Millions (#2)

Good Shark

The two had gotten to the temple. Frank held out his arm, stopping Charles from entering, "Someone's already in there."

Charles listened, and surly enough, there was a faint murmur coming from inside.

"What're they saying?", he asked Frank.

"I dunno.", Frank replied, peering in, "Let's just go through and get to the statue."

"Why don't we just go around? You said we weren't going on the temple anyways."

"Because going through the temple is the fastest way to get to the statue."

"But we could get in trouble."

"You know what?", Frank spoke, "Lets just sneak through. If they catch us, we'll just threaten to bust 'em."

"But they could turn us in, too."

"They won't.", Frank reassured.

~

Charles and Frank snuck through the temple. Charles used to go there every week during the school year, which brought back memories. The place was filled with treasure, fruit, and plates telling the origins of the world that he knew all too well.

"This place gets even more beautiful by the day, doesn't it?", Charles smiled.

Frank didn't respond.

"Frank?", Charles whispered.

Still no response.

Charles sighed, looking around for his new friend.

"What's your problem, kid?"

"Let go of it!"

Frank has been caught, Charles was sure. He swam over to where he was.

He gasped, frozen.

There was a shark being held onto by a leash.

"It's a menace. It'll wreck the temple!", the stranger snapped.

"Yeah, like a thief would.", Frank replied, glaring at him.

The stranger holding onto the shark was much older than the two, around his early thirties. He was well built and looked like an old pirate that would've ruled the seas years ago.

"It's a shark, kid. What'd you not understand?"

"It's just an animal. It won't hurt anyone!"

"Ugh.", the pirate scoffed, "I don't have to listen to this."

He began to drag the shark out of the temple, when Frank got out a pocket knife and snapped the leash. He held onto the fin with one hand, letting go of the knife, and grabbed Charles' arm with his other hand, beginning to whistle.

The shark quickly glided through the water, out of the temple. Charles was speechless.

The shark stopped at the statue. "Thanks.", Frank spoke, letting go and petting the shark. The shark poked its nose at Frank.

"I'm gonna name you...Cane."

"You're naming a shark?", Charles asked.

"Yup. He's my pet.", Frank said, "Be free, Cane!"

The shark swam off peacefully.

"So you can talk to animals?", Charles began to swim towards the surface.

"Not really, I think it's more 'he can talk to mermaids'.", Frank replied.

They reached the surface. "Ew, these don't look anything like how Zoey said they would.", Frank frowned.

The fruit had rotted to a gross brown, with ants crawling all over them.

A string of smoke came from around the corner. Charles swam towards it curiously.

"Fucking medication..", a familiar voice muttered horsely.

"Kurt?"

The blonde haired boy smiled at him, "Hey."

"What are you doing here?", Charles asked.

"Just thinking. Escaping the world for a sec.", Kurt replied.

There was a camping tent near the shore, with bags of chips and a flashlight with other supplies.

"How long is 'a sec'?"

Kurt sighed, breaking eye contact with Charles as he adjusted his glasses, "I got kicked out."

"What?", Charles asked.

Kurt nodded, "Nobody wanted me anymore."

Charles furrowed his brows, "Your parents just... gave you up?"

Kurt sniffed, "Yeah.."