Hart of the Sea

Chapter 19

Almost at the same time, I felt the faintest touch of a feeble hand on each of my shoulders. I lifted my head from my hands and looked up from the floor where I sat. Both Calliope and Oriel had reached out to try to comfort me. When I should be the one comforting them.

"You guys are awake," I said with surprise, darting up from their floor so I could swim upright, trying to regain my composure. "I-I didn't realize..."

One corner of Calliope's mouth lifted slightly in an attempt at a smile. "Did you...miss us or something?" Her voice, once full and joyful, was now hollow-sounding and flat.

"Because we definitely...missed you," Oriel rasped, bringing on a small fit of coughs.

I looked down at my two friends, who were now only shells of their former selves. What did Darren do to them that has them in such bad shape? I would've asked them outright, but I figured it would be too painful for them to talk about.

"Yes, of course. Of course I missed you guys," I said, lightly grasping each of their hands in mine. "I'm so glad you guys are back home and safe from that...that monster..."

"That girl, Talia," Calli whispered hoarsely, changing the subject. "She's...amazing, Hart. Hold...hold on to her." She softly squeezed my hand, but I knew she'd used all the strength she could muster.

"Y-yeah," Oriel piped up. "S-She talked about...you a lot. But she also...always came to check on us...and tell us stories..."

Calliope's face brightened slightly. "A-And we'd tell her s-stories, too. She was...a good listener. She really helped us...stay positive in the face of...you know." She paused, a slight frown dragging the corner of her mouth down. "Hey...have you...have you heard from Marsh lately?" She asked, changing the subject again. "Does he...does he know about..." She trailed off, her gaze becoming distant, no doubt as memories from the lab came flooding to the forefront of her mind.

I could feel anger burning deep within me; anger towards Darren and what he did, and anger at the universe for letting him do it. How could the same universe that did something beautiful like bring me and Talia together be the same one that let such a cruel human get his hands on my best friends? I couldn't make sense of it, no matter how many times I turned it over in my head.

I didn't know what went down between him and Oliver after I blacked out yesterday. Did the universe at least give Darren a proper punishment? Would it let Calliope and Oriel get the justice they deserved?

"Hart?" Oriel asked, the sound of his voice fishing me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Calli asked...about Marsh. Does he know...what happened?"

"Oh, sorry, um...I don't know. I haven't been checking the mail in a while, so I don't even know if he responded to my last letter or not. But I do know he was a little worried about you guys, when you didn't respond to his letters as fast as you usually do. We didn't really think much of it. I thought you just weren't able to find a mailing station, but..." I fell silent, not wanting to finish that sentence out loud. But we were so wrong. "I-I'm sure this is the first place he'll come to when he gets back from the shell deposit. The news of your return has to be all over the village by now. If he doesn't already know, he will."

Calliope closed her eyes, smiling softly at that. "Good. I can't wait...to see that freshie's...goofy face again." I could tell by the movements of her chest that her breathing was slowly becoming more labored, and she kept her eyes closed.

"Calli? You alright?" I asked frantically. Her mom immediately rushed into the room. Had she been listening to our conversation?

"Calliope?" She shrilled, swimming quickly to her daughter's bedside, scooping her delicate hand up in a desperate squeeze.