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Emily (guest) - Thank you! I hope you like this chapter!
Though her tears have dried, her heart could never forget. She can't go back in there. Not back to him. Back to the dark. Back to the experiments . . .
The silence closes in all around her. The forest is dark as she stumbles in nothing but a nightie through the rain. No sense of direction. The drugs are still in her system. And the thunder is striking every nerve in her ears.
That's when she hears the dogs. Shaitan and Bulla. Giant mastiffs. And to this date they have never failed to hunt her down.
The cliff face is drawing ever near. So many times she came here thinking she could escape. But now it's hell. And it's too much. And she reaches the cliff. And she has never felt so sure. So certain that this is the only way out of Hell. The storm rages, urging her on. Back to the sea. She'll never be found again. The death on impact should be instantaneous. She steps forward. And the world goes black.
"Orm. We need to talk."
"Not now Mera."
"But it's important . . ."
"I said not now Mera!" He shouts. "Can't you see I'm busy?!"
The red headed Atlantan Shrugs. She's pretty enough. Any man would seem honoured to be betrothed to her. But every time he speaks to her, every time they appear together, it seems as unnatural as him setting up one of those "houses" on the surface. It's just not right. Aeryn was "right". And he's been searching for years for her.
"Well fine," Mera says. "I had some information about a certain friend of yours but if you're not interested . . ."
He forces himself to speak calmly. "A friend?"
"Aeryn," she remarks as she studies her nails. "But if you're not interested, I'll just head on off . . ."
"No no no!" He shrieks, snatching her arm. "Tell me what you know!"
"Excuse me?"
"Please."
"That's better. I received some news from the water nymphs near that human place, the 'Southern US Coast', and they said that a body appeared in the water, bearing a very distinguished Atlantan Seal like the one you gave her. Should have died at the pressure . . ."
"But she . . . she's not dead . . ." His heart sinks. "Mera . . . she's not dead, is she?"
Mera's eyes sadden. "Not for lack of trying."
He clenches his fist. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"She threw herself off."
If it's possible to feel like you're drowning underwater, this moment would be it. He feels so many things that it's like his head is going to explode, and the pain . . . what must she think of him?
"Then have Vulko ready my ship. I have work to do."