Somewhere in the Sea

Chapter 09

The team ascended up to the surface and began to load the samples onto the boat. Professor JB got on and assembled them into the trunks. Nadia and Shehzad ascended with him and they also started to help him out. Zaid was the last one to return back. They helped him up and along with the samples, they collected a huge heap of plastic. The Professor was muttering under his breath, "Those dumb fishermen don't know what they're doing. Their recklessness is gonna cost us the entire reef. But they don't seem to understand". "What took you so long?", Nadia asked Zaid. "Just picking up some trash". Zaid was also furious by the number of plastic bags near the reef. Their department had already filed a petition in the court regarding the setup of regulations for the protection of the marine fauna around the island but so far no one has taken any interest in that matter. 

After a while, they began their journey back to the mainland. Zaid sat at the edge waving goodbye to the island. Despite the pollutants, overall it was a good trip. They managed to collect new samples and get to see new ones as well. There was however something else on Zaid's mind. When he was picking up the last of the bags, he felt as though someone was watching him. But as they were underwater it didn't really make sense. "It was strange though", he thought. He shrugged that feeling off and helped the others with the samples. 

They returned shortly back to the substation where they were greeted by Nadir who told them that the progress so far has been good. "No problems I hope Nadir?", Professor asked. "No sir, everything has been smooth so far. No active issue seen with any of the tanks." "Good!", said the Professor. "Now you three start putting the new samples in their tanks and mark them carefully." "Yes sir", said the three in unison and they began their work. Zaid and Nadia started putting the new ones in the tank while Shehzad laid back on the chair yawning. "Oye, potato head, mind helping us out?" Nadia called out. "Can't, I am too tired. You all work now, my minions", said Shehzad while putting his legs up on the other chair and dozed off. "Ugh!", said Nadia in a frustrated tone. "Don't worry I got this", said Zaid and went back to the tanks and returned with a crab labeled No. 41. "Come on Nino, lets have some fun, shall we?", said Zaid smirking and quietly placed Nino on Shehzad's shirt. Nino crept up silently and an instant, gripped Shehzad's nose with both of his claws. "Aaahhhh!!!", Shehzad screamed and shook Nino off of him. Zaid caught Nino in mid air while Nadia rolled on the floor laughing. "Thanks Nino, it was worth it!", said Zaid while Nino shook his claws in agreement. "What the hell was that?", exclaimed Shehzad while pressing on his nose. "Its a little thing I call payback", said Zaid laughing. "Serves you right! Now get up and help us with these samples. "Ugh, fine!", said Shehzad unenthusiastically and together they put the new samples in the tanks and labeled them Dive # 02. Shehzad was looking at Nino in annoyance as he was sitting on Zain's shoulder while they worked and could have sworn he shook his claw at him. They placed him in his tank last and he did a backflip in his tank before going back to his fellow crabs.. 

They began to record the findings from the last dive and start to compare the results. "Hmm, well the Menella are thriving well", Nadia began to note the readings. "Their growth seems optional. Enchinogorgia are static since the last visit and both the Favites are in good shape as well." "No signs of bleaching or breakdown in any of the tanks currently present." Zain said out loud for Nadia to write down. "Hunger seen and felt in this organism", Shehzad complained in the back. "Would you stop being a baby?", said Nadia annoyingly. They then typed their findings on the computer, while constantly listening to Shehzad whining about being hungry. 

After they finished, they went to get lunch. Nadir made a splendid biryani which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Shehzad ate so much that he dozed off on the table. Nadia seized the moment and took some of his pictures while he was asleep. Zaid listened to Professor JB who was talking to Nadir about the disappearances. "I still don't get how this is happening. Fishermen just go out at sea and then disappear without a trace." "Yes sir, nobody knows what's happening. My cousin Abdul Karim lives there and he said that the disappearances have stopped but nobody knows what's happening." "Hmm, that is strange", thought Zaid. "All of a sudden these attacks have stopped without a clue. I was right. Those fishermen must be drunk." 

After lunch, they packed their bags and headed back home. They gave the usual instructions to Nadir and promised to return in the following week. Zaid looked out the window while they were driving back on the coastal highway. He smiled at the crashing waves and said to himself "Until next time". By the time Zaid got home, it was around 10pm. He lived alone in an apartment. His parents moved to Islamabad where his older brother lived. He looked at his bedside table and exclaimed, "Oh I forgot about you!" looking at the black seashell he picked up from the previous visit. He placed it in a glass jar and thought to take it back to the professor and ask him about it. He scrolled through his phone where Nadia and Shehzad were having a fight (as usual) on the W******p group. These two will never change, sighed Zaid. He then ate dinner and went to sleep.

He dreamt that he was diving back in the reef. The corals look more beautiful than ever. Zaid dived down further but as he was descending, the scene completely changed and he was engulfed in darkness. He was drowning in the depths of an abyss surrounded by screams and cries. He tried to swim back but to no avail. Then he saw a light in the distance. He swam towards it and when he got closer, he saw it was a strange and dysmorphic creature with a large head and razor sharp teeth accompanied by two half human creatures who shouted "Get him!". Zaid tried to swim away but the creature was right in front of him. He tried to scream out loud and suddenly woke up. Panting heavily, he looked around. He calmed himself down and said that it was nothing but a nightmare and then slept again.