I shouted until my voice turned hoarse, but the shadow in the distance didnât slow down one bit, vanishing into the mist. Relying on my visual memory, I chased after the vanishing figure; only to stop in front of a dimly lit underground waterway entrance. I merely saw an empty âGondolaâ floating on the water, still swaying from side to side from the physics of the water with no sign of that figure. It was like a ghost, going and leaving without a trace.Â
Incidentally, what obstructed my route, preventing me from going further in, was a metal sluice gate. The inside was dark and secluded. Though there was a left turn deep within, I didnât know where it led to. Not only that, one could easily see glimpses of relief structures outlining the tunnelâs dry walls. This was probably a former tourist site that was abandoned but had been sealed up for some reason. Then I noticed that the gaps between the iron bars were very narrow. I approached closer and tried to fit my body inside by turning to my side, but I soon realised that it was impossible. Wz1dhT
My body type was a medium, lean build which didnât have much muscle mass. It wouldâve been even more impossible for Agares with his robust body to get in, let alone while dragging along that thick, long fishtail of his. Even if he had turned into a human by some unconventional means, he wouldnât be able to force himself into this narrow entrance.Â
So how did he suddenly disappear from here? Did he dive into the water? At a loss, I swam around in a circle. The water here was perfect for a humanâs height, and the sewers were very narrow. So where could he hide?
Could it really just be my imagination?Â
I couldnât help but doubt my eyes again. I looked at the surrounding, then back down into the abyss of the underground waterway. I turned my body over to sit on the gondola, my hands resting on the damp edge of the boat. I couldnât stop myself from touching the coarse layer of paint that was peeling off, which felt like that rough, pliable, and strong fishtail that had slipped out of my grasp. rhU0i1
Droplets of rain poured over my body and the cold nipped at my entire being. It was only then that I suddenly felt chillyâso chilly that even my heart had turned into a block of ice. I knew it was best if I were to leave this place, but there was a faint, refusing voice in my heart, No, heâs here. Heâs here looking right at you!
âYou come over⊠If not, Iâll leave!â I impatiently sat up and grabbed onto the iron bars, rattling them hard a few times. My sight settled on his face and I let a big breath, âWhy are you dressed like this, Agares? Why arenât you saying anything?âÂ
He was as still as before, not speaking a word. A dense dark cloud of perplexity condensed in my head, and I let my grip on the iron bar loosen. I rested my head on the metal sluice gate, solemnly looking at him. After a moment, he finally moved and came closer towards me in the water. My heart started beating rapidly, resonating through my entire head.Â
The moment he came closer to me, I was already stiff and unable to move. I could only see him stretching his arm out from the other side of the sluice gate, resting his webbed hand on my nape, and drawing me closer as he pressed his moist, icy lips against mine. After that, he firmly bit me. 3N7Mic
My whole body shuddered, being caught off guard by his attack. Tears mixed with rain trailed down my face. After being kissed by him for a while, I finally reacted. My hands followed and went through the iron bars to fiercely grip his hair, flusteredly sucking the salty seawater on his lips. His teeth were grinding against my lips as his tongue rushed in. Our teeth and lips fought in a tangled mess like wild animals.
In the water, my chest stuck to his smooth skin in his windbreaker. Even the iron bars were going to be bent from the force from the both of us, like they were moulding with us. My body ached, but I didnât care. All other emotions had disappeared during this moment and time had come to a standstill.Â
Unwittingly, my mouth was filled with the taste of blood. Agaresâs grip on me tightened, pulling me close. His lips pressed against my lower jaw before licking at it in an uncivilized and wanton manner before sucking at it. I shakily grabbed onto his collar, wanting to pull him even closer, to touch him even more. Yet my wrist was seized by his powerful webbed hand as he restrained it against my back, making me unable to flail about.Â
The burdensome sluice gate was blocking my body, so I could only raise my neck to accept his ravaging. In the midst of the pouring rain, my head felt dizzy, making me suspect that this was actually a dream that Iâll wake up from not before long. I whispered through this confusing sweetness, âHey, open this damned sluice gate. Let me see youâŠâ XWt8ak
The grip on my waist suddenly tightened. He rubbed his head against my neck as he looked up and pressed his mask against my forehead. Then he inhaled my scent deeply, while his webbed hands came up to my head and tenderly combed my hair like he used to when I was young by softly pushing up my fringe that was covering my eyes to the back.Â
âAgaresâŠâ I stared at the deep set of pupils behind the mask, unconsciously wanting to try to caress his cheek. Yet a female voice suddenly sounded not so far away from my behind, âHey, what are you guys doing?!âÂ
Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.
I shivered out of fright. Looking back, I found a girl sitting by the shore with the intention of washing her clothes. Apparently, she seemed shocked by the huge commotion that me and Agares had caused. I stuttered, for I didnât know how to explain this situation. But then I heard a crash of water from the side. Before I could even react, Agares had already disappeared.Â
âHey, where are you going?!â I shouted, startled and angry as I hammered the sluice gate. However, what replied to me was the surged echoes of my own voice in the underwater tunnel. kyPocU