Beyond the Shallow Waters ★ Maylor

Chapter 12

Roger woke up early that morning.  He wasn't really tired anymore so no point in going back to sleep. He just planned to stay where he was, enveloped in Brian's arms. It was intimate for the two of them. He felt safe and comfortable. Not to mention, he was warm and not freezing from the air conditioning.
    
Roger had begun to have feelings for Brian. He adored him. He loved his hair, smile, personality, everything. He loved how kind Brian was too him. Well, when he wasn't being a brat.
    
He watched as Brian slept soundly. He gently placed his hands on either side of the brunette's face and just stared at his lips. Roger wanted to kiss him but last time when they almost did, they got interrupted. He wished he could just lean in now but it wouldn't be right.

Roger grazed his thumb over Brian's lips, hoping it wouldn't wake him up. They felt softer than he expected.

He moved his hands away and looked away. He looked over Brian's and out the open curtain window; The sun barely peeking over the horizon.

He wiggles his way out of Brian's grasp and quietly left the room. He slid on some shoes while in the living room and snuck out the sliding glass door. The breeze hit him as soon as he was outside. It was chilly but not too chilly. The seagulls flew around and the beach was empty.

When he made it to the water's edge, the tide splashed upon his open-toed shoes. He missed home. He missed floating around, his tail, his "family," but he knew he'd miss it here if he made it back. He was torn between both worlds. Maybe he belonged here- no he belonged in the ocean with his kind. No, he belongs here with Brian.

Roger threw himself to the ground, out of reach of the tide. He pulled his knees up, rested his head on them, cried. He didn't know what he was going to do. He'd be safe if he was back in the ocean, away from Prenter, but he was beginning to fall in love with Brian. It would kill him to leave him.

A hand on landed Roger's shoulder causing him to jump. Standing above him was Paul himself. Roger felt a knot begin to form in his stomach.

"Are you alright, lad?" Roger nodded hoping he wouldn't just go away.

"Yeah, it's just a personal issue."

Please go away, please go away, PLEASE GO AWAY

"How about I take your mind off it?" He took a seat on the sand next to Roger.

"Do think merpeople exist?" What was he playing at? Roger gulped and thought a non-critical reply.

"I don't know, I never thought about it. I suppose they could exist. The ocean is a big place." Paul nodded, gazing out.

"If they do exist, could they turn themselves humans?" Roger felt like he could puke now.

"They're magical, aren't they?" He averted his gaze to his hands.

"I guess you're right. Hey, that's a nice necklace you've got there? Where'd you get it?" Oh shit, he forgot to tuck it under his shirt.

"Umm...Freddie gave it to me the other night. He got it from a family friend, said it'd give me good luck." He gave a fake smile, but his eyes screamed fear.

"Hmm, it reminds me of something but can't place it. Welp, I must be off." He stood up but paused. "Oh yeah, here. I figured you might like this." What was tossed to Roger made his eyes go wide. It was one of his scales. How?! His breath caught in his throat.

"T-thanks." He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes again.

"No problem. See you soon." Paul then walked back to his rental house. "Yes, see you real soon. This time, I'll make sure you don't get away from me." He hissed, out of Roger's earshot distance.
    
Roger was left glued to his spot, shaking. He felt the bile rise up in his throat, which he disgustingly had to shallow. He didn't know what to do. Prenter knew. Why else would he give him his scale? Where did he find it? The trash, the trash Brian threw out after mending his wound. A scale must have come loose. That's how it ended up there. What freak goes digging through someone else's trash though?

Roger had to go somewhere, he couldn't stay here. Despite the protesting coming from his legs, he ran down the beach. Luckily for him, Miami was just showing up for work.

"Jim!" Miami's head snapped around. His face went from a smile to a frown when he saw the panic of Roger's face.

"Roger, what's wrong?"

"Please, just hurry and unlock the door." Roger was having a hard time breathing: one, from the running, two, from the now pit of anxiety growing in his chest.

Jim fumbled with the keys to unlock the lock. Roger gnawed on his lower lip and ran inside when Miami opened the door for him. Miami rushed in, locking the door behind him.

"Now tell me, what's going on?" Roger broke down into tears again, shivering.

"He knows! Prenter knows!" He cried. He took a seat on one of the stools, Jim did the same.

"How can you be sure?" Roger went on to explain to him the events of the morning. He explained every last detail, minus being in love with Brian.

"Then he told me he had something for me and tossed this to me." He opens his fist and showed Miami the scale. He went on to tell him that it must have come loose when Brian was stitching him up and fell off.

Miami tried his best to comfort the young boy, assure him everything was going to be alright. He even went as far as to get him a candy bar, because why wouldn't chocolate help some.

"Roger, I promise you that Brian, John, and I will protect you and Freddie with all we can. No harm will come to you." He gave a sympathetic smile. Roger returned one, nibbling on his chocolate bar.

———

When Brian stirred, the bed felt cold. He opened eyes and Roger wasn't there. He looked over at the time: 8:23.

He threw the blanket off him and got out of bed. He walked into the living room, nobody. He looked in the kitchen, nothing. The bathroom was empty, so was the office room. Roger would definitely not be in the room with the other two. He had looked everywhere.

Roger was missing. Brian began to panic, he rushed to down the hall to Deaky's room and pounded on the door.

"John!" The door opened to a pissed off John.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Roger's gone. I don't know where he is. He wasn't there when I woke up, he's not in the house." Freddie had listened and was quick to show up in the doorway.
    
"Roger's gone?!" Freddie yelled. John was speedy to change his demeanor.

"You don't think Prenter..." John didn't even have the heart to finish his sentence. Brian shook his head violently.

"I don't know." All three were panicking now. Freddie was clinging to John, tears in his eyes. Brian was having a hard time breathing and John was staring off into the abyss.

They were all just about ready to head out to search for Roger when Brian's phone rang. He looked over to where it was on the coffee table, it was Miami. He nearly threw himself at it.

"Miami?!"

"Brian, Roger's with me. All you need to head to my house now, it's urgent. Prenter knows."
———
I loved writing this chapter for some odd reason. It's been my easiest to write so far.
Hope you enjoyed it 😗✌🏼