heart hours ago.

*Bu-BUM*

He just walked towards my direction in silence.

*Bu-BUM* *Bu-BUM*

I squeezed my eyes shut from the pain and clenched my teeth. Go away! I thought to myself.

*Bu-BUM* *Bu-BUM* *Bu-BUM*

It was becoming quicker the closer he got to me. I let out a moan of pain. What is he doing to me?? The pain was so unbearable, I couldn't handle it any longer. Just as I was about to scream, I felt something large and soft caress my face. In an instant the pain was gone.

Everything became calm. It was the same feeling I had felt for that split second under water. I slowly opened my heavy eye lids and saw the man kneeling down next to me. His arms reached out, holding my limp head in the palms of his hands.

This is absolutely insane. Every time I look at him, he causes me pain but when he touches me, I am the most relaxed I've ever felt. Also, his touch seems to not feel gross to me like the other humans do. All of this was making my mind feel dizzy.

"It's okay." Just those two words sounded so pure. Angelic almost.

I was doing fine when you weren't in the room, I thought to myself once again. I couldn't speak, any will or chance to communicate was gone from exhaustion and my dry throat. I was now wheezing and my chest heavily moved up and down. I was like a dying fish.

Is Althea feeling like this? I looked over to her. My heart was so sad. I didn't want her to die. I'm sure my feelings were written all over my face because the man looked over in the direction I did and frowned.

"I know she may look dead, but I promise you she is not." My eyes went back to him and glared. He let go of my face but moved one of his hands to my arm instead. How can I be so sure he's not lying? I can never trust humans, let alone pirates.

Moaning started to come from the corner where Althea was. We both looked back in her direction. She's moving! It was like all of my energy came back. I telepathically communicated with her.

"Althea! It's me, Maela! Please tell me you are okay??" She didn't answer me and her moaning became louder and eventually the moans turned into screams.

"What's wrong?? I'm here! Please tell me what is happening!" This time, I forced my body to move as much as I could. I need to get to her! I have to help her! But I was suddenly stopped by the man next to me. I looked at him in anger.

Never opening my mouth, I spoke to him the same way I speak to my kind. "What the hell is wrong with you?? Can't you see she's in pain? I have to help her!" I tried to yank away from him again, but it was no use.

"Look. I know she may seem like she's going to die, but I can assure you she is not. Watch." He looked over to my sister who was flailing and still screaming in agony.

This is unbearable to watch. Seeing someone I love be in so much pain and was useless to do anything to help made me feel so shitty. I cried once more, but this time no tears fell. Everything was dry. Why did I do this to us?? Silence took over as Althea stopped moving again. I shouted her name telepathically once more.

"Maela...." It was so weak.

"Althea! Are you okay? What happened??" I couldn't control myself. All I wanted to do was be near her.

"My body... It's different... My tail." She sounded so sad. When the word tail came up, she started crying. What does she mean? My head was starting to hurt, along with my tail. Ow! I looked down at my black scaled tail. Something was not right. I looked up to the man that was now looking back at me. What are these fuckers up to?

"What do you mean Althea? What's wrong with your tail?" As soon as those words left my mind, excruciating pain shot through my whole body and I started to scream. The same way my sister did.

"My tail is gone. It's gone Maela! I have legs!!" If she said anything else to me, I couldn't hear it. Nothing was getting in the way of this undescribable feeling. Not even the touch of the man next to me could help.