Crowned

Arc 3, Chapter 75: Bathypelagic

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The bed beneath him had been made with some sort of sponge like material. Blue... and White... Like most of the surrounding room. The thick atmosphere's cause had been difficult for OJ to pinpoint. Was it the nature? Or surroundings? Perhaps both. OJ sat up, his body ached from being brutalized last night. He groaned futilely and looked through water, and observed every marking. And every patch of bioluminescent light. He was intrigued by the nature of this place. He tried to take a breath, but no air filled his lungs. He was under water after all. OJ wondered how things came to this. One moment... He was with his beloved husband in a decrepit mansion... The next he was running from a demonic beast in a freakish underground water city.

He silently swam sorely over to the a thick stained glass window. His eyes gazed into a bustling city. It seemed to be thriving. It was filled with different types of objects, with different fish like creatures. He wondered how long these creatures have been hiding from society. He wanted to explore, to learn more. It would help him a lot. But alas, he was trapped. The door was still locked, he wondered if this was a trap. They already tortured him, and whatever they tortured him for—He couldn't provide..

OJ turned back to go lay down again, but jumped as he saw the handle turn, and open. He watched as a woman, maybe in her early twenties stood at the doorway, holding a plate of sea-food. She had splotchy blemishes, and a long fish tail. Her face was kind, and her feet and finger tips were webbed, but she had no extra fins.

OJ's eyes widened, her scrawny form held the tray up. Her eyes fixated on OJ. The man stared at her for a moment. He could take her... She took a step forward, and lifted off the ground to swim in.

OJ spring into action, and charged her, the girl kept her small smile. She stopped and placed a hand out in front of her, as if to ask OJ to stop.

OJ's eyes narrowed, as if he'd listen because he was 'asked nicely'... He continued, only swimming faster. In an instant a barrage of bubbles came from her palm, OJ's eyes snapped open, like round marbles as he was blasted back into the wall behind him. The girl lowered her hand, and placed the tray on the bed. She then flicked her wrist and a few bubbles pushed the door shut.

OJ would've groaned, but he was beneath water. No sound escaped. He glanced up to see the girl approach, he braced himself, as if to be attacked. But nothing came... he only watched as the girl pointed a index finger up, and a bubble formed on it's tip.

OJ was confused at first.

The girl blinked, her smile faded, a sighing motion then followed. She swiped the bubble away. She then placed her hands together, as if executing a clap, and separated her hands. It formed another small bubble. She then pointed at OJ.

He thought for a moment, before FINALLY understanding. He was in a lot of pain... Sore... And exhausted still. But, if he could communicate, that was better than nothing. He focused his energy to separate the oxygen from the water, and pushed it all into one large bubble. Soon after, he gasped, and rolled over to his stomach to vomit and sputter up the water in his lungs and throat.

The girl flicked her wrist, her fish tail followed, and bubbles of water arose from her mouth calmly.

OJ groaned and glanced back, not bothering to face her. He was spiteful. He had a right to be. Locked away! What an outrage! Uncouth indeed. "What the hell do you want from me...?!" He gasped, nearly flailing like a fish at her feet.

"I just want to assist you! Teardrop told me to help." The girl chimed, her kind smile returning. OJ growled, and finally turned to face her, only for her hand to be extended, as to help him up.