Before We Were Mermaids

Before We Were Mermaids

Quickly, I dash behind a filing cabinet. I didn’t know my Daddy was here. I just wanted to play a joke on Uncle Kelton.

“Kelton, this is insane! Figure out how to fix what we have, so that we don’t have to go to the surface anymore. You created this place, let’s make it what we need.”

“This is our future, Quinton.”

“No, this is your delusion. You can’t fix the ozone. It’s gone! Stop living in the past and get with the now. What if the Terrafolk find us again?”

Uncle Kelton works over drawings and numbers, “They haven’t developed the lung capacity to dive this deep. Even though the distance to the beach is short. And why are you determined to keep them out? They have just as much right to hide as you.”

“They can hide — on land.”

“The land is dying, Quinton. Soon there will be no place left to hide. They’re desperate. Do you care so little for your fellow man?”

“I can’t cause the trees to grow. I can protect my family from UV-radiated Terrafolk. Atlantis is safe.”

“Atlantis―ha! I warned them. When they didn’t listen, I built this underwater attraction to fund my long term survival strategy. I knew I was the only one with the means and the know-how. That’s why Atlantis exists. A place for me to isolate myself until I fix things topside. But when I saw the terror I knew that history would judge me harshly if I forsook the world to burn alone.

“That’s why you’re here. I crammed 31 people on my boat, and escorted you to my Scuba diver’s paradise. I’ve never regretted it. Everyone here fulfills a purpose in our community — even Orla.”

“Well, I’m here to keep your head out of the atmosphere and underwater!”

Kelton looks up through the domed roof, “Lord, You knew I’d need a soldier, but why did You send me such a belligerent one?”

Daddy rolls his eyes and walks toward the cylindrical glass airlock. He steps through into the dive room and slips into the pool.

I continue my mission to scare Uncle Kelton. Carefully, I sneak out.

He runs his fingers through his white hair and speaks into a recorder.

“June 23, 2055 Quintin is a good man, but short-sighted. He chooses to forget a basic truth.

We all need oxygen, and the atmosphere has less of it. We don’t feel the difference yet, but there's no denying what I measure everyday. It’s getting harder and harder to breathe.”

Suddenly, Uncle Kelton turns on me with a fierce look on his face.

“I hear a sneak,” then he smiles and hoists me high, “How are you Orla?”

I giggle, “I’m good. Uncle Kelton, what’s my purpose?”

“Well, your purpose? You make everyone smile, and you remind me of the kids topside who need my help.

“Now, isn’t it someone’s first trip to the surface today?”

“Yes sir!” Orla squeals with excitement.

“Run along then!”

She runs down the airlock, and dives into the pool.

Kelton stands at the glass wall of his lab watching Orla swim home, “God, please, for her sake.”

I swim out into the water back to our underwater hostel. Beneath me is the ocean floor where we harvest kelp and search for conchs. Daddy tells me stories about when he used to live above the water, but I’ve only known life below the waves.

I’m Orla — treasure of Atlantis! Or…that’s what Uncle Kelton calls me. And today I’m going topside for the first time!

I get back to our hostel and hear Daddy talking…

“...she’s got to learn. We can’t hide her forever.”

“Quintin, she’s only seven. She doesn’t think—”

“Well, it’s time she learned.”

I hear Mommy start to cry. She sounds scared, but why? She told me last night I would go help Daddy today. She showed me a picture with her sister on land. She was pretty like Mommy, and she wore a heart-shaped locket. Mommy seemed excited for me to see the land where they once lived...

“But Quintin, what if it happens again? I couldn’t bare—”

“Maria, it hasn’t happened for five years.”

I peer into our living space. Daddy hugs mommy like he hugs me when I’m scared. And I feel a twinge of worry. What if what happens again?

“Orla?” He calls, and I pretend I just got there.

“I’m here.” I reply cheerfully.

Daddy smiles and ruffles my golden hair, “Are you ready to go topside this year?”

“Yes sir!” I run and jump into his arms.

“Let’s go then.”

Together we swim — not down to the ocean floor as I always have, but up! Daddy breaks the surface just before me.

I breathe deeply and look around. The ocean’s dark blue waves reflect the grey clouds above, and then I see the shore — a lot closer than I imagined — and the trees.

The trees...Mommy warned me not to go toward the trees.

We come to the surface once a year to smelt ore that we find in the deeper parts of the ocean. I don’t really understand how, but Mr. Jacob gets shiny metals from rocks for Uncle Kelton.

I sit on the sand and watch the water boil away. Daddy was clear. I am to tend the fire and boil water until only the salt is left.

The trees scare me. Under the water the current keeps everything moving this way then that, but these trees are still.

My fire is dying, so I put on the last of the sticks. I see a dried branch further up the beach toward the trees. Carefully, I watch the trees as I creep up to the branch. Slowly, they start to move, and then they make a rustling sound.

I gasp as something lightly brushes my cheek — wind. Daddy told me about wind...

Suddenly, I hear a shout.

“Sun! Get to the water!”

Immediately, I run back toward the water, but then—

A harsh beam of light strikes the sand in front of me. I skid to a halt, but the clouds are parting too fast. The burning rays chase me back, back toward the trees.

I see Mr. Jacob pulling Daddy under the water.

Suddenly, something grabs my arm and pulls me. I scream, but it drags me back under the trees, and says, “Stay down! I’m trying to help!”

Then I see that it’s a boy. He pulls a wide covering over the opening we came through before the sun’s light can enter. Then he sits across from me and stares.

I stare back.

The boy is older than me by a few years. He is tall with red hair under a wide hat. The few places his skin is visible are deeply tanned.

The most curious thing about him is his eyes. He keeps his lids mostly closed as if he were squinting all the time.

“Are you a mermaid?” He asks in an awed whisper.

I tilt my head, “What’s a mermaid?”

“They’re the people who live under the water.”

“Well then, I guess so.”

His eyes widen, and I see that they're a deep brown “Can you breathe underwater?”

I giggle, “No, silly, I’m not a fish!”

He tilts his head and examines my neck, “I guess you’re right. I don’t see any gills. I’m Brian.”

“I’m Orla. The treasure of Atlantis.”

“I’ve only ever heard of Merfolk. Is it true that you have whole rooms full of food and aloes?”

I scowl, “No, but we do grow some aloe.”

The boy looks disappointed, “But how do you eat?”

“We harvest kelp, conchs, fish, and sometimes my Daddy will bring home a shark for supper.”

“Wait, you hunt for your food too?”

I nod honestly. But thinking about Daddy makes me worry.

“Daddy, will be so mad. I was supposed to stay next to the water, but I needed wood and—”

“I think your Dad will be just happy that you’re alive.”

“Really?” I can feel my eyes start to water.

“Of course he will. Please don’t cry,” he pleads.

I wipe my eyes clear and notice him staring at my eyes, “What is it?”

He looks embarrassed, “It’s just... I’ve never seen eyes as green as yours.”

“My eyes are not just green,” I reply positively, “They're bluish green.”

Brian laughs, “Whatever color they are I like them.”

A shadow falls over us.

“It’s safe,” I say excitedly.

“Wait, the sand is too hot. And I have to tell you...well, some of us think that if you catch a mermaid, then we’ll be able to trade for things that we think the merfolk have.”

“But that’s silly.”

“Sure, I know that now, but they won’t listen to me. Be careful.” I hear a hissing sound from the beach. “Oh good rain. It’ll cool down quickly now.”

He removes the covering, and opens his mouth open to catch the water that falls from the sky. As he does, I see a small heart-shaped locket around his neck.

“What’s that?” It looks like...

“Oh that was my mother’s. She died in a sun fire years ago. There’s your Dad.”

Eager to see Daddy, I run onto the beach.

There he is coming out of the water, and the others are too.

“Daddy!” He stops. Stunned to hear my voice. Then he runs to me.

“Orla, my Orla. You’re alive, but how?”

“There was a boy. He saved me and—” I look back, but Brian’s not there, “and...I forgot to say thank you…” I finished weakly.

Daddy sets me down in the water, “Orla, go home.”

His voice is firm and so different from a moment ago. His eyes focus on something at the tree line.

People start to appear from the trees. A man bigger than Daddy carrying a large stick strides out.

“Looks like we finally found some Merfolk,” his voice thunders belligerently.

“Orla, go home,” my Daddy says more urgently.

“Stay little mermaid,” the voice booms. I take a step back in the water. And then I see Brian.

He’s running and calling out, “Wait! Don’t! They’re not what you think!”

“Shut up, boy! You, go bring me that mermaid!” And then he thrusts his staff at Daddy!

I take a deep breath and dive into the water. As fast as I can, I swim for home.

I paddle up through the pool, and Mommy is there. She runs through the airlock and squeezes me.

“Mommy, there was a man and he attacked Daddy!”

Her eyes grow wide, “Not again.”

Quickly, she flips a switch and the light on top of our hostel flashes red. Soon lights all over Atlantis are flashing, and people are swimming to the surface. Mommy kisses my forehead, “Stay right here.”

“Mommy what’s happening?” I cry.

“I’ll explain later. I have to go help Daddy.”

I’m shaking all over. I’m scared for my Daddy... for my Mommy. And I’m scared for Brian. I want to see what’s happening…

And then I don’t want to see...I don’t need to see…

Blood stains the water, and strangely shaped shadows float above me. I sink to the floor and hug my knees trying to catch my breath.

After what seemed like hours, I hear a splash and see others swimming back.

Daddy and Mommy are carrying someone, and Mr. Jake’s face is badly blistered.

“Thank God for the sun. It broke the attack.” Daddy says.

“But did you see how many tried to follow?”

“Poor fools, to think they could make it.”

“I’ll get the aloe and bandages.”

I look away through the glass and try to block out their talk. That’s when I see it…

A heart-shaped locket floating slowly on the tide toward the ocean floor. I reach my hand to the glass wishing that I could reach out and grab it as tears flow down my cheeks.