Beyond the Shallow Waters ★ Maylor

Chapter 19

Freddie was shoved back into the room with Rog, falling on to his knees.

"Ow!" Freddie cried out, the door was slamming behind him.

"Freddie, are you okay?" Roger's voice muffled through the glass. Freddie nodded, standing up straight.

"I'm fine, I don't matter though. Are you okay?" Roger nodded back.

"You do matter and Yes, I'm fine." Freddie shook his head and suppressed a laugh. He dusted himself off and walked closer to the tank.
    
"That bitch really thinks he can find more of us. If the others could get ahold of him, there'd be nothing left." Roger giggled, imagining what would happen.
    
"Dominique would feed him to sharks." Roger joked, missing the feisty girl. The two laughed.
    
"She would, darling, she would." Freddie could see it now, oh what a perfect sight it would be. The two reminisced on memories of home for the next hours or two.
    
They missed the friends they had, the boring parties for neighboring kingdoms to visit, and the times they had sneaking out. It all felt as if a blur. It was gone within seconds, the life they once had. Roger felt anxiety rise in his chest the more he thought about what was going to happen to them. He was going to be used as an attraction and Freddie...Roger was terrified at what would happen to him. Prenter wouldn't let him go, he knew that for sure. He'd keep him as a prisoner or kill him to make sure the truth wouldn't get out. The only hope they had were Brian and John.

—
    
"So I brought us some disguises." John announced, pulling out some clothes from his suitcase.
    
"Disguises?" Brian asked sarcastically. John glared at him.
    
"Yes, ninja outfits to sneak in."  Brian rolled his eyes at John's sarcasm.
    
"Oh, I was expecting some hot pink dresses because that's definitely the way to get in."
    
"Both of you hush! Your bickering is ridiculous. I know you're both agitated and upset but stop taking it out on each other." Miami snapped, rubbing his temples. Brian and John apologized, becoming sheepish. The room went silent, no one having anything to say.
    
"We've got an hour until the unveiling, what do we need to do?" Brian asked, trying to stay calm and not get nauseous thinking about everything.
    
John spent the next few minutes putting together each of their outfits.
     
"Haha, you look like John Laurens from Hamilton." John giggled at Brian's low ponytail.
    
"Shut up." Brian pulled the ponytail through the back of his baseball cap, adjusting the hat on his head. He wore a zip-up black hoodie and slid a pair of sunglasses into his pocket in case.
    
John threw his hair up into a high ponytail and threw on a pair of fake glasses. He wore a black graphic tee and blue flannel.
    
"And you look like a hipster." Brian teased back.
    
"Yeah, that's the point of disguises." John shook his head, rummaging more through his bag.
    
"What about you Miami?" Miami was leaning back in the table chair just watching.
    
"I bought him a mustache." John pulled out a fake mustache from a bag. Miami and Brian gave him a weird look.
    
"What, I bought it from a wig shop earlier when we were out." John took the Spirit Gum and glued the mustache to Jim's face.
    
"Wow, no one will notice us." Miami said sarcastically, now looking in the mirror.

"Listen I know this is ridiculous, but it's our best shot at not being recognized. I also got you a fedora and glasses. Just put on your suit." John threw the rest of Miami stuff to him. Brian did think it was ridiculous, but John was right. This was the best shot they had.

"Also Brian how good are you at sneaking and stealing?"

"I'm sorry what?"

—

It was less than 20 minutes to the show. Freddie had been pulled out of the room and taken to God knows where. Alone again.

"In 16 minutes, everyone on Earth will know your kind exists." Prenter smirked, strutting into the room.

"Yes and I'll let them know what you did!" Prenter's smirk only grew.

"Do that, scream and shout. Let everyone know how awful I was to you. After you have done so, you can say goodbye to Freddie. John. Brian. Everyone you love will die. You see, I get my way and will not let a brat like you ruin it for me. People have tried ruining my career, I've always won though. I make sure that those who get in my way know their place." Roger hit the glass with his fist, fuming.

"TOUCH THEM AND I'LL-"

"You'll do what, hmm? Rip my throat out, claw my eyes out, kill me? You're in a bulletproof glass tank, you have no chance of getting to me." Prenter took a sip from the glass of wine held in his hand. He found it amusing how pissed off he made the merman. Roger was absolutely red, he could only see red.

Just you wait Prenter. Just you wait until I have a chance to get out of here.

—

"Alright, We have to split up. Stick to the plan."John stated, slipping into the crowd of people waiting outside. Miami disappeared to so now Brian alone.

Brian felt like he was going to throw up. He didn't know how he was going to take a security guard's key card.

While trying to look for a security guard, he accidentally bumped into someone, knocking them down.

"I'm so sorry." He helped the woman up realizing who it was.

"Chrissie?" The woman looked at him, eyes widened when she realized who it was.

"Brian?" She asked curiously. He immediately looked around, making sure no one heard her. Great, no one had and he turned his attention back to the brunette.

"How are you?" He fidgeted with his finger, looking away.

"I'm doing fine." Chrissie muttered. Brian nodded, going silent.

"Listen, Brian, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you-" Brian held up his hand to stop her.

"It's over. It's done with. It's in the past." He assured her. He was still somewhat hurt but it didn't matter now.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in America? Why are you dressed like that?" Chrissie questioned.

"Yeah But- Come here a minute." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from the crowd. He pulled her into the closest alley before he spoke.

"I'm supposed to be in America, but I've had certain events happen that brought me back. I'm in disguise so I'm not recognized." Chrissie looked at him confused.

"Why?"

"So Paul Prenter won't recognize me. You know how he was heading to America to find the existence of merpeople. Well, he arrived in the town where I lived and found what he wanted." Chrissie's eyes widened again. She began to stammer.

"You mean he discovered a mermaid?! An actually real-life Mermaid?!" She looked excited like a 6-year-old.

"Merman, he was taken by force...from me." Brian tried not to let his mind wander back to the day before. Chrissie's face softened.

"You were friends with a merman?" Brian nodded, feeling tears well up.

"Yes, in fact, I'm in love with him and I have to save him. I can't let this happen to him. How could this happen to him? I wasn't able to save him. It's my fault." Chrissie watched as her ex-lover broke down in tears. She hadn't seen him like this in a long time. She could tell he was speaking the truth. She felt his pain. She could see in his eyes how much the man meant to him. She hesitated at first, but she wrapped her arms around him.
    
"It's not your fault, whatever happened. It was Prenter. I've heard the awful things he's secretly did before in the past, it's all his fault. Now come on! Let's get your man!" It was her turn to grab his hand and drag him back. Brian dried his eyes as she pulled him back to the crowd.
    
"What do you need to do?" She hooked her arm with his to help create the illusion of the disguise.
    
"I've got the snatch a keycard of a guard so I can get in and grab a few things. While I'm at it, change into a security guard uniform. It would be better than this outfit Deaky's put me in." If he could get the security room, he might find supplies to break Roger out.
———
I know this chapter didn't get far, but school has started back for me so it's been really stressful. I keep procrastinating doing my work. I can't learn very well from home. I get too distracted.😪
Listen, I absolutely love Chrissie and I will absolutely redeem her OwO
Cheating wasn't right but helping Brian get Roger back is.