Return to the Sea

Chapter Five

The new scientist had been making attempts to befriend her. He would bring her extra servings of food and listen to her requests for fresh air or a new brush. While she still did not trust him, she liked him better than most of the monsters she had to deal with each day

That week the full moon appeared over the tank reminding Sedna how alone she felt in that tank. Shay had to return to her family promising to bring back any news and continue to think of plans to help her escape.

While Sedna understood why Shay had to leave she could help but wonder how her family had somehow made it the last 18 years without her. They didn't know her fate which she believed was worse than her not even knowing if her family existed. To know you are missing someone rather than wishing someone was missing you. Which was worse? Did it depend on the person? Or did everyone miss someone? Did everyone wonder if someone was missing them? If someone like that existed for them?

As Sedna laid there looking up at the moon through the steel grates that covered her tanks, she let the slightest of currents push her around the surface. Closing her eyes, she let a tear slip into the water. Her family. It felt so wrong yet so right to say that she missed them. She didn't even know who they were but she missed them. The sky was threatening to break and spill its tears upon the roof's surface. Sedna could only imagine what the ocean's surface looked like as the bullets of rain would smash against the complex variety of waves that pushed throughout the open sea and the sandy beaches. How it would climb the rocks in hopes to reach the tips of cliffs. The white water collapsing back as the solid form held its ground.

It wasn't until the bullet of thunder crossed the clouds that Sedna dared to open her eyes to peer at the lock entrapping her. The normal shine of gold seemed to be replaced by the dusky grey bars. Sitting up, she reached her arm out, placing her palm against the cool medal and giving it a gentle shove. Prepared for the normal back fight of the lock, she almost screamed as the gate gently bounced back into her hand as it fell to rest upon her palm. This time with determination she pushed the gate open, trying her hardest to keep it from banging against itself as it fell to its final resting place. Using her remaining strength she quickly and quietly pulled herself on to the top of the grates.

The change would be fairly quick but painfully as her tail would split down the middle. Her bones would twist and contour into unusual and strangle locations. Her muscles would drift into unknown places. The tingle would be painful as the blood forced itself through the new veins. Sedna bit her bottom lip to regain from screaming as she began pulling herself along the mettle towards the stairs.

The stairs would be the worst past of the venture. They were covered with small holes surrounded by tiny dull spikes. She had discovered that they were there to help support the scientists as they climbed the stairs in case of any spills from clumsy or tired staff but mainly for when Sedna would have an "attitude" as they liked to put it.

Upon hitting the black rubber mats at the bottom, the painful tingles had subsided enough that Sedna felt she could slowly begin her ascent and attempt to stand on the fiver fingered appendages that had attached themselves to the long thick arms below her waist.

The pain flared up as her weight bore down upon them. It was amazing that humans used these daily. Was it as painful for them? Or did they feel as a tail did for her? Almost non-existent until something touched them or she had over worked them from a long day of swimming?

Slowly, she stumbled towards the door, peeking through the small window. She pushed her hand upon the door knob and gently turned it. The door clicked open as a wave of thunder and lightning flooded the building, the lights dimmed allowing the room to be flooded with darkness. Sedna's eyes took a few moments to adjust to the darkness before she pushed the door open. As she carefully stepped through, there was another wave of lightning that allowed a brief moment of sight into the hallway ahead of her.

Before she could step further, an alarm blared. The high pitched ringing sent her falling to the floor as she covered her eyes. The noise was cutting through her brain. Crawling quickly to a corner she waited and listened through the ringing for someone to come and remove her from the dark hiding spot in plain sight.

But as she waited and tried to listen for the steps of scientists running towards her, she forced herself to notice they had been running past her.

"Fire!" A voice yelled from the distant hallway. "Fire in the lounge!"

Listening to the feet run away from her between the bangs of thunder, Sedna cautiously climbed to her tired, sore feet. She hesitantly worked her way down the hallway, using the flashes of lightning to guide her. But as the time between each lightning strike had started to expand and the ringing of the alarm had stopped, the echoes in the hallways had become deafening. Her soft bare feet sounded as if she was wearing metal plates.

Her breath was caught in her throat as she let out one shaky breath after another. Each step felt painstakingly slow, but it was as quick as she could the lower arm things could move.

"HEY!" called a voice racing towards her.