Aquata Cove Ch. 88

Merrick's side-brushing makes some scale-designs on a beautiful fish in his undersea picture, when he feels something cold slide on his cheek. He whips about, and feels it, before discovering a smudge of purple on three of his fingers. His sharp eyes catch movement from Adam's hand, before his brush was ditched for a different one. Merrick grins as he moves his foot to hit Adam's softly. Adam smiles as nudges back, and paints.

The art instructor goes around the patients' works, looking at the different ideas from each of them. His eyebrows rise as he passes Adam's portrait, of what appears to be a bright sun amongst heavenly clouds. The line-rays from the sun can use a little more transparency.

He looks, and as usual, feels himself in small awe of Merrick's piece -- a quite realistic looking under-water scene with a smooth green fish in a curve-turn amongst reef rocks, under a shimmering surface from the moon. He also sees a few spots of color on both men.

"Very excellent work, gentlemen," He said, "Though I'd advise you keep the paint on the paper in the future." He said before walking off.

Adam shifted awkwardly, having been called on about this little tit-for-tat with Merrick, while Merrick just scoffs and rolls his eyes.

~~~

Adam pushes the pin down onto his painting in his room, smiling as he looks at the bright and sunny art.

"That's a good picture, Adam." Merrick says. He holds up a rolled up paper over to him, "You uh... Wanna have mine in here too?"

"Wait, YOUR picture?" Adam asks as he takes it, "But it's so good, why don't you frame it at YOUR house?

"I'm good... I kinda want you to have it though. You gave me this." Merrick says as he holds up the sea horse plush. "I don't have much, but I wanna give you something in exchange."

"Heh, ok, thanks." Adam says before he hesitated, getting a weird impulse to do... SOMEthing. He ended up giving Merrick a pat on the arm, gesturing awkwardly before he turns to pin up the painting. Merrick chuckles as he walks up to behind him.

Adam froze as he feels Merrick's hands on one shoulder, and on his raised arm, before... He stopped. Adam focused, and put the pin into the paper and wall.

"It's getting late..." Merrick said lowly. "I need to get home."

"Oh, ok..." Adam turns around, his face feeling slightly hot, "You uh... You, um, ah, You gonna be here tomorrow?"

"Sure." Merrick smiled, turning to him. Adam can't describe why, but something about Merrick's smile makes his head feel lighter... "I'll see you soon." Merrick says before he leans into Adam's face.

Adam's heart races as he comes in close again, and kissed his other cheek, before turning and leaving. Adam huffs and blinks, awestruck even as that blonde man walks out his door.

"Whoa..." Adam puts a hand on his face, and then turned to his head. He gets his laptop out, and opened up a new entry.

-- Dear Diary, I just had something weird happen. Some guy just up and kissed me! I don't remember him at all, but he just kisses my cheek everytime he feels like it. I don't know if I should be scared or excited, but I feel so weird with him. It's like, I want to keep seeing him, but just from today, my insides feel so crazy. Did I know him before in my old life, before I was put into the hospital? If so, I may be able to ask him about my old life, and get some answers. My psychologist says I need to take it easy, so I can't tell her, but --

"Adam?" Comes a voice and a soft knock. Adam turns to see a young woman with a brunette ponytail, stepping into his room.

"Oh, hi." Adam closes his laptop and stands up, "You here to visit me?"

"Yes I have, Adam." Jessica says nicely, "I wanted to see how my sweetheart was doing."

"Your... Sweetheart?" Adam asked.

"Yes, silly." She said as she smiles endearingly at him, "I know you don't remember me, but that doesn't mean I can't take care of you~"

Adam can't help but feel a little uneasy, talking to her. "...I think I remember seeing you here or there. Did you come to see me at the hospital too?"

"Yes, yes I have!" Jessica beams, "I brought you flowers every week you were trapped in there. "You DO remember me!"

"I-I-, just from the hospital. I don't remember a lot of people..." Adam winces as he feels his head, "Ack..."

"What's wrong, honey?"

"I've got a headache."

"Oh, here!" Jessica digs in her purse, and takes out a rattling bottle of pills, "I have Ibuprofen right here."

"Oh, thanks." Adam says as he accepts 3 small red pills, and swallowed them with a drink of water.

"Anything." She comes, and sits on his bed.

"Um, sorry, miss..."

"Jessica~"

"Miss Jessica, um... It's actually getting late, so I'm not sure how long you can stay."

"Oh, it's alright, you've always made time for me, Adam."

"I did?" Adam sits on the opposite of the bed, "Were you... Someone important in my life?"

"Well, I can't say too much," She answered, "But you are someone very dear to me before I lost you..."

"I... I'm sorry..." Adam says as a sense of guilt rolled into his stomach.

"It's alright, Adam, it's not your fault. I'm here now, and I can help you."

"O-Oh, good." Adam smiled, "The sooner I can get out of here, the better."

"But, Adam, look..." She suddenly becomes serious, glancing at the door, and getting up to close it real quick, before she came back, "Before I came in, a blonde man walked out of your room. Do you know him?"

"Only met him today." Adam says, "He's really nice and artistic, he made that painting over there." He pointed.

"Listen, Adam, I need you to hear me." She said.

"O-Ok...?" Adam looks back to her.

"You cannot see him again." She told him. Adam blinked in confusion at that.

"What? Why not? If he wants to visit me, it's not like I can stop him-"

"Adam, listen to me," Jessica urged, "There is nothing good about that man. He is the reason why you were put in the hospital for 2 months, and he's the reason why you're here now."

Adam's mouth opens slightly as he is informed, "What..." He hushed.

"He's dangerous, Adam, he's a monster. He's the one who ruined your life, and nearly had you killed. He took you down a path of sin, and you nearly lost your own life because of him."

Adam's insides sink with new fear as she tells him this, "Wh-What did he do to me??"

"Adam..." Jessica says, bowing her head wounded, "I can't tell you that. Your psychologist forbids anyone from telling you of your past..."

"Jessica, if Merrick has done something to me, I need to know." Adam says, "H-He got close to me several times today, what do I need to know??"

"I want to tell you, Adam." Jessica whines, "I desperately want to tell you... But I can't... If I tell you of all the horrible things he's done, it might put your head in worse shape than it is."

"Ghhh..." Adam puts his hand into his hair, rubbing his scalp as his brain throbs.

"Adam..." Jessica takes Adam's hand into hers, looking into his eyes, "I am the only one you can trust."

"Wha... What about my psychologist?"

"There's only so much a doctor can do for you." Jessica says softly, "I am the only one who can give you what you need."

"Jessica..." Adam said as his anxiety climbs, "I'm scared now... Merrick was so nice, how can he hurt me?"

"Just believe me, Adam." Jessica says, "This Merrick is the one who nearly got you killed... He's the one who took you away from me."

"What..." Adam says, his eyes widening with fear.