As the night passed, the two boys rested on the shell. The dark-skinned boy was already asleep, while the other boy stayed awake, keeping a watchful eye.
He decided to lie on his back and gaze at the sky. When he looked up, he saw a beautiful darkness covering the atmosphere. It was an ethereal beauty and looked like a magical cloak covered the world. He stared at it intently, thinking about his situation, about the giant snake, about his disarrayed mind. He lightly touched his ribs, causing pain, and instinctively recoiled, letting out a sharp wince.
The boy sighed and continued to lie peacefully as the carapace they were on floated across the ocean. He turned to the dark-skinned boy, who was sprawled across the shell, snoring. He couldn't help but stare at the dark-skinned boy's missing left arm.
I wonder how he lost it, since he never got the chance to explain. The boy thought for a moment before reaching out to the dark-skinned boy and shaking him awake.
The dark-skinned boy shot up in a daze.
"Huh? Is it morning already?"
The dark-skinned boy looked around for a moment before confirming that it was still nighttime. He yawned and turned to the boy, giving him a smile.
"What's up dude? Is it my turn to keep watch?" He laughed before adding, "Or were you scared of the dark and needed a friend to stay awake with you?"
Friend? That's pushing it, thought the boy, as he gave the dark-skinned boy no reaction to his joke.
The dark-skinned boy laughed awkwardly as the boy moved on to his question.
"So, what happened with your left arm?"
The dark-skinned boy sat in silence for a moment before replying, "I don't know, I can't seem to remember," he said, using his right arm to feel the area where his left should've been.
The dark-skinned boy looked solemn for a moment before giving his usual smile. "It's fine though, I'm all right," he giggled before saying, "literally!"
The boy stared at him for a moment, then turned and faced the sea. This guy is so optimistic that it's scary. As he faced the sea, he dared to ask another question.
"Hey, what's your name? I know it's hard to remember, but what should I call you?"
The dark-skinned boy paused, then glanced at his right arm. He turned to the boy and gave him a smile.
"Righty."
The boy looked at him, a bit puzzled, "R-i-g-h-t-y?"
The dark-skinned boy chuckled, "No, W-r-i-g-h-t-y"
"That's what you'd prefer to be called?"
"Yeah, it feels right, doesn't it?"
The boy sighed—he had a point—it did feel right.
They sat in silence for a while, watching the sea and waves. Wrighty then turned to the boy and spoke up. He looked at him hopefully and gave a big smile.
"What do you want to be called?"
The boy studied Wrighty for a moment, then turned back to the water.
"I don't know, I can't think of anything."
Wrighty thought for a moment studying the boy.
The boy was a lanky teenager with messy black hair with green highlights mixed in. He was wearing a black shirt with a white coat over it. His pants were black and ended with a pair of black boots. His eyes were sunken and dull and his face was covered in scratches. Wrighty observed the boy for a while before adding.
"Honestly? I can't think of anything for an actual name, but I think I'm gonna call you doc for now. That's all right, Doc?
The boy didn't like that name, so he swore he wouldn't call himself that, but he couldn't think of anything else so he sighed and laid down again.
Wrighty smiled as he began to stand up.
"It's my turn to keep watch now, so get some rest, we have to leave here by dawn. We wouldn't want that sea snake to find us. Plus I think you need the rest, you're in terrible shape Doc"
The boy took his advice and closed his eyes, allowing him to finally ease up for the first time since he fell. As he drifted to sleep he could hear Wrighty singing happily to himself.
***
The pair were so exhausted they slept and took watch for days. One day the boy awoke to the sounds of waves crashing. He slowly sat up rubbing his eyes and his ribs. When he finally looked up he saw that Wrighty was asleep next to him.
The boy woke Wrighty up then walked to the edge of the carapace. He looked out into the sea, now that it was day he could see the water more clearly.The red was much brighter as sunlight glistened on the water. It wasn't the deep, murky crimson of night; it was vivid now, almost beautiful in the wrong way. The boy stared at it, his expression unreadable.
That was when he noticed them.
Bodies.
Dozens of them drifted across the surface, bobbing gently with the waves. Some were face down, limbs limp and twisted at unnatural angles. Others stared up at the sky with empty eyes, mouths frozen open as if they had tried to scream and failed. Torn clothes floated around them like shed skin, staining the water.
The boy's gaze moved slowly and methodically. He counted without realizing he was doing it.
Behind him, Wrighty groaned and stretched.
"Man… I was having a good dream too," he muttered, sitting up. "You didn't have to wake me like that."
The boy didn't answer.
Wrighty rubbed his eyes and followed the boy's line of sight. The smile on his face faded the moment he saw the sea.
"…Damn," he said quietly.
They stood there for a while, the shell rocking beneath them as the ocean carried the dead past like unwanted cargo. Somewhere far away, a piece of debris bumped into another with a hollow knock.
Wrighty broke the silence first.
"Guess… guess not everyone made it," he said, forcing a small laugh that didn't land. "Kinda expected, huh?"
The boy said nothing. His eyes lingered on a small body tangled in strips of cloth, drifting just out of reach.
Wrighty noticed the boy gazing intently at the carnage.
"Hey," he said, a little more firmly. "Don't stare too long. You'll mess yourself up doing that."
Still no response.
Wrighty frowned, then followed the boy closer to the edge of the shell. The closer he looked, the more details jumped out; bite marks, crushed torsos, streaks of blood leading nowhere.
The Leviathan's work.
Wrighty swallowed. "That thing really went to town…"
The boy finally spoke.
"There are fewer bodies than there should be."
Wrighty blinked. "Huh?"
The boy gestured slightly with his chin. "We fell with thousands. I can see maybe a few dozen here. The rest…" He trailed off, eyes scanning the horizon. "…aren't floating."
Wrighty stared at him for a moment. "You're saying it ate them?"
"I'm saying," the boy replied calmly, "that falling didn't kill most of them."
The implication settled heavily between them.
Wrighty let out a slow breath. "Man… you really know how to brighten a morning, Doc."
The boy didn't react to the nickname this time.