Into the Dark, part 5 (after battle)

And so we ran, trying to weave our way between the pouring stomach acid...

... without even knowing where we were supposed to go.

Wow, man. What a... what a funny sight, eh?

Funny? That's more suspicious than funny.

You're too loud...! Great, now we caught their attention.

<...? Who's there?>

Hey. I heard you guys... talking down there.

Those Mermaids... speak...?

We're not... Mermaids. Ever seen a Mer...maid this chatty?

Their Pallidification effects have only partially progressed.

So what does that make them? Half-human, half-fish?

Well, we don't got... much time. So I'll make it... short.

This zone... floods with acid every 10 minutes... or so.

Unless you guys are all... made of steel...

... you better decide fast! Either ta...ke the rope we're about to lower down, or...

... become sludgy nutrient... for the Whale and be one with it... forever and ever.

Well, even if you were to all turn into sludge, we can still salvage your weapons. We don't got nothing to lose.

Some of 'em are already starting to melt.

<Do we even have a choice?>

ROPE! NOW!

They muttered something amongst themselves, as though they found something funny about this situation... and tossed an odd-looking rope in our direction.

This rope feels funny.

That rope right... there's made of capillary we pulled straight... from its lungs. It'll last more than... an hour, even in its stomach acid.

Greg... Why'd you even ask that...? Eugh, I hate it...

With Rodya and her grumblings in tow, we struggled up the bundle of capillary rope.

<... Phew. I don't know who you guys are... But thanks.>

Hell yeah, what a catch! We'll net us upwards of 3 gold coins for this.

I think this tick-tocking friend might be worth more than that.

A catch? You think you fished us up?

We come here every... once in a while to check if... anyone's washed up, yeah.

But most of 'em poor castaways... are already almost full Mermaids by the time we find 'em. In a matter of... minutes, they're all rearing to kill us. And the rest are... just your every-day Mermaids.

Haha, so this is a special occasion, then?

This is probably the first time ever... that we found sailors that could not only... talk, but also weren't halfway turned... into Mermaids.

<So why do you guys come here every once in a while, then?>

The clock friend... here keeps tick-tockin'. Are they saying some...thing? Doubt they're a full-on robot.

Don't most... people prefer to keep the ability to speak even when re...placing their bodies with prosthetics? Guess the trends have re...ally changed since we got here.

Uh, so that buddy there... Well, it's a long story. But yeah, they can't communicate normally.

Hm, all... good. Everyone's got a sto...ry they don't want to tell.

We can sympathize a little. Talking ain't... the easiest thi...ng to do.

Consider yourselves lucked out, fellas! You guys ran into us, of all things!

Cuz we'll be getting out of here real soon!

We followed their confident, guiding steps, but there was no way to look at this situation without a bit of suspicion.

<Where do you think they're taking us?>

<What if they're leading us into a trap...?>

If they were trying to attack us, they would've done so when we were almost at the top of the cliff. We were completely vulnerable to attacks there.

And...

Ishmael opened her mouth as though she was about to say something, then stopped herself before turning around. It looked like she hadn't finished processing her thoughts yet.

... I'm sure I've seen that harpoon before somewhere...

So what ship a...re you guys from again?

Um... It's called the... The Limbus. You probably haven't heard of it, yeah...

Well, talk straight, man! It's not like you're a Mermaid. Who's your Captain? If they're from U Corp, their name just might ring a bell.

Um... who's... our Captain again?

<I dunno, guys. I've never taken the helm. Not sure if I can call myself a Captain here.>

The helm... Forsooth... If this be all about who handles the wheel...

I am quite well aware of our Captain!!! Charon is our Captain, indeed!

Aha... nope. Never hea...rd of 'em. I guess it's really been... a while, then...

He scratched his head. 'Captain' Charon clearly didn't ring a bell.

You... How long has it been since you were trapped in here?

Eight months.

No, dumbass! This is our third year! Our last count was at 644 days, so...

I dunno, la...dy. I quit coun...ting the days a while ago. I've completely lost tra...ck of time since we got stuck deep in...side where the sun don't shine.

... I see.

I know only one person who ties a knot to their harpoon like that...

Oh, this? It's called the Desper...ate's Knot. Even in our town, only the... experienced few knows how to tie it.

So... they're here...?

I... I think I know you.

Ishmael comes to a sudden stop. So do our guides.

... Not because of what she said.