Mermaid of the Scylla island

It was beautiful and sunny day for Scylla island, lonely and mysterious land, located in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. It was named after mystical see creature Scylla, hybrid of the woman and five-headed snake: shape of its cliff indeed looked like the monster, especially in the fog. However, today the weather was summerish, and the sky was blue and clear. Old folk of the island even have a saying, that in the day like this they could’ve seen angels on the clouds, if they didn’t leave this God forsaken land.

In the beginning of the 19th Century Scylla island was quite popular tourist destination. There were always lots of ships in the port, laughing and singing in the tavern, ladies hovering over clothing and goods at the local market, and tanned youth swimming in the ocean, looking for unique shells, playing local games and sunbathing at the beach. Soon after that, a series of strange events occurred, which made Scylla look like a doomed place. First, it was disappearence of three trade ships, then, two more cruise ones. Of course, the search crew, who was looking for workers and passangers disappeared too. Second crew, however, managed to come back. Searchers looked scared to death, they could not speak and shortly after - experienced severe memory loss. They couldn’t tell anybody what or who they found, or even what had happened in the see, however due to their state and in the memory of those who were lost, the decision was made to stop tourism and put the island into lockdown.

Now the the time passed. Scylla opened its doors again, but nobody was willing to test their fate...Until today, June 17th. Tree men arrived to the island. Two of them, Mark Buttrskotch and Henry Pinewood, were known scholars with PhD in biology and marine studies who just happened to do their research on deepsea fish in about 130 miles to the South, when their submarine MAD (magnetic animality detector) indicated a huge hole in the underwater surfaces just few miles away from the island. As their motto was “deeper you go more fish you find” they felt like they found their Holy Grail. Both of them aldready had a burning desire to achieve a Nobel Prize, so they rushed to the island. Third man, however, was just a young fella named Kyle Simons. He was in his late twenties, blond and somewhat good looking, with a passion for travelling and absolute absence of stable job. He did one of those spontaneous thing that youngsters do - took the map, blindfolded himself and throw a dart. The idea was to travel wherever the dart lands, which to Kyle’s ”luck” was Scylla island. Being a man of his word, he bought a plane ticket to Solomon Islands, and then peddled all the way to Scylla.

Thus, despite having differ backgrounds and story, all three man had one thing in common - they were extremely adventurous.

Like it was above mentioned, that day was a clear and precious. Mark and Henry had just arrived to the island and wandered to the local coffee shop. After they settled by the window with a beautiful coastal view, men ordered two cups of dark coffee with one milk and one sugar. Well, one of them had sugar, and the other - milk.

- Did you already think what would you do with the money? - Ask Mark in the most dreamy way. He was whispering as if they were plotting to rob a bank.

On the contrary Henry answered loud and clear.

- Oh, I will open my own instute on Angler fish research. Argh, how I love those bustards.

- So much, even your wife looks like one! - Mark giggled. - And in the fish world you are the perfect husband for her.*

*This comment of course implies how female angler fish are huge scary predators and males ones are small, humble, attached to their see girlfriends like a parasite.

- And yours must be Fangtooth. Biggest teeth to body ratio among fish and among humans too.

- That’s why we spend most of our time underwater with see monsters. Because the main monsters are on the land.

Both man laughed. At the same moment the door opened and Kyle entered the room. His eyes were shining with energy and confidence. Even before introducing himself he exclaimed.

- Finally, a jackpot! I thought I was the only non-local at this island. I knew I could find some tourists in the closest place to Starbucks.

Normally, neither Mark, nor Henry would engage in the conversation. Although, they couldn’t stand being called tourists.

- If you would excuse me, - said Henry in the bougie way. - We are not just just some tourists. We are known and intelligent marine scientists on a mission. And we are about to make a great discovery.

- Aren’t you talking about those sunken ships? - Kyle, who already set on a chair nearby, replied.

- What ships? - Mark acted surprised.

- We don’t believe in any superstitions boy. We are professors. - repeated Henry. - Those travellers who disappeared obviously were not prepared to the dangers of the sea.

- Oh, in that case, I agree. - Said Mark. - Only 5% of the ocean is discovered. But our submarine has the newest ultrasound detector, that no fish can path through. It is also made from 316 stainless steel - mostly used for military ships. It is fast too, and…

- Okay, guys. I came to talk to you in a hope for fun, but these facts and bragging and boring. Waitress? Can I get the double double?

- Ah, that one is Canadian..

- I am sorry?

The conversation was interrupted. The old looking man appeared from the back of the kitchen and slowly approached the three guests. He was looking small and wrinkly. Skin on his face was hanging a lot, so it was almost impossible to see the smile underneath it. His eyes were kind and a little bit crazy, in a good way, as if he just escaped the Wonderland.

- Good morning gentlemen. Isn’t it just like my Birthday? Finally, men of science at my door. I’ve waited so long…

The man made a long pause.

- Excuse us. - Replied Henry. - I know you have best intentions, but we are not signing autographs. We are just having coffee.

Kyle smiled to himself. “How proud can he be for such a small man” - he thought.

- No no..- Old man came back to reality. - I‘ve been the owner of this coffee shop for so long. I was just about to shut it down due to bankruptcy. But you! You might save my business. Just follow me.

Mark was about to stand up, but Henry told him to stop.

- Listen. This is almost deserted island. We are the only ones here, and he is an old man who is in despair for money. How do you know, he is not going to kill us and sell our organs at the black market?

Old man heard it. His throat began to tremble and his pupils became huge. Looked like he was about to burst into tears.

- Please, sir, I…

Jesus. - Interrupted Kyle. - I will go and look. If it’s worthy like the man is saying you guys can join.

Mark and Henry looked at each other.

- Sure, let him go first.

Back of the kitchen looked messy. It had a lot of dirty plates and cups, especially under the fact coffee shop had almost no customers. Floor looked like it has to be mopped too.

- Don’t worry about the mess, - said the owner, - I will tell Munga to clean it up.

- The waitress?

- Yeah. She is my only child.

- Oh. Where is she by the way? I was waiting to place at order for so long.

- Maybe, she just stepped outside to collect more…You know, what we use to brew coffee here.

- And what will that be.

- Civets’ feces. You know, young man, in most countries it is considered to be luxury.

At first Kyle was repulsed, but then he even felt joy realizing that those two snobby men already had the beverage, and he didn’t.

Finally he and his older companion reached the office. Frankly, it looked like a pirate’s cabin. On the wooden shelf there were lots of shells and starfish of various colours and shapes, on the desk - model of the battle ship in the huge glass bottle and a basket with tropical fruits. Also, walls of the room had numerouts black and white pictures on the ocean - when it was calm and when it was furious.

- Okay, old man. No sign of a serial killer, like those two suggested, ha?

Coffee shop owner didn’t understand the joke.

- Alright. I want to see, what I am here for.

Right after these words, old man pointed at the metal container in the corner of the room. It was covered under the fabric, so Kyle didn’t even notice it at first. The container had three locks, and after the old man removed them all young traveller faced something shocking.

- Come here! - Kyle stormed back into the dining area. - Guys, you have to see this!

Mark and Henry, who were about to leave and felt too relaxed after being exposed to sunlight, almost had a jumps scare.

- Why do you really think we should follow you?

- Because old man caught a real mermaid.

- Probably just another deep see fish, - sighed Mark. - How come it’s that close to the coast.

- I think it’s the regular fish and old man has dementia.

- How can you be litiral scholars, and yet be so stupid. If you don’t follow me back you will loose one in a million chance.

- How dare you boy! - Henry was ready to throw hands. His ego could not possibly take another word.

- Oh, by the way. Your coffee is made of feces.

- What?!

Henry rapidly stood up and angrily threw away his chair. Few moments after he was chasing the traveller to the back of the kitchen. Scietist‘s face already bacame red from anger and sunburn, and at this point he felt no limits. Mark rushed right after his colleague. He was more calm, so he just wanted to leave without a fight.

Finally all three runners reached the dead end, which was in the old man’s office. Using the power of all his small body Henry jumped and pressed Kyle against the wall with his elbow. In that moment Kyle gasped, as he never suspected a short scholar in his early forties to be that strong.

- Do you think I am joking. Apologize or I will feel your fingers to the fish. Apologize. Now!

Mark who has just entered the room, saw the old owner standing just beside the metal container. Despite looking at the fight, old man was smiling, as he finally found a way to invite scientists in his premises. Mark, who was secretly curios from the beginning, came over to the container and bent down to have a look inside.

- Henry, the boy was right! It is a mermaid! Oh man, I can‘t believ it’s real.

There was a mummy of a woman with a fish tail. Her long green hair was well preserved, although, it was dry like hay. Her eyes were shut, and her mouth was open (looked like just before someone took her life, mermaid was shouting in fear). Her thin neck was embraced by a necklace of pearls with aragonite crystal right in the middle. She was now just a mummy, but there was no doubt, when she was alive - she was the creature of unrealistic beauty.

- Please, buy it from me. - Said the old man. Sell it to the museum. I bet the give me thousands of…What is your currency?

- Dollars.

- Save my business, children. And save my secret too. I found this at the coast more then ten years ago and I’ve been keeping it in the freezer.

- Ha, now we know, it’s fake. It would decay in months or less, unless you froze it cryogenically. I don’t think you can do that at the back of the kitchen of an old coffee place, my man. - Henry was full of himself all day.

- Looks very real though. - Mark was satisfied with the finding. - Maybe, I can talk to the museum. But it won’t be that much, maybe a thousand..Or you can sell it to a private collection.

- She is real! - Old man suddenly became fast and quickly shut the container, protecting his mermaid. His eyes became huge and crazy again. - And I didn’t want to tell you this, but. She things to me when I sleep.

- Wait you sleep in the store? - Asked Kyle.

He had no answer. Old man lost sense of reality and started humming strange melody. He was slowly dancing around the place, like he was in some sort of trans.

“Mhhhh mhhhh oiiiiii mhhhh mhhh ahoiii”

- Father! - Munda came back to the store with a bag of something brown. - Hey you, what are you doing at the back of my kitchen!

- Miss, I am sorry, we were just.

- Get out!

Finally, three men left the place.

As soon they left coffee shop behind, Kyle split with Mark and Henry after giving them the last annoyed look. Rest of the day he spend doing what other tourists did back in the day: sunbathing, drinking, swimming in the ocean and collecting strange-looking shells. Later at the sunset he met three local women and they all joined a small disco party with karaoke and appetizers. To his own surprise, Kyle quickly forgot about the mermaid, even though when he first saw the mummy, it felt like a life changing moment. Words of two scientists went deeply into his brain. Now just like them he was convinced that the mummy was fake and the old man was just trying to fool him. Well, at least it helped him to break his island boredom and make adrenaline rush through his veins. Now, with a little assistance of alcohol, Kyle felt alive and happy.

As for Mark and Henry, their day was completely different. Despite having bad personalitie, these two were hard workers, so right after they finished with the coffee, they went to explore coast like it was planned. In about seven miles away from the island, scholars’ submarine found the anomaly - a deep crack in the ocean floor, which formed an enormous hole. Unanimously they decided to dive in.

The hole resembled an entrance to the underwater castle. As Mark and Henry were going deeper, they saw walls of corals, calcite, serpentine and other precious stones. Hordes of clownfish, angelfish, triggerfish were hovering around the reefs, making the underwater landscape even more colourful and alive. Both Mark and Henry noticed that it was a little bit strange, how there was no sign of aragonite - stone in the middle of mermaid necklace. But that wasn’t too weird. The old man from the store must have gotten it from a traveller or simply at the market. Nevertheless, their wandering dissapeared like a sun behind the clouds on a rainy day. As they were reaching the Abyssal zone (about 4000 meters below), the hole became more and more narrow, looking more like a tunnel, and its walls were covered by a shiny orange ring of aragonite exclusively.

- I don’t think the old man got it from here, - joked Mark after reading his friend‘s mind. - If he could go down below without any submarine, he must by superhuman. Maybe, we should sell him to the museum!

- If only museum of loonatics. - That wasn’t too funny, but it described Henry’s true feelings about the coffee shop owner.

Soon the submarine disappeared in the dark. It was impossible to see anything, except small dots about a hundred meters below. When Mark and Henry came closer, they saw it was indeed the Atolla jellyfish also known as Coronate medusa. From far these circular creatures looked like the red eyes, with a cluster of nerves attached to them. Of course the nerves were its tentacles, helping medusa hunt for hunt and move.

- Wow, those are really rear. - Said Mark pulling out his camera. - I need to make few pictures for my journal.

Suddenly few of the jellyfish turned bright orange, as if someone turned on the light bulb. This was a true sign the predator is near.

- Why are they doing it? - Asked Henry. - I don’t see any sign of predator and it’s not on the submarine’s monitor.

- Maybe it’s the Black Dragonfish. These bastards are almost invisible in the dark.

- What about the monitor?

Henry couldn’t even finish his sentence. Suddenly the alarm bursted into yelling and the emergency light turned red indicating danger. Two biologists still had no clue what’s going on - last time when they met great white shark the alarm didn’t go on until the creature was inches away from the submarine. Medusas however felt the disturbance right away. All of them where shining like a pocket sun or a ball of fire, hovering rapidly around the submarine enlightening ocean‘s water with orange light. Just few second after that Mark and Henry felt a big push.

- What was that?!

Next thing they saw through the armed glass - golden dust like shooting stars slowly landing from above. Sharp chunks of aragonite together with few other crystals were crushing and slushing everything on their way. Submarine at the same time kept shaking.

- It is the earthquake! The hole is too narrow, we have to go up now!

Mark put his pale hands on the remote control. The steel ship started to go up.

- Quickly! - Shouted Henry in despair. - In don’t want to be buried here!

As they were going up two man saw more and more stones bursting like a bomb. They orange water full of fiery jellyfish made it look like they were escaping hell. Even Henry, man of science and biggest sceptic, started praying for his life, while Mark, who was responsible for remote control, was busy navigating the ship and leading it to safety.

And just when the hell was far below, Henry saw something very bizarre in the deapth of the ocean. It looked like the woman with green hair of hay, precious necklace and a fish tale, the one that he saw in the old man’s store.

***

It was already late in the night. The bright sun disappeared behind the pink clouds, and shadows swallowed all the light. Soon the sky was covered in sprinkles of stars and pearl of the white moon. Before going back to his motel Kyle decided to take his last stroll for today, so he headed to the coast.

All of a sudden, between distant laughter and whisper of the wind, Kyle her something familiar. At first he didn’t recognize what it was, but something told him to follow the sound. As he came closer traveller saw young woman in the water. It was very difficult to assume if she was tall, but she had broad shoulders, long sophisticated neck and hair that would reach her waist if she was standing. However, now it was floating on the water, shimmering in the white light giving shades or mysterious greenish blond.

Kyle tried not to look. Of all of the things, he saw that day lady of the waters was the biggest wander. While swimming she was humming a soft melody.

“ Mhhhh mhhhh oiiiiii mhhhh mhhh ahoiii”

Finally Kyle remembered the song. It was the same motive the crazy old coffee shop owner was singing while twisting and turning in this office. Traveller quickly rushed towards the woman in excitement and curiosity. Now he had to know what the song was.

- Excuse me miss.. - Politely asked the man.

- Mhhhh mhhh, - Lady was looking at the stars. She acted like the was disconnected from this world.

- This song, - Continued Kyle. - I heard it before. Could you tell me what it is?

Suddenly, woman perked up, rapidly swam towards the man and looked at him angrily.

- Who would you be to ask me this question?

Her voice sounded almost like she was hissing. Kyle could not understand if she was angry, scared, upset or what else was on her mind - was singing she sounded angelic, but whe she spoked - she quickly turned into some evil spirit.

- I repeat. Who are you?

- Well, - Traveller tried his best to give mysterious lady the right answer. - I am Kyle from Toronto.

- Oh, - The girls sight.

For few more seconds they both stood in the silence, listening to seagulls and rustling of palm trees.

After building up his courage, Canadian traveller finally announced.

- I didn’t even mean to come close. I am so sorry, If you got me wrong. But the reason why I am asking is that I heard these tunes before. And circumstances in which I heard it were quite strange.

Woman’s eyes opened wide.

- My sister used to sing it to me.. - Her lip started shaking. Her eyes were now full oh hope and sadness. - My dear Amerilia. I lost her years ago.

- Well, why dont’t you ask the coffee shop ower from up the hill. - Replied Kyle as he was slowly walking into the water with a sole purspose to comfort the woman.

- That old fisherman! That monster! - Lady of the see hissed.

- Did you meet him? Do you know he has some strange mermaid mummy at the back of his kitchen. It was supposed to be a secret, but well, who cares.

- Ohhh! - Woman bursted into tears. Her voice now became tender again.

- What happened? Are you okay? - Kyle was staggered by his new acquaintance. Now he was approaching her even faster, and the woman was receding. Traveller was about to yell, so he can warn her about the underwater cliff she was about to reach, and suddenly she jumped under the water.

- Miss?

The night swallowed his words. The lady he met never appeared from the depth of the ocean.

- MADAM!! I am coming!

Kyle was so sure the woman was drowning. At this moment he didn‘t even care about his shirt getting soaking wet, so he jumped right under water. Traveler was hysterically going up and down, shouting for the lost, but there was no trace of the see lady.

- Where are you!

Finally the man felt his last cocktail kicking in. Just few miles ahead in the water he saw oasis of bright golden light. Fear and tiredness made Kyle dizzy and suddenly he felt in the water himself. And just in the sleep he felt like someone gently held him around the shoulder, saving him from the dark salty waives.

Next day Kyle was walking down the beach again, thinking about vivid dream that he had. First he met beautiful woman about his age, whose beauty was mesmesing and yet so bizarre, like she was from another planet. He could never forget this long greenish hair floating on water, dark bug eyes staring right into his soul and voice that can go from angelic to demonic. Then, after having a strange conversation, someone dragged him underwater to the deep hole in the ground, where he saw the circle of orange and yellow cristals shining like ocean gold. And then he went even deeper, where he met them: a group of women, armed, with gills on their necks and a long fish tail, all holing a spear or a trident, hovering about a huge pile of gems, diamonds and other treasures.

- I didin‘t trust you at first, - Said heavenly voice in his dream, - But you are kind. You tried to save me.

Even though they were deep under water, he could hear the voice clearly.

- We, sisters, know how to protect ourselves under water. But we need protection on the land. You have to keep sailors away from us. And bring back Amerilia.

What a lovely name Amerilia.

Kyle was falling deeper into sleep. The last words sounded like an echo inside his head. Next thing he remembers - he woke in his motel room with few empty bottles of whiskey beside his bed.

After spending some time at the beach looking into nowhere, traveler decided to visit the coffee shop one more time. He really needed some answers about the woman he saw in the water, and he strongly felt like the old owner might give it to him. By now Kyle was already convinced there was something enchanted about Scylla island, but he was yet to find out what is was.

To man’s own surprise, when he approached the coffee shop he saw two old “friends” Mark and Henry who were arguing with the store owner about something. The old man who appeared to be lovely lunatic last time, was now completely changed - his voice was was loud and fierce and his eyes were focused like never.

- Give me money! - Said the old man angrily - You took my trophy and now you want it all for free. I want my money and fame!

- Hey waitress, - Shouted Henry. - What is this all about.

- We are here to see mermaid. - Tried to explain Mark pulling out his diary. - And we actually have some questions about it.

- Ha! Took my mummy and now trying to sound like you want to cover it up. Like you don’t even know she is missing.

- Missing? - Said Mark, Henry and Kyle all in one voice. Only now those who were in the restaurant earlier noticed traveler’s appearance.

- Hey you! - The old restaurant owner turned to Kyle. - Maybe if these two are so clueless, it is your doing then.

- I should just probably come back another time. - Replied traveler unemotionally and headed back towards the door. - When you are feeling better, sir.

- Don’t talk to me like that boy! Where are you hiding her!

Kyle wasn’t listening. He quickly opened the door and headed outside. Mark and Henry followed right after him. Nobody wanted to mess with the old psycho. After they walked quite a distance down the hill, trio saw the old man standing on the porch of his cafe, shaking and mumbling something evil.

After they were far from the coffee house, Kyle turned to Mark and Henry.

- What was all of that about?

Scolars seemed to be a little bit off. They acted opposite to how traveler remembered them: Mark’s and Henry’s confidence and self-esteem evaporated, and now they looked scared like after seeing a ghost.

- Old man went crazy on us. - Explained Mark. - He said his mermaid disappeared. Do you know anything at all about it?

- Not at all. - Kyle sighed.

- We were doing our job as researchers. - Said Henry in a calm voice. - The other day we went to explore a hole in the see bottom, and we saw something even we, masterminds of biology, can not explain. So now, even the smallest details can be helpful if we want to put this puzzle together.

- What did you see?

- At first it looked like a great discovery. We found a lot of exotic flora and fauna species and we got a chance to enter the ocean’s depth. But then..

- An earthquake. - Continued Henry. - We had to escape immediately, and our ship got scraches all over it.

- I though it was armed?

- Yes it is! But it was almost like out of this world.

- Oh, boy, you tell me.. - Kyle giggled. - I had quite a mystery experience myself.

While tree of them were walking along the coast, enjoying the light of mandarin sun, Canadian traveller told his new aquaintances about the vivid vision he had the other day after meeting the lady of the see. While the man was pretty sure he was just dreaming under the influence of liquor, Mark and Henry couldn’t help but held their breath in amazement. The story of a traveller had so many similarities with their own, there could be absolutely no coincidence. And the most crucial part of the story was of course mermaids - live creatures and not the product of a novelist’s mind. Both scientist simultaneously gave birth to a greedy idea: their research has to be phenomenal and unseen before: they will prove entire universe that there are other species similar to humans, who are able to communicate, breath underwate, interact with each other and probably do other routines things just like we do. Maybe they could even catch one of them and take her for experiments. Or, like the old man from coffee shop was insisting earlier, sell it to one of the world’s most known museums. Either way Mark and Henry were planning to become insanely rich.

After their companion left the to take a smoke, scholars began to whisper their plot in each others ear. When Kyle returned they turned to him with a strange evil smirk.

- Hey brother! We are almost brothers now, right? - Said Henry, who was never this extra friendly in his life, exept maybe with Mark’s wife.

- No, actually we just met and I don’t even like you that much. - Sarcastically replied Kyle.

- Well. - Henry used all his internal strength to remain calm. - Anyways, three of us are stuck at this island for a while. So. Me and my colleague Mark want to give you opportunity of your lifetime.

- We want you to see underwater world from our submarine! You will see flora and founa you never even dreamt of. - Continued Mark, trying to lure Kyle into the trap.

Luckily for scientists Kyle was always up for an adventure, so trio agreed to meet again in the night, when local folk of Scylla island goes to sleep. Later that day, when crimson sky dissolved in the dark, they were standing at the same place. The research submarine was already fixed, polished and ready to dive into the mysterious depths of the South Pacific Ocean.

Mark and Henry, which was very unusual for them, brought champagne glasses and agreed to raise a toast before their voyage begins. In the moonli ght bubbles of the drinks resembled tiny precious rinestones.

Unlike the first time when Kyle met Mark and Henry, he started to even like this duo. Now their status of complete losers was upgraded to weirdos.

Suddenly, the traveller heard familiar sound.

- Mhhhh mhhhh oiiiiii mhhhh mhhh ahoiii. - Voice like harmonica was playing it’s song behind the rocks in half a mile from where men were drinking. There could be nothing in the world compared to this sound. Indeed, it was her.

- Excuse me. I have to pee. Or smoke. Actually, I like to smoke after peeing - Kyle tried to explain himself with a tremble in his voice. He was very nervous thinking he will se the lady again.

In the same time Mark and Henry didn’t even pay to much attanion to him. Their mind was alreday buying houses, yachts and private jets.

- Okay, then go. - Said Mark.

- What a perv. Canadians are weird.

But Kyle, fortunately, didn’t hear that. He was running towards the voice faster than a thunder. Passion in his heart was his fuel: so was his desire to find answers.

She was the same like last time. Gorgeous posture, long greenish hair floating on a dark surface of ocean, except this time lady was turned away looking far beyond the horizon.

- You should not go with them. Their mind is corrupt and intentions - dangerous. - She soft so softly, it felt like a sedative.

- Were you stalking me? How did you know I would be here tonight?

- I told you last time and I stand by it. You have a good heart. But they…Don’t have a heart at all.

Kyle steped into the water. He came closer to his new lady friend, and for some time they just stood there admiring the stars. The man felt like he was hallucinating or falling into a trans, world around him was blurred and seemed to be surreal.

- As you wish. - Finally whispered the man.

And again, the see woman wasn’t around animore.

That was the time Kyle rushed back to Mark and Henry, just so he can tell them tonight’s plan is cancelled.

- Hey you guys!

As he was running he noticed the submarine was already in the water.

- You took way to long over there. What were you doing?

- Doesn‘t matter. - Answered Kyle, who was already out of breath. - But I am not going with you.

- And why is that? - Mark raised his right bushy eyebrow.

- Just changed my mind.

- Okay. - Smiled Henry.

- Okay? Just like that? - Both Mark and Kyle were surprised, but short mean scientist always had a plan B. Many colleagues of his are even gossiping that he had partnership with Mark only because he would feed him to shark first if it attacked.

Henry offered the traveller another drink, knowing that blond young man has a sweet tooth for alcohol. Seeing how sceptical Kyle looked at first, he said with a smirk.

- C’mon man. You are canceling last moment. Least you can do now is raise this toast and wish me and my buddy Mark good luck.

Traveller took the glass. Sleeping pill already dissolved in the bubbles, just like the moon dissapears at the sunset. As soon as the man took his first sip, he felt extremely dizzy. He raised his head up high trying to catch some air - last thing that he saw was Scylla’s cliff shaped like five-headed beast. Shortly after he fell asleep.

- I had one saved for you. In case you chicken out. - Said Henry to his friend, as he still stood with his mouth opened after seeing what he saw. - And now help me drag this giant to the submarine.

***

Kyle woke up on a metal flor of the underwater ship. His hands were tied behind his back, and the scratches from the rope used to hold them together were burning. One of his legs was tied to the metal bar which made it nearly impossible to move around. Realizing what had happened Kyle pushed his tongue outside of his mouth in disbelief there were no tape to keep him silent. His lips were dry, ears hurt because of underwater pressure he wasn’t trained for, and his heart was beating in a speed of a marathon runner.

Inside of a submarine was dull with just few luminiscent lamps in two opposite corners. Right in the middle was a huge magnetic anomaly detector, long remote control with many buttons and a huge window made of thick glass. Behind that window Kyle saw hords of Atolla jellyfish, which meant they went at least 4000 meters below, having passed the aragonite gates.

Mark and Henry,who were staying behind his back, now appeared in the picture. Mark, who almost couldn’t look into Kyle’s eyes went straight to the remote control. Henry set down on his knees in front of the man he kidnapped and looked him right in the eye.

- Let‘s say now we untie you and you can help us find the mermaid nest. Then, after we become rich, will give you a cheque..For this small inconvenience.

- Mermaid nest? Wait, are you talking about the one I saw in my dream?

- What you saw in a dream, me and my partner saw with our own eyes! - Now the small scientist sounded like an old pirate.

- Now you are just talking crazy things..Why are you doing this, a**hole!!

Kyle shouted and immediately received slap in his face, which made his cheek turn bright red.

- Don’t you dare talk to me in this way. And now… - Henry walked around. The man untied traveller’s foot, but not arms. Then he made him stand up by force and basically dragged him to the glass window.

What Kyle saw was staggering and completely unfamiliar to him. The underwater tunnel had two corridors, both shining with surreal colourful light. Right corridor was light blue like water seen through the ice and other was orange like liquid fire. Both reminded people in the submarine of hell, but from different mythologies.

- So you know. - Put Mark his five scents. - I am still willing to pay you if you collaborate. And I am truly sorry it has to be this way.

- I will sue you both, idiots.

- One more words and you will be fed to fish, boy. - Parried Henry. At this point Kyle felt like he has no way out. He was alone in this and his hands were literally tied.

- So which way should we go? - Mark was calm and his only aim was to find another form of life. He was a believer that aim justifies sources used, but in this situation he felt truly bad for the fella. He was strongly dissagrpeeing with Henry’s methods, but he didn’t have enough strength to speak up. - What did you see in your dream?

- I actually don’t know. I don’t remember it that well.

- I think we should go blue. Orange light might be a sign of another horde of raging medusas.

As soon as the ship started moving, Kyle heard the melody again. There was more melancholy in the voice than before.

It was her. In the depth of orange light.

- Orange! I remember it now.

Submarine went below - right into the centre of liquid fire. It was another narrow tunnel filled with pointy stones and corals.

Kyle‘s eyes were running around. He was looking for her. Only now he was seeking for help.

“Mhhhh mhhhh oiiiiii mhhhh mhhh ahoiii”

- What is this idiot humming! - Laughed Henry. - Acting like that old psycho’s forgotten relative.

- Can you be more understanding. - Finally Mark decided to stop being observer and said something back. - You wouldn‘t wanna be in his situation, do you?

- What will he do!

Henry pushed his prisoner in the shoulder. Kyle didn’t say anything back: he just closed his eyes and kept humming this strange and familiar melody.

Suddenly, everyone present on board felt a big push. MAD didn’t detect anything - just like last time. Submaritne was already about 7000 meters deep.

- Oh boy, it’s happening.

And again the path was split into two tunnels. Being under pressure Kyle pointed at the right tunnel and submarine kept on going down.

Finally the traveller heard her song. She was singing in distance, like moon singing to stars at night. Nobody else heard it except him, and Kyle knew: she wouldn’t sing for strangers. But he wasn’t a stranger - he was her friend.

In any other situations Kyle would give away his heart and soul for the lady of the sea, but today, he was praying she could do at least something for him. He was in despair.

Humming intensified. Suddenly sound came with an echo. Now the man could hear more than one angelic voice. Second one was deeper, more mature, but that what made it so perfect.

“What’s happening”

Underwater pressure was raising. Everything started to get blurry behind the glass. Orange light already disappeared and there was only darkness around.

There was a small bright light they saw for a moment. However, it was just another toothy monstrous angler fish with a small parasite of a husband attached to her side.

- Sexy! - Exclaimed Mark and Henry in excitement.

But Kyle couldn’t hear them. Now he could hear three voices and he couldn’t figure out where they are coming from. Then, it was a unison of four. And the fifth one joined almost immediately after.

Traveller stared at the antler of the deepsea fish. It seemed like his consciousness was floating slowly towards the white light. This together with the angelic singing made Kyle believe that he was dying.

“If I must leave this world, hope these two get nothing”

Giving this thought all his power, Kyle collapsed on the floor unconscious.

***

When he opened his eyes, he was in water. Adrenaline immediately rushed through man’s veins, as he though he was drowning. He started squirming, gasping, covering his ears and mouth with the palm. But minutes went by and, even though he spent them in terrible panic, nothing bad happened. Kyle felt a strange lump on his neck. Just like all citizens of Ocean he now had gills.

That’s when she appeared from the darkness. Lady of the see, who now was showing all of herself, appeared to be tall women with long emerald fish tail, strong arms and torso, long hair, which if she had legs - would reach woman’s knees.

For a moment two of them were looking into each other’s eyes. She was the first to break the silence.

- You brought strangers into our land. My sisters were threatening to kill you. I almost went out of breath begging them not to.

- I had no choice. They kidnapped me.

- If you went here with them by your will, we won’t be talking.

Everything around began to shake again. Moments later Kyle found himself covered in the stardust made of shattered underwater crystals.

Something flashed by. It was the submarine of Mark and Henry. It was rushing down like there was no water to help with gravity.

- We need to help them! - Shouted Kyle. - They might be pain in the ass, but they don’t deserve to die.

- Is pain in the ass a bad thing? - Smiled mermaid. - Because I don’t have one.

- Now are you serious. - Sighed Kyle. - Joking in the moments like this.

- Their time has come.

There were numerous dark figures of mermaids around. First they were invisible but as they were coming closer traveller could see their outlines. They were forming a circle around Kyle and his new water friend. Their facial expressions were still hidden in the dark water, but the man knew - they were furious, but protective and proud.

- We will now send you back. - Hissed one of them. - And we will keep you alive, but only under one condition.

- We need our man on the land to protect us from visious sailors and fisherman.

- So far he was doing a bad job. - Sarcastically noticed one of them.

- He has a lifetime to learn.

- A lifetime?

- The old man from the coffee store passed away as we were in the sea. You will now take his place. You will grow old and creepy, talling everyone old tales about this part of the ocean. Your job is to ensure, no one ever will disturb our peace.

Circle was getting closer and closer. Lump on Kyle’s neck started to dissolve and he now was feeling sharp pain in his eirs. Being tortured traveller tried to scream and accidentally let last bubble of oxigen out of his chest.

Mermaids sang again, and now it was nothing like angelic harmony. Now it was more like a banshee shriek.

Water around Kyle was spinning more and more like underwater tornado. He was trying to hold on something to help with the spinning, but there was nothing around. Only right thing to do was to close the eyes and wait for all of this to end.

***

“That was a strange dream full of colours and mysterious faces. I bet no one in the world had a dream like that. Maybe, Lavecraft had it just before he started writing. And it is a clear sign for me to start my writer’s career too”.

Kyle took a pill of aspirin, put his diary away and started on his morning routine. He decided he’ll leave this island as soon as he can.

His head was still hurting from last night’s champagne. The traveller made a reckless decision to have one cup of coffee from the store, even though he knew was it was made of.

Nothing from last night was clear. Last thing he remembered was raising a toast in favour for Mark’s and Hernry’s voyage. (Wonder where did they go). After that his brain was taken out, smashed into smoothie and put back.

Summerish weather started to get cooler. Thick dark clouds were hovering above Scylla island, ready to spill rain showers. Winds were playing with trees and bushes making an impression of thousands evil whispers.

There was a funeral at the beach. But Kyle wasn’t really curious about that. What really caught his eye was “Now hiring“ sign at the coffee shop.

- Why does it seem so right. - Asked traveller himself, pushing the wooden doors.