10 Minute Tales

May 11 - The Waters

He let himself descend. The rush above him was all but silent, the waters rushing to cover him. The boat had sped on, leaving him for lost. He closed his eyes, the sting of the saltwater already getting to him. He let his blood ooze from the wounds. If the shots didn't finish him, the shock from the cold water definitely would. It was too late now, anyway. He had done too much for the wrong people, angered the wrong crowd. He sighed his last breath, letting a bubble rush to the surface. All he had to do was wait. He could already hear the rush of something coming for him. He couldn't help but brace, tired of pain. Mercifully, the only pain he felt was a numb ache on the top of his head, and the world blacked out. Goodbye.

~

I blinked in surprise, looking up at the splash. Humans were polluting again? I frowned, bringing a spear to bear and holding it with both hands. As long as we could clear it up again, I was okay with it, I guess. One swing of my tail sent me on my way, zipping towards the dump site, but I stopped as quickly as I started. It was... different. Human-shaped. I squinted, trying to identify it, when I smelt it. The human was bleeding. I moved closer, gripping the spear tight enough to pale my knuckles. Yup, it was a human, and... well, it wasn't a healthy one. I could see the blood now, leaking out of more holes than a human should have. What was a girl to do? I rushed in and hit him on the head, grabbing him by the wrist and surging off again. There was a dry area in my home. If nothing else, I could get some answers there.

-

He groaned, body quivering slightly as he coughed. Water splashed out of his body and flopped onto his chest as he coughed, breathing cold air. He groaned, a hand moving on to his chest. He felt a curious, almost papery substance tight against his chest. He blinked and wet to scratch at it.

"I wouldn't." a voice suddenly called out. He flinched, groaning in pain at the sudden movement, and turned to look at the source. It was a young woman, though her skin was totally grey and seemingly rough. Her eyes... he was scared of those black orbs. "It's the only thing keeping your blood in you."

"Ugh, where... where am I...?"

"You're in my place." she explained, gesturing to the dim cave. It would have been totally black, except for an odd glowing strand of coral that lazily arced around the cave. "I bring salvage down here and sort it out."

"Salvage... like, a diver...?"

"Yeah, except in reverse. Whatever you guys pollute the ocean with, we have to clean up. You'd have probably killed all life on this planet, including yourselves, decades ago if we weren't doing the best we could, and you make it far from easy."

"Then... what am I down here for? How...?" he grunted as he gripped his torso again. "How am I alive...?"

"Merblood." she held her hand up, showing a recent bite wound. "You drink our blood, you get to live longer. Most humans don't even remember that story, something we're so grateful for."

"Why... why save me?"

"Well, you're not going back up there." she grinned. He paled a little; her teeth were inhuman, pointed fangs going through the entire grin. "I just wanna see exactly what we're up against."