Under Murky Waters

THE WAVES WERE freezing. The men were tossed like rag dolls, flung into the ocean as if they were a coin tossed into a fountain for a cheap wish. Screams tore through the air, a horrific orchestra reverberating louder than the thunder that boomed.

When Zale resurfaced with a gasp, his breath was long and dragged out. He forced as much oxygen as he could back into his lungs, arms treading the water for his dear life. It entered his lungs like a sweet release, calming his nerves as much as possible for such a frantic situation. All around him, he could see the rest of his crew members pulled beneath the water’s surface, their yells cut off by the liquid.

The sirens were a force to be reckoned with. They were merciless, pulling at each of the crew like food that had to be played with first or dough that needed to be stretched.

Zale spun around frantically where he was, desperately trying to look for his best friend. Kyle was nowhere to be seen nor heard, completely erased from the fabric of reality.

“Kyle!” He yelled his voice hoarse, desperately attempting to fight off the noise that enveloped him like a plague. “Where are you?”

“He cannot hear you,” a voice replied, one that did not belong to the one he sought out for.

Spinning his head frantically around, he came face to face with a woman with stunning beauty, one that made his blood freeze faster than the water’s temperature.

Her eyes were the gray of mist, the darkness of the night and the light of the day. It sparkled and shimmered serenely whenever it caught the light but there was a sort of hidden malice in that beauty. The hair that raced down her back was ebony, running straight down before spreading around her at the water’s surface. It was up close had Zale noticed that her tail that moved below him was a shimmering emerald green flecked with navy and silver. The scales raised artfully up her body, covering her bottom half and skillfully over her breasts as well. Yet, her navel was still revealed because of the way it curved away from the stomach, running up the sides of her body like a thin vine.

“I will not hurt you,” she said with much conviction but Zale never did have a thing for liars.

“You claim so but your people are killing those men.” Zale need not even point in the direction of the chaos. He knew what the scene was behind him and he feared to even turn around. “Where is Kyle?”

“The friend you speak with on the ship?” She asked, before saying simply, “he’s dead.” There was hesitation in her words, no sugar-coating, no dancing around with fanciful phrases. She headed straight to the point with little emotion in her eyes.

At this point, Zale wondered what had happened to this woman that swam before him that caused such a tragedy to befall on her character.