For a gigantic creature, the mutant whale's brain was not particularly large. The space it occupied inside the body was no bigger than that of a three story house. In fact, it wasn't even that much, considering the massive holes dug inside it.
"The brain and the spinal canal are the only places we can destroy without triggering the army of flesh."
"Then how does it move?" asked Finn. “It should be dead."
The merman couldn't answer. He was an immortal with little use for medicine or biology.
For the past 153 years he had deteriorated inside the whale's body, contemplating when/if death or salvation would come.
"Home is a bit smelly, but it's safe. My mates… They're a bit jumpy, but please don't kill them."
"We will not," said Caroline.
"Says who?" Natalie asked.
After crossing several intestines and crawling between blood soaked muscles, their group finally reached the control center of the beast. Except, like their guide had mentioned, it was long dead and rotting. Rib bones, placed side by side formed a door carved into the organ, beyond which entire rooms and hallways were carved and paved with bones. Despite the smell, the calcium was clean and well maintained.
"You guys must be really bored," muttered Finn.
"Well, yes." The merman cleaned his tail inside an upside down monster skull placed at the entrance. It was filled with clear water of unknown origin.
After he gestured for his visitors to do the same, Finn took off his boots, Caroline reluctantly soaked the very bottom of her tentacles inside the pool, and Natalie ignored him and entered with her shoes on.
Every step she took on the smooth bone floor made the merman's brows furrow just a little bit further.
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"Show your faces or die," she declared.
"You're awfully touchy," said Finn.
"I hate it here. The sooner we get out the better."
"For once we’re in agreement," said Caroline. “I’ve waited long enough.”
Slowly but surely, six merfolk and a goblin, dressed in rags and holding makeshift weapons, peeked into the bone hallway from the room up ahead.
"Who are they Norman?" the larger one asked.
"Humans, scary ones."
"Have the humans mutated?"
"I think so."
Natalie pushed Norman, the merman, forward and they all entered the room. There were bone couches near the walls and a skull table in the middle. There was even some green fungus in a hollow bone vase placed on top for decoration.
"You lot have too much time."
Without a care, Natalie sat on a couch on one side of the room and her friends joined her. Without a word, Norman joined his group on a couch on the opposite side. On land, the merfolk looked awkward and stiff. Whatever magic they used to levitate their bodies was not exactly advanced.
"Why have you drained the blood?" asked Caroline.
"It's too thick," said Norman.
"And ugly," added the goblin.
"We succeeded in extracting water from it, but we need a lot more."
"Viscous blood," Finn muttered. "A brain full of holes, and the spine is the same… We're inside a zombie."
"The whale is very much alive," said Norman. "We've seen its heart beat… a bit slowly."
Finn slapped his forehead.
"How do the echidna control it?" asked Caroline.
"Do they have a necromancer?" asked Finn.
There was a pause as the merfolk thought over the question. Then, a short mermaid covered in tattoos lifted a skinny arm and said: "I saw the whale eat Norman. The general said something and I could see its tail. It was glowing red."
Natalie stood up. "Lead the way."
"B-b-but," the mermaid stuttered.
"The only way to the tail is through the spinal canal," said Norman. “Otherwise, we’ll have to cut through organs and alert the whale.”
"Let’s go."
"The spinal canal is where the killers live. They're all crazy strong, and the guy at the end…"
Natalie walked over, placed a palm on Norman's shoulder and leaned closer.
"You talk too much. Who do you fear more, them or me?"