Chapter 15

Adrenaline is a scary hormone. It seemed to be compressing Skiff's lungs at the moment. What little he was breathing was in short shallow breaths. What? How? When? Where? Why? All these thoughts and more swirled around inside his head.

'Concentrate Skiff, you need to find out their plan'

This thought kept him from making any rash decisions. His chest hurt less now too. Deep breaths. In and out. That's it, he could concentrate again.

"So what's the plan boss?" Zak asked, shifting from one foot to the other. His dark eyes were scanning the tank (and its impressive contents) up and down.

"Simple" Big Dave smirked, readjusting his cigarette with his tongue "Tomorrow at noon, the mayor holds an important meeting with the whole town. We announce that we have something far greater than any old fish, and then we bring out this tank, whip off the curtain and boom – instant riches" He rubbed his hands together. "If people thought that little oyster blister was impressive, just wait until they see this catch"

"Then what?"

"Then what what? We become the richest men in the world, that's what"

"What about the small stand ..."

"Pah. He'll be forgotten about soon enough, when the crowds come in he won't even have a chance to say anything. In the meantime we can arrange another, more clever accident for him. He was so jealous of our fame that he left town. Oh no no, he isn't 'dead' this time. By the time people care to ask it'll probably have been months anyway, whilst we're rolling in it"

"By your tone I'm assuming he actually will be dead this time?"

Dave smiled, and crushed the cigarette butt out against the side of the tank. It left a small black mark on the glass. "With no merman to save him this time either" Dave gave a pointed smile towards the captive. Captain glared back, unable to say anything for the metallic gag that kept his fangs under wraps.

"C'mon boys. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and I'm sure our little friend here needs his beauty sleep too" Dave tapped a fat finger on the tank. "Don't tap too hard on the glass or you'll scare the fishes~" He pulled the purple curtain over the tank, and exited through the back door, followed by his two companions. Skiff sat in the dark and counted to 60 five times. Once he was sure the three weren't coming back, he slipped quietly into the dark room. The eerie blue light emanated from the bottom of the tank, reminding Skiff of the mercave. He shivered, resolving somehow to break the chains and get Captain out of there. The tank itself was too busy for him alone to shift. He climbed the steps next to the tank and paused at the top, realising he had no real plan. Oh well, perhaps this was just one of those 'go for it moments'. Skiff seized the curtain and threw it off. Captain looked up, clearly annoyed. The lines between his brows softened when he saw Skiff, and fell into what was almost a much worse expression. Despair. Skiff's heart shattered inside his chest. This was definitely a go for it thing.

He undid the latches on the top of the tank and eased the top off. It slid onto the carpet with no more noise than a soft 'rshhhh'. Then, the sailor hopped over the side of the tank, and dived to the bottom. He probably should have guessed that it would be filled with sea water, but after the initial shock of the cold salty liquid, the sailor found he was filled with determination more than anything. The merman looked at him, surprise and curiosity on his face. The first thing was to remove that gag. Saltwater made the sailor's vision blurry, and stung his eyes, but after fumbling around at the back of the hoop, he found a small screw, and twisted it sharply to the left. Captain made a small noise of discomfort, and Skiff immediately began turning it to the right. After a few spins, it was loose enough to prize away from the merman's jaw, leaving only a small red ring across either side of his cheeks. Skiff's lungs screamed for air, and he swam quickly up to the surface of the tank. His hair plastered to his forehead, and he pushed it back fiercely before diving down again. Captain was saying something, but it was obscured by the water.

Rescue first, talk after Skiff thought, diving down to the bottom again. He tugged and wriggled at the chains, but to no avail. He made several journeys to and from the bottom of the tank, each time making absolutely no progress towards loosening the chains whatsoever, and his lungs were burning ferociously. As he was diving down yet another time, he noticed something coming up directly towards him, which was odd. But before he had time to make a decision on what to do, it latched around his head. Skiff blinked, able to breathe. It was one of Captain's air bubbles.

"Can you hear me now Skiff?"

"I can ..."

"Good. Listen. It's pointless. Those chains are way stronger that what held you down, and you obviously weren't able to get through those so there's no chance of getting through these"

"But I have to save you!"

Captain sighed.

"Why would you do that after you sold me?"

Skiff blinked confused.

"S-sold you? No ... I have no idea how they found about you ..."

"That big fat one said you came back and told everyone about me and how to catch me..."

"I didn't tell a soul ... I was very careful even when they made me dr-" Skiff suddenly gasped, realisation washing over him. "Oh barnacles ... they tricked me!" The sailor's face was contorted with rage, so much so that Captain believed the certainty in his expression.

"Your hat was floating on the surface so I came up to see if it was a sign ... then they grabbed me. Next thing I know they're saying how you sold me out"

"I'd never do that" Skiff promised, tears dripping down his cheeks. "And I'm sorry for how I acted about my father's sailcloth ..."

"I thought that's what you were coming to talk about" Captain sighed "Well ... what's done is done. I actually had a plan too ... well that's not gonna work like this anyway"

"What isn't?"

"Remember the night I first gave you the pearl?"

"Uh huh"

"I said it was used for transformative rituals. After you left for Brigodston I did a little more research. The pearl needs to be in the place it was formed – aka the ocean. It needs a donor sample too – say hair or a feather or a scale etc. The more I looked into it, the less I thought it was just a myth. I thought ... perhaps if you were to lend a little hair from your head ... I could become human"

"B-but why?" Skiff blinked.

The merman looked down, not answering.

"I ... I thought I could stay with you that way"

Skiff blinked. Had he really made that much of an impact?

"I'd ... I'd love to help you Cap. But we need to get you out to do that"

"That's the problem ... you can't"

"There must be a way..."

"Skiff didn't you hear them? They're going to try and kill you again. This time they won't leave it to chance. You've got to go. Tonight"

"W-what about you?"

The merman smiled wanly.

"I've fought for so long Skiff. I lost. I'll accept my consequences but I'm not losing you too."

"Well neither am I. So help me I'll-"

The back door creaked open, and they both froze. A figure approached the tank before Skiff had time to properly react.

"Wait! Don't! It's just-"

"I think you'll need this to help him"

A hand extended towards the tank. Skiff swam to the side and peered into the palm. It was a key. He looked up. Marco looked back.

"B-but why ..."

Marco pressed a finger to his lips, and tossed the key into the tank. Skiff caught it, and then stared at the Pescecorp man, desperate for an explanation. Marco gestured his head towards the chains, so the sailor took the initiative to free Captain whilst Marco talked. The man sat himself on the steps of the tank, and pulled a photograph from his overalls pocket. He looked at it whilst he explained his change of heart.

"I joined Pescecorp when I was sixteen. At the time I was living off a small island off of the Spanish coast, and we had no money. So I had no choice but to join a company who's money was enough to send back to my familia. Big Dave was making the most money, so I applied for his squadron section. Brigodston isn't the first town to be exploited by hi – us I suppose. But as long as it made money, I went with it. Mostly because I had no where else to go, and nothing else to fight for. Then I came here" Marco turned the photograph he was holding around and pressed it to the tank. Skiff recognised the photo as Nelly Blair. Dan had been right about them making eyes at each other then.

"Being in Brigodston has taught me that there's things worth fighting more, more than money. I can make some living here. It was wrong of me to go along with their plans, and nothing I can do will ever really make up for that" He looked up at Skiff and Captain "But I can make a start by not hiding anymore. That's why I knocked on your door tonight
Skiff - and why I'm giving you the key. Free him. Some things are worth fighting for"

Marco slipped the photograph back into his pocket. Skiff felt himself dangerously close to tears. He gave a final jiggle of the chains, and Captain was free. The merman made a swift circle around the tank, grinning, then scooped Skiff into a fierce hug.

Marco coughed.

"You have until noon tomorrow to get him back, and afterwards I suggested you flee. I will attempt to deny any connections, however I will stall Pescecorp if I can"

"Thank you ..." Skiff felt weird saying those words to a Pescecorp man, but he seemed sincere. Marco nodded and headed back towards the door.

"Oh wait – Marco?" Skiff called. The man turned in the doorway.

"Where are they keeping the pearl?"

He frowned.

"Mayor's office"

"Thank you ... again"

The other nodded, and slipped out silently. Once he was gone, Captain turned back to his human friend.

"What's the plan now?"

"We get you out of this tank and back to the sea, and then we use the pearl to turn you human like you wanted"

"They won't be able to find me again if I have legs" Captain grinned. "But they're still getting away with it ... we could do with exposing them"

"True ... we'll need to think of something"

The two pondered this for a while, and after a short time (and another air bubble from Captain) their plan was decided.

"Afterwards, we try the transformation, and if it's successful, we should probably leave Brigodston" Skiff sighed "I think it might be safer that way"

"And I get to be human" Captain beamed.

"If it all works" The fisherman crossed his fingers. "Pescecorp in jail, and us on an adventure" He yawned. "Right now I want to explore my duvet ... I'll come back at dawn to start the plan"

"I'll be waiting" The merman promised eagerly.

"Goodnight then, Captain"

"Goodnight Skiff~ I love you-r e n th usiam"

Skiff cocked his head to one side. There had been an odd breakup of the words there. He felt as though the merman was trying to cover up for something, also judging by the dark blush on his cheeks.

"I got a little uh, carried away in excitement" Captain chuckled nervously. "I mean I love how passionate you are about this"

"Oh, anything to do what's right" The sailor smiled "I'll see you tomorrow"

He made his way to the top of the tank, replaced the lid and curtain, and stole back to his room in his soaking wet clothes (that he hung to dry on his radiator). That night he dreamt of waves on a sandy shore, which was funny really, because they were going backwards.