Crazy In Love | Buggy

s i x t y - o n e

I slipped the necklace off of my neck, trying to hold it close enough to see it properly. It was too dark in this chest to see.

Since I couldn't see, I used my other sense. Hearing. I gently rattled the case of the necklace back and forward. There was definitely something inside of it.

The necklace had always struck me as a unique gift. It was a golden chain, with a rounded golden case attached. I had never even thought to try and open it. Until now.

It took me an entire minute to pry it open. With being cramped inside of this chest, I didn't have much room to move. When I heard the lid come off, I sighed in relief.

Then, I felt inside of the container. There was an object, a shell, I realised. I was so confused. It was still too dark to see. It was frustrating being so limited in here.

"What are you?" I whispered to myself, feeling the object as much as I could.

Then, it hit me. It was a Den Den Mushi, a transponder snail. In other words, a phone. A means of communication.

My town only had one of these, the airpod type of snail phone. I had used it only once, mostly just to test it rather than properly use it. You just slipped it into your ear, and speak.

I smiled like an idiot to myself, knowing that Buggy had gifted this to me. He had done it to keep me safe, so we could talk if we had been separated. That made what Dilly said feel impossible now.

He cared for me - he had to. Why else would he have given this to me?

I slipped the snail into my ear, listening for his voice but I heard nothing. I began to worry. What if he had left his end of the phone on the boat? Or what if it had fallen into the ocean?

There were so many possibilities for what could have went wrong. All I wanted was to hear his voice, even just one word would be enough, I thought.

"Hello?" I whispered, praying he would hear it. I let out a soft sob, covering my mouth to suppress it. "Buggy? Are you there?"

Just as I felt the last of my hope wither, die, I heard it. His voice. His beautiful husky voice.

"Betty?" He asked, sounding panicked.

"Oh God," I sobbed out. I couldn't stop myself from crying, I was just so relieved. "It's so fucking good to hear your voice."

"It's good to hear your voice, too. I was so worried that they'd killed you." He was silent for a moment, then added, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"I don't think they'll kill me. Not yet, anyway. They still want me to give them coordinates. That gives us some time."

"Those fucking snakes. I can't believe they've done this to me."

I could feel blood pool up in my mouth, clogging up my throat and making it suddenly impossible to breath or speak. I choked on it, spitting it out as best as I could. From my position, it mostly just leaked down my chin, soaking my shirt.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his concern palatable. Hearing him be concerned for me was amazing. I had been so scared that Dilly might have been right about him never having cared for me.

"Yes... well, no." I closed my eyes, trying not to cry anymore.

When I cried, I found it hard to communicate properly. Clear communication was the most important thing right now - it was the difference between life and death.

"What happened? What have they been doing to you?"

"Bozo... he beat me up."

I could feel Buggy's anger radiating through the snail. It was as if he were here with me, that's how vibrantly I could feel it.