Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2015 11:47:48 +0000 (UTC)
From: Andrew Bailey <feare909@yahoo.com>
Subject: Aquata Cove - Chapter 40

Aquata Cove
Chapter 40: At Wit's End


Doctor Kaiser leans on the wall with his arms crossed as his predator-like
eyes leered through his glasses at the files that lay on the table. Another
scientist nervously fiddles with her notes, fearing that Nigel will snap
her head off the very second she opens her mouth, while Keith clinks around
with his old butterfly knife, completely calm and collected.

Nigel paces around the room, his eyes full of silent rage as he glances at
the surveillance screens. Brimming with frustration and anger, each sight
of Adam turning in his sleep, or Merrick looming in his tank, brings him
nothing but white-hot fury.

"Well," Kaiser said softly, "This is getting us nowhere."

"..." Nigel stopped in his tracks as he looked at the various X-Rays, "And
what do you suggest we do, Kaiser?"

"I believe we are up a creek without a with these young men," The doctor
said, "Maybe it is time to begin the hunt anew? Perhaps we should question
Mr Bryant's bedfellows."

"Don't you think I've thought about that?" Nigel said, "From what I've done
with Adam, I'm at my limits on any further conduct. I'm facing enough noise
as it is, with Miss Conally constantly nagging me."

"What about Miss Pink then?" Keith said, referring to the very few files
that they have on Belinda -- which consists of nothing more than a written
profile and a few photographs.

"Haven't you been listening, Keith?" Nigel growled, "If I pull another
abduction like with Adam, I'm finished. If that woman turns out to be a
citizen, that's it."

"What if she ain't?" Keith said, "S'ppose she a mermaid. Wouldn't that be
progress?"

"And what if she's not?" Nigel said, "Get it through that thick skull of
yours -- I am on thin ice."

"How bout this," Keith continued, "I go to the pier we spotted her at. I
get a cup of water. I throw it in her face. She changes, we take her in,"
Keith stated. "What do ya think?"

"I think you need to keep your goddamn mouth shut." Nigel replied.

"Hey, just tryin to help here."

"Hmph."

"Um..." Said the meek scientist, who barely has worked up the nerve to
utter a single sound, "What if we tried the Water Torture with him?" Nigel
turned to her, giving her an evil gaze of death, "A-Adam, I mean..." She
shook as his eyes reduced her to a meager mouse.

"The Water Torture." Nigel turned his attention to the girl, "After
spending 10 hours of it on the merman, only for him to sneer at my face,
you want to try that on his boyfriend." He walked up to her, towering in
rage over the young scientist.

"I-It's just..." Taking a bold move, the female spoke on, "You haven't done
anything more since you had him paralyzed... Sir."

"Are you really going to sit there in your seat," Nigel began as his arm
began to rise, "And tell me how to run my detainees, you little, useless,
simpering-" His arm backed up, and thrust at the quivering scientist.

KHH!

Nigel's wrist is grabbed by a rubber-gloved hand, belonging to Dr
Kaiser. Nigel's eyes of rage stared right into Kaiser's dead gaze.

"Nigel, say and do whatever you want to anything else," Kaiser said very
softly, "But I will not have my protégés harmed out of
aggression" Those glazed eyes narrowed, "Not even by your hand." Nigel
yanked his hand away. He turned around, and threw a chair from across the
room. The scientist eeped as she observed the mild violence. "Jessica, why
don't you go to the labs, and see if they have anything for us."

Without saying another word, she dashed out of the office. Keith snickered
at the mere drama of the moment.

"Now really, Nigel," Kaiser said, "She was only trying to sort out your-"

"Then she should have come up with a better answer!!!" Nigel yelled, "What
in the hell were you bringing a fledgling like HER for anyway?!"

"You ordered me to come in here, and I was still in the process of setting
up shop. It was her turn to sort the files, and you know I can't leave
anything unlocked and vulnerable."

"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!" Nigel roared.

"Hey hey," Keith said, "Take it easy, bossman."

"And you shut your goddamn hole!" Nigel said as he pointed, "You're lucky I
even keep you around, if it weren't for your efficiency."

"Pfff," Keith shrugged, "You wanna tell me why you're all bent outta shape?
Last I heard, havin the Fagfish's personal ass-fucker was gonna make things
easier."

"It was!" Nigel retorted, "We've pumped him with enough Sodium Pentothal to
get his whole goddamn life story!!! Yet he hasn't even given a slightest
bit of anything I'm inquiring!"

"Oook?" Keith said.

"You're such a goddamn idiot!" Nigel threw up his arms and walked away.

"Sodium Pentothal," Kaiser said, turning to Keith, "Otherwise known as
`Truth Serum', is a drug that basically makes someone talkative, and
utterly honest -- the idea is to make them high in a way where they openly
talk just about anything."

"Now see, that's MY kinda language!" Keith commented as Nigel shook his
head, "So what's the problem?"

"We've administered 50ml of the Truth Serum into Adam's blood stream --
that's five small bottles a little bigger than a shot glass," Kaiser
continued, "And not only is it not having the desired results, but he shows
absolutely no behavioral effects from the injections. We may as well have
injected him with his vaccinations while we were at it."

"Well, this is all news to me." Keith said.

"Usually, I'd be very fascinated to examine as to how a living human being
could have such immunity," Kaiser turned his head to Nigel, "Were someone
would give me some time to do my work my way."  
"Don't start
with me, Kaiser." Nigel snarled.

*KSSSH* "=Dr Kaiser?=" Came a voice on the doctor's walkie. He picked it
up, and held it to his mouth.

"Yes? What is it?"

"=We may have found something interesting about Mr Bryant's blood.="

"Very well. We'll be there presently." Dr Kaiser put back his communicator,
and gestured for Nigel, "Shall we?"


~~~


Nigel and Kaiser entered the lab, where the other scientists were at
work. They walked to one in particular, who has a sample of Adam's blood.

"First few times, I thought I had accidentally been studying the merman's
blood. However, it's Adam's blood, and these are still the results."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, I've studied his blood, and introduced it to a drop of the Sodium
Pentothal, as well as a few other compounds." Nigel looked into the
microscope, "Just like with the merman, Adam's blood seems to defuse any
foreign substances that are injected right into the bloodstream." The
enzymes of the blood eat away at the tiny drop of serum on the small glass
slate, "It's broken down into useless proteins within minutes, sir."

"So what are you saying?" Nigel asked, "He has fish blood now?"

"N-No, it's still human blood. But it has astounding immunity over most of
the chemicals I've put into it." The scientist said, "I think it also worth
mentioning that the previous paralysis victim needed over 24 hours to
recover, while Adam here showed signs of trembling within 90 minutes, and
he was able to move his arms within 3 hours after that."

"My, that IS impressive." Kaiser commented, "To have such an interesting
biology..." He turned to Nigel, who really looked at a loss for words, "So
what do you propose next, Nigel? If chemical warfare is not going to work,
what can we do?"

"..." Heavy with frustration, Nigel's fists clenched, "I stopped playing
nice a long time ago..." He muttered. He straightened up, and turned to
Kaiser, "Now the gloves are officially off..."


~~~


Jacob's pencil shook slightly as he had paused in drawing the possible
compounds of Merrick's tears. It's such a strange and wonderful substance,
but he can't even enjoy the thrill of breaking down and developing on it
from what's been going on. He's so close to forming a new chemical from
it. Just a few hypotheses away from discovering a new possible element!

"..." He sighed as he put down the pencil. He still has trouble
sleeping. Merrick's muffled cries and screams are still resonating inside
his head. He can still remember seeing the helpless aquatic creature as his
colleagues crowded around him, cutting, plucking, and skinning him bit by
bit.

"I can't..." Jacob muttered. He can't think right now.  Hell, he doesn't
even think he can continue this work anymore...

He got up, and walked away from the table, shaking his head as he went.


~~~


"Nnngh!" Adam grunted as his arms were strapped down with thick, wide
belts, along with his legs, ankles, and over his torso, "What are you doing
now?!" He demanded as they even bound his head to the table. A masked
doctor takes a needle pilled with muscle relaxant, and lines it up to
Adam's arm. He grunts in pain as the needle pushes through his skin, and
injects the chemical.

"I am getting sick and tired of all this drama, Mr Bryant," Nigel said as
he came in. Adam looked up at him, from his awkward position on the table,
"Since neither of you will cooperate, I have to resort to drastic
measures."

"Please, just let us go!" Adam begged, "Haven't you done enough to us?!"

"No." Nigel answered, "I will never have done enough until I get the
answers I need."

"You're wasting your time!" Adam said, "You're killing us for nothing!!"

"I wouldn't have to be killing you two if you would just help an old man
achieve a dream in jeopardy." He calmly said.

"So sorry I'm late." Kaiser said as he brought in some old-fashioned
looking equipment. Adam looked as best he can, his stomach feeling like its
about to be sick.

"What's that??"

"You know, when I was a young man -- younger than yourself, I might add,"
Kaiser said, "I was working at one of those Ex-Gay Ministries. Mother
insisted." He said. Adam looked with terror into those glasses, "Oh, not
that I really believe that homosexuality is a sin -- frankly, I couldn't
care less. It was just some of the methods they used -- call me dark, but
half the time, I had to keep myself from laughing at all of the staff's
idiotic idealism. Those self-righteous fools all came across like clowns to
me.

"In particular, I was fascinated by a rather nasty old treatment of
theirs..." He said as he stroked the box next to him, "They believed that
homosexuality can be cured through the administration of Electro-Shock
Therapy..." Under his paper mask, Kaiser was grinning, "Once again, I don't
care one way or the other over the subject of homosexuality, but just the
sheer science of it. It always bothered me how such lunatics could be
allowed to wield such magnificent equipment..." He giggled very lowly, "I
was eventually fired because I was caught making a dead frog move again
using the tech. Hahaha, the way they ranted and raged at me was so
hilarious..."

TCK. The device buzzed quietly into life, priming up for use.

Adam turned his eyes back to Nigel in fear, "No! You wouldn't! NOO!"

"The gloves are off, Adam," Nigel said darkly. He leaned closer so his face
was right next to Adam, with Dr Kaiser picking up a rubber block, "Are you
going to help me, or not?"

Adam's eyes watered as he breathed deeply, his heart going wild in his
ribs. It's so tempting to just give in now. If it was anyone else, he would
tell everything he knew. Even imagining Merrick -- poor, poor Merrick, who
has suffered so much already -- is enough to make him break down into
pieces. One fact, maybe two, heck -- repeat everything that went on inside
of Aquata Cove. To tell this ruthless man all that Merrick has told him. To
have all of the pain from this Agency end, the idea of going home, holding
hands with his merman. To cradle the love of his life in his arms, doing
his best to ease the suffering...

Merrick would never forgive him.

Taking a deep breath, a single tear ran down the side of his face, "Go to
hell..." He groaned as his lower lip trembled.

Nigel sighed as he shook his head, "Alright. Have it your way." Adam glared
at him while a thick, rubber mouthpiece was shoved into his mouth, prying
his jaws open. "Kaiser," Nigel said, "He's all yours."

"Don't worry..." Kaiser said as he dipped each electrode into the
conductive jelly, "I'll be gentle..." Adam breathed harshly through his
nose as he could sense the doctor getting ready to shock him. A whine
sounded in his throat as he closed his eyes tightly.


~~~


Merrick leaned on the wall with his wrists cuffed together, glaring at
Keith as he stood armed and ready to strike anytime, but looking completely
content.

"Is there any reason why I have to be near you?" Merrick asked, "I'd rather
be alone in the tank than have to look at you for more than a moment."

"Tough luck, Fagfish." Keith answered.

"And stop calling me that."

"Or wut?" Keith said, relishing the name-calling, "Fagfiii~sh?"

"Want a reminder of how I can beat you?"

"Hmph," Keith pulled out a gun, and pointed it at Merrick, "Try anything,
and I'll blast your goddamn brains out, Faggot."

"Can't imagine your Nigel would be pleased with you doing something like
that to me, Redneck."

"Yeah, go on and keep talkin." Keith said, "I'm just here to-" His
communicator flashed up, and he brought it to his ear, "Yeah? ... Ah, ok
then." He put it down, and looked at the dry merman, "That was Nigel. Says
he's gotta good show for ya."

"And what could that mean?" Merrick asked. Keith chuckled at him.

"Tell me, Ariel. You ever heard of Shock Therapy?"

"No. And that's not my name, Redneck."

"Shock Therapy is where they strap a patient down, and electrocute
them. One use for it is to cure homosexuality, or dealing with kids on bad
behavior."

"Yeah, not getting it. Try again."

"It means, they put lightning in yer body, and it shocks ya."

"So? What does that have to do with me?" Merrick blinked, and glared
daggers at Keith, and taking a stance, "It's not like I would even let you
do that to me."

"Hahaha, it ain't got nuthin to do with you. Nigel reckon you git killed if
we put you to it."

"Alright, so why are you still talking?"

"Like I said," Keith picked up a remote, and turned on the TV that was in
the room, "He gotta good show for you."

Merrick looked at the screen, and saw a human on a table, squirming wildly
as his body convulses, but seems unable to move. He gasps as he came closer
to the TV, "No..." He looked closely at the human's face, and felt an icy
surge of fear run through his heart. "Adam?"

"Can't risk eletracutin a fish. So they's goin with a guy, ain't they?"

"What are they doing to him?!" He demanded as a pair of hands placed onto
either side of Adam's head, before his upper body erected up, "ADAM!!!"

"I told you before, Fagfish. They's puttin lightning in his brain, and
fryin him up in the inside..."

Tears welled in Merrick's eyes as he saw Adam's body thrashing about,
strapped down onto the table, "STOP IT!!" He yelled, "He's done nothing to
you!! STOP HURTING HIM!!"

"They can't here you, Ariel." Keith said with a smirk, "It's just a TV."
Merrick huffed and sobbed as he helplessly watched his lover suffer at the
human's hands.

"And it's aaallll on you, fishbrains." Keith continued, "You had been a
good little faggot, and tell Nigel everything that he wanted, you two
Sodomites could be walkin outta here alive." Sparkling tears seemed from
Merrick's eyes as he cried, "But noooo. You just had to keep kickin and
screamin, and now he's gotta teach yall a lesson about respect." Merrick
put his hand on the screen as Adam's body twitched and tensed.

"Adam... Don't die..."

"This could all have been avoided if you was just a good lil fairy."

"No!" Merrick watched as the scientist placed the tools to
Adam's temples once again, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!"

"I told ya, they can't hear you." Keith said. Merrick cried as Adam's torso
once again arched.

"ADAAAMM!!"

"You can make this stop, Ariel." Keith said as he got his communicator
out. Merrick slipped his hand off the screen. "Alls ya have to do is tell
me ya ready to talk, and you and your assfucker can be right outta here."

"..." Merrick began to shake, "Shut up..."

"Hm? What'chu say?" Keith inquired, "You ready to talk now?"

"..." Merrick turned around, his eyes darkened with rage, "Shut your
repulsive face..."

"Now now, Ariel..." Keith taunted, "Lets not get ugly." Merrick slowly
turned around, his eyes narrowed at the human, seething with wrath.

"That... Is not..." He took a hard step, "MY NAME!!!" He roared. Keith
snapped the gun right up, aimed right at Merrick's head.

"You stay back now, Fagfish." Keith threatened. "One wrong move, and you're
shark bait, ya got me??"

"... Fine..." Merrick's throat began to rumble, purring like a predator on
the hunt, "I will not move..."

"Don't try any funny moves now, Fagfish..."

"Release him..." Merrick growled, "You tell them to release my Adam
immediately... Or else pray to your God."

"I'm warning you." Keith cocked his pistol, "You sit your queer ass down,
lil mermaid."

"... You have wasted my mercy." Merrick's teeth bore as he took a deep
breath.


~~


"MMMMMGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Adam screamed with his mouth full of the
rubber block, his body convulsed wildly on the table as the electricity
coursed through his body.

Through all the mind-numbing agony, he kept thinking of only Merrick's
happy face. All the times they've spend together.


Swimming in the grotto, that perverted fish yanking off his trunks
everytime he jumps in, he has no idea why he bothers with them. Collecting
trinkets and shells to keep in the little chest they set up in the
cove. All those times they've kissed and made love in that crystal
cavern. The very moment Merrick taught himself to walk just to please
Adam. Cuddling with joy when Atarah had cured Merrick of the
oil. Comforting him after he was banished, then celebrating his birthday
with him. There has to be more times than that!!


After almost a whole minute, Adam's body eased down again. His chest jumped
up and down as he breathed harshly through his nose. Tears poured from his
closed eyes as he endured the endless spiral of electric pain. His cries
were muffled in with the mouthpiece as he shook terribly on the table.

Nigel came in close again, and leaned down, "You're at your limit, Adam."
He muttered coldly, "One more dose, and you'll be knocked out for the rest
of the day, not to mention any brain damage that might occur." Adam groaned
loudly as his body still buzzed with agony. "Now I'll ask again. Will you
help me now?"

"Mmmhmff," Adam shook his head back and forth, refusing him once
again. Nigel shook his head.

"You boys really are gluttons for punishment, aren't you?" Nigel stood up,
and nodded to Kaiser, "One last shock. And we'll try the routine again in
the morning."

"Yessir-"


"KEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

A thunderous screech roared throughout the entire building. Everybody
jumped as the lights flickered from the long
sound. 

"What in the world was that?!" Nigel
demanded.

"What's going on? What's happening?!" Kaiser said.

Nigel picked up his walkie and turned it on "Keith, what was that noise?!
What it Merrick?" There came no answer. "Keith! This is your commanding
officer! What is your status?!" Again, no answer. "GODDAMMIT ANSWER ME!!"
Once more, there was no response on the other side. "Alright, Kaiser, turn
off the machine until I get back!"

"Very well." Kaiser complied, and turned off the electric box, while Nigel
stormed out of the place, and called for half a dozen guards to meet him.


~~~


"Keith!" Nigel said as he burst into the cell where he ordered Keith to
detain Merrick. He looked down, and gasped as he saw his best guard on the
floor, with his gun near his hands. Keith's eyes were open, lifeless. A
stream of blood is slowly oozing out of both ears, and drool leaks out of
his ajar mouth.

Nigel's eyes darted to see Merrick, snarling a dark rumble as he glared up
at them. Just as Merrick took another deep breath, Nigel drew out the
sound-gadget, and emited the same horrible chirping noise.

EEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEPEEP

"AHHHH!" Merrick squirmed as is the noise had physically tackled him
against the wall -- with his hands bound, he is unable to cover his
ears. Several guards rushed in, and gagged Merrick's mouth and held tightly
onto his arms.

"What do we do with him, sir?" Asked one of the guards. Nigel stopped the
noise.

"Just throw him into the tank for now! I'll decide later. Run the standard
protocal for Keith too!" Nigel shook his head as he looked at Keith's
lifeless body, "Just couldn't keep your mouth shut, could ya."


~~~


Nigel strode down the hall towards the cell where Adam is strapped for the
Shock Therapy. He squinted his eyes, before widening with anger as he saw a
head of curly blonde hair through the window, "God's sake," He ran down the
hall, "ERIN!!!"

He burst through the doors, to find his assistant helping a very shaky Adam
off of the table, and onto a wheelchair held by Daniel.

"Miss Conally, what do you think you're doing?!" Nigel demanded.  "It's
alright, you're going to be ok..." Erin said softly. "That's it, take it
easy." Adam sobbed and grunted as she put him in the chair, still shaking
horribly from the ordeal.

"Conally, you are
dismissed!" Nigel declared as he took some long steps to her, "I am
relieving you of-" Erin whirled around, and SLAPPED Nigel's undamaged
cheek, "AHH!" He staggered to the side. He put his hand onto his face as he
looked at her.

"What in the hell is the matter with you?!" Erin shouted, "SHOCK THERAPY?!"

"There is no other way, Conally!" Nigel retorted, "You are
overstepping your boundaries this time-"

"That's rich, coming from you!" Erin said, "You are in a WHOLE mess of
trouble, do you understand me! You have gone TOO far, Nigel!"

"You don't have the authority for ANYTHING, Conally! Just stay out of my
way or-"

"Or WHAT?! Huh?? `I'll lose everything dear and precious to me'? Enough
with the bullshit, Nigel!" She said, "Listen to me carefully, Nigel. It's
one thing to capture and interrogate a merman! He's considered an
unclassified animal, and I can't change that!" Erin backed up, and pointed
to Adam in the wheelchair, "But Adam is an adult American Citizen with
human rights, and you cannot -- repeat -- CANNOT treat him this way! He has
NO criminal record, has not been ordered by a court to be here, you just
flat out abducted him from his job!"

"I have just about had it with you, Conally." Nigel said, "I AM the law
here! What I say goes, and you, Missy, have crossed the line."

"You're not even listening to me, are you?!" Erin asked, "And that's why
you're going down, you hear me?" She turned to the guard, "Lets go,
Daniel. Now." Obediently, Daniel pushed the wheelchair around Nigel, and
through the door that Erin in holding open.

"You don't quite grasp the situation, Conally!" Nigel called out.

"Whatever!" She retorted.

"You're going to regret this!!"  
"Shut it before I push your
jellyfish wound into the shore!" Erin yelled right before throwing the door
behind her.


~~~


"MMMM! MRRRRMMMHHH!" Merrick struggled as the two guards dragged him into
the tank room. One of the other guards started to work the controls of the
tank, while another opened the sliding hatch. Merrick seethed through his
gag as they brought him closer and closer, determined to kill all of these
guards off as well.

When they were up to it, they forced the merman into the tank, before
quickly removing the cuffs, and slamming the hatch shut! Merrick yanked the
gag out of his mouth as he whipped around, and banged on the tank, yelling
like a crazed criminal at them.

"Jesus Christ..." Said Sarah as she looked at the merman as the water began
to pour into the tank, "He killed Keith... Just by screaming?"

"LET ME OUT!" Merrick screamed, "LET ME OUT NOW, YOU MONSTERS!!" Merrick's
flesh soon melded into blue and silver. Once he was completely submerged,
Merrick began to screech in the water while still clawing and banging on
the glass tank.


~~~


"Nnnnhh... Ghhennnnn..." Adam trembled and whimpered terribly as Daniel and
Erin carefully moved him to the bed.

"Careful... Easy now..." Erin said lowly.

"I got him." Daniel said as he gently placed Adam's head onto the pillow.

"He's..." Adam's eyes remained closed, "He's not an animal..." Adam
whimpered thickly, "He's not an animal, he's my Merrick..."  
"I
know, I'm sorry..." Erin said.

"Please, just please..." Adam held back a sob while still squirming on the
bed, "Just please get us out of here..." He sobbed as tears continued to
flow from his eyes. "Or just him... Please, he's... He's suffered too
much..."

"Don't worry, it's ok..." Erin stroked Adam's forehead, "I'm putting an end
to this. It might take me a few days, a week tops. But I'm getting the both
of you out of here."

"NNnnggh... Thank you..." Adam
cried. He cringed and shook as Erin and Daniel left Adam to recover. After
looking the door, Erin looked at Daniel, who was beginning to sob himself.

"Daniel."

"Just..." He huffed, "I have a boyfriend too, and..." He shook his head, "I
can't talk about it, Erin..." He managed to say. He strode away, wiping at
his eyes.

"Right..." Erin muttered as her eyes cast down, "Then I've got some work to
do..." With that, she walked down the hall.


~~~


"What a shame..." Dr Kaiser said as he placed his electrodes into their
container, "All this time of waiting to use you, only to have it end too
soon." He closed the box, and placed it on the shelf, and locked the
cabinet door.

He walked down the lab, and glanced at a table, and saw some compound
notes. "... Ah, young Jacob's tear notes. Odd that he would leave them
lying here, unattended..." He picked up one of the sheets of paper, and
examined it, "And unfinished..." He commented.

"Hmmm... These figures look very interesting..." Kaiser sat down, and put
the paper back. Picking up the pencil, he drew in some of the blank points
on the paper, "Hmmm... If I was to add this to that, then wouldn't..."


Kaiser spent the next hour experimenting with some of the tears, combining,
mixing, and editing their very substance. "Remarkable..." He said, "Not
only has he pinpointed the very chemicals that make up these tears... But
it seems like..."

After a few more doses and mixes, Kaiser gasped as he saw the results.

"This... This is incredible..." His very core is shaken as the doctor
started preparations, "If this works... This is unbelievable!"


~~~


"Reeewwr~" Roxas meowed as he jumped up onto the counter, where Yuri was in
the middle of chopping strawberries. She sighed as she looked over on the
kitchen counter - it's a letter for Adam. She usually NEVER opens anyone
else's mail, but the mailing address is from Hamburg, Germany, where his
grandparents live.


[Dear Adam, By God, it's been too long since I left you hour house. I
sincerely hope you haven't gone and wreck the place up! I swear I be havin
your legs strung up over me old doorway if you turned it turned it into a
feckin party house!  Heh heh heh! Just kiddin, love. I forgot to mention
that I got your last batch of photographs. They're bloody gorgeous! You
better be thinking of takin some Photography classes, you hear me?? And
your boyfriend is quite the looker!  Germany is amazing by the way! Mind
you, it's a lot better than it was when we first got here - Understood
fuck-all since I didn't know the language.  Granddad's doing great too --
the bastard, pisses me off. The meat shop has to get new walls, so I'm
stuck with him when we come over for the week. Well, what can ya do --
except feckin kill'em. Please don't ask me why I love him so much.  Can't
wait to see you!  Love, Granny]


"Oh Adam..." Yuri muttered, "What're we going to do?"

The door opened, and in comes Jamal. He walks to the kitchen, and goes
straight for the fridge. He takes out a wrapped up sandwich, and a vanilla
soda. He sits at the table, and starts eating, not even a word to Yuri.

"... Hi Jamal." Yuri said.  
"Hey." He replied.

"... How was work?"

"Fine."

"... How's Nick doing?"

"We still ain't speakin." Jamal and Nick had a fight since Jamal's attitude
has been less than agreeable, "He don't even go to the club no more."

"I see..."

"... So when're the grandparents comin over?"

"Tomorrow." Yuri said, fighting back the urge to cry, "They're coming to
visit tomorrow, and he's..." She put a hand to her brow.

"..." Jamal stood up, and picked his keys back up, "I'm out."

"Jamal, wait!" Yuri said.

"What, Yuri, what?" He raised his voice, "I don't talk, aight? I got a lot
on my mind."  
"And so do I!" She said.

"Wut? You worried about yo exams?? Well I got probl'ms too! Not sleepin,
workin myself over to keep up with the bills! Adam's grandparents are comin
over, and they only see me as a criminal, Yuri! A hard-ass criminal! And my
officer is comin next week, and Adam's not around to sign for me! When that
happens, I'm out fo REAL!"

"And you think I don't know that?!" She crossed her arms, "I've got a lot
on my mind too, and no one to talk to! Ryo's off to Japan for the next
month, everyone at the hospital's too busy. All I do is study until I pass
out, I've got NO social life, any friend I have is unavailable! Ever since
Adam and Merrick disappeared, I just..." She lowered and shook her head.

"Yuri..."

"No." Yuri looked up, "You know what? FINE! Just go!" She started to tear
up as she turned around. "I can't stand you like this, so just go on and
get the hell out of here!!" She walked into the kitchen, putting her hands
on her face and sobbing.

There was a long pause between the two. Yuri couldn't help by cry silently,
until Jamal came up to her, and hugged her. She turned around and put her
arms around him.

"Is all my fault, Yuri..." Jamal whimpered, "Is all my fault..."

"No it's not, you jerk..." She replied.

"I just wish they were here..." He groaned, "He's like my brother,
gurl... He IS my brotha..."

"I know, Jamal..."

"I'm sorry, Yuri..." He mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"It's ok, Jamal... It's ok..." Yuri whimpered.



TAC TAC TAC


Roxas's ears perked up as his head turned. He jumped off the counter, and
went over to the glass sliding door.


TAC TAC TAC


"Reeeeeerrrrrr!" The cat mewed as it pawed at the glass.

"Hang on," Yuri sniffled, "Roxas wants to go out." They parted, and Yuri
walked through the living room, and over to the glass door, "What the
heck?"

"Wut?" Jamal wiped his eyes, and traced back to Yuri.

"There's a big seagull on our porch." She said. As soon as Jamal had caught
up, the bird flew up on a post. She looked on the grey and white bird, and
noticed that it has a yellow flower tied to its leg.

Yuri opened the door, and Roxas immediately slinks out. He took a position,
and lowered himself as he aimed for the gull.

EEYA! EEYA!

The seagull jumped at Yuri and Jamal!

"AHH!"

"HEY!"

Roxas jumped up at it, and managed to scare it away from them. The seagull
screeched before flying off.

"What the hell?!" Jamal scowled.

"Hey, Jamal, look." Yuri nudged him, and pointed at the beach.

"... Wait a sec, don't we know her?"


Over by the beach is a dark woman. Dressed in rags and leaves, with long
black hair containing dried up flowers, and wearing a large sea turtle
shell on her head as a sunhat.

Atarah held her arm out, and the seagull had flown across the sky, and
perched upon her arm. Yuri and Jamal leave the house, and walk over to the
woman while she gently strokes the gull's wing.