Under The Sea

Chapter Eleven - Fathoms Below

Samuel released a shrill screech as Axel burst from the small water opening, startling him from his boredom. "What the hell?!"

"Sorry," Axel mumbles, his body flat against the sand as his fish-features retreat.

"Are you okay?" Samuel asks, rushing to his side to help him up.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Axel waves off his concern, searching through his satchel for the necklace. "I got it."

"Got what?"

"A way to make you a merman."

"Already?" Samuel exclaimed in shock, "How?"

"A friend."

"Oh, right," Samuel returned, dropping his eyes with his tone low, "your ex."

"No," Axel quipped, his eyes glued to Samuel as he watched, "someone else."

"Who?"

"That's not important," Axel dismissed, catching the side glance Samuel produces, "... also, I can't say."

"Why not?"

"Because I promised."

Samuel mulled over his words, searching Axel's expression for anything to give him away. He locked eyes with the smaller man, before signing and giving in. "How does it work?"

"You just have to drink this liquid," Axel explains, producing the necklace, "and keep the necklace on."

Samuel's entire body stills as his eyes fall on the piece of jewelry. He examines it as Axel holds it out for him to take. His fingers tremble as he reaches for the chain, taking the shell between his fingers.

"Where did you get this?" Samuel asks, almost unaware that he has spoken as he remained glued to the necklace.

"I told you, I can't say-"

"Not the liquid!" Samuel burst, catching them both off guard. His eyes leave the necklace as he registers his tone, shooting up to meet Axel's shocked expression. "I'm sorry. Not the liquid, the necklace. Where did you get the necklace?"

"Oh," Axel chirps, trying to move past the last few minutes of tension, "I've had it for a while. I found it in the southern grotto while I was searching through a shipwreck."

"A shipwreck?"

"Yeah, there's a bunch of them in the grotto," Axel explains, oblivious to the emotions flashing through Samuel's eyes, "I don't think a ship has ever crossed the water above the grotto, they all seem to sink when they try."

"This..." Samuel's voice broke, a single tear escaping his eyes, "this belonged to my father."

"Your father?!" Axel exclaimed, "really?! How awesome..."

Axel cut himself off as he came down from his momentary high to take in Samuel's expression. The single year that had multiplied and the way his entire body seemed to shake. Axel recognized his expression - one he was all too familiar with.

"Your father..." Axel began reaching a cautious hand to Samuel's shoulder, "he's..."

"Dead."

Silence fell around them as Samuel glued his eyes to the necklace, his fingers grazing over the smooth facade of the shell. Axel stood, mouth agape, staring at him as he studied his every movement. The quick rise and fall of his chest, the glint in his eyes, the twitch in his lip.

"Samuel, I'm so sorry," Axel sighed after. Few moments of complete silence.

"Don't be," Samuel spoke, his voice heavy, yet laced with a quiver, "I... we... no one knew what had happened to him, he just disappeared."