To Breathe

Chapter Three: Cabin by Water, Free

All five men kept walking for a few minutes until they got to their cars, three of them got into one and Achak guided Crescendo to his own. He’d seen ones similar while on his walk to the café, different in color. The sky was beginning to brighten in color and none of them had said a word, the ride silent as the buildings flew past them. Soon enough there were no buildings and houses and just the smears of green as they drove by woodland.

Crescendo has never seen so much green on land before at least not in this way, not in the way that reminded him of the seaweed forests he used to walk through when he lived in the ocean. Trees; that what they were, he forgot what they felt like, would they feel slimy like the seaweed that would wrap around his legs after he’d drag himself on the beach? 

“By the way,” Achak’s words were quiet as he was looking at the road in front of him, “sorry if I sound rude butーhow old are you?” His hands slid on the steering wheel. 

Crescendo shook his head, humming, he’s heard his mom do that whenever she thought about something, “I’m twenty-three, guess it was about time she kicked me out.” He was muttering. When waiting for people to find him on the beach he’s heard about how they want to leave home when they turned eighteen. 

Never got the chance to turn eighteen, never got the chance to leave home. 

Achak shook his head, “that’s not true,” the car in front of them who had the three other men slowed down and turned into a dirt road off to the side of the main one. Slowing down as they had, Achak turned into the dirt road, the trees seemed to get darker the further they got into the forest as less light filtered through. “You can live with your parents as long as they allow it.” He leaned forward as the car in front of them came to a slow stop. 

“Guess so,” his own voice was low and still monotone. Turning towards the window when Achak lowered his window to talk to the other men. Blocking out the sound of the conversation going on as he stared out of the window and looked up at the trees. A smell like nothing he’s ever smelled before hit his nose. It wasn’t bad but rather new. 

Closing the window the other man turned back around to face forward, both hands on the steering wheel as he drove the car again. “The uh—the only place we have available is a cabin near the lake.” He spoke and kept his eyes on the dirt road ahead of him, occasionally turning to look at Crescendo. “Is that okay with you?” 

Lake? That means water, sure, it isn’t the salty water from the sea, but his skin is getting really dry. Or maybe it isn’t, maybe he’s just been living in the ocean for too long. 

“Yeah, that’s alright. Don’t mind,” he had an accent once, but years and years of no interaction with other humans had washed it out. 

Achak smiled, “that’s great, sorry about it. Really, I am.” His smiles dwindled and his voice sounded apologetic. 

Crescendo shrugged as he turned back to look out the window, “it’s fine.” Muttering and voice cold, “like water.” 

Another hum, “I’m glad—I feel bad because it gets really cold there.” More of that apologetic tone, “and with the cabin not having a heater, makes one feel worse—at least! At least you’ll have electricity and the internet!” 

The smaller man nodded, knowing that the other was watching him, they spent the rest of the time until they got there in silence. The vroom of the car a persistent sound as the bumpiness of the dirt road kept the trip eventful. 

“How old are you?” Crescendo was resting his chin on the heel of his palm, his fingers in his lips. “If you don’t mind me asking,” his words were muddled. 

Achak hummed, he did that a lot, Crescendo noted, “I'm turning twenty-five this winter.” The sea turned violent during the winter, it was nice now that it was summer. “When’s your birthday?” 

There was a lazy drawl in Achak’s voice that made him sound more comfortable, “spring, April.” That’s when his moms found him, his flesh smelled young but not young enough to be a teen. “Do you have any siblings?” 

“Two older brothers and one sister,” he turned to look at him for a second, “you?” 

Crescendo shook his head, “no.” Maybe did once but if they ever existed they're all dead. 

“Ah!” Achak sat a little straighter in his seat, “we’re here.” And sure enough, there in front of them laid a lake, wide and impossibly beautiful. He’s never been in freshwater but something told Crescendo he’d enjoy it. “It’s going to be hot now but during winter it gets really cold, so for the time being, if you ever get too hot justーtake a dip.” 

All the brown-haired man could do was nod his head, his skin was starting to miss the water. “Thank you,” Crescendo turned to look at Achak, “for giving me a place to say.” 

The darker man huffed a laugh and shook his head, “you seem like a good person, I just wanted to helpーnow come on, let’s get you settled into the cabin.” 

Stepping out if the car both men closed their doors, the sound seemed to echo in the peaceful forest, a few feet away from where the car was parked there was a decent-sized cabin. Achak walked towards it after he made eye contact with Crescendo and tilted his head, silently did he follow him. 

“There are two bedrooms, each has a marital bed and a small closet. Two bathrooms, a nice kitchen, and a big enough living room. There’s a fireplace and pre-cut wood.” Crescendo nodded to what Achak was saying as they opened the front door, “there’s also a back door that leads to a deck, right on the edge of the lake. You can jump off of it and land in deep enough water.”

It smelled weird, but not bad weird. Definitely something Crescendo has never smelled, not even the air outside smelled like the sea, nothing like the waters that were his home. Walking there was a couch a few feet from what the dead man guesses is a TV, further into the right there was an entrance leading to the kitchen, straight ahead a hall with two doors on each side and one straight ahead. 

Achak headed over to the staircase, steps heavy and long, “upstairs there’s one more bathroom and restroom.” He didn’t actually go up the stairs but instead just stood there. “I hope you find it comfortable living here.” 

Crescendo set his backpack on the couch, walking around it to sit down. “I hope so too.” Achak smiled at him, tilting his head before nodding and heading out. 

“Get some sleep.” It was the last thing Achak said before he walked out the cabin, closing the door behind him softly and with a click. A few seconds of silence and then the start of an engine and the vroom of a car driving away. 

“Don’t think I can,” the dead words were mumbled into the air, cold as they fell into the empty space. 

ーーーー

According to his charging phone, it was 12 in the afternoon and Achak had left him hours ago which was enough time for him to get accustomed to his new home. It wasn’t bad, nothing like his cave, granted his cave was aーcave that existed underwater, it was odd, having to go upstairs and go down them but that was just something Crescendo would just have to get used to. 

Going around the cabin, Crescendo kept the book his moms gave him, putting words to objects and figuring how things worked, so far he knows how the TV, the stove and how the shower works. Apparently he was missing a few things, a lot of hygiene-related things and food, though he didn’t have to eat it would be better if he ate, to keep the show going. 

He has to find a way to go into town. There was an address his mother left him, a place where he could go and get the necessary things without him actually having to go pick them out. After putting what little clothes he had away and all his electronics to charge he pulled out a pair of swimming trunks (something his mommy wrote down for him) and got ready to go into the lake. 

Walking into the deck out back Crescendo was met with the beautiful sight of the high sun reflecting off the crystal water of the big lake, it smelled fresh. His hair still tangled atop his head and his pale skin was dry to the touch, he needed to be in water. 

Though Crescendo wasn’t a creature of water by nature over the years he’s had the chance to adapt to be one. Sitting down at the edge the man set the brown leather book his mother gave him, he hadn’t looked through it yet.

Opening it he was met with dry yellowed pages, text written in a language he’d learned centuries ago, there was no name to said language but he was sure it was as old as the world. Siren songs were sung in the language, his own song was too. There were pages full of siren and mermaid magic, saltwater ones, lakes, rivers, and even enchanted ponds. How to grow tails and how to grow legs. 

Everything in the book was priceless and it all belonged to Crescendo now, closing it he got up and went back into the cabin and into his room. Putting the book back into his backpack and heading back out, this time he didn’t stop as he walked off the dock. Water separating around him as he fell into it in one fluid motion not a single splash.

The water was clear as he looked around, his feet on sand and rock. A few of the fish swam around him as if expecting him. There wasn’t any seaweed but there were batches of water reeds, small fish hiding in them. So many small fish around. This water felt different than the one of the ocean, Crescendo noted as he swam further into the water. Maybe he’d find a mermaid or two. 

Sometime later he stopped to look at a few rocks on the lake floor, they were pretty. The light didn’t reach all the way down here, at least not enough for it to be clear but he knows magic. 

“You’re not supposed to be down here for this long.” The voice was sweet as it came from beside him, the hint’s of hair brushing on his bare arms. “What are you? Who are you? What do you want?” 

Turning to the side Crescendo was met with a face unlike any other, eyes big and round, pupils blown big and black. There were scales of a peach color on the woman's face and her chest was bare as her black hair swayed around, her tail the same peach color that was on her face, though unlike his moms’ tails. The one the woman was sporting was slimmer and looked weaker. 

“My name? Crescendo and for what I am and wantーwell, I’m dead for starters and I don’t really want anything.” He sat down as the woman followed, aiming her upper body towards him. 

She tilted her head to the side, oh, she has little fins as ear, no sharp teeth, “a deadman who can swim? You're no normal deadman, who created you?” Her words were more curious than harsh. 

“Sirens,” Crescendo watched as she reeled back in shock, “from the ocean off the coast of this town.” He didn’t stop, the mermaid looked him up and down.

“Did you escape?” Crescendo shook his head. “Then… they took you as one of their own?” Crescendo nodded. “Hmm, well in that case, welcome!” She didn’t seem to mind, “My name’s Winona!” 

They spent some time talking, she’s the first of four daughters and the next in line to be in charge. Crescendo listened as she chatted her mouth away, not minding since he did exactly this with his mom. It wouldn’t matter anyway because he couldn’t feel irritated even if he tried when they parted Winona had a few handfuls of small fish go with him. 

Reaching the dock in no time, since he didn’t stop to look at every little thing, Crescendo resurfaced without a sound, no gasping for air, he didn’t need it. Grabbing a hold of the ladder over the deck he climbed up. He didn’t have a towel so he opted to shake his hair dry and tried to run his hand through it, it worked. Walking into the cabin he was met with the sight of Achak sitting on the couch with his phone out. 

“Sorry for intruding! ButーI thought you might’ve wanted to go into town and buy some things?” He put his phone away and stood up, he looked fresh. 

Crescendo nodded, “yeah, let me just shower.” he said that as he walked to the staircase. 

Achak hummed, sitting back down.