#crabsquids

Subnautica (digital paining #2)

Jamie held his own radio tight in shaking hands, hesitant to press the talk button. And not just cuz of his habit of staying quiet. This was one of those instances where he needed to talk. But he was not ready for the repercussions of it.

He looked around where he was. The deep dark down deep dark, his brothers liked to call it. The places where the bright blue fuana grew that glowed. The places where monsters lived, like crabsquids.

The place where he lost his voice.

He swallowed and huddled his tails and radio closer to his chest. He was safe here, but for how long? He could feel the rumbling of rocks from the unstable heat vents just below him.

He couldn’t do this alone. He couldn’t do this alone. Why did he think he could do this alone?

Deep in his thoughts he hadn’t realized he pressed the talk button until static burst through and voice started talking back.

“Hello?” Said Jackie, “Who’s there?”

Jamie tried to say something but his voice was caught in his throat.

“Jamie?” Jackie guessed, “Is that you?”

Jamie quietly tapped on his the speaker with his finger while holding talk to let him know he was there.

“Where are you?” Jackie pushed sternly, “Tell me where you are.”

Jamie shook more as he heard the distant buzz of crabsquids drawing near. He whimpered and a small sob like sound came out of his mouth.

“Jamie! Please J, tell me-”

“Crabs-” Jamie quietly choked, huddling farther into his hiding space as the buzzing grew louder and louder.

“Hang on Jamie i’m on my way,” Jackie clicked off and Jamie felt his heart hammering in his chest. He was so going to get it now. If he survived that is.

About a half hour had passed in tense silence with only Jamie’s frantic breathing and the distant buzz of crabsquids filling the silence. Slowly, the noises got louder and louder. The static filling Jamie’s ears more and more, it felt like he was being filled with it. Eventually, he couldn’t take it, his heart was hammering too hard and all he could hear was that awful terrible sound. He rushed out of his hiding space, swimming panicked into the open cavern. He hadn’t realized the constant buzzing and terrifying sounds could mean more than one crabsquid.

Not until he almost slammed face first into one. He tried to scream but he couldn’t as the creature raised it’s legs and roared. Jamie tried to backpedal and was met with the body of another. Jamie couldn’t even breathe.

One of them was grabbing him in its claw-like legs and he can hardly struggle he’s so numb with fear. Then his whole body is filled with that familiar but awful feeling of being electrocuted. He wasn’t sure if he was screaming but he could feel his throat aching with every other part of his body on fire.

Then suddenly it all stopped. And through the haze, Jamie thought he heard an angry scream battling that of the crabquids. But he was fading and falling and his limbs wouldn’t respond to him. The darkness of the deep dark swallowed him whole.

When Jamie next woke up he was back in the cove. Boy this felt familiar. He struggled to sit up on shaky arms and was startled by Jackie coming over and gently laying him down. Jackie’s face looked stern and slightly angry, and Jamie could see the remnants of yellow creature blood on his face. He could even smell it in the air. He swallowed, pinpricks of tears springing in his eyes.

But Jackie’s face softens and he lightly pets Jamie’s hair. “I won’t ask why…” He starts, “Cuz i think i understand…” Slowly Jackie brings his littlest brother against his chest in a tight hug, resting his head on his shoulder. “Just please… don’t do stuff like that on your own, okay?”

Jamie is trying to not cry and he can’t tell if its cuz his neves still feel lik he’s on fire or because of Jackie’s words. He shakily reaches up his arms and grips onto Jackie’s hood and buries his face in Jackie’s chest.