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As I lay on his chest, Pyrex closes his eyes as his body relaxes from the white hot tension of earlier. His sleeping face reminds me of when we first met a few days ago. People take on a different feel when they sleep. All the stress of conscious life ebbs away until they appear with a pure relaxation. It's like he transforms into a younger version of himself. I like watching him when he rests like this.

I hold my fear in containable levels by distracting myself with these thoughts. The monsters around us scare me. I never imagined the outside world would hide such obvious evil. Pyrex spoke of the surface as a plain of varying experiences, but all I've seen so far will fill my nightmares for many nights and many moons.

The monsters grab Pyrex, but they never touch me. Instead of tearing us apart, the dark red goop that the apostle controls pulls me from Pyrex. This wench separates us, so I shout empty words. My voice distorts until songs sing from my throat once more.

I squint my eyes as I clench my fists biting my lip. I hate the limits of my voice. The black glob lifts me until I float beside the gray hellion before she covers us both in the gunk, so I shout, "Why do you rip me from him you ugly, manipulative, hateful, spiteful-"

She places a fingertip over my lips, and awareness of my now vocal voice permeates around me. She covered me so that I could speak. Maybe she isn't that evil.

she says, "Listen before you berate your warden. I could kill you at any time."

I squint at her as I say, "Why haven't you? I know you didn't kill Pyrex for his mutations, but why not me?"

She smirks as she says, "Because you have presented me with an ambassador for my cause. Pyrex is still partially human, so his own kind may trust his words."

I purse my lips as I say, "Hmmm. So you want someone to speak for you?"

She opens her palm as she says, "More or less. I can also study your seal. It is the only form of oppressent that I've ever seen for our infection. That interests me."

I swim through the murky liquid as I say floating around her, "Did you ever intend to hurt us?"

She says, "Hah, of course. I was coming to kill you both before I learned about your seal. I can't show mercy, and we can't give any territory back to the humans."

I can't sense any danger from her, so I swim in front of her as I graze her cheek with my fingers saying, "Why not?"

Her eyes squint as she says, "Their industrial operations involve sapping this planets resources. We are a biological mutation for fighting them from this world. If we give them even an inch of ground, they will double their efforts to crush us."

She opens a palm towards me as she says, "Humans won't allow an existence that poses potential harm to exist on one of their planets."

Hmmm. Few creatures would I'd imagine. As I graze her neck feeling her soft skin, I say, "What's your name?"

She pushes my hand away as she says, "I'm the leader of the hivemind that controls The Fog. I have no name."

I had no name before Pyrex gave me one. Ahhh, I wish I be with him. I say, "Pyrex will give you a name if you'd like. IHe gave me the name Allure."

I move through the water before I press my hands against her waist while moving my lips near hers as I say, "He said the reason was obvious."

She moves her hand towards me own before I dash away from her giggling. Hihi, she's fun to be around, though not as fun as Pyrex. I say, "Where's Pyrex?"

She lifts her eyebrows as she says, "Aren't you worried for his safety?"

I smile as I say, "He's like iron. He won't die from falling asleep. Can we go to him?"

She shoos me away from her as she says, "We'll need to wait until he's submerged before we check on him. The process can be...disturbing for a normal being."

Hmmm. I can't stop her from killing him either way. I'm better off warming up to her. I say, "Did you ever want a name?"

She says, "If you require a name for me, then call me Gorge since my forces will eat all that stands before me."

I swim behind her as I rub my hands through her silky hair saying, "It could be because your gorgeous as well."

I dart away before her backhand reaches my face. I hope she has a sense of humor. I say, "Hihi, do you dislike being beautiful?"

She squints at me as she says, "You're mocking me."

I swim towards her as I say, "How so?"

"You're just belittling me by not taking my words with the weight they carry. It wastes both our times."

I lean my chin against my hands as I say, "I can't just be terrified all the time you know. I'll go insane."

She frowns as she says, "So it's a coping mechanism?"

I shrug as I say, "I don't really know. I'm new to talking with others...I thought of a better name than Gorge for you."

She rolls her eyes as she crosses her arms saying, "What?"

I grin as I say, "Unity!"

Her eyebrows raise as she uncrosses her arms. After several seconds of thought, Unity says, "Well. I actually like that name."

I swim towards her hugging her against me as I say, "Hihi, excellent. I liked it when I got my name as well."

She pushes against me with a halfhearted nudge as she sighs saying, "Alright, alright. I get it. Let's go see if your lover's doing any better. He feels better at least."

I raise an eyebrow as I say, "How do you know?"

Unity smirks as she says, "He is a part of me now. I can read his thoughts, though he refuses to submit to my will until the infection overwhelms his conscious. You can help with that using your...talents."

I press my cheek against hers as I say breathing warmed water on her neck, "Sounds like fun, Care to join us?"

She flicks my forehead before I back away from her. She says, "I'd rather not. Try to contain yourself till you meet with him, siren."

I float behind her grazing her lower back with my fin as I say, "No promises."

She's so fun to tease.