I was sinking in the water, barely conscious, when a warm body pulled me close. Instantly, I pulled them closer and shivered. Something warm met my lips as I slowly was able to focus in, I was able to breathe. I let go of the deep breath I was holding. It was freezing, yet they were still so warm. Opening my eyes, I saw Fulcrum staring at me confused and concerned. His warm palm met my cheek.
"You're cold." He stated. I nodded slowly, trying to remember my train of thought.
"You have to go." I said after a long pause. "I don't know how to explain.. that man is not human." I warned him. He looked sad. I wanted to touch his cheek and tell him not to be sad, but I could barely keep myself awake.
"Falcrum." I said quietly.
"Yes?" He responded.
"Can you.. bring me over there? To where we first met." I asked him. And in a flash, we were swimming closer to my home, the water was getting shallower and soon, he stopped swimming. I could already tell we were here.
"What's wrong-"
"Shh, he's here." He said. My heart dropped as I held tighter to his waist.
He slowly backed up into deeper water. His hand held my waist tightly as he did so.
"Hold on, lets wait for him to leave." He said. I rested my head on his shoulder as my eyes couldn't stay open any longer.
"I'm gonna, sleep for a minute.." I told him, he quickly pulled me off of his shoulder.
"Don't, you wont wake up." He said bluntly. I wanted to laugh, but I was so sleepy and too cold to bother. "Stay awake Somnium." He said staring at me. I tried, until my eyes couldn't open anymore. I slowly dozed off. In a desperate attempt to keep me awake until the old man left, he pulled me closer to his body, his tail wrapping itself around my two legs, it was warm. I hugged him, my arms losing there strength every second. But I soon heard my moms cries as she screamed my name. My mom.
My eyes snapped open "my mom!" I yelled. Fulcrum brought me as close to the shore as he could before letting go of me. It was very cold without holding onto him. Just as he was about to swim away, I called him back.
"Falcrum!" I yelled. He came back and looked at me. Slowly extending my arms, I gave him a warm hug before pecking his cheek softly.
"Thank you." I said before separating from him. He looked at me and gave me a soft smile before swimming away. I stood up from the water and took a big breath.
"Mom!!" I screamed loudly. She turned around and ran up to the water, I quickly stood up and rushed out of the water. Shuddering, I tripped and fell to the ground. My mom ran up to me crying. She hugged me tightly. Patting my head gently with her hand. I cried quietly in her arms.
"Shh, it's okay now baby, your safe." She said. I started to cry even louder.
"I'm here. I promise." My mom cried. Holding me tightly in her embrace.
***
When I woke up, I was in my bed and a pair of warm clean clothes.
"Am I in heaven?" I said to myself. My mom rushed up to me with tears in her eyes and hugged me.
"Your very much alive dear." She said. Putting the back of my hand on my forehead she checked if I was still cold.
"You've warmed up so quickly, how are you feeling, are you okay?" She asked. I nodded before grabbing her hand.
"Mom?" I said.
"Yes darling?" She responded almost instantly.
"That patient you told me about.. the one talking about mermaids?" I said. She looked a bit lost.
"Yes dear what about him?" She said. I gripped her hand tighter.
"Please. Don't treat him anymore, stay away from him." I begged her, she looked at me shocked.
"Why?" She asked me. "Is something wrong?" I took a small gulp before shaking my head tiredly.
"I'll, I'll tell you tomorrow morning. Right now, can I sleep?" I said. She caressed my cheek.
"Yes of course dear. Rest up okay? I'm taking tomorrow off to look after you, alright?" She said before kissing my cheek and tucking me in. Turning of the lights, she closed the door and left. I took a death breath before turning over in the bed. The warm blanket reminding me of a familiar set of warm, safe arms.
***
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