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“I don’t think I can believe in something that doesn’t exist.”
“Then believe in me.”
Those were the words that echoed in Wifies mind as he handed his one and only potion of water breathing over to Hummer. Their hands lingered on top of one another’s as Wifies considered taking it back. He didn’t want to die. Especially not in some make-shift submarine hundreds of feet underwater, chasing after some eldritch being that might not even exist. All signs pointed to it being another Loch Ness monster or bigfoot. So then, why was he here? Why did he listen to anything Hummer said at all? He nearly died the first time Hummer tried convincing him to drown himself, so why did he return?
God, they were idiots. Hummer for believing in this supernatural nonsense and Wifies for believing in him. It was all silly, really. Hummer was like a siren, trying to lure Wifies to an underwater death with his charm and naive smile. The worst part? It was working.
Hummer could sense Wifies uneasiness as their hands touched. Hummer slowly pulled the potion out of Wifies grasp, pocketing it and lacing their fingers together.
“Let me save you, Wifies.” Hummer smiled and let go of Wifies hand.
He slowly backed towards the TNT he set in the submarine. This was the only way to get the Leviathan to listen. The only way to find him. No machines, no potions, just the vast ocean and hope.
“I believe you.” Wifies finally said, trying to force a smile.
He watched as Hummer lit the TNT and rushed over to where he was. The hiss of the fuse filled the quiet submarine. Hummer quietly took Wifies hand and he smiled. He smiled like all of this was normal. Like they weren’t going to die within the next few minutes.
God, they were idiots.
Wifies braced for impact. He was ready to die, drowned in a bottomless abyss where nobody would find them. If the Leviathan were real, it better show itself now. Subconsciously, Wifies tightened his grip on Hummer’s hand. He was scared. Really scared. But at least he had his friend with him.
Friends, that’s what they were.
Despite doubting Hummer since the start, there was always a bit of Wifies that couldn’t help but believe in the impossible. From the very first conversation they had to now. Beneath that lingering doubt, there was a flicker of hope. Hope that Hummer wasn’t bluffing this whole time, that the Leviathan was real, and that like Hummer said, he’d be saved. Wifies smiled, no longer forced, but for real. If he was going to die, at least he’d die with his friend.
Not as idiots, but as believers.
The fuse finally reached the TNT and a side of the submarine blew up, sending debris and shards of glass to scatter all over the place. Water began filling the submarine up fast. Wifies looked over to Hummer, he was still smiling. He looked proud and way too calm. The water quickly took over everything inside, it wasn’t long until the duo was waist deep in the icy cold water. Wifies eyes darted everywhere, his fears resurfacing. He cursed internally, wishing he had kept his water breathing potion, expecting things to go even worse than the first time.
That’s when Hummer positioned himself right in front of Wifies. He was still terrifyingly calm. Hummer took Wifies other hand and slowly began walking backwards to the broken half of the submarine, which led to the dark blue waters. Wifies didn’t move at first, but when he realized there was no getting out of it now, he let Hummer guide him. He felt weightless in the water. When his feet were no longer touching the ground, all he could do now was trust Hummer. They both took a deep breath in and let themselves be fully submerged under the water.
The duo kept a tight grip on each other’s hands, keeping their fingers intertwined. It was hard to see now. All that they could see was large kelp and the darkness that surrounded them. Even when looking up it was hard to see the light.
There was no going back now.
Hummer kept moving backwards, inching them farther away from the submarine, which was now slowly sinking further into the abyss. Eventually, it too was out of sight. The dark blue of the ocean felt like a cold blanket, it made Wifies body feel numb. He didn’t know how long he could hold his breath for, but hopefully long enough for… it to come save them. He had to be doing everything right this time. He didn’t have his safety net anymore, it was just him, Hummer, and the watchful eye(s) of the Leviathan.
Soon, Hummer stopped moving. The two were now facing each other as they slowly sank down into the abyss. Wifies squinted, but he could tell that Hummer was still smiling.
God, that man was sick.
“Let me save you.”
Hummer’s words echoed in Wifies mind. How could he be so certain that this would work? If every other attempt failed, why would this be different? The cold water felt like hundreds of tiny needles were stabbing Wifies skin, but at the same time it felt calming. He felt like he was flying like in his dreams, except now he wouldn’t wake up. Here, tucked away in a tiny corner of the ocean, he felt oddly safe. Wifies looked up, watching as the light from above slowly grew smaller and smaller.
“I’m scared. I don’t want to die.” He thought to himself.
As if reading his mind, Hummer’s grabbed onto Wifies arms, making sure not to let go too long. He pulled them closer together and looked into Wifies eyes. He still seemed scared, like maybe the doubt was starting to resurface. He didn’t want that to happen, the Leviathan would find another believer. The Leviathan would save them.
Hummer would save them.
As the two continued sinking, they held onto each other, like they were the only thing keeping the other anchored. Like how despite being surrounded by miles of water on all sides, they were still grounded to each other. Their foreheads pressed together as the ocean continued to pull them down. They didn’t know how long or how deep they had been pulled down for, but what was certain was that they had each other. They stared into each other’s eyes as it got darker and darker. The only visible thing was the other person’s faint silhouette, their hair and clothes floating weightlessly.
Wifies grip on Hummer’s arms tightened. He could feel himself slowly becoming lightheaded. The water stung his eyes, but at the same time it could also be from him crying. It was hard to tell when being surrounded by water.
“I believe in the Leviathan.” He kept reminding himself.
Though it was more performative than actual belief. Like maybe the Leviathan could read his thoughts or something, sense whether or not he actually believed it was real or not.
Suddenly, he felt a hand grab his chin and slightly tilt his head back. His eyes drifted from the seemingly infinite bottomless abyss to the familiar eyes (or technically screen) of Hummer. Despite both of them holding their breaths and sinking hundreds of feet under water, Hummer still had a smile on his face. Wifies would’ve laughed, but didn’t want to risk inhaling gallons of sea water. With each passing second, he could feel himself losing more and more of his oxygen. He would’ve used his water breathing potion, but it was probably still on the submarine, which was now too far out of reach.
With shaky hands, Wifies slowly let go of Hummer only for his hands to make his way up to the other boy’s face.
I believe in the Leviathan.
I believe in the Leviathan…
I believe in the Leviathan……
I believe in the Leviathan………
…I believe in Hummer.
That’s when it hit him. The Leviathan may or may not be real, but Hummer was. He was here with him right now. Every step of the way, Hummer was there. When they first met on the shore, when they travelled to his ship, when they explored the blocked off part of the museum. Hummer was there. More real than this Leviathan even was.
“Then believe in me.”
He did. Wifies believed Hummer more than he did the Leviathan. Screw dying and screw the Leviathan. When that being didn’t answer Wifies prayers, Hummer did. He was his own ineffable being and God was he a beautiful one. If the Leviathan was real, it should be lucky it was a worshiper like Hummer. Similarly, Hummer should be lucky to have a worshipper like Wifies.
The two knew that they were slowly running out of breath and time, so Hummer did the most reasonable thing during a time like this.
He slowly closed the distance between him and Wifies. He kept one hand on his waist while the other was still holding his face. He pulled them closer until their bodies were pressed up against each other. Wifies would’ve opened his mouth to gasp, but couldn’t, so he gasped and screamed internally.
After all their shared time together, it made this moment feel worth it. It made dying feel worth it. Like it didn’t matter that they were sinking to the bottom of the ocean floor and slowly running out of air. Slowly, as if not wanting Wifies to pull away, Hummer continued closing the distance until–
Their mouths managed to find each other despite being shrouded by complete darkness. Wifies wrapped his hands around the back of Hummer’s neck and pulled him closer.
If he was going to die here, he would die happy.
A little bit of salt water managed to seep in, but that wasn’t going to ruin their moment. If they weren’t being surrounded by water right now, Hummer would be able to tell that Wifies was crying, but thank Leviathan there was. He didn’t want Hummer to think he was a major loser for crying during a moment as “romantic” as this. Well, as romantic as you can get while sacrificing yourself to a made up creature.
The kiss lasted for a while as the two held onto each other, scared of what was to happen if one let go.
“Don’t let go of me, Hummer. Please, I believe you now, you really did save me.”
The words echoed in Wifies head, like maybe through their shared touch, the words might get transferred to Hummer’s mind as well. For as long as they could breath, the two kept themselves intertwined with each other, swallowing small bits of sea water, but not breaking their connection.
“I love you so much, Hummer. You might’ve been an idiot for chasing after something that doesn’t exist, but I was the biggest idiot for falling for you. Now, we’re both going to die as idiots chasing after the things we love.” Wifies was hoping by some divine miracle that the words would reach Hummer, but knew realistically they wouldn’t.
He felt his body grow weaker, but didn’t want to let go.
Not now.
Not ever.
He could feel Hummer’s grip tighten just the smallest bit as if he felt the same way. Wifies eyelids grew heavy, but he refused to let them close. He wanted to make sure the last thing he saw before death was Hummer. Memorizing his face so that when they died, Wifies could find Hummer in the next life over. No matter where they are or what they’ve become. Wifies felt his body betraying him as his hands slowly fell. They stopped near Hummer’s waist, which was when he saw something sticking out of Hummer’s pocket. Before he could react or see what it was, Hummer slowly pulled away, his hands slowly falling from Wifies body.
No…
No, not him.
Without the touch keeping them connected, Hummer slowly drifted away from Wifies, but not before he could grab the other boy’s wrist. He yanked Hummer forward, cupping his face with both hands. He looked into Hummer’s face, his mouth was slightly agape and there were small bubbles emitting from it.
Fuck.
His whole body felt limp, like holding a ragdoll. Wifies used one of his hands to close Hummer’s mouth, preventing any more water from entering it. Then, he did something stupid. Genuinely how stupid could he be thinking mouth to mouth CPR could work at a time like this? He pressed their mouths together in a last-ditch effort, maybe as more of a goodbye kiss than actual shot as rescue. Wifies could feel his eyes sting, still not being able to tell if it was from the sea water or actual crying.
“I believe you, Hummer. Please don’t die. Please, I can save you.”
As Wifies pulled back, Hummer was still unmoving, his eyes/screen now lifeless. The smile he once had plastered on his face at all times was now a flat line. More bubbles escaped his mouth as Wifies embraced his friend, not wanting to let go. He was running out of strength and his head began to hurt, but that wasn’t going to stop him. Only death could take Hummer away from him now.
But then the question arose–
Why was he still alive?
His eyes then drifted to the thing sticking out of Hummer’s pocket. With one of his hands, Wifies grabbed whatever item it was. His fingers curling around the neck of some sort of glass vial.
No…
The water breathing potion.
Wifies hands dropped to his sides in pure horror and without a second to spare, Hummer’s body began drifting away without Wifies to keep him grounded.
He dropped the potion and watched it sink into the abyss below, and similar to the submarine, get swallowed by darkness itself. That was when he looked up, seeing Hummer’s body drift away. Wifies extended his hand to try and reach him, but it felt like he had weights tied to every part of his body. The cold of the water made his arms numb and heavy. Wifies was only able to lightly graze Hummer’s fingers, tightening his fingers around nothing but the water.
It was too late.
He watched as Hummer’s lifeless body aimlessly drifted in the water.
Why him?
Wifies continued sinking deeper and deeper, still holding his breath. But what was the point? His vision flickered, but from his blurry vision, he could see some of the items Hummer kept in his pockets slowly resurfacing, slowly making their way up to the surface.
He really was dead.
That’s when Wifies closed his eyes, accepting his fate. Everything that came before flashed in his mind. Was this what replaying your best memories before death looked like? If so, the memories that Wifies pictured were the ones he made with Hummer.
“I believe you.”
Even now, Wifies felt like his biggest mistake wasn’t giving up the water breathing potion, it was letting go of Hummer and watching him get consumed by the waters he praised so heavily.
Then, everything went dark. Wifies let his eyes close and his mouth subconsciously opened. However, instead of swallowing gallons of water. He was met with… air. It was odd since it still felt like he was surrounded by water, but that’s when something else happened. A bright yellow light illuminated from somewhere in the water and hit Wifies eyes. It made his eyelids twitch a bit, forcing him to open them. He let out a gasp, water still not entering his lungs. He stared at something that was staring back at him. It wasn’t a giant underwater lamp or Heaven’s gates opening for him, it was the bright yellow eye of something unearthly, way larger than he was.
Wifies couldn’t help but laugh.
“It seems I’ve finally found you… Levi.”