The Tooth Collector

Chapter Nine

When I finally awoke in the morning, I didn't want to get up. The entirety of the previous night felt like a fever dream. I tried not to think about it, tried to just go back to sleep but it was too bright. It must've already been mid-day and I knew that as soon as I got up my consequences would be awaiting for me.

Thankfully, my family was deep in slumber when I arrived, so there was no worry about them, but there certainly was about who that shark had told. The shark that I had encountered the previous night. I wondered if he had told a sibling, or a friend. I wondered if he had recognized me by the scar running down my side. Pushing all those thoughts away, I decided that it was time to wake up and deal with whatever may have been coming my way.

Thankfully, everything was normal within my family. When I exited the room we all slept in, I saw my parents feasting on what looked to be a shark. I knew from experience how delicious shark tasted, but at times I would worry if I were ever to become some other family's meal.

I turned the corner and faced both of my parents, watching them enjoy their meal and thinking of something to say. "Goodmorning." Was all that came from my mouth. It was simple enough to divert any suspicion, which was the best I could do right then.

"Goodmorning Finnley." Father declared.

"Goodmorning Finnley!" My mother cried, rushing towards me and pressing endless kisses against my face as she embraced me. "How did you sleep?" She asked, tilting her head as she spoke. Still squished in her grasp, I pushed her off of me before speaking.

"I slept okay, just the usual." I responded, not able to maintain eye contact because of my word choice. Just the usual. Nothing was usual about the previous night. I never snuck out. Especially not to do something as questionable as what Henry and my mission was.

"That's wonderful-" My mother responded.

"So Finnley," Father cut her off. "I heard from my pal Clyde that he had spotted you out last night. Quite far from here as well, care to explain?"

Shit. Scavenging through my mind, I tried to come up for a reasonable excuse. I could always say that I heard something outside and wanted to check it out, but that would be too sketchy. I could say that one of my friends wanted to hang out, but that would lead me straight into trouble.

"I couldn't sleep so I went for a swim to make me tired." I explained to Father. He nodded glumly, as if he were expecting that answer. Not looking up at me, he spoke again, continuing our conversation. "That's what Clyde thought. Until he saw you drop a tooth."

Shit. "Want to tell me a bit about what you were doing in the middle of the night with a tooth bigger than you?" He asked. I thought about what I could say next. There was no way that I could spoil Henry and I's mission, but what else was there to say? I had been caught.

"Dad-" I began before Father cut me off.

"Finnley, get out of here." He told me, and I didn't waste a second before I fled my home.

"Finnley no! Please don't go!" My mother shouted after me, begging for me to return. "He just gets upset sometimes, you know this!" The hollering was causing a disruption within the community, eyes followed me at every move I made.

"Goddammit Beatrice! Stay in your place, woman!" A slapping sound occurred, and then a thud against the wall. I turned around abruptly and swam as fast as I could back into my home cave, watching Father pound my mother into the wall. He whipped her with his tail, across her chest and face.

"Leave her alone!" I screamed, using my tail to whip Father across his lower back. Watching Father turn to me slowly, I let out a whimper in fear. His eyes were hollow, black orbs attached to a lifeless figure. He growled, his teeth sharp as he flashed them at me.

Using any bravery I had left in me, I muttered under my breath slowly and carefully, "leave her alone." I didn't dare to make eye contact, I kept my eyes on the ground or my unconscious mother pressed up against the family cave's wall.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me that again." Father spat at me, spit flying into my eyes. I blinked it away and met his eye contact. "Get the fuck out of our cave." I heard a voice say. I didn't recognize it at first, but when I did, my breath hitched. It was my voice. I said those words, the words I never thought I'd have to say to that man. To anyone, really.

"Piss off, brat." I heard Father mutter, turning back to my mother. He began to turn and raise his tail again, as if preparing to thrash at my mother once more.

"I said get out!" I yelled, rushing towards Father and shoving him away from my mother. He turned to me with an expression full of rage. Father was deeper inside the cave, watching me with hungry eyes. For a split second a terrifying thought came across my mind. What if I were to become his next meal? Feeling tears collect in my eyes, I cleared my throat, hoping to get rid of them.

"What makes you think that you're the man of this house? You're nothing but a sissy." Father chuckled.

"What makes you any better?" I took a deep breath, trying to stand my ground. It was better than backing down like I have all these years. "Is it better that you beat women?"

"They deserve it. You know they do." He declared.

"How would you feel if I beat you and tell you that you deserve it?" I let slip out before I could stop myself. I couldn't tell if the urge to laugh or the urge to run away was greater.

"How dare you speak to me that way." Father growled, slowly approaching me. "I ought to beat you to a pulp for saying something like that." I gulped, narrowing my eyes, trying to hide my fear.

"Get out." I whispered before he turned around and whipped me with his tail, causing me to slam against the wall across from my mother. I felt a burning sensation on my side, right where my scar was. Turning my head to see what was up, I spotted my father's tail marked into my side. Glancing to where he once was, I felt a relief run down my spine when I saw him swimming in the opposite direction of my family's cave.