Aquata Cove Ch. 41

~~~

Merrick looked up as he could feel the water disappear! Could this really be happening?! Is he finally getting out of here?!

~~~

"Can't we make this thing quiet?!" She asked.

"No, maintenance already checked it out." Daniel said, "The only to make it quiet is to get a new one."

"Er, you may want to get some towels," Jacob said, "The air pumps are broken too, so there's no other way to dry him."

"We got it handled." Meds said as Pink stood by.

"Stand back. Recently, he's been VERY volatile" Daniel said as he went to the hatch, and inserted the key. He unlocked the door, and pulled it open.

Merrick reached out as he pulled himself. Pink hissed as she drew her fake neon fingernails down his back. Merrick shuddered as water collected and ran off of his body. His injured blue flesh turned peach colored, the mangled fins on his head turned into matted blonde hair. He grunted as they helped him to his feet.

He whimpered as he ran straight for J-Man, and hugged him, "You came!" He sobbed as J-Man hugged him back. Meds came up, and embraced him too. "Please, get us out of here!"

"We workin on that."

"A-And you!" Merrick went over to Pink, and pulled off her ski mask. Merrick sobbed as he smiled, shaking his head, "Never in all of my life have I ever thought I would be glad to see you!"

Belinda grinned and snickered as Merrick cried with joy. He turned around to the other humans.

"Wait," Jacob went to Belinda, "Aren't you..." He blinked, "Do you, by any chance spend a lot of time at the Kele-Kolika Pier?"

"Yees, I do," Belinda said as she nodded.

"We have a file on you too."

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

Jamal, Yuri, and Belinda said at once.

"We've had a few suspicions on you whether or not you're a mermaid," Jacob said, "We need to get all of you out right now."

"Wait!" Merrick said, "Th-They have Adam too! He's-"

"We know," Yuri said, "We're going to get him out too. Here," Yuri then produced a pair of blue satin boxers, "Put this one real quick."

"Alright, I can take you to him," Daniel said as Merrick bent over, and pulled up the smooth undershorts, "But we need to make it fast." All of them left the tank room in a hurry.

~~~

Adam sighed as he curled up on the cot. He can barely sleep anymore... Just thinking about what they've done to Merrick.

Why hasn't anyone stand up for him yet? Sure, that woman stopped that crazy doctor from blowing his mind up with electricity, and she said that they'll be out of here in a week... But why would anyone even think about allowing such madness? How could ANYONE condone this? Is Nigel really this desperate? Anyone in their right mind could figure out what Nigel is trying to do is impossible to achieve in the few years he has left.

He jolted as he heard the lock of his door click. He sat up while the door opened, and gasped as Merrick came rushing in. "Merrick!" Just when he stood up, he gruffed as he felt Merrick embrace him tightly. Adam started to sob as he held onto his lover, just hearing Merrick's soft cries.

"Are you ok?!" Merrick asked through his tears, "I saw them... They put lightning into your body, are you ok!"

"I'm fine, Merrick, I'm fine." Adam croaked as he held tighter.

"Ye FECKIN igiot!" Came a loud, raspy voice, followed by a swipe at Adam's head.

"Ow! Hey!" He staggered, and saw his grandmother, wearing black clothes, and holding a ski mask in her hand, "Gramma?! What are you-"

"When were you going to tell me about HIM, eh?!" She said as her old eyes watered, "And when were ya plannin to tell me you were arrested, eh??" She sobbed a little, "I haven't seen ye for years, and you git yourself in trouble??"

"Gramma, I didn't, I just, it's complicated," Adam stammered before he hugged her.

"When we git home, I'm gonna feckin kill ye, making me so worried."

"We're leaving???" Adam asked, still unable to believe is grandma is here, just out of the blue. He looked over, and saw one of the security guards, a scientist, and three other burglars. The figures in black pulled up their ski masks, and revealed themselves as Jamal, Yuri, and Belinda, "Jamal! Yuri?!" He smiled excitedly, "How did you find us?!"

"No time," Daniel said, "You guys need to go now!" Adam looked at the guard in disbelief.

"Wait, you're actually getting us out?"

"Yes, now we need to MOVE." He said.

As they left, Grandma took out an old black cat cutout, and put it on the cot. Back when she was a teenager to young adult, she used to break into all sorts of places - shops, houses, and the like, and steal various items, leaving behind a black cat calling card. She'd return the items the next day on the doorstep, but it was just the thrill of breaking into houses without ever being caught that she loved. This rescue mission is just like old times.

~~~

While Jacob had left to tend to a few loose ends, Daniel quickly escorted Adam holding Merrick's hand, Jamal, Yuri, Belinda, and Grandma to the exit where they came from. Daniel had reported a fake breach on the other side of the building, so no one would disturb them - which went easier than expected, as Sarah didn't question the situation at all.

'Almost there...' Merrick thought as sparkling tears seeped from his eyes, 'This spiraling nightmare... Is almost over...'

"Wait!" Everyone halted as Erin had suddenly ran from the hall with them, blocking the door, "You can't go yet..." She said.

"Erin..." Merrick shook his head as a mixture of anger and sorrow filled his chest. He let go of Adam's hand, and walked to her, his fists clenching.

"I'm sorry to do this, but I-"

"NO!" Merrick said, "I don't know when you started deceiving me... Or if I can ever forgive any human in this dwelling," He told her, his eyes narrowing, "But if you have any sense of honesty and mercy in your heart..." Merrick's throat began to growl again, "Step aside."

"M-Merrick," Adam came up to him, sensing that he's about to do something VERY dangerous.

"If you would let me finish," Erin said, holding up a small box, "I'm sorry to do this, but I can't let you go yet... Without these..." She held the box up to Adam.

"Huh?" He accepted the box, and opened it. He blinked as he saw the contents of the box: The shirt, shorts, socks, and shoes he was wearing when the agents brought him here, along with his belt, wallet, and cellphone.

"And this..." Erin said as she took Merrick's hand, and put back his silver bracelet - the only thing he had when he was abducted, the little trinket Adam bought him on their very first date to the pier. Merrick looked up at her, "I don't blame you if you never forgive me, or anyone here. Everything I did, I did because you don't deserve to be here, or what they put you through. If I had my way, I would have let you go home on Day One. And just know that Nigel is going to answer for everything he's done, and I will NEVER let him do this ever again."

Merrick sniffled as he moved in, and hugged her. "I won't forget..." He cried as he stepped back, "I won't forget what you've done for me..." Whatever humans do, or bow to, whatever they're forced to do, Merrick at least now as a feeling that Erin wasn't completely dishonest.

Daniel opened the door, finding it already unlocked, and let everyone out.

~~~

Merrick cried freely as the group ran through the half deserted parking lot, holding Adam's hand tightly. Adam too felt emotional as they quickly made their way in the night. He could barely stand, let alone run, just from feeling the air rushing around him for the first time in weeks! The night sky as NEVER looked more beautiful! The moon is as bright and luminous as ever.

After so long of undergoing possible search entries, pinpointing the mail locations of the video messages, Yuri's worry now can come to an end - Adam is one of her very best friends - they've been together ever since their teen years. She and him have always , and Merrick is like her sassy gay friends that always could carry a conversation - that merman has more in common with her than she ever could have thought.

Despite the escapades that he had to try and ease the uncertainty and fear, and with him and Nick breaking up, Jamal has never felt more alone... Not since his childhood in Los Angeles. His type just lashes out to hide his pain. Merrick was always good to hang and talk openly about personal stuff - naked chatting was always a great few hours. And Adam is more than a signer to vouch for him because of his probation - he's has always been more of a family to him than his own kin ever was.

Though they never quite saw eye-to-eye, Belinda and Merrick can respect each other. Belinda is the only way Merrick is able to make small trips past the shore, as she is able to repel the Capricorn, and he has more than once helped her. The pier was never the same either, without Adam around.

After an entire moon... Adam and Merrick are going home...

~~~

Erin and Daniel walk down the hall after the exit had been closed.

"So," Erin said, "What are you going to do once this place closes?"

"Same old same old," He replied, "Probably gonna be a guard else where - heck, I might sign up for the police."

"Me... I'm still not sure." Erin looked around, "This place is likely going to be demolished. I'd hate to see it go to waste..."

"There's enough resources here to do anything, isn't there?" Daniel said, "Why not use it as a warehouse or something?"

"It's not that simple-"

WEEEOOOEEEEOOOEEEEOOOEEEEOOO

"HOLY SHIT!" Daniel jumped as red lights flashed everywhere.

"What the heck?!" Erin shouted as she turned it around.

"Who turned on the alarm?!" Daniel said.

"I don't know!" Erin yelled, "They must've triggered a line outside!"