Once a God drowned here

Part 5

The stream finds its end before a maintenance gutter. A ladder is build into the wall alongside a small walkway. The whole tunnel stinks in the same way as the town but coming to an end inside this underground tunnel the intensive smell amps up to eleven. Really just fucking disgusting. Limited light prevents my view to spot whatever is in front of my. The water I have been walking through for the last minutes morphs in its composition into a somewhat slimy swamp. In a few feet I can climb up to the small walkway. Unfortunately the walkway is also covered in the same slimy substance. Alongside the wall small round things are placed in small groups. Suddenly a crack erupts from beneath one of my boots. As I move my boot away a small pile of blood and pieces of shell unveils. From getting a look of the surrounding I can make out many more of the exact eggs. Now I know why I was thrown down here. I was supposed to be feed to the younglings. This is one of the layers where the fish lay eggs. Now thinking back the large crab was most likely the guardian of the young. Attached to the wall stands a man made object. A ladder leading up. As well as the door handle on the tavern's door, the metal sprouts are covered in this sticky liquid. Stepping up one at the time I slip more than a couple of times. Climbing proves more than difficult with my clothes still wet to the bone. After only a few steps I reach the top of the tunnel. I lift the heavy manhole cover up to take a look from beneath it. In the before empty streets now the fishmen walk. Their numbers exceed any estimation. They are not only endangering the town. They are the town! If you would have asked me before this mission I would have said that the total number of fishman does not transcends a few hundreds. From my position I could make out the central marketplace where we build up our defence position. Every fortification has fallen to the overwhelming numbers of the ocean dwellers. Dead bodies lay on the ground. Both fish and humans. Around my I can sense the splashing steps of the wet creatures. Their sound resembling those of seal or frog. The manhole cover gets stepped on. The metal thing slams on my head and I nearly fall of the slippery ladder. After the stepping sounds dwindle I lift the manhole cover for a second time. It is a miracle that the fish are so unearthly dumb to not realize something moving beneath their very own feet. The fishmen gather round a tall hooded creature in the marketplace. Not only do they gather but they kneel in prayer. Consumed by full subordination they become quiet and wait on the hooded figure to do something. The clothed creature raises its arm. Inside its right hand it hold a metal staff. From my angle I can make out a number of appendages extruding from beneath the hood. The large one represent a leader or at least a vicar. All the other fishmen gathered around him receiving his blessing. Humming a melody the fish wave from left to right chanting some kind of song. The street is empty. All the fish have swarmed towards the market. The moment could not be any better. They all look at the hooded priest. This is my chance to escape the distressing situation. I turn around to escape in the exact other direction than the fish people. I could not help myself but to look at the fish people who gathered around the preaching figure in a hooded robe. I could not see what I am about to run into. The sudden touch of the slimy, sticky substance on my skin makes is instantly clear what I am crashing into. Both of us bounce back. Just a couple feet away one of the oily fishpeople comes to a standstill. He faces right at me. The things are short sighted. It makes a lot of sense. Under water not much eyesight is needed. Above waters they probably orientate by hearing and maybe by herd instinct. Or better said swarm instinct. The one in front of me has a normal fish head and humpback. Because his eyes look into two different direction his orientation is even more restricted. I look at him in a stance ready to run or attack but he is just blinking with his mouth wide open. Tilting my head to the left and to the right I peek to find a quick way around him. It is standing right in the street with much space to both sides for me to slip through. I take a step further towards him. As my boot touches the ground a sudden motion travels up the fish. He stares right at my boot on the ground. Shocked I stand still to wait for my opponent to make the next move. It is still looking at my boot. Thinking about it the motion that my step must have send across the ground has triggered the fine senses. I take another large step to the side. The fish follows my boots every time I touch the ground. I will trick the dumb fish. Detaching the water can from my belt I aim for the walkway. The impact of the metal can creates a loud noise distracting the fish man for the small moment of a second. I use the opportunity to slip by the distracted fish but the fucking idiot it is it's oily eyes are still following me. So it is not as dumb as I thought. From behind me I hear the glugging sound of the fish men communicating with each other. Fuck this, man. The fish people have noticed me. Turning around one at the time the fish come into motion to chase after me. From walking to running. Fortunately their feet are not made for running on stone but to swim in water. Like this I run through the streets.