Chapter Thirty: Ready for the Countdown

The beast of the lake stayed afloat as numerous eyes scanned the broken bosky; the pathway created by his manic rush for water. The cabin was a good way away, so he just needed to be patient. He needed not to fret. His precious person had explained that 'crossing your heart' was a way of saying to keep a promise.

Moreau had recently vomited on the other side of the natural reservoir, then resumed submerging himself to refresh the mucus on his amphibious skin. Despite his cavernous stomach roaring several times, Moreau could not eat, which was another first as his hated-self.

Under the blue ripples and within the giant maw, the mutated man put his laced knuckles to his lumpy, square jaw with muffled whimpers around him. He was anticipating what was to come, hoping the possible outcome would outshine the bad.

Moreau's whines bubbled louder. Correction. Outshine the very bad.

He let out a gurgled gruff when he spied the petite, young woman striding very fast in his direction, her hands clutching the requested item in front of herself. Uneasily, Moreau swam forth and clawed to the surface to meet his breathless, best friend.

"I... did like... Mo said. ...I didn't run... with it."

The creature eased his head, opening all four jaw flaps as the embedded passenger inhaled the air once more. He beheld Joy standing before him, the rising of her chest decreased as she recovered from the pressurized, mile hike. However, her stance remained stiff as a nailed-up board in his old shack.

"Is, is Joy all right?"

Screwing her eyes shut, the woman quickly shook her head and lifted the retrieved article higher.

The carving knife from the kitchen cupboard in its leathery sheath.

The whitish mutant couldn't help but flinch. Those nightmares. That death dream... He could relate to her visceral fear of injury so dang well.

"I... I really don't like touching really big and really sharp knives," Joy mentioned, relaxing her arms and doing her best to keep focus on her friend.

"I'm s-sorry, Joy," uttered Moreau as softly as his overly large larynx could emit. "But, but thank you for, for bringing it."

"Mo is most welcome." Joy's weak smile downturned while glancing at nothing in particular. "But-But can't we use da wittle ones from your doctor kit dat ya made da snowmaid with? ...I'd-I'd feel much better with dose!"

The man outspread his lanky limbs vertically. "I'm too big for those now."

"Butter knives and other teeny ones're okay. ...But dis kind..."

With creased eyelids, the woman stared blindly at her feet. Her hands were white-knuckling from clamping the foot-long hidden blade like a vice that could never be reopened.

"I'm scared, Mo!"

Quietly gulping to collect himself, Moreau crooned, regaining her attention. He pointed at the knife and then to the ground. Understanding the visual suggestion, Joy readily laid it by the side of her foot. Moreau stretched as far as his attached torso permitted and placed his fidgeting hands over the shuddering, small shoulders.

He paused for a moment. It was very odd for the beast to be supporting beauty. So very odd, indeed.

When Joy raised her shimmering sights, the corners of her best friend's pale lips tugged upwards.

"Don't be afraid. Joy will be fine."

Joy blinked her vision clear. "But Joy's scared for Mo."

The mutated man canted his head at his gazing, precious person. This wasn't new to him. All the same, he'd never stop being astounded by her selflessness and concern. Never.

Moreau's spindly digits snugged her shoulders a bit more; an attempt to comfort the both of them.

"Mo's scared too. ... Y-Yes. V-Very scared."

"Me, too." Joy bit the corner of her lower lip. "Dis's really gonna hurt ya... Isn't it?"

Moreau made a slow nod. "Yes... It will."

The inner corners of the worried woman's red eyebrows rose higher. Moreau rubbed her shoulders.

"But I'll hurt forever if we don't."

Joy's hand took hold of the side of the man's misshapen face, triggering him to take in a surprised huff of air. She glanced at her nearby winter coat, still lying on the ground from when she decided to pull her friend out from the brink of primal insanity.

"I got my phone now. Maybe... maybe we can try calling Mama Bear! She's a nurse and would be much better for something like dis dan me!"

Moreau made another rare and genuine beam. On the account that she had included him about calling a devoted parent.

"Sorry, Joy... That might take a long time and... Mama Bear may not understand like... Baby Bear does."

The woman's expression lightened for her friend recalled her mother's cherished nickname for her. Reflecting on mothers, Joy wondered if they should try looking for Mother Miranda to help. But Moreau had no clue on her whereabouts or whatever happened to her. Hence, Joy decided to forgo the internal proposal. Especially since this parent was the sole reason for her son's misery. If a mad scientist, she may not be so keen to reverse this sickness in the first place.

Notwithstanding the metallic dread beside her, Joy sealed her lips, bobbing her head tersely. She would not break her promise.

"Okay, Mo. But are ya super-duper sure ya wanna do dis?"

Moreau freed her shoulders, but he remained leaning his bony cheek into the soft, rubbing palm. His eyes were closed. Even in this anxious situation, his friend's gentle caresses were utterly and undeniably soothing.

Eventually, Moreau straightened his warped neck and locked his worried gaze with hers.

Yes, I-I want to. I and my brother and sisters were given instructions by Mother for putting the cadou in peoples. Some peoples accept it, some do not. But, but I have an idea of extracting the implantation."

Joy made a single, deep blink.

"Impla... implah... impligh...tation?

"Implantation."

"Got it. Implantation."

Joy beamed softly over the super-duper smart physician language of her friend.

"Tee-hee... Tricky word."

"Hmm-hmm... Thank you."

Following a quiet moment,Moreau unbent his mouth-line.

"If the cadou is taken out soon after implantation, or after the host is fully done changing... it ...might be able to be removed."

The young woman's eyes enlarged at hearing the modal verb. She shook her head to aid her focus.

"So if I take out da cadou, Mo'll change back inta a... um, whole person?"

Moreau sighed wistfully. "I've had my cadou for such a very long time... So, becoming and staying part-mer-person is what I hope for."

Joy swallowed. "Was da cadou ever taken outta somebody before?"

After a few seconds, Moreau moved his head from side to side.

"I would be the first."

"Oh..."

Joy's pupils darted to the overlong knife on the warming earth, amplifying her reservations.

"Can... Can Mo... die?"

With a jutted jaw, the mutated man pressed his top thin lip in for a moment, looking warily at the hated sharp utensil, as well.

"...I don't know..."

Joy's breath hitched, tightening her eyelids closed once again.

"I know dat I always wanted ta be a nurse like Mama Bear. But..."

Moreau took hold of his friend's hands. "But, but, butnow is Joy's chance!" he said with light enthusiasm. "Please, Joy, if I could do it myself, I would.I, I know you'll be the best assistant!"

Joy's timid whimpers waned. "The best? ...Really?"

"Really, really! The very best!"

The woman gazed down at their adjoined hands. With a silent sniffle, Moreau managed a tearful smile. The best friends were trying their mightiest to stay strong for this undertaking.

"It will be all right, Joy. Mo will guide you. ...Okay?"

Joy remained soundless. He raised their interlocked fingers.

"Okay?"

His distraught and kindhearted friend continued to regard their hands, then the glinting sailor bracelet that peered from her sweater sleeve.

At length, she inhaled shakily; trembling, rosy lips finally upturning.

"Okay, Mo!"

Moreau unlocked his hold, and the bestial head around him lowered until the bottom jaws met the ground.

"All right, please, please go to my side and climb up. I'll tell Joy what to do."

Following a wipe of her face, Joy nodded sternly. Then suddenly, she bent over, pressing her puckered mouth atop the shocked mutant's hairless head.

"OOHH!"

The creature let out a high-pitched croon as the tail and dorsal fin stiffened. His precious person's lips were staying longer and tauter than the birthday kiss!

The soft suction was perceived when Joy backed away. Gingerly picking up the carving knife, she marched to the center of the big creature's left, crooked, elongated body. Moreau regained his bearings, and all of the right sides of his eyes looked on as his short friend struggled with climbing aboard.

After over a dozen grunts and gaffes on the slippery limbs and hide, Joy felt something coiling around her waist, and before she knew it, the soles of her white sneakers were no longer touching the moist dirt.

Because she was being raised by the long and massive tail.

As tenderly as Moreau could, he set Joy in the midst of the tendrils. He heard a loud gasp.

"Don't worry, Joy! I'm stronger now so the... snakes won't hurt you."

Carefully, the young woman straddled her little legs tightly.

"O-Okay..."

While unfurling his tailfin, Moreau felt the small, stroking hand.

"Joy? Wh-What is it?

Joy beamed timorously at the ragged fins. "Mo's tail's very pretty."

The mutant humbly rumbled from the never-before-heard complement. Joy's eyes drifted to the enormous dull blue orbs underneath her petite posterior.

"Are Mo's eyes alright with me sitting on dem?"

"Huh-? Oh!"

The creature's vast sights darted to and fro... just realizing the present situation.

"Oh, y-es, yes, yes! Joy's like a feather. Just like a feather! Huh-huh-ha... huh... ha!"

Joy blinked at her flushed friend's strange chortles.

"Ummm, alright, good."

"Yes, good! Very good! Uh'hem! Is... is Joy ready?"

Slowly, the woman swiveled her view at the skinny appendages. Their leisurely flailing motions were more disturbing than anything. Like perpendicular constrictors, waiting for just the precise moment to strike...

"...Yes... but also... no?"

Moreau breathed forcefully. Her apprehension was fully understandable.

"You-You can do it!"

Taking her eyes off the held knife, Joy respired deeply and bowed her head.

"Alright... I'm ready... But... But can I count backward? From three ta one?"

"Uhhh... Yes. That will help... I-I think..."

Joy blinked rapidly at the very long, cutting tool.

"I hope so."

The mutated man twiddled his fingers. "All right, pull the cover off the knife, carefully, pl-please."

Swallowing, the young woman did as was said, the sheath falling noiselessly to the ground. She caught her gaping reflection in the long and broad steel, and a shudder rushed through her core.

"O-Okay, Mo. What's next?"

"Hold the handle with both hands. The sharp part of the knife facing Joy, but far away from Joy."

With a firm mouth-line, Joy put her right hand on the wooden handgrip, stretching her limbs straight out.

"G-Got it, Mo."

"Good," remarked her friend, though 'good' was the complete opposite of this scenario. "See the snakes in front of you?"

Joy stared ahead at the mentioned tendrils, still idly dancing.

"Ummm... Uh-huh."

"Below them is where you will put the knife."

Joy descended her sights. "Is Mo sure dis's where da cadou is?"

"Yes, yes. I can feel it. It was implanteded there."

"Al-Alright... Wh-What's next?"

The woman perceived a raucous glug and she waited a minute for a response.

"N-Next... the, the knife needs to be dr-dropped in. Then dragged straight down as long as the whole kn-knife."

"Oh, okay," Joy peeped lightly. "How much'a da silvery part hasta go in, tho?"

"Uhhhhh... all-all of it."

Joy could sense the color dropping to her hidden, curled toes.

"What?!"

Moreau felt trembling above him. "It's, it's all right, Joy! Mo's skin is uhhh super-duper tough! Joy won't get hurt by the knife."

"I know, Mo. But... But Joy's not worried about dat."

The mute man smiled fleetingly. Always concerned about him. Always.

After a moment of mental preparation, the woman cautiously elevated her arms past her head.

"R-Ready... Mo?"

Even with being in the drying air, the aquatic creature felt clammier than ever. His dilated pupils stared up at the knife; its sharp tip ready to carve his flesh like a hapless salmon. Moreau felt his swim bladder clenching up while clinching his eyes. How he wished his big, transmuted sights had eyelids, too!

"Count down now!"

Moreau took a massive breath as did his frightened friend.

"Three..."

He bared clenched, jagged teeth.

"T-Two..."

Big claws anchored in the earth.

"One!"

Then within a second, countless mass of eyes averted from the unavoidable sight of scythe steel, plunging its way down.