Gone Fishing

They say that drowning is one of the most peaceful ways to die if you can make yourself let go. I half considered it at the time. Yet… if I just gave up, then what was it all for? What did my struggles, my escapes from death, my growth, amount to if I was going to die anyway? There was so much I wanted to see, to do…

My head bobbed up and down as my body thrashed for air. But the weight pulled me deeper, making me choke on water. It was hopeless… even if I did manage to free myself from the restraints, I didn't know how to swim. What was the point?

No… no, it can't end like this! My mind screamed as I started to struggle again. It could've all been useless, and I knew that, but I wouldn't let myself go out without at least trying.

The lack of air caught up to me. My vision started to fade and my chest burned. Everything was getting darker, darker… Until… What was that? A… fish?

My body was shot out into the air and onto a dock. I coughed out as much water as I could and swallowed oxygen in return. The panic started to drain as my sight returned. On the other side of the dock, the large creature I'd managed to get a glimpse of was emerging. Quickly, it… deflated? Shrunk? Into a man. The man vomited on the ground before walking over to me. His back was covered in large blemishes and dark, mucus covered eyes. The hunched over stature, the fish-like lips… only one person could've lived in such conditions.

I knew almost nothing about Lord Moreau before that encounter. Fishermen had learned long ago not to go near the reservoir. He looked absolutely miserable. If I hadn't been on the edge of death, I would've recoiled at his appearance. But he had saved my life, even for a short while. I had to take what I could get.

"Look what I've caught, Mother! I won't waste this chance, I promise!" Moreau's scaly arm grabbed the rope binding my feet and dragged me away from the water. I couldn't even manage to squirm.

"W-Wait…" I breathed.

"There's no time to wait. Mother needs strong vessels. I won't let her down."

"Please… I need… to find…" I coughed again.

But he just kept moving. The grooves between the planks of wood scraped against my face as I struggled to speak again. In a matter of minutes, I was slung onto a table within a dark, grimy building.

"Mother will be so pleased," Moreau said, snickering to himself. "She didn't have to help me this time. I got this one all on my own."

"Wait…" I tried again, still trying to realign my breathing.

"Sh, don't speak. Go to sleep." He returned to my side with a syringe in his hand. I swallowed.

"Please, I… I need to find… my mother…" My voice rasped.

"…Huh?" Moreau took a step back.

"My mother… she… was thrown into the water… I have to… find her…"

I didn't expect him to care. Why would he? I was clinging to an iota of hope that he did. Maybe he would have some mercy and at least spare her before killing me. If I could just save her, then I could die in peace.

"M…Mother?" Moreau muttered. "You're… looking for your mother?"

"Yes," I replied, "she's… she's all I have left…"

"Do… Do you love your mother?" he asked.

"…Yes."

"Does she love you?"

"…Yes."

Moreau looked down at the syringe. He slowly put it back on the table beside me.

"Fine. I'll look for your mother. But you're staying here."

"OK… thank you."

Moreau scuttled away, leaving me to wait and beg. Please, please don't let it be too late. If I somehow made it out alive and got to see Mamă again, I would tell her so many things… I would tell her about how much I missed her, how lonely it had been in the factory without her, how proud I was to be her daughter, how sorry I was for being such a pain over the years… Those conversations ran through my mind as I drifted off to sleep.

There was no way of telling how much time had passed when I woke. I was in the same place, still trapped in the ropes. I forced my body into a sitting position and looked around. Nothing in the room was sharp enough to set me free.

A short while later, Moreau finally returned... empty-handed.

"Did you find her?" I asked quickly.

"She was deep underwater. She couldn't breathe." As my heart began to sink, he continued, "B-But she's OK now! She's sleeping."

"...Sleeping as in dead? Or did you drug her with that stuff you almost gave me?"

"No! Not dead or drugged!"

I laid my head back against the table and let out a deep breath. "Thank god… Can I see her?"

"I… I can't let you leave. I promised Mother I would get her−"

"Just once. That's all I need. After that you can do whatever you want with me, I swear! Please, Lord Moreau."

Moreau murmured for a moment, wiggling his fingers. "Fine. But no tricks!"

Even if I wanted to get away, I didn't have the strength. Once I was cut free, I could hardly stand. Moreau led me to another room where Mamă was resting. I let out a breath of relief and collapsed onto my knees at her side.

"Thank god…" I kissed the top of her right hand as I held it. That was the first time I'd spent any peaceful moments with her in three years. Even if she was barely clinging to life, it was enough for me.

"Is there anything here I can use? Medical supplies, fresh water?" I turned to Moreau. He shifted his eyes down, but eventually pointed off to a corridor.

"There's some stuff down that way."

"Thank you… Don't worry, Mamă; I'll fix you up good as new." I stroked her hair before setting her hand back at her side.

I slowly rose to my feet. It was almost impossible to walk. As shaky as my legs were, my soaking clothes weren't any help. I didn't have any spare ones, but I could at least afford to shed a few layers. Without another thought, I removed my coat.

"What… What's that?" Moreau asked.

"Hm?" My eyes followed his. "Oh…"

"You… You belong to Heisenberg?"

His leverage, his toy, his servant… What did it matter anymore?

"No," I sighed. "I just… work for him."

"You… You tricked me! He sent you, didn't he?!"

Shit. Couldn't Heisenberg have a good relationship with one of his siblings? "No, no!" I coughed. "That's not… my mother and I… were thrown in. We didn't plan on coming here, I swear. You can even ask Heisenberg if you want."

Moreau's face went somber. "No… it's OK. I believe you." He didn't stop staring. "Does it work?"

Great question. I hadn't considered the effects water might have on it. But it moved as naturally as usual.

"Why did Heisenberg give that to you?" Moreau seemed befuddled. While I was eager to help Mamă, she wasn't going anywhere, and nothing suggested her condition would get any worse. So, I indulged him.

"I lost my real arm. Heisenberg helped me out."

Moreau cackled. "I don't believe you! Heisenberg doesn't help anyone."

"Again, you can ask him yourself."

Moreau looked at me for a moment. "Fine," he yielded, "but that means you're not a worker."

"What do you mean?"

"You must be his pet."

Out of all the insults, that one had to be the worst.

"Excuse me?" I gagged.

"He likes you. That's why he kept you."

"Absolutely not!" There was no way I would let anyone get away with such an insinuation. Maybe I shouldn't have let it get under my skin as much as it did, but it made me cringe.

Moreau just laughed. I scoffed and walked away. Looking back, I can't blame the man; he probably didn't get many chances to look down on someone. But it still hurt.

I returned to Mamă's side with as much as my arms could carry. I was no doctor, but I did know the basics of medical treatment. Well… the medical treatment the village taught us. Some significant gashes were present on her arms and legs. Thankfully, her clothes had prevented her from bleeding out. I carefully started to dress the wounds properly. While I didn't think she could feel anything given her state, I didn't want to disturb her. Not once did Moreau interrupt my work. Instead, he just… lingered.

I stayed dutifully at Mamă's side until the sun set. Eventually, I drifted off to sleep on the ground next to her.

The next morning, Moreau was gone. I checked Mamă again, worried she may have slipped away in my rest. But her eyes were open.

I sat up and grabbed her hand. "Mamă?"

"Lipa… where…"

"We're inside Lord Moreau's… domain. Does it hurt anywhere? Can I get you anything?"

"Water, please… Ugh, my head's pounding…"

"OK, I'll be right back!"

Fresh water… that would be hard to come by. My stomach growled to remind me we needed food as well. I rose to search for anything that could satiate us. I walked out to the waters. Fish floated on the surface with their faces stuck in a perpetual state of shock. Their sorry state depressed me; I'd almost joined them, after all. The windmills churned pathetically as I walked back to the shack and slowly began searching the rooms in the hopes of finding something at least somewhat edible. After some time, I encountered Moreau. He was staring aimlessly into a TV.

"Excuse me," I said, trying to keep up pleasantries despite his demeaning comments, "Is there anything here I could eat? Or any water to drink?"

Moreau turned. "Eat? No… Everything here is mine."

"I see…" I turned toward the exit.

"Wait, wait!" he urged, "Where are you going?"

"Into the village. They'll have something to eat." I knew it was risky, but it was better than starving.

"No, don't go! H-Here!"

I turned back and watched Moreau pick up some morsels from the plate on the ground. He reached them out to me. They looked incredibly stale, but beggars can't be choosers.

"…Thank you." I slowly took the slices of bread. I didn't want to examine them too closely in fear that he might get offended, but upon quick inspection, they were at least free of mold. I gulped the pieces down.

"And there's plenty more here, see? Water too!" Moreau pointed to a small shelf to his right. "You'll stay now, right?"

"…Yes. I don't have any reason to leave until Mamă gets better."

"Good. Good…" Moreau slowly turned back to the TV. I watched him for a moment, curious. But once I realized he was fully enraptured again, I went back to Mamă.