Rise of the River Man

by L. S. O'Dea

  He couldn’t pull his gaze away from that crystal clear water. He wanted, no needed to sink into it. It would make him better; it would take away his pain.

  “Get in,” said the professor.

  He glanced suspiciously at the Almightys.

  “It’s okay,” said Ableson. “The water is for you.”

  For once he was glad to obey as he stumbled to the tank, almost falling as he tried to climb the stairs. At the top, he slipped into the water. It was cool, easing the burning in his feet and body. Blood still ran from between his toes, causing the water to turn cloudy. That was better anyway. Clear water was dangerous. Anyone could see him.

  The professor unlocked a panel on the wall and pushed a few buttons. A cage dropped from the ceiling surrounding the tank of water and creating a large enclosure inside the room. “Get the female.”

  The two Guards left.

  “Should I divide my time between here and the other lab?” asked Ableson.

  “No. Stay here. I’ll get Tantiori and Truent to assist with the other projects.”

  “Do you think that’s wise? I mean with Truent’s upbringing and everything.”

  The professor frowned. “You’re right. I’ll get Parson instead. He’s young, but bright. I’ll be back to relieve you in a few hours.” The professor turned and left the room.

  Ableson sat on the chair, and took his notepad from his pocket. “Don’t worry Mutter, your pain will be gone soon. Then all you’ll feel is strong and powerful. I promise.”

  He stared at the Almighty through the water. He had let himself sink to the bottom. It was nice below the surface. He could still hear Ableson but the sound wasn’t as sharp and offensive. He waited as long as he could, surfaced for another breath and then sank again. The next time, when his lungs screamed for oxygen, there was a sharp pain in his chest and a great whoosh of air filled his lungs. Blood oozed from the slashes in his sides. He inhaled and gasped, swimming to the surface.

  Ableson chuckled. “You’ll need to learn to breathe through your gills when under water.” His smile faded a bit. “Don’t feel bad. They all make that mistake.”

  He trembled as another pain ricocheted through his neck. His fingers found four slashes on each side of his chest and two on each side of his neck. He dove under the water, into safety where the pain was dulled.

  A few minutes later when the Guards returned with Sweet, he swam to the surface.

  “Where should we put her?” asked Jorge.

  “In the cage.” Ableson jotted notes on a pad of paper.

  “With him? He’ll—”

  “We don’t know what he’ll do.” Ableson’s voice was harsh. “But we’ll learn.”

  Laddie opened the door.

  “Mutter!” cried Sweet, as she ran into the cage.

  He climbed out of the tank and raced toward her, stumbling a bit. His legs were unsteady under him. He stopped, taking her hands in his. She stared downward, her eyes wide and face pale. He followed her gaze. His feet were different. The toes had elongated and widened. Webbed skin grew between them.

  “What have they done to you?” her voice trembled.

  He opened his mouth gasping for breath. Spots appeared before him, marring Sweet’s lovely face. He needed oxygen. He staggered backward; she grabbed him under his arm, steadying him. The slits on the side of his throat opened and oxygen filled his lungs and cleared the passage to his nose. She stared at his throat and then raised her hand to touch the slashes on his chest. He was changing just like the Voice had told him. He was becoming a monster. Dangerous. He shoved her away and stumbled toward the tank. His webbed feet tangled in his haste and he fell.

  “Mutter!” She rushed to his side.

  “Leave me.” He crawled away from her.

  She didn’t follow as he made his way up the stairs and disappeared into the water. He remained submerged for days, weeks perhaps. She sat near the tank, staring at him through the glass. He was glad when the pain arrived because with it came the blood, making it harder for her to see him. He didn’t want her to look at him. He was a monster. He glared at the professor who sat at the table, taking notes and staring at the monitor. They had done this to him. He glanced at Sweet who leaned against the tank, arms wrapped around her knees, drifting in and out of sleep. They had taken more from him than he’d ever thought he could have. For this, they would pay. One day, they would pay.

  Scar entered carrying a tray of food. She slid it into the cage. Sweet walked over and picked it up. Three times a day, she brought the food to him, placing the tray on the side of the tank. She’d eat her dinner, talking to him like before and trying to coax him to eat. Eventually, she’d curl up and fall asleep. Then, he’d swim to the surface and eat the meat.

  “Leave it,” ordered the professor.

  “But, he needs food.”

  “Then he’ll have to come and get it.”

  She glanced back at the tank and took a small portion for herself, leaving the tray where it sat.

  His stomach rumbled but he would not leave the water. The pain was less and less now, but that was because he was different. His body had changed. His hair was gone. His spine had stretched, giving him a powerful tail and his fingers were now like his feet, webbed and larger. All of these changes made swimming easier, but outside the water he’d be clumsy and vulnerable. He couldn’t bear seeing the disgust in her eyes when she saw him clearly for the first time. He fought his hunger and waited.

  Late that night, when Ableson dozed and Sweet slept, he climbed out of the tank, the scent of the somewhat rotting meat dragging him from the safety of the water. The trays of food from breakfast, lunch and dinner sat near the cage door. He crept over to them and tried to pick up the meat but his flipper-hands didn’t work like his old hands. His hunger was almost overwhelming. He glanced at Sweet. She hadn’t moved. He sunk to his knees and lowered his face to the tray, swallowing the food as quickly as he could get it into his mouth. A slight hiccup caused him to spin around. Sweet stared at him through the darkness. He jumped to his feet, hitting the trays with his tail and causing a loud crash. He refused to look at her as he tromped back to the stairs, his stride wide and large to accommodate his flipper-feet.

  “Oh my, the professor will want to know about your progress.” Ableson raced from the room.

  Mutter was almost to the tank when Sweet caught up to him.

  “Stop, please.”

  He moved faster, but she was quicker than him now and the touch of her fingers on his arm made him hesitate. Her hand trembled. His skin was different too, gray and cold and scaly.

  She moved in front of him, never removing her hand. It was what kept his feet in place.

  “Oh Mutter, what have they done to you?”

  There was only sadness in her voice not disgust, but he wasn’t brave enough to raise his eyes to hers.

  She ran her hands over his body, lingering at the slashes on his chest and neck. “Does it hurt?”

  He shook his head.

  “Good.” Her fingers drifted to his chin, applying pressure to raise his head.

  He refused to budge.

  She put both hands on his shoulders, stood on tiptoe and kissed his chin. His head jerked back at the contact.

  “I love you.” Her pale green eyes searched his.

  “I...mon...ster.” His voice was raspy and the words didn’t sound like they had before.

  “No. You’re my Mutter.” Her hand rested on his cheek.

  The door opened and the two Almightys entered the room. He stepped away from her but she blocked his path.

  “Ignore them. They are not important.”

  He’d always been stronger than her, and now his body was entire muscle. Yet, her gentle touch controlled him. He wanted to flee so no one could see him, but she owned his heart so he stayed. She ran her hand up his chest and around his neck, pulling him down toward her. He moved so that he blocked her from the Almightys’ view.

  She kissed him, her lips sweet
and warm. His webbed hands trembled at his sides, yearning to touch her, but he wouldn’t. She shifted back, adding a little space between their lips.

  “Why?” He asked, searching her face for the truth.

  “I didn’t care what you looked like before, why do you think I would now?”

  “Be...fore, I ug...ly, now I mon...ster.”

  She shook her head, tears pooling in her eyes. “No. You were never ugly to me and you are not a monster.” She shifted to look past him at the Almightys. “They are the monsters.” Her voice was quiet so only he could hear, but her eyes were filled with hatred.

  “No. They hurt you.” He moved to block her from them.

  “I don’t care what they do to me.” She rested her head against his heart. “Not anymore.”

  He couldn’t wait any longer. He touched her back, softly at first, but when she only burrowed closer to him, he pulled her tight. “I care.”

  They stood like that for a while and then they sat down near the tank, hidden as much as possible from the Almightys’ view. He’d never understand how she could still care for him, but he’d take it without question. The Almightys muttered to each other about how this was possible and how long it would last before he’d kill her. They thought that they were being quiet but both he and Sweet heard every word.

  “I ne...ver hurt you. Ev...er,” he whispered.

  “I know.” She snuggled closer.

  The days passed. The Almightys still refused to let Sweet bring him the food. He no longer cared if anyone saw him, but to annoy them he’d wait until night, after Ableson had fallen asleep, to creep out and eat. The Almightys soon tired of this and began taking the tray from the previous meal when they brought the next one.

  He’d just finished his dinner and was lying next to Sweet by the tank.

  “You should start eating at least one other meal.” She ran her hand across his ribs. “You’re losing weight.”

  “No hun...gry.”

  She patted his stomach and it rumbled. “Liar.”

  He smiled at her and she leaned up and kissed him. “I love your smile. I can still see the old Mutter there.”

  He blinked a couple of times to keep the tears at bay. His jaw had started hurting, a lot. His face would change next.

  “Are you feeling okay? Do you need to get back into the tank?” She sat up.

  He nodded. It was the simplest explanation and it was partially true. Every night, he spent less and less time out of the water, which meant less and less time with her. She stayed by the tank when he was inside of it, but that wasn’t the same as holding her.

  “Your skin’s dry. You should go.” She smiled sadly. “They need to clean the tank; I can barely see you in there anymore.”

  He ran his hand over her face, memorizing the look in her eyes. He may never see it again. Tonight, his face, the only part of Mutter left, would disappear. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her for a long time. When he pulled back, she was looking at him curiously.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Her eyes searched his for the truth.

  Tomorrow, she’d answer that question for him. He stood and slipped into the water, sinking to the bottom. She stared at the tank for a long time before falling asleep.

  The cool water soothed and invigorated him. He swam to burn up his energy and to keep from thinking about the coming transformation and what she would think of his new face. Would she still kiss him, love him or would she finally see the monster he had become? Pain lanced through his jaw and blood drifted into the water. He stared at her for one long moment and then turned away, holding his head in his hands as his tears mingled with the blood and water.

  CHAPTER 12

  THE NEXT DAY MUTTER refused to get out of the tank. The blood from this last change had dirtied the water so much he was positive that as long as he stayed away from the sides she couldn’t see him, and there was no way he was going to let her see him. He’d starve first. His face was a mess, all mouth and rows of sharp teeth. He truly was a monster now.

  On the third day, Ableson succumbed to Sweet’s pleas and allowed her to drop food into the tank. Mutter’s resolve to starve faded as the meat drifted past him. He snapped his jaw, snatching a hunk of meat and chewed, but his teeth were different. They couldn’t grind the food. He tipped his head back and swallowed. It was dry and tasteless. He let the rest sink to the bottom.

  He wasn’t sure how many days passed. Ableson and Conguise constantly scribbled in their notepads and talked in whispers outside the room. He refused to listen. Nothing they said mattered anymore. Sweet continued to attempt to coax him out of the tank. She would eventually drop the meat into the water and then sit by the side, crying. He hated being the cause of her tears, but if he let her see him it would be worse.

  A ripple in the water drew his gaze upward. Something dangled above. He drifted toward it, saliva pooling in his mouth. This was food, alive and filled with blood. His body almost vibrated with the urge to attack, but he had to move carefully or it would escape. He studied it from below. It was small and skinny, legs splashing in the water as it clung to a rope over the center or his tank. He moved closer. The splashing increased. His muscles tensed and he flew upward breaching the water and wrapping his arms around the creature. A scream pierced the air as he pulled his dinner from the rope and into the water.

  “Mutter, no. Let him go!” Sweet pounded on the glass. “He’s just an old Servant. Let him go.”

  He looked at the creature in his grasp. It was a House Servant, but he hated Servants, except Sweet. His eyes darted to her. She continued to scream, slamming her fists against the tank. He released his hold and his prey swam to the surface. Sweet grabbed the old Servant’s hands and dragged him out of the water.

  The Servant ran across the enclosure and grasped the bars of the cage. “Please, let me out of here!”

  The professor nodded and Laddie opened the door, letting the Servant out, before quickly shutting it again. Mutter’s stomach rumbled and he swam to the bottom and ate the rotting meat. It wasn’t too bad.

  After that, he dozed in the water. He’d found a small shelf where he could stick the tips of his flipper-feet to keep him from floating to the surface.

  “Mutter,” called Sweet in a whisper. “Ableson’s sleeping. Come to me. I miss you.”

  She was looking over the edge of the tank. He could grab her in an instant and pull her under, but she hated getting wet.

  “I saw you today and I don’t care about your face. Please, come out of the water.”

  He didn’t believe her. It had all happened so fast that she couldn’t have gotten a good look at him.

  “You will pay for this.” She jumped into the water.

  She was inside his tank. Here he was power. He swam past her, letting his large body brush against her feet so she’d understand how helpless she was in his domain. Then, she’d leave. Instead, she ducked under the water her hands brushing across his leg.

  She resurfaced, gasping for breath. “Mutter, stop playing and hold me.”

  Hold her. Hold her. The words echoed through him and he drifted up until only his eyes and top of his head were above the surface.

  “Please. I can’t swim well.” She held out her arms.

  He would let her see his face and give her the chance to flee although he wasn’t sure that he could let her go. He emerged, head and shoulders, from the water. She gasped and horror filled her eyes, sending a lance to his heart. He started to sink, to hide when she splashed over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “How many times do I have to tell you that I love you? You!” She slapped the side of his head. “I don’t care what you look like.” She clasped his shoulders, trying to shake him, but he didn’t budge. “Don’t make me tell you again.”

  He nodded. Words were hard now.

  “Are you going to hold me, or are you going to let me drown you stubborn fool?”

  He rolled his eyes at her dramatics as he wrapped his
arms around her, pulling her close. Her heart beat was soft and fluttery, his large and pounding, but hers held all the power. He rested his face against her neck. He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like this, but soon, she began to tremble. The water was too cold for her. He used his tail to move them to the side.

  “No. I won’t leave you.” She wrapped her arms tighter around him.

  He tapped his chest and motioned toward the top.

  “You’re getting out too?”

  He nodded.

  “And you’re okay out of the water? I don’t want you to get sick.”

  He started to smile but stopped. She hadn’t seen all his teeth and he had a lot.

  She leaned forward, her fingers lightly brushing over his lips. “I don’t care.”

  She kissed him quick and then again, deeper. He pulled her close, kissing her back.

  “Mine,” he rasped.

  “Mine,” she whispered against his lips.

  Mutter and Sweet fell into a pattern over the next few weeks. She would toss him the meat and he’d let it rot a bit before eating it. It wasn’t what he wanted but it curbed his hunger and made her happy. What he wanted was the House Servant who the Almightys stuck on a rope and hung over the top of his tank. For her, he refused to take one but he couldn’t help looking. He’d float just underneath them, waiting. Sweet would tell them that it was safe, that he wouldn’t hurt them, but they never believed her. He didn’t blame them. He was never sure whether he would grab them like he needed or let them go like she wanted. Eventually, they’d drop from exhaustion. Her voice would rise slightly as she’d tell them to swim to the side, and remind him that he did not want to hurt them. She was right. He didn’t want to hurt them; he wanted to eat them.

  After each escape, he’d swim in circles, his stomach aching and his mind grumbling. The food had been right there. Why had he let it go? Later, she’d call and he’d leave the tank and rest in her arms. That was when he remembered why he listened to her. She was his everything. Nothing else mattered. Not his desires, his hunger or his life. Only her.