literature

Submerged Chapter 4

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"Captain, what is it like?"
"It's a him…not an it."
"Oh, come now, captain…surely you aren't trying to tell me that its…sensitive."
"It has just as much right to emotion as you or I, Lieutenant."
"As you say, sir."
"….Poor boy."
"Sir?"
"He's a child, Lieutenant…if he only knew what was waiting for him…"
"With all due respect sir…you aren't going soft on us because of this…human…are you?"
"Enough, Lieutenant…have we been cleared to land?"
"Yes sir."
"…*sigh*…then take us down…we're home."


I had fallen asleep, the water around me stirred silently as I lifted my head and I looked around. I was hoping it had all been a dream! There was no way I had been abducted by aliens…no way that I was being transported to another planet to become a prisoner. I should be in my hotel room, waking up to a morning sunrise over the ocean. However, I was crushed to see that…I wasn't dreaming. I looked to see the steel walls staring back at me, and the bubble wall was still unwavering.
I half wanted to climb to my feet, to pace my cell…but my spirit wasn't in it. I just looked down at my knees and my hands. How was I able to remain breathing underwater? It was still a mystery…but I was beyond that shock. The larger shock was that I was in a space ship…filled with water no less.

Suddenly, I felt a growling in my stomach. My gut churned and turned…a very familiar wave of hunger came over me.
"Excuse me!" I called out; hoping that someone could hear me. "I was just wondering…is there any food on this ship? I haven't eaten in…um…how many days has it been?" I was answered by silence. No response came over the intercom, and there was no captain to enter my cell.
"Look, I don't want much…just some chips would do."
"That will not be necessary." The intercom replied. The familiar voice of the captain was somehow soothing.
"Hey, captain…um…why won't that be necessary?"
"We are about to enter Osians atmosphere," he replied calmly, "eating would be ill advised…unless regurgitation is a typical custom of humans." I laughed despite myself.
"Only to a few of us…" I laughed.
"I…I was joking. You humans actually regurgitate after eating?" The captain replied in shock.
"Not all of us….see there are some humans that suffer from an eating disorder that-"
"I suggest you strap in, human." He interjected. I was about to tell him that I had a name…but before I could, there was a sudden rocking of the ship and I felt myself lift off the ground and bounce across the cell.
"Gah! Oof!" I grunted as I bounced off the steel walls and against the furniture in my cell. "What the hell is happening?!" I cried. There was no reply. I was being flung left and right like a ping pong ball, and I could feel bruises on certain parts of my body.
"Hang on, child." The captain called.
"Hang on to WHAT?!" Before I heard an answer, the ship lurched and I felt myself fly backwards and felt my neck smash against my bed post…only my neck didn't hurt. Instead, I heard something crack and shatter. I looked behind me and saw that there were bits of metal floating away.

My lungs exploded.

"AAAAHHHH!" I roared. I grabbed at my throat and began churning and twisting, feeling as if my lungs were on fire. I tried to breathe in like normal, but doing so only made me light headed! I was simply sucking in water. For some reason, my breathing had been turned off! I needed air again, and I needed it immediately!
"HELP!" I choked, trying hard to hold my breath through dying lungs. There was a sudden sound of sirens and I heard odd noises. My vision was dimming and I felt like I would pass out. I clutched at my neck and my stomach….trying to push air in where there was none. Suddenly I saw shadows run up next to me…shadows with webbed feet. I saw them kneel over my body and start to fidget with my neck and with something else in the room. I was losing consciousness, but I could hear them speaking in a very strange language that I couldn't figure out. It sounded like an odd series of hisses and clicks…a few strange noises followed, and I heard them rushing in and out of the room.
There was a brief moment where I felt one rub something cold along my neck, and then wrap an odd object around my throat. I felt something heavy clasp my neck and an odd humming sound filled my head. One of the aliens grabbed me by my hair and lifted my head up so that I could look into his eyes. It hurt…but I was half dead anyway. It didn't really bother me too much. His deep dark eyes looked and pierced into mine…as if trying to reach into my soul and grab it.
"Breck." It barked at me. I didn't know what to make of it. "BRECK!"
"He's telling you to breathe, boy! So breathe!" I dared to trust that voice…what other choice did I have? I sucked in and felt sweet relief! I felt my lungs soothe back down…as if I had been letting in a breath of air that I had been holding in for hours. I lay there, puffing in and out, letting water flow through my mouth and out again…but somehow it was like sucking in sweet oxygen.

"Are you alright?" I didn't answer right away. I was busy trying to take in my situation. Surrounding me were three of the aliens, and they were looking at me with a mixture of puzzlement, concern, and fear.
"What just happened?" I demanded. I sat in silence for a few minutes…waiting for an answer, when I heard a familiar voice reach my ears.
"You're gills ruptured." I turned and saw the captain walk through the bubble and glance at me with a look of concern. I suddenly realized what he said and leaped to my feet.
"My GILLS?!" I shouted. I grabbed at my neck, but felt metal rather than my flesh. The captain stepped forward and grabbed my wrist with his scaly hands and yanked my hand back.
"It would be unwise to touch them…that devise is keeping you alive." I pulled my arm out of his grip and backed away from him fast…terrified.
"What the hell is this thing? What's it done to me?!" I screamed, completely beside myself.
"There is no human term for what it is…in fact…there is no Osian term for what it is." He stated plainly. "It is a devise recently created for the purpose of this mission…to bring an air breather under the water."
"What's it doing to me?" I cried.
"It is…complicated. In fact, I do not fully understand it myself. Essentially what it is doing is it is acting as temporary gills for you. It is converting water that you breathe, into oxygen." I subconsciously rubbed the metal device on my neck…but I was much more careful…knowing that this little collar was the reason I was still alive.
"Will I have to wear it forever?" I begged.
"No, you will not. As long as you remain underwater however, you will have to wear it so you can live."
"And what if I never leave? What if I can never go home?" I asked, looking away from him…I didn't want to watch him answer. Maybe if I didn't watch him, his answer wouldn't be real.
"…I…I hope that it doesn't come to that."
"Please…just tell me."
"On Osian…when a baby is born without gills…we have special doctors who are trained in giving them gills."
"….And….they would…do that to me?" He didn't answer. I didn't want him to. He didn't have to. I knew what the answer was.

"Not happening." I spat. I suddenly whirled around and stared the captain dead in the eyes. "Tell me what it is you people want, and then send me home." I ordered. The captain gave me a cold look, but it wasn't hostile…it was almost sympathetic…like he knew more than he was telling.
"I can't do that." He said simply.
"Then take me to the people that can!" I snapped furiously. "I have no intention of staying…or keeping this thing on my neck!"
"I understand your frustration, human…but you must-"
"Yeah, that's another thing!" I barked. "My name isn't human…my name is Joseph." The captain looked quite taken a back at me and almost took a step back.
"Very well…Joseph." He said, being careful to pronounce my name correctly. "We have just landed outside of our destination…we will be taking you inside now. I hope that all of your questions will be answered when you get there."
"Awesome. So let's go." The captain nodded to the three aliens next to him. The marched forward and grabbed me by either arm, holding me slightly off the ground.
"You are to be transported to Conch Maximum Security Prison…I'm sorry, Joseph." I looked at him in the eyes, but saw no malice there…in fact, he looked so sincere…and almost sad!
"Yeah…so am I." He stood aside and allowed the three aliens to carry me out of the cell. As we went, I couldn't help but think about all that had happened to me…all that I had to lose if I couldn't give these aliens what they wanted…and all that I had to gain…which wasn't much. I held my head up though…I had to try and look tougher than I felt. However, I couldn't stop the tears as they worked their way out of my eyes and down my cheeks.
I would like to thank :iconkittykatmwuster:. If it wasn't for her support and encouragment, a lot of this wouldn't be possible. I mean it! Hearing feedback and input from others is very important to me and it helps me improve my writing...and she is a very sweet and wonderful artist who has been very helpful and encouraging! Thank you!

This chapter took me a while to plan and figure out, but I think that it turned out well. I hope that you enjoy it!

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Pseudowitch's avatar
A very sad story so far. I hope things get better for Joseph.