Captured (a short story)

four

It has felt like days since I've been taken. As I lay on a unfamiliar cot my mind starts to wonder if anyone has started to look for me. I hope they are. I have secretly snooped around looking for a way to try to break myself out of here ,but it seems impossible because this cave has so many tunnels. I've discovered a few pitch black tunnels that look like they lead somewhere else. Not to sure where, because I haven't actually walked all the way through. But I have noticed the blue creatures going into them and some not coming back out for hours. I have to be smart about how to navigate my way around here. I also had realized that I couldn't know how or even where exactly we were. The only thing I did know was that I was somewhere deep inside the ocean. I had heard rumors that when princess shuri was captured she had visited an underwater kingdom. I can't imagine what she saw or even how she was able to breathe underwater that long. I start to look around the cave and near the water by the hut that the God like man had resided in . My mind suddenly remembers him emerging out of the water. I advert my eyes to the water in front of it. That had to be a way out. But how? I hear the faint sounds of the blue creatures voice echoing nearby through out the caves. How are the underwater creatures surviving this long without water? I look around the cave and put my head against the cave wall to hear the other side. Water. It literally sounds like water sloshing around. I sigh and stand up as I start to pace . Curiosity starts to get the best of me , and I decide to start walking toward the closest tunnel. The atmosphere is moist and wet sand squishes beneath my feet. As I walk further into the cave it becomes dark and I suddenly see a strange blue light. I walk a little closer starting to hear a strange melody ring in my ears. As I near the light I realize it's a flower of some sort. It sits on top of a alter of some kind. I stand right in front of it observing it's beautiful blue, beaming light. The melody sounds start to increase in my ears as I am suddenly hypnotized by the plant. The light seems to be calling me. I stare into the plant more before I'm forcefully pulled away from behind. " P'áaten paachil ba'ax ka beetik." I hear a voice while someone pushes me away from the plant. "Get off of me!" I scream and suddenly my hands are being tied together behind my back. "Let go!." I say and I am pushed to walk out the cave back to my cot. I look up from my cot to see the blue man creature looking back at me. He unties my hands and says something in his language urgently before walking away. I scoff from the tight grip the rope had on my wrist and rub them carefully. The man comes back and gestures me to follow him. I hesitate for a second to stand up but eventually start to follow him out the cave. We walk for what seems like 10 minutes before he halts me at the edge of a dead end of a cave. I look around then to him suspiciously. He looks to me before pushing the cave wall to reveal. An open space of civilization . I gasp as I see a few huts, temples and surprisingly children all around the huts. I walk following the blue man. I then notice the God like man speaking to some of the children. As we walk up he turns to me and they exchange a few words in their language. "You must stay awake from the tunnels." He says speaking to me and I roll my eyes. " I'm your prisoner yet you've given me nothing to do." I reply and he chuckles at my response. "Where is your kingdom?" I ask curiously and I notice his eyes flicker down to my lips quickly before back up to my eyes. " My nation is underwater. Far ways from here just through some ocean currents." He says and I raise my eyebrow. "Not many outsiders have seen my kingdom. Your princess would be the first. But here this is our outskirt civilization inside the caves. " He says and before he continues a young female child comes up to him giggling holding out a flower . I notice the child wears a mask. As I look around I notice almost many of the blue eyed creatures as well as almost normal individuals who do not have blue skin wear masks. "Why do they wear mask?" I ask and he turns to me. " Why are you so curious about my nation?" He asks sternly and seriously. His gaze changes and I suddenly feel myself burning up. Something about his expression has sent fireworks exploding in my stomach again. I take a breath before speaking. " I- I'm just curious. Your culture seems intriguing."I say and he turns back to the child saying something. "You are blessed my child. " He goes to kiss the child's forehead gently before turning to me. " You will stay here and learn the ways of my people, and eventually you will see the rest of my nation. But know this." He walks closer to me almost inches from my face. " If you are ever let free back to the surface, and tell anyone of my existence here. I will find you and drag you back here myself. " I release a shaky fearful breath as he backs away looking into my eyes. He turns and the blue creatures salutes him before he takes off into a tunnel nearby.                                                                               Her face. All he could think about was her face. Even though she has been here for only a short time her face has been flashing across his mind at unusual times of the day. Her presence was almost intriguing when she was near. He has felt this sensation when he was watching her on the surface in wakanda. Whenever she had sat by the river and watched the sunsets, or even just closed her eyes to meditate. She was intriguing. But now that she was here and closer than ever it had been become stronger. Namor thought his mind had always played tricks on him which made him always confused or vulnerable. He had let it made him vulnerable during the fight with princess shuri when his mother suddenly flashed across his mind. Her hand reaching out to him but heistate on taking it. His vulnerable conflicted feelings had lead him to yield to wakanda. He felt a bit angry about it. He didn't know why he did. He knew Talokon was easily able to win over wakanda. But at this moment he was weak. As he approached his throne in the underwater kingdom he sat in thought. He picks up his ancient shell that has been a direct communication line between the surface world and here. He skims his finger across it in deep thought. "My brother, what has you in thought?" Namora, his sister asks as she approaches the thrown. Namor doesn't speak for a minute then looks up to her. " My thoughts are on this nation. Especially with this alliance we have on wakanda. Their must be another way." He says and Namora sighs. " Another way? I doubt it. That was the only way. Wakanda is to prideful to yield to anyone. If they cannot learn that the surface doesn't have their best interest and only wants to get a hold of vibranium. We must destroy wakanda. And like you said. They will need us again and that's when we will strike. " Namor sits in silence before speaking. " Of course. This is why I think the prisoner that we have here could be a stepping stone into wakanda surrending." Namora shrugs frustrated. " I do not know why you bring outsides to our nation. We have thrived and survived here for almost 500 years. We have already one to see our nation. I forbid another should. Especially Wakandan." She says annoyed. "We must at least try. She is of value to wakanda. They will come for her eventually. So be patient my sister. Our time will come."