The Kiss of The Deep:: Deadmen's Reach

Getting To Know People

The scene was absurd, like something out of a fevered dream, and I couldn't help but crack a smile as I watched The Kid squirm in the bear hug of Miss Salvaje. Her raw strength was something else—barely any effort, and she had him locked in a grip that would make most men scream for mercy. Her insane intensity was almost contagious, like a wild force of nature that refused to be tamed.

The Kid's face was redder than the boiled crab claw she'd just demolished. His eyes darted to me and Antonio like he was expecting rescue from the madness, but neither of us could do more than laugh at his predicament.

"Help, please?" The Kid mouthed again, his eyes wide as Miss Salvaje gave him a little squeeze.

"Not a chance, mate," Antonio chuckled, taking another swig of beer, his voice dripping with amusement. "She's got you now. You'll be her little pet from here on out."

"Yeah, man," I added, still laughing. "You've got yourself a crazy one now, huh?"

Miss Salvaje grinned, showing off her cracked, bloody teeth. "Salvaje always protect friends. No one hurt friend of Salvaje," she growled, her tone playful but as menacing as a starving beast. The Kid, still in her clutches, nodded desperately, his mouth moving as if he was trying to find the right words to beg for mercy.

When she finally let him go, he practically fell to the ground, gasping for air like a man who'd narrowly escaped death. "God, you almost killed me," he muttered, rubbing his ribs. His usual cocky demeanor was nowhere to be seen—this was a rare, humbled side of him. I couldn't remember the last time I saw him like this.

Miss Salvaje didn't seem to mind, though. She gave him a quick pat on the back, her smile a bit too wide for comfort. "You are friend now, Kid. Salvaje never hurt friends." Then, she turned to me and Antonio, her eyes gleaming like she was already sizing us up for something else.

I tried to steady my laughter as I picked up another crab claw from the pile of food the Kid had dumped into my lap. "Yeah, we're all friends now. Just, uh... try not to break any more of us, alright?"

Antonio raised his beer in a mock toast. "To new teammates and bad decisions," he said, his grin wide and devilish.

We all shared a look, and I knew we were all thinking the same thing: the world was getting a hell of a lot crazier, and this ragtag crew was about to be dragged deeper into the mess than we ever intended.

But for now, we drank, we laughed, and we tried to make sense of the madness, knowing full well that tomorrow—or the day after—that same insanity would be waiting for us. The city was a beast, and we were just trying to stay alive long enough to figure out who or what would break first.

And honestly? I didn't think it was going to be Miss Salvaje.