Chapter 8: Runaway
A series of chills went up Mikau's spine. He shook it off immediately, hoping that no one could see what he was experiencing. They were in the living room. Mikau's teacher, Ms. Cresent, was with them sitting in a chair beside Lynisana.
The room itself was fairly big. Four cozy couches with padding made from Biri's soft skin were placed in a neat row against a wall. Lamps with lighting fish were positioned in the center on two separate tables on each side of the row of chairs. In the middle placed another table, bigger than the previous two. It was made from corals with many different colors. An assortment of plants from various places was planted around the room.
"First of all, Mikau, where have you been and with whom?" Lynisana started off first. She stared hard at her son. Her fins twitched in slight anger. Her patience was nearly drained. She would teach her son his place.
"Do I have to tell you?" Mikau took a seat opposite of the two adults.
"You better young man, or you will be grounded for a week."
"Fine. I was in the northern sector with two new friends that I have made today after school."
"You WHAT?" his mother yelled with disbelieve. "You made friends with people there? Mikau! Do you realize what you have done?"
"Oh, so now I can't make friends, is that what you are trying to say?" Mikau was getting angry himself. He would not let his mom tear him away from his friends again. He didn't want to be lonely again.
Lynisana shook her head. "It's not that I don't want you to make friends. I just don't want you to be with people in the northern sector anymore, do you hear me? They are dangerous! They rob, they kill, and they steal. All of this started from being friends and being trustworthy."
Mikau didn't say anything. The pounding in his head grew even more intense. He gritted his teeth. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?
Cresent folded her fingers together and looked at Mikau with concern. After a moment, she finally spoke: "Mikau. I want you to tell us what is the problem that is on your mind. Let us help you."
Mikau scratched the back of his head and his tail. He sighed as he closed his eyes.
"Mikau, your teacher is asking you a question. Have some manners and answer her," Lynisana was not happy about her son's display.
His eyes reopened. "Answer her question? What is she? An interrogator? An Enforcer? And why should I tell you guys anything when you are trying to separate me away from my friends again?" Mikau snapped harshly. He could faintly see two outlines of his mom and his teacher. That made it looked as if there were four adult Zoras in the room instead of two. He closed his eyes again.
"Mikau!"
Cresent held up a hand. Lynisana looked at her. Cresent shook her head, mouthing the word: "no".
"Please. Do you know how bad we feel when we see you like this?" his teacher spoke gently, nicely, softly.
"Yea right..." Mikau muttered.
"You know what Mikau? If you are going to act so stubborn and so childish, then do it at your own private time. But not here, not now. I am going to the kitchen to fix us some dinner. Ms. Cresent, you can stay here for supper with us." Lynisana growled and got up from her comfy chair. She swam into the kitchen.
Now the young Zoran Hero and his teacher were alone.
The female Zora sighed. She reached across the table and took Mikau's hands in her own. Mikau yanked his hands away.
"Mikau... really. You can't go on like this anymore. If you won't tell us, how can we help you?" Cresent pleaded.
"I am perfectly fine. Don't bother me anymore."
"I guess we have no choice then," Cresent leaned back into the chair. She gave a nod. Some kind of signal.
Mikau was wondering what was going on when he saw her mother and another male Zora appeared.
"What is the meaning of this?" he immediately got up from the seat. Mikau trembled a little, not from fear, but from the sick feeling in his body.
The male Zora quickly swam toward Mikau and held him in his grip.
"Let me go! What are you doing?"
Lynisana's face was grave. "I am sorry Mikau. But after some thoughts, Ms. Cresent and I think it would be the best for you to see a Psychiatrist in the Seaside Mental Clinic. We know that you are not having mental illnesses, but we have to do this if you do not wish to let us help you." A tear rolled down her face *(1). "We are trying to help you. I don't want to lose you too. Losing your dad is painful enough. Look at you! You are so skinny. You can't even stay upright."
"I am not crazy! And I am as healthy as any boy can be! You people are nuts!" Mikau glared at her. With a silent nerve command, Mikau felt his arm blades extending out. No one noticed it at first, but when Lynisana had noticed, it was too late.
"Hold his arms!" she yelled.
Too late. Mikau delivered a solid back kick to the Zora behind him. After seeing the grip was loose, Mikau whirled around and slashed at his captor across the chest. A shallow cut was made. A yell of pain shot out through the water.
"Help me hold him down!" Ms. Cresent leaped forward but she stopped immediately.
An arm blade was inches from her neck.
"Mikau, stop this!" his mom said helplessly. She didn't dare to move. She was afraid that Mikau would do something stupid to his hostage.
Breathing in rapid breath, Mikau swam slowly toward the door. He kept his feverish gaze at the three Zoras. Finally, he bolted out of the house.
"Quick! Follow him! He might hurt someone, or himself!" Cresent said urgently as she and the male Zora swam out after the boy.
"No..." Lynisana floated there, not knowing what to do. "No... Mikau..."
* * *
Mikau swam blindly and furiously through the streets. He felt his body systems began to shut down slowly. His vision was blurry. His headache was still there. His skin felt clammy. After a short swim, Mikau had to stop to take a breath. God, if only I am not sick, he thought. Looking back, he saw small dotted figures heading toward him. Now they have the Enforcers to come after me? Mikau thought as he rolled his eyes in annoyance.
After taking a short rest, he swam down the streets again. A few Zoras looked at him, but they disregarded him. Turning around the corner that he knew so well, Mikau was in the northern sector. He took another turn into a small dark alley that would lead him to Japas' house.
* * *
"Noooo! Tobieas, what are you trying to do with those plates?" Japas groaned as he saw a tower of quivering old plates balancing on his friend's hands.
Tobieas looked confused. "I am merely trying to rearrange the plates to another spot."
"Just because dad is not home, that doesn't mean you can reposition everything in our house."
"Well, Mr. Zygran has given me the permission to do so," Tobieas blinked.
Japas stopped. "Oh. Okay."
Suddenly, the front door collapsed with a bang.
"No! We don't have anything valuable to steal here!" Japas yelled down the hall.
"Ja... Japas..." a weak voice called out.
"Whaaaa?"
Japas swam to the front door. He saw Mikau leaning against the doorframe.
"Mikau?"
The Zoran Hero gave a weak smile. His eyes were almost closed. "Let me... hide in your house will ya?" He fainted.
Japas helped Mikau into the house. "Tobieas! Get over here and help me close that door. Nail the door down if you can't close it! No! Don?t drop-"
A dozen crashes sounded as the plates rapidly drifted onto the ocean floor. The platters were fragile and well used.
"What are you? Stupid?" Japas slapped his forehead.
Tobieas appeared. "Sorry. I thought something bad is happening at the front door." He then saw whom Japas was holding. "Whoa! Mikau! What happened to you?"
"I think he is sick. Help me get him into my room."
Together, Tobieas and Japas brought the young Zoran Hero into a bedroom. The bed was old, as expected, but right now Mikau needed rest not some fancy showoffs. His breathing became increasingly short. His skin was extremely cold to touch *(2).
"Get me something that can cover him," Japas ordered.
Tobieas nodded and disappeared out of the room. A moment later, he reappeared with a sewed seaweed cover. Japas laid it on Mikau's body gently.
"Man, what happened to him?" Tobieas asked with worry.
Japas brushed his long fins away from his eyes. He shrugged. "I don't know. He said something about 'let me hide in your house' or something like that."
"This is the Enforcers! Open your door!" a loud pounding sounded, followed by a soft crash, which followed by a "Daaamn!"
Growling with frustration, Japas swam into the hallway. He came to face with seven officers at the door, or where it once stood.
"How many times do I have to tell you guys: NEVER. KNOCK. ON. THE. DOOR?" Japas screamed with rage. "Now what are you guys going to do about it? It has collapsed once again, thanks to you!"
Enforcers loved to pay visits to his neighborhood whenever something bad had happened around the area. His house was the first on the list. Yet, if they kept on barging in like that, soon, his house would be demolished into nothing but dust.
The Enforcers were bigger and were muscular than all of the average Zoras. They have white skin with two golden rings on their body, one on the neck, and one on the right arm. They had fins similar to Mikau's, but they were soft and were not sharp. They had an extremely long tail extended from the back of their head, a typical Zoran trait with slight transformation.
One of the Enforcers held up his hand to silence the boy. "We have a runaway here that was last seen in this area. Did you see a kid probably the same age and the same height as you with arm blades? He has eyes that are big and are blue with no pupils. We need to find him. He has a mental illness that needs to be treated."
Japas sucked in a deep breath. Mikau? "No. I haven't seen him. But I did see you, trashing my door, AGAIN, as if it was a piece of trash."
"Listen kid, we don't need to hear-" another Enforcer started but was stopped by the first officer.
"Thank you for your time. Here, let me help you place your door back into place."
Without effort, the leader of the Enforcers picked up the door and slammed it back into its original position. Then they swam off to the next house.
Japas blew a sigh of relieve. Tobieas was behind him, waiting in silence. Finally, he asked: "What's going on?"
"Yaaaa!" Japas jumped. "Don't scare me like that!"
"Sorry. So what is going on?"
Japas smiled. "We have a runaway in our house, or so they said. This is so cool! So... exciting! We are involved in a war, a gang, or something!"
Tobieas just blinked.
"Ah never mind. Let's go check on Mikau now."
Both children swam into the bedroom. They hoped that Mikau would survive the sickness that was roaming around inside his body, but the hope was minuscule. They didn't know how to treat him.
~End Chapter 8~
-------------------------------------------------
:::[NOTE]:::
(1) Even though Zoras are in the water and you can't see tears 'rolling down the face', but since this is a story, I figured that making the tears rolling down part could apply in this situation.
(2) Zoras' average body temperature is about 14 degree Celsius (I made it up). Yet, if they are dying or if they are sick, their oral temperature will drop even lower. Some, can drop to as low as 10 degree Celsius. If they are sick and are not treated, they would die.
-------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Well, this chapter is fun to write. For me anyway. I just had a dream last night. It was about that I didn't get a single review after I had posted this story for six years. Yeek! Scary!
So, Mikau became sicker than usual gradually. And now he had fainted and was on the verge of dying. Unless Japas and Tobieas could figure out a way to bring up Mikau's body temperature, our Zoran Hero would die. Meanwhile, Mikau's mom and his teacher would continue their search for the young child. However, Japas was determined to conceal Mikau's whereabouts for as long as he could, but could he do it?
A series of chills went up Mikau's spine. He shook it off immediately, hoping that no one could see what he was experiencing. They were in the living room. Mikau's teacher, Ms. Cresent, was with them sitting in a chair beside Lynisana.
The room itself was fairly big. Four cozy couches with padding made from Biri's soft skin were placed in a neat row against a wall. Lamps with lighting fish were positioned in the center on two separate tables on each side of the row of chairs. In the middle placed another table, bigger than the previous two. It was made from corals with many different colors. An assortment of plants from various places was planted around the room.
"First of all, Mikau, where have you been and with whom?" Lynisana started off first. She stared hard at her son. Her fins twitched in slight anger. Her patience was nearly drained. She would teach her son his place.
"Do I have to tell you?" Mikau took a seat opposite of the two adults.
"You better young man, or you will be grounded for a week."
"Fine. I was in the northern sector with two new friends that I have made today after school."
"You WHAT?" his mother yelled with disbelieve. "You made friends with people there? Mikau! Do you realize what you have done?"
"Oh, so now I can't make friends, is that what you are trying to say?" Mikau was getting angry himself. He would not let his mom tear him away from his friends again. He didn't want to be lonely again.
Lynisana shook her head. "It's not that I don't want you to make friends. I just don't want you to be with people in the northern sector anymore, do you hear me? They are dangerous! They rob, they kill, and they steal. All of this started from being friends and being trustworthy."
Mikau didn't say anything. The pounding in his head grew even more intense. He gritted his teeth. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?
Cresent folded her fingers together and looked at Mikau with concern. After a moment, she finally spoke: "Mikau. I want you to tell us what is the problem that is on your mind. Let us help you."
Mikau scratched the back of his head and his tail. He sighed as he closed his eyes.
"Mikau, your teacher is asking you a question. Have some manners and answer her," Lynisana was not happy about her son's display.
His eyes reopened. "Answer her question? What is she? An interrogator? An Enforcer? And why should I tell you guys anything when you are trying to separate me away from my friends again?" Mikau snapped harshly. He could faintly see two outlines of his mom and his teacher. That made it looked as if there were four adult Zoras in the room instead of two. He closed his eyes again.
"Mikau!"
Cresent held up a hand. Lynisana looked at her. Cresent shook her head, mouthing the word: "no".
"Please. Do you know how bad we feel when we see you like this?" his teacher spoke gently, nicely, softly.
"Yea right..." Mikau muttered.
"You know what Mikau? If you are going to act so stubborn and so childish, then do it at your own private time. But not here, not now. I am going to the kitchen to fix us some dinner. Ms. Cresent, you can stay here for supper with us." Lynisana growled and got up from her comfy chair. She swam into the kitchen.
Now the young Zoran Hero and his teacher were alone.
The female Zora sighed. She reached across the table and took Mikau's hands in her own. Mikau yanked his hands away.
"Mikau... really. You can't go on like this anymore. If you won't tell us, how can we help you?" Cresent pleaded.
"I am perfectly fine. Don't bother me anymore."
"I guess we have no choice then," Cresent leaned back into the chair. She gave a nod. Some kind of signal.
Mikau was wondering what was going on when he saw her mother and another male Zora appeared.
"What is the meaning of this?" he immediately got up from the seat. Mikau trembled a little, not from fear, but from the sick feeling in his body.
The male Zora quickly swam toward Mikau and held him in his grip.
"Let me go! What are you doing?"
Lynisana's face was grave. "I am sorry Mikau. But after some thoughts, Ms. Cresent and I think it would be the best for you to see a Psychiatrist in the Seaside Mental Clinic. We know that you are not having mental illnesses, but we have to do this if you do not wish to let us help you." A tear rolled down her face *(1). "We are trying to help you. I don't want to lose you too. Losing your dad is painful enough. Look at you! You are so skinny. You can't even stay upright."
"I am not crazy! And I am as healthy as any boy can be! You people are nuts!" Mikau glared at her. With a silent nerve command, Mikau felt his arm blades extending out. No one noticed it at first, but when Lynisana had noticed, it was too late.
"Hold his arms!" she yelled.
Too late. Mikau delivered a solid back kick to the Zora behind him. After seeing the grip was loose, Mikau whirled around and slashed at his captor across the chest. A shallow cut was made. A yell of pain shot out through the water.
"Help me hold him down!" Ms. Cresent leaped forward but she stopped immediately.
An arm blade was inches from her neck.
"Mikau, stop this!" his mom said helplessly. She didn't dare to move. She was afraid that Mikau would do something stupid to his hostage.
Breathing in rapid breath, Mikau swam slowly toward the door. He kept his feverish gaze at the three Zoras. Finally, he bolted out of the house.
"Quick! Follow him! He might hurt someone, or himself!" Cresent said urgently as she and the male Zora swam out after the boy.
"No..." Lynisana floated there, not knowing what to do. "No... Mikau..."
* * *
Mikau swam blindly and furiously through the streets. He felt his body systems began to shut down slowly. His vision was blurry. His headache was still there. His skin felt clammy. After a short swim, Mikau had to stop to take a breath. God, if only I am not sick, he thought. Looking back, he saw small dotted figures heading toward him. Now they have the Enforcers to come after me? Mikau thought as he rolled his eyes in annoyance.
After taking a short rest, he swam down the streets again. A few Zoras looked at him, but they disregarded him. Turning around the corner that he knew so well, Mikau was in the northern sector. He took another turn into a small dark alley that would lead him to Japas' house.
* * *
"Noooo! Tobieas, what are you trying to do with those plates?" Japas groaned as he saw a tower of quivering old plates balancing on his friend's hands.
Tobieas looked confused. "I am merely trying to rearrange the plates to another spot."
"Just because dad is not home, that doesn't mean you can reposition everything in our house."
"Well, Mr. Zygran has given me the permission to do so," Tobieas blinked.
Japas stopped. "Oh. Okay."
Suddenly, the front door collapsed with a bang.
"No! We don't have anything valuable to steal here!" Japas yelled down the hall.
"Ja... Japas..." a weak voice called out.
"Whaaaa?"
Japas swam to the front door. He saw Mikau leaning against the doorframe.
"Mikau?"
The Zoran Hero gave a weak smile. His eyes were almost closed. "Let me... hide in your house will ya?" He fainted.
Japas helped Mikau into the house. "Tobieas! Get over here and help me close that door. Nail the door down if you can't close it! No! Don?t drop-"
A dozen crashes sounded as the plates rapidly drifted onto the ocean floor. The platters were fragile and well used.
"What are you? Stupid?" Japas slapped his forehead.
Tobieas appeared. "Sorry. I thought something bad is happening at the front door." He then saw whom Japas was holding. "Whoa! Mikau! What happened to you?"
"I think he is sick. Help me get him into my room."
Together, Tobieas and Japas brought the young Zoran Hero into a bedroom. The bed was old, as expected, but right now Mikau needed rest not some fancy showoffs. His breathing became increasingly short. His skin was extremely cold to touch *(2).
"Get me something that can cover him," Japas ordered.
Tobieas nodded and disappeared out of the room. A moment later, he reappeared with a sewed seaweed cover. Japas laid it on Mikau's body gently.
"Man, what happened to him?" Tobieas asked with worry.
Japas brushed his long fins away from his eyes. He shrugged. "I don't know. He said something about 'let me hide in your house' or something like that."
"This is the Enforcers! Open your door!" a loud pounding sounded, followed by a soft crash, which followed by a "Daaamn!"
Growling with frustration, Japas swam into the hallway. He came to face with seven officers at the door, or where it once stood.
"How many times do I have to tell you guys: NEVER. KNOCK. ON. THE. DOOR?" Japas screamed with rage. "Now what are you guys going to do about it? It has collapsed once again, thanks to you!"
Enforcers loved to pay visits to his neighborhood whenever something bad had happened around the area. His house was the first on the list. Yet, if they kept on barging in like that, soon, his house would be demolished into nothing but dust.
The Enforcers were bigger and were muscular than all of the average Zoras. They have white skin with two golden rings on their body, one on the neck, and one on the right arm. They had fins similar to Mikau's, but they were soft and were not sharp. They had an extremely long tail extended from the back of their head, a typical Zoran trait with slight transformation.
One of the Enforcers held up his hand to silence the boy. "We have a runaway here that was last seen in this area. Did you see a kid probably the same age and the same height as you with arm blades? He has eyes that are big and are blue with no pupils. We need to find him. He has a mental illness that needs to be treated."
Japas sucked in a deep breath. Mikau? "No. I haven't seen him. But I did see you, trashing my door, AGAIN, as if it was a piece of trash."
"Listen kid, we don't need to hear-" another Enforcer started but was stopped by the first officer.
"Thank you for your time. Here, let me help you place your door back into place."
Without effort, the leader of the Enforcers picked up the door and slammed it back into its original position. Then they swam off to the next house.
Japas blew a sigh of relieve. Tobieas was behind him, waiting in silence. Finally, he asked: "What's going on?"
"Yaaaa!" Japas jumped. "Don't scare me like that!"
"Sorry. So what is going on?"
Japas smiled. "We have a runaway in our house, or so they said. This is so cool! So... exciting! We are involved in a war, a gang, or something!"
Tobieas just blinked.
"Ah never mind. Let's go check on Mikau now."
Both children swam into the bedroom. They hoped that Mikau would survive the sickness that was roaming around inside his body, but the hope was minuscule. They didn't know how to treat him.
~End Chapter 8~
-------------------------------------------------
:::[NOTE]:::
(1) Even though Zoras are in the water and you can't see tears 'rolling down the face', but since this is a story, I figured that making the tears rolling down part could apply in this situation.
(2) Zoras' average body temperature is about 14 degree Celsius (I made it up). Yet, if they are dying or if they are sick, their oral temperature will drop even lower. Some, can drop to as low as 10 degree Celsius. If they are sick and are not treated, they would die.
-------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Well, this chapter is fun to write. For me anyway. I just had a dream last night. It was about that I didn't get a single review after I had posted this story for six years. Yeek! Scary!
So, Mikau became sicker than usual gradually. And now he had fainted and was on the verge of dying. Unless Japas and Tobieas could figure out a way to bring up Mikau's body temperature, our Zoran Hero would die. Meanwhile, Mikau's mom and his teacher would continue their search for the young child. However, Japas was determined to conceal Mikau's whereabouts for as long as he could, but could he do it?