A siren's song

The night sky was filled with stars, the only sounds heard were that of the frogs singing and loud, drunk laughter. Three young male adults stumbled their way through a thicket leading them directly to the bayou.

As the friends got closer, a thick fog began to form, obscuring their vision. Silence drew upon the area as the boys heard a haunting but beautiful voice of a woman amongst the fog, beckoning them forward.

The one in the middle stopped in his tracks straining to locate the beautiful voice.

“Do…do you hear that?” he slurred.

“Where do you think she is?” asked his buddy.

Before the other two could answer, the voice became louder and louder. The voice echoing around the trees.

“Have you seen the ghost of John? Long white bones with the skin all gone?”

Through the thick curtain of fog, the boys could start to make out a silhouette of a figure sitting on a rock.

As the voice continued to lure the boys closer, they finally entered the warm, swamp water.

Screams filled the night air as the water churned with the thrashing adults as the boys were dragged under by webbed hands.

Silence followed as everything settled down and the fog lifted around an empty swamp.

Gasping could be heard as Ireland-Rose woke with a start. Her brain trying to calm down and rationalize where she was. The feeling of hands dragging her down into the water still felt real.

She felt groggy and irritable, more so than any other times. Unceremoniously she threw back the covers and sat up. First thing her green, sleep crusted eyes came upon was papers, books, and clothes strewn all over the floor from the previous night’s cram session and mid-term paper.

Getting out of bed, she grabbed her cotton housecoat and cautiously made her way out of the room avoiding the obstacles of books and papers.

Making her way out of the room, she made her way to the bathroom. Shutting the door, Ireland-Rose turned on the shower. Her brain was still a foggy mess after several hours of studying last night, she debated on how to function for the rest of the day.

As the hot, steaming water cascaded over her face, she instantly went back to the dream, nearly putting her into a panic attack. Her dream still startled her, for over ten years of her life, she had the same reoccurring dream of being dragged into an open body of water. Lately, when she woke up, it was as if she could still feel the hands upon her. It was always different, hands grabbing her wrist, ankles, pushing her shoulders or grabbing her neck. Her breathing picked up as her mind went back to the dream.

‘Calm Ireland, calm. It was only a dream. No one would ever do that, you have control,’ Ireland-Rose reassured herself, forcing her breaths to go back to normal.

There was a nagging feeling in the back of her head something didn’t feel right. She didn’t exactly know what it was.

After several minutes, she got out of the shower and toweled off before returning to her bedroom using another towel to dry her waist length blue and purple hair. Turning on the TV for background noise, the news popped up on the screen.

“Tragedy struck last night as three college students drowned. Here’s Melissa with more of the news.”

Ireland-Rose watched in horror as three of her classmates’ photos appeared on the screen. So far, there were no bodies found, eyewitnesses had spotted three drunk college students stumbling around the thicket leading toward the swamp.

Shutting off the TV no longer wanting to hear the news, she got dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans and a short sleeve printed top. Leaving her room, she made her way down the hall toward the kitchen.

Getting into the other room, Ireland-Rose went to fill the kettle with more water before turning it on. Moving to the fridge, she opened the door only to let out a sigh. Shopping after school was going to be necessary.

“Is the fridge monster going to attack you if you closed the door?” Calypso quipped as she leaned over Ireland-Rose’s shoulder.

“Just figuring out what I need to grab at the store after school. Kind of forgot to go shopping. Are you just waking up?” Ireland-Rose asked standing up turning to her roommate. Her black hair was all over the place, and she was still in her pajamas.

“Late night last night. Stupid sun didn’t let me sleep in,” Calypso groaned rubbing her blue eyes.

“I was wondering what happened to you last night,” Ireland-Rose admitted grabbing the milk handing it to Calypso.

“What do you…oh…yeah, sorry. Completely forgot,” Calypso blinked as she put the jug down and grabbed two mugs.

Ireland-Rose shrugged as she grabbed eggs and a container of chopped vegetables. “Honestly, no big deal. Omelet?”

“That sounds good to me.”

Ireland-Rose shut the fridge and placed the items on the counter before turning on the stove. Working next to Calypso the two worked together, overlapping one another as one made tea and the other made breakfast. It became a daily activity for the two.

As Ireland-Rose mixed up the eggs and vegetables, the phone began to buzz from the table. Who would be calling at this time of the morning? Raising an eyebrow, she walked over to the table noticing the number.

Rolling her eyes, she turned around and went back to the counter.

“Everything all right?” Calypso asked taking a sip of her tea.

“Nope. It has been months since I talked with Wyatt. At school, I have tried to ignore him. So far so good. Suddenly, he calls,” Ireland-Rose sighed putting the eggs into the pan.

“Does he not get the hint to leave you alone?”

“That jock head? Doubtful. I told him I wanted to take a break for reasons, and two days later he comes back wanting to get together.”

Calypso rolled her eyes checking the fridge.

“Off topic, do we have any fruit?”

“Nope, threw it out last night. Didn’t trust it.”

After a few minutes, Calypso came back into the kitchen, hair brushed and dressed in black tights, plaid skirt and a black turtleneck. Ireland-Rose finished plating their breakfast, handing the other one to Calypso. The two sat outside on the terrace, breathing in the warm air as the sun shone on them.

“Not to start off our day on a dark note. Three students were drowned last night in the swamp. Their bodies haven’t been found.”

Calypso put down her mug staring at her in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?”

“Wish I was. I can’t feel overly bad though, they were drunk. To me, they kind of deserved it.”

Calypso eyed her. “That’s a little dark, even for you.”

“I’m sorry, its true though. If you decide to go to the bayou drunk, you sort of had it coming.”

Ireland-Rose and Calypso made their way down the crowded streets less than an hour later with their backpacks over their shoulders. Silence fell upon the girls as the University came into view. Since their conversation at the breakfast table, they didn’t want to discuss any more about it.

“Ireland-Rose! Wait up!”

Ireland-Rose let a groan hearing the male voice call to her. Over three months, she did so well to avoid the guy. Their relationship had been a rocky one, he was a control freak wanting to know where she was every second of the day. He would get annoyed when she didn’t answer her phone. Having enough, Ireland-Rose took a stand and finally told him what she thought. She went from doing a break, to full out breaking up with him, wanting nothing to do with him. She thought he would have gotten the hint. Apparently not.

Calypso notice the immediate change in her friend as she turned around spotting the guy. He was a good-looking guy, toned with a chiseled jaw. He wore a long, black shirt, and blue jeans. He had long, wavy, chestnut brown hair. She rolled her eyes the closer the guy got closer. For a year she was never keen on the guy while he was with Ireland-Rose. Anytime Ireland-Rose had a minute to herself, Calypso would put her two cents in with her thoughts on the guy. She didn’t want to tell her friend what to do with her life, but there were times when intervention was needed.

“What do you want Wyatt?” Ireland-Rose asked refusing to turn around to face her ex. She wanted to scream, run away, anything but to face him.

“How come you’ve never answered any of my texts or calls?”

“I’ve been busy Wyatt,” Ireland-Rose replied, half lying, ready to grab Calypso’s hand and leave.

“I wanted to make sure you have been okay. You’ve been avoiding me. And I wanted to talk to you,” Wyatt looked over to Calypso. “Alone.”

“I’m sorry, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of my best friend. Now, what do you want?”

“You heard what happened to the three guys last night?”

“Yeah? It was tragic. Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

“Well, I wanted to make sure you were safe. But what I really wanted to talk about is what is going on with our relationship?”

“Wyatt, are you that dense? We broke up!”

Wyatt went to grab Ireland-Rose’s arm to drag her closer. Calypso immediately step forward with narrowed eyes.

“Okay, do you know what? That’s it. Ireland we’re leaving. Wyatt go screw yourself.”

The two girls stormed off to the building, Ireland-Rose gently cradling her arm Wyatt grabbed.

“Unbelievable of him. Hey, are you all right?”

“Yeah just fine.”

Later on, Ireland-Rose sat in the library on one of the chairs immersed in her textbooks while her friends around her were chatting.

“Did you hear what happened last night?” Christi asked.

“Yeah, three students died in the Bayou. What do you think killed them?” Brie asked.

“Oh you mean side from the drowning part? Alligators for sure.”

“I heard that it could have been mermaids,” John answered.

“Mermaids, are you kidding me? What drugs are you on?” the group asked looking at John in complete shock.

“Where did you get your facts from dude?”

While the group continued their conversation, Ireland-Rose rolled her eyes, glancing up occasionally at the three around her.

“Ireland-Rose, what’s your opinion on this?” Christi asked.

“The drowning thing? If you were that ridiculous to drink and go to the Bayou, that is on you.”

“Someone’s a little dark today,” Brie said staring at Ireland-Rose skeptically.

“It’s just the truth. But if you really want the answer. Probably alligators. If the bodies haven’t been found, then yeah.”

The other three just stared at Ireland-Rose who went back to her reading, ignoring the group once more. No one knew that was bothering Ireland-Rose, usually she was happy and outgoing.

“Ireland, there you are, I thought we could talk,” Wyatt said.

Ireland-Rose lowered her book with closed eyes letting out a deep breath trying to calm down as she fought the urge to yell at the annoyance that came to the group. Without saying a word, Ireland-Rose grabbed her backpack, shoved the textbook inside and got up from the chair, leaving the group.

“Ireland, where are you going?”

Ireland-Rose didn’t allow the other’s a chance to continue to call for her further. She wanted to get enough distance between her and Wyatt as possible.

Later that night, Calypso came home into a dark, quiet house. She was uncertain as to what happened with Ireland-Rose. After her classes she went to pick her up for coffee before work, but no one saw her since she was in the library. Calypso became concerned hearing the news.

Carefully going to Ireland-Rose’s room, she knocked two times before opening the door a bit and poked her head inside. Just like the rest of the house, her room was just as dark. Sitting on the bed curled up was Ireland-Rose.

“Hey, everything all right? You left in a hurry,” Calypso said a little concerned.

“Yeah, everything is fine .”

“Want to talk?”

“No.”

“Okay, I might be going out later. If you need anything let me know.”

Several days had gone by, the news reported three more drownings in the Bayou, but still no bodies were recovered. No one knew what the true story behind it was, all anyone knew, guys that got close were never seen again.

By the end of the week, Ireland-Rose finally slept peacefully at two in the morning, Calypso got her to do some relaxation activities to finally help her sleep. Only thing to disturb her was the ringing of her cellphone on the bedside table.

Reaching for the phone without opening her eyes, Ireland-Rose grasped the phone and brought it close to see who was calling.

A frustrated groan escaped her as she hit talk. “Hello? Do you realize what time it is?”

“Hello my beautiful lady!” Wyatt slurred out on the other side.

Ireland-Rose rolled her eyes hearing the drunken voice. “What do you want Wyatt? And how much have you been drinking?”

“For crying out loud Wyatt, can you give me back my cellphone?” Leo shouted.

“My lady doesn’t want to talk to me. Here, you talk to her.”

Ireland-Rose wanted to kill him as he spoke loudly at the phone got passed around. She was not in the mood for this.

“Keep him away from my phone! Hi Ireland, I do apologize about all of this. Wyatt stole my phone.”

“Hey Leo. Let me guess, you guys need a ride, don’t you?”

“That would be very helpful really.”

“All right. Just keep an eye on them.”

Ireland-Rose ended the call and headed out of the house to her car. As much as she rather see Wyatt suffer, she wanted to at least help Leo.

Arriving at the bar district, Ireland-Rose kept an eye out for the boys, sooner she picked them up, sooner she could go home and go back home.

Leo was the first one she noticed waving her down half way down the road. Behind him, Wyatt and Jeff were barely able to stand up.

“Thank you so much for picking us up, Ireland,” Leo said opening the back door for Wyatt and Jeff.

“No worries, Leo. Where am I dropping you three off?”

“Just back to my place. No sense leaving Wyatt with you.”

Ireland nodded as she drove down the street once again, most of the ride has been a quiet one as she neared the Bayou, side from Wyatt and Jeff’s obnoxious, drunken voices in the back. Leo made subtle conversation during the ride, trying to keep Ireland-Rose awake and sane.

“Hey…hey Ireland. Can we pull over. I have to pee.”

“Oh come on, you had to stop right here?” Ireland-Rose rolled her eyes as Wyatt nodded frantically in the back, she pulled over to the side to let him out. Once Wyatt got out of the car, Ireland-Rose looked around the area suspiciously. Over a week and four deaths. This was not safe at all.

“Ireland, we have an issue…Wyatt and Jeff are missing,” Leo said after several quiet minutes.

“Are you kidding me? Leo, stay put, I’m going to try and find them.”

Ireland-Rose got out of the car and began to search the area around her. How was it possible that the two were able to get away that quickly? Further and further, she went toward the bayou and swamp, a nagging feeling began to tug at the back of her head, telling her to leave.

In the distance, she could hear a haunting voice singing as fog began to obscure her vision. Raising her eyebrow, Ireland-Rose went to investigate the voice.

“Have you heard of the Ghost of John? Long, white bones and the rest all gone! Wouldn’t it be chilly with no skin on?”

“I think…I think its coming from this way!” Wyatt’s voice sounded.

“Wyatt, get back here!”

“John belongs in a quaint nightmare. Wobbly jaw and a hollow glare!”

Splashing soon sounded as feet hit the water, Ireland-Rose froze midway as her breathing picked up in fear.

Wyatt and Jeff became entranced as the two wadded through the water hoping to get a glimpse of the singer. The voice got louder as an outline began to form amongst the fog. Blue eyes stood out as the figure got off the rock and gracefully swam toward the two boys. Her voice carried on the water beckoning them closer. Webbed hands rose from the water, grasping for the boys’ arms. As soon as the webbed hands were upon them, Wyatt froze up immediately as he looked down. There he saw, beautiful women staring back at him before faces changed to ghastly sights and fangs began to grow.

Ireland-Rose fought her fear as she wadded through the water as screams began to fill the air and thrashing of water. The sight before her was a grizzly one, as shark like fins thrashed in the water, with occasional human upper bodies coming to the surface. Blood began to pool at the top and gurgling sounds were made by the recent victims.

Ireland-Rose froze in her tracks as the figures disappeared, and the fog all but disappeared. What did she just witness? There was no way this was real.

As Ireland-Rose stared at the spot the eating frenzy took place, a cold-webbed hand grasped her wrist pulling her down.