Ch. 48
The next morning, I make my way to Wake’s tank, my mind still reeling from the previous night’s encounter with Marina. The lab is bustling with activity, researchers moving to and fro, but I barely notice them. My focus is entirely on Wake, on the questions swirling in my head, and the unease twisting my gut.
When I reach the Marble, Wake is already there, gliding through the water with that eerie grace that never ceases to captivate me. The moment he senses my presence, he surfaces, his intense eyes locking onto mine. There’s a deep connection between us that I can’t quite put into words, but it’s there, pulsing between us like a living thing.
“Pho-ebe,” he greets, his voice rumbling through the air, the way it always does. There’s something about the way he says my name that sends a shiver down my spine, even now.
“Wake,” I respond, my voice wavering slightly. I climb onto the ledge beside his tank, trying to steady my nerves. “I need to talk to you about something that happened last night.”
He tilts his head slightly, waiting for me to continue.
“I visited Marina,” I begin, struggling to find the right words. “And something…something strange happened. She looked at me and said I looked just like someone, and then she…she went into shock. It was like she was having some sort of seizure.”
Wake’s expression hardens at the mention of Marina, his eyes narrowing as he considers my words. For a moment, he says nothing, simply watching me with that unreadable gaze of his.
Finally, he speaks. “My people are psychic to a degree,” he explains, his tone measured. “We share very strong mental connections with those closest to us. It is possible that Marina witnessed a traumatic event involving someone dear to her. The psychic flashback may have been too much for her to bear.”
I swallow hard, the weight of his words sinking in. “So, you’re saying she was reliving something from her past? Something horrible?”
Wake nods slowly. “It is likely. The bonds we share with those we love can be powerful… and sometimes dangerous.”
The thought of Marina, trapped in her own mind, reliving some unspeakable horror, fills me with a deep, aching sadness. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep the despair at bay. “That’s… that’s awful. I didn’t realize…”
Wake studies me for a moment, his gaze softening as he sees my distress. “You are troubled by this,” he observes, his voice gentler than before.
I nod, unable to find the words to express the tangled mess of emotions swirling inside me. “It’s just… it’s hard to imagine what she’s been through. What all of you have been through.”
Wake hesitates for a moment, as if weighing something in his mind. Then, to my surprise, he reaches out to me, his large, webbed hand extending toward mine. “Would you like to share a memory with me, Pho-ebe?” he asks, his voice low, almost tender.
I blink in surprise, not entirely sure what he means. “Share… a memory?”
“Yes,” he says, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch. “One of my fonder memories from childhood. It may help ease your mind.”
There’s something deeply personal in the offer, something that speaks of trust and connection. I can’t bring myself to refuse, not when he’s finally offering me a real glimpse into his life. I nod, placing my hand in his. The moment our skin touches, a wave of warmth spreads through me, and I feel a gentle pull, like I’m being drawn into something deeper, something beyond myself.
The world around me fades, and suddenly, I’m no longer sitting on the ledge by Wake’s tank. Instead, I’m underwater, surrounded by the vibrant colors of a coral reef. I can feel the water rushing past me, the sunlight filtering down from above, casting everything in a golden glow. I’m not just seeing this memory—I’m living it, experiencing it as if it were my own.
I can feel Wake’s presence beside me, though he’s much smaller than he is now. I realize I’m seeing him as a child, his curiosity and wonder for the world around him almost effervescent. He's not alone. More sirens surround him, their tails all different colors. I can't make out any other features, but being near them fills me with a sense of comfort. Family.
We swim together through the reef, darting between schools of fish and exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of the underwater world. There’s a sense of pure joy, an unburdened happiness that fills every part of me.
We pass through a series of caverns, the sunlight giving way to the soft, bioluminescent glow of the deep sea creatures that call this place home. I can sense Wake’s familiarity with this path, how often he must have swum it with his parents, how much it means to him.
But then, the memory shifts. Wake is older now, no longer the carefree child he was moments ago. He’s alone, swimming through the same path, though there’s a heaviness in him now, a sense of purpose that wasn’t there before.
As we reach the edge of the reef, I see something unexpected—a human boat. It’s small, bobbing on the surface above, and I can feel Wake’s curiosity piqued. He’s never been this close to humans before, and there’s a sense of both caution and excitement as he approaches the boat.
Then, suddenly, something happens. A small figure—a young girl—falls from the boat, plunging into the water. Hidden instinct surges through Wake, and without thinking, he flies toward her.
As he reaches out to catch her, their minds connect for the first time. I feel the shock of it, the jolt of recognition as their thoughts intertwine, as Wake realizes that this human girl—this child—is somehow important to him. It’s a strange and beautiful moment, filled with a sense of destiny, of something larger than either of them.
And then, just as quickly as it began, the memory ends. I’m back on the ledge by Wake’s tank, his hand still holding mine.
I blink, disoriented by the sudden return to reality. “That… that was me, wasn’t it?” I whisper, my voice trembling with the realization. “The girl from the boat… that was me.”
Wake nods, his expression unreadable. “Yes. One of my most cherished memories is of the day I found my mate.”
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