Captured (a short story)

9

My memory of the surface world was slowly fading away. Every time I tried to think about my life outside it became harder every second. I was scared and afraid. Not only that but, there was something unusual happening inside of me. A energetic, powerful light that shined through my hands. As I clench my hand I stoke it trying to figure out what exactly happened. The energy that flashed through my hands was scary and unexpected. I had felt it arise when I sensed danger. I stare at my hands confused. What is happening to me?

Namor suddenly appears from the hut door and gracefully swims toward me. He looks down to my hands before flicking his eyes back to mines. "I'm sorry about my sister. For now I have asked her to step aside as my right hand."

"I could understand why your sister may have reacted like that." I say calmly as I rub my hand.

"Your nation is beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. For an outsider to come is like breaking trust with your people. " I say and he stares at me for a second before speaking. "My sister is against the outside world and anyone who is from it. Nothing against you. Just her being protective."

"But how could you risk that?" I ask seriously.

"Taking me and holding me here isn't going to solve anything. Why did you do this?" I ask and he continues to stare at me.

Why does he always stare at me? He always does this and its abit intimidating. At the same time in this moment I am bold enough to face him. I don't care right now, because my life has been taken from me now. I wasn't sure If I was ever going to see the outside world again. My eyes start to water and every emotion I have felt since I've been here starts to arise in me.

"It is more complicated than you think. But now that you have changed, you cannot leave." He says as my tears start to fall from my eyes.

"What's so complicated? Your reasoning doesn't make any sense. No one will come for me. I mean nothing to Wakanda."

"Your wrong." He says and I lower my eyebrows. "You mean something to Wakanda."

What makes him say that? "What? Look, you've  got it wrong. One person taken from wakanda won't  mean anything. They won't know I'm here. Even if they do. They won't risk war again with your nation. But, you took me against my will and I don't understand why you did!" I say truthfully . "W-why did you take me?" I ask again feeling tears fall from my eyes  and he looks off to the side.

"Look at me!" I scream and he looks into my eyes again. We lock eyes and my heart beats fast in my chest. I see his face soften and a look in his eyes I've never seen before. He suddenly grabs my face caressing me and leans forward pressing his lips onto mines catching me off guard.

Angry with a mixture of confusion clouds my mind as he kisses me and  moves his lips passionately against mine.  I place my hands on his chest ready to push him off, but as he continues to kiss me  I get lost in   the moment and close my eyes.  The intensity of the kiss overtakes me and I suddenly  move my lips along with his. All my frustration, fear and angry vanishes away as we move our mouths together in unison. All I could think about was his lips and how cold but soft they were. All the past tension I have felt around him since I've been here has now made me realize that I had a attraction for him. I knew this whole time but was  denying it all the time until now.

As the kiss becomes heavy I suddenly start to remember where I am, who he was and the life changing situation I am . I snap open my eyes and suddenly  start to push his chest away from me. He pulls away from the kiss , and looks at me dazed as he breathes heavily staring at me.

"Why- did you do that?" I ask confused still feeling the lingering sensation of his lips on mine. "I- don't know" He quickly says as he looks around confused. He just kissed me and he doesn't realize why he did? I stare at him and look away feeling awkward.

Everything suddenly becomes quiet and I start to turn away. Why did he do that? Why did I let him do it? I then break the silence. "I want to - go back to the caves ." I say blushing from what just happened.

He doesn't say anything and just nods. I swim out the hut quickly and back toward the outside caves. I feel my face burning up as I think about what just happened.

Namor and I just shared a kiss. The enemy of our nation. The man that killed our queen. What's even worse  is that I let him kiss me. How could I possibly let that happen? As I approach the entrance to the  outside caves I stop in my tracks and look around trying to find a new pathway. I need to get out of here. No matter If I could or couldn't breathe underwater didn't matter.

As I float underwater I watch the nation of Talokan in the distance. Luckily, I was able to swim out through a tunnel without being caught. I decided to explore the surroundings of Talokan in hopes of finding a way out. But I found nothing. I decide  to swim back through an ocean current back to the outside caves.

As I come to a familiar pool of water I swim up for air. I take a breath and notice my air flow was normal. As I come out the water I walk back to my hut. When I approach it, I see a unfamiliar woman standing near my doorway . She wears clothing that seem reserved and of royal statues. She was covered in a bunch of gold jewelry from her head to her toes. Her blue skin glistens with water trickling down her arms.

"Who are you?" I ask and she walks up to me. "You may not be familiar with me. I am the J'men of our nation. I've been lead by the rain Gods to meet you." She says and I raise my eyebrows. "You can understand me ?" I ask and she nods. "Yes, I have learned many human languages living in my nation. It is actually a second language our people have learned."

I look down at my arm briefly seeing my changing skin exposed and quickly hiding my arm for  her not to see.  She then speaks. "You are not blue." She says confused gesturing to my arm. I guess she did see it. "May I see it?" She asks and I hesitantly move my arm to then let her see. "I don't understand." I say as she looks up to me. "Out of the water you should be blue, KukuIkan is the only one who remains the same out of water." She replies.

"So what does this mean?" I ask and she thinks in thought before speaking. " If you take this herb this will help you." She says as she opens her hands to reveal a strange herb.

" You have questions, about your identity I sense. I am here to show you." She continues and I look down at the herb.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask unsure and she smiles. "I was lead here. I only go where the rain Gods tell me to go. Trust me when I say. This will reveal your truth." She presents me with the herb again and I step back in unsure. "I don't think I'm ready."

Deep down, I was more than ready to know the truth about my identity. I wasn't quite sure how this would revel anything to me but she was the nations shaman.

I'm not to sure what this herb will do to me. I already ate a piece of something I wasn't suppose to and now I have transformed. Should I take this herb?

"You have a choice." She says and I slowly go to take the herb in my hands.