My Calling (AJR Metmaid Challenge)

6

Adam woke up eventually from his aching stomach. He felt nauseous from the stench of fish. Yet he was starving. Adam glanced around, wondering how long he'd been asleep. He spotted the person from earlier.
"Hey."
The stranger looked over at him, fish guts around his mouth. He'd been eating. Adam gagged and looked away.
"I... I want you to take me home."
The stranger swallowed and rubbed at his mouth. He just blinked at Adam.
"Eat first. Then you go home."
"No. Take me home right now."
He scowled as Adam tried to stand up.
"You think you're so strong. You can't even get up. You'll never make it home. Eat or starve."
Adam took a shaky breath and almost pulled himself up but his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed onto the cold floor, gasping and shivering.
"Eat. Or starve."
Adam made a face as he grabbed the fish that was near him. He looked at it with disgust. It was raw fish. Then again, sushi was raw fish too. How bad could this be?
Very bad. Adam spat out the cold squishy fish, trying very hard to keep the few contents of his stomach in there.
"You eat the fish or your body eats itself. Simple as that."
Adam glared at the octopus-man and looked back at the fish. It wasn't tempting. He held his nose and choked it down, earning a stern look from his captor.
"That's no way to treat the food your host makes for you."
"You didn't make it,"
Adam said in a raspy voice.
"I wanna go home now."
"Don't we all?"
The stranger asked with a cruel laugh. Adam closed his eyes and laid back down, trying to get some energy back.
"We never introduced ourselves,"
the 'host' told Adam, stopping him from falling asleep.
"Let's try this again. My name is Charlie. And you are?"
"Leave me alone."
Charlie frowned again. He grabbed Adam's wrist and yanked him onto his feet.
"That's not an answer. And you are?"
"Adam. Please put me down."
His wrist hurt from the force and he was feeling nauseous again. Charlie huffed and tossed him down again. Adam needed to get out of there but he couldn't walk. He'd just have to wait until he got his strength back. The pool of water led to the ocean, it had to. He just needed to wait.

. . .

     Adam wasn't sure how long it had been. Days probably. Maybe a week. He kept drifting in and out of sleep. His whole body ached and his skin was paling from the lack of sunlight. He forced himself to eat whenever possible, although he had limited and disgusting choices. He wanted to be in his apartment, curled up in his bed with his comforter and blankets and probably eating some kind of hot soup. It would be a little salty, and if he ate too fast he might burn his tongue but at least it would be warm and tasty. At least he would be home.
     Adam rarely saw Charlie anymore. He was always out. While he was gone Adam was pushing his muscles, making himself stand and balance. He wasn't strong enough to walk just yet. Damn Charlie. Adam pushed himself up using the stalagmites and cave wall. The 'food' didn't sit well when he did, and he constantly felt sick. But he pushed through it anyways.
     One night while Charlie was out (again), Adam crawled over to the pool of water. There was a tunnel under the water, leading to his freedom. Adam took a deep breath and pushed himself under the water.
     Once he'd finished his transformation, Adam took a deep breath through his gills. It was a good thing his tail didn't take much energy to move. He wiggled his hips quickly and started his slow journey back up to the surface. Adam could faintly see bright blue light, burning his eyes as his sunlight-starved body quickly got closer to it.
     Adam's eyes went wide as he felt something grab his waist.
     "COME BACK!!"
     Charlie shouted at him. Adam thrashed against the tentacles, gasping as his energy started draining. He was being pulled deeper and deeper into the dark, cold water. Charlie wasn't letting go.
     "Come back, come back, come back! You do not leave!!"
     Adam screamed, his body flailing as he tried desperately to get away from him. Suddenly there was a cry of pain from the cecaelia. Adam looked over to find the manatee from earlier- attacking Charlie? It was bumping into him at full force, knocking Charlie into the stone wall next to him. The tentacle around Adam's waist released as the water spirit continued attacking. He didn't have enough strength to keep going. Adam looked up at the surface of the water again, trying to push himself up towards it. His body ached so badly. He'd never get home.
     Adam blinked in confusion as he felt two hands around his waist. They were warm and gentle and he felt safe. He was moving quickly through the water, the surface getting nearer. Adam fought to keep his eyes open but he was just so tired from his fight. Once again he faded out of consciousness, the light burning bright against his closed eyelids.

     "Holy shit..."
     "Adam?!"

{888 words}