Under The Sea

Chapter Twenty-Six - Heartbroken

It's been almost a month since his fight with Samuel, and Axel could not stop reliving those few minutes since they passed. In his mind, he knew he had done the right thing. He was crazy for believing that he could have made his relationship with Samuel work when he is a human. Yet, since that moment, the memory has trapped him in a never-ending loop as he kept picturing the pain and hurt on Samuel's face as he had broken the news.

From the moment the words left his lips, they flooded Axel with thoughts as he wondered whether he had made the right decision. Their idea and belief of humans was decades old and ingrained into their mind as prejudice without reason to question it. But Axel had reason. He had every reason in the world to question their beliefs, their fear, and he had instead chosen to turn his back on Samuel.

Despite not having left his room since that day, Axel was still up to date on everything that had been going on. The servants that came in to feed him updated him on what was happening in the Kingdom. He knew the jellyfish presence had grown all around the Kingdom. That his father had ordered every guard in the Kingdom, barring the castle guards, to the walls. Learned of the reports of sirens approaching the walls, and yet, none of that was enough to get him out of this state.

Axel felt no purpose in anything. The only thing that lingered on his mind was Samuel, as if this were his punishment for breaking his heart. Then, a knock came at the door, and Axel attempted to ignore it, until the person came inside. Axel reached over to flip himself on his hammock, turning away from the door as the person approached.

"What the hell are you doing?" Finn's voice came, annoyance lacing her tone, "Get your ass out of bed!"

"Finn?" Axel questioned as his head shot back to find her, but not fast enough to stop her from tugging at his hammock, flipping him off the seaweed and onto the floor. "How did you get in here?"

"Your sister summoned me," she returns, moving over to a seat as Axel gathered hisself, "and I'm glad she did, because you look like shit."

"Well, I wasn't expecting company-"

"That much is clear," Finn retorts. "I haven't heard from you in almost a month. A month, Axel!"

"I haven't been in the mood to talk."

"Oh, cry me an ocean," Finn dismisses, "get dressed. We're going for a walk."

They swam in silence beside each other as they explored the castle passages, neither sure whether to make the first move.

"So how have you been?" Axel broke the silence, earning a scoff from Finn.

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"I don't want to make small talk like we're two strangers, Ax," Finn chides, stopping them in place, "I want to know what happened with Samuel. He said you two had a fight and then he left."

"What?" Axel returns, surprised at the news. "What do you mean he left?"

"He said there was nothing keeping him in Latistan anymore and that he had to get back to his Kingdom," Finn advises, her gaze softening, "I told Clara to let you know."

"I've been avoiding everyone," Axel deadpans, attempting and failing to keep his emotions from breaking through as he broke down.

"What's wrong?" Finn asks, catching Axel as he sank, and bringing him down to the floor, "Ax, tell me you didn't."

Realization seemed to dawn on Finn as she realized why Samuel had shown up out of the blue and refused to talk about their fight. Why Axel had shut himself off from everyone and everything for almost an entire month.