Chapter 43: Tying Loose Ends
The sun shone brightly through the cyan waters of the river. The refractions of light danced along the bottom, upon the small fish swimming peacefully in the clear water, thankfully that the bunyip is probably soaking in some mudbank in somewhere far.
Merrick looks over the glistening water, wondering what time of the day passes on this moment. His skin is as fair and smooth as ever - the cuts and burns on his flesh have vanished and healed. His feet are no longer gashed, looking whole again. His hair is as short and bright blonde as the day Adam left for work a whole moon ago, no longer matted or bloody. His ears are mended as well, not chipped and sliced either, are as his hands, fully restored.
"How did you know..." Merrick said as he looked at his palm, seeing each finger completely healed, with not even a scar to show for his time at the Agency "How did you know I was missing?"
"You veseet me many time." Atarah said as she stepped out, putting on her seaturtle shell, "You no come to mee longa dan usuel." Merrick nodded, "I waas worreed somting happened to you."
"Yes..." He nodded, "I was captured... And tortured by humans..."
"So I tought." Atarah said, "I can see in your soul..." She looked with sad eyes onto the merman, "... Dey have done wrong to you."
Merrick took a few deep breaths, "... Please." He said, "Can't you just... Erase my memories?"
Atarah scoffed lightly, "Merreek-"
"Just of this moon. I... Please make me forget... That place was so horrible... It keep fogging in my mind, and it terrifies me that it still exists."
"Merreek," Atarah put her hand on his shoulder, "Memories arr one ting I cannot heal..." She cast her eyes on the water, "Truss me... I have tried many time..."
"You don't understand..." Merrick replied, "They've done terrible things to me... I..." Merrick shook as his eyes watered, "I lost my mind in there..." He crouched down as he shook, "I saw him... I saw my Adam as another... As another monster, I..." He gasped and sobbed a little, "I almost KILLED him with my own hands..."
"Your mind is healed, leettle Merreek." Atarah said, "I have calmed deh madness inside you head," She rubbed her hand into his soft blond hair, "You were... Vedy hurt inside."
"It's still in my head..." Merrick whimpered, "I still remember holding him up by the neck... I can still feel-"
"Tink no of eet." Atarah advised, "You were blind een a moment of angrr. I have eased what ees een here..." She tapped Merrick's head, "Anyone would go mad in dat place. You ahr a fast healer, or I would not be speaking to you so soon." Merrick took a breath, and nodded. He stood up, and turned around, and walked back into the hut.
Adam lay on the floor, as pale as a sheet, he knelt down, and held his motionless hand, feeling his eyes water up again - he feels so cold. He looks so white... So unmoving... His white inmate uniform pants still damp, and the red-soaked tourniquet has been removed. The bullet holes on either side have vanished as well.
"Are you sure he's..." Merrick groaned.
"Only just." Atarah said, "I have healt hees wound, but I can do noting to geev teh blood he need." She explained, "I have placed heem in a timeless sleep. He shall remain dis way until he is able to heal more."
"Atarah... I'm sorry - you have already done so much for me, but is there nothing more you can do for him?" Merrick pleaded, "You were able to heal me completely, and you were able to treat him before, can't you-"
"I have done all I can for heem," The ancient said softly, "I healt you easily because you ees a creature of teh wata - Adahm is a human, and so hees aura is incompatibal. Deh last time, he was injurt by your seester, an I was able to resolve dat. He need human healers now."
Merrick nodded as he tried to calm himself. A light screech came from outside the hut. He turned and saw a seagull with a yellow flower tied to its leg. Atarah nodded, and slipped some more blue scales into Adam's pocket - the ones that allow Merrick to be wet without transforming.
"Dey have come." Atarah said, "Deh humans you know. They are here to take you home..." She stroked Adam's hair, "And take heem to halp..." Merrick slid his arm under Adam's legs, and then under his neck, and lifted his humans up.
"Thank you... For everything..." Merrick managed to say as he carried his surviving human out of the hut.
Merrick walked the tree-root bridges of the river, though the marsh-like environment, holding his cold lover in his arms, each second elevating his fear and anxiety. Atarah told him that Adam is barely surviving, that she has put him in a moment of suspended animation to keep him alive. All he can hope that the human healers really can save him...
===A Day And A Half Later===
"Nnnn..." Merrick wakes slowly up in bed. He sighed as he rolled onto his back, starring up at the ceiling. It's far better than waking up in hot chains in a room of artificial sunlight, baking him like a cake, or stirring in a stuffy, cramped tank. Still, he misses Adam... A lot.
They're finally free from the Agency, and yet they're still separated. Evidently, Adam has lost a lot of blood, and they say he might even be sick. He called Jamal's phone last night though - Adam had called them from this place humans go when they're sick or injured - some area called a 'Hospital'. Adam sounded tired, but he assured Merrick that he's going to be OK.
All signs point to everything going well, but... Merrick just wishes he could be in bed with his love; when things were bad in that prison - and it was almost always bad - just picturing him and Adam together seemed to sooth his mind. This is only the uneasy aftermath of that nightmare of the Agency.
He moaned as he moved himself out of bed, and made it promptly. He pulled up a pair of satin boxershorts, and walked out.
"Mmmf! Nnng! Hahh!"
"Hm?" Merrick heard some strange noises as he walked down the hall. Moving a little down, he found the sounds are coming from Jamal's bedroom. The door is half open, so he took a look. His face turned red hot as he saw Jamal's naked body, pistoning his hips rapidly into a slender male's anus.
"Oh daddy! Oh daddy! Oh daddy!" Nick moaned rapidly as Jamal fucked him hard. Jamal covered his mouth as he jammed his cock right in that Latino's ass.
"Keep it quiet, lil bitch!" Jamal whispered harshly. He angled his hips in a way, and made Nick moan loudly, where it not for that dark palm hushing him. Nick's pierced dick throbbed as it oozed pre around his Prince Albert.
Merrick jumped as he sensed Yuri approaching. He quickly shut the door, and turned to her.
"Oh, morning Merrick," Yuri said as she brushed her hair.
"H-Hi, Yuri!" Merrick hastily said, "Jamal's door was open-"
"Yeah, what else is new." She said dismissively, "I don't mind the whoring as much, but he can at least remember to shut the door so we don't have to see him sprawled out on the bed with some lady or guy naked and such."
"Yeah, it's... Really annoying." Merrick nodded, really not sure what to say - seeing Jamal naked is always welcome, and it's even better to see man-on-man action, but Yuri just seems the 'proper' type.
"Oh yeah, did you hear about him and Nick?"
"NO!" He said, "U-Um, no, I mean, no, I haven't heard."
"Well, since you and Adam of been missing, he and Jamal broke up."
"Y-You don't say?" Merrick said, his exquisite hearing picking up the moans and shoves in the room behind him.
"Yeah, Jamal was upset the whole time, and his attitude drove Nick away."
"A-Are you sure? They seem-ed really good with each other."
"Look, I don't know the rules of engagement when it comes to open-relationships like that - frankly, I think it's impossible," Yuri said. Merrick blushed a little as he can make out some horny begging from Nick's voice, "They seemed happy, but I just remember Nick storming out one night, and Jamal ranting at the time."
Merrick can barely pay attention, between Yuri and the escapade happening behind him.
"So, I'm gonna be leaving in an hour for the hospital. Adam should be allowed visitors now if he's feeling better."
"Really?!" Merrick said eagerly, "Can I come along?? I miss him!"
"Not right now, the hospital isn't even open right now, Merrick. I just need to run a few rounds when we get there, and I need to check up on him before I let you see him."
"O-Ok!" Merrick replied.
"Go ahead and get dressed. I'll text Jamal later when he's awake so he can take you." Yuri said before she turned to gather her things.
Merrick felt a stirring in his shorts as he heard Jamal moan out in lust.
