Calling

I was unable to think or see straight as my tail flew up and down effortlessly in the water. As if someone else was moving my body, and taking control of my limbs. I could not stop myself as a musical sound pulled me towards it like a lost sheep in need of a shepherd. The music was of something I've never heard, it was soothing to the ears, but would sound as if sharp to the touch. The urge to discover more about this bizarre noise was too powerful to ignore.

I, a mermaid of little hate and full of passion and love and curiosity, was known as the king's daughter of the seas. Why must I follow the rules the ocean cursed upon me from the second I war born into this world? Why must I not explore the world beyond ours, and navigate the 7 seas surrounding the earth we call our home? From a young age, as loving as I was, I was known to be a rebellious child. Not that I ever cared about what others said. But if I hurt someone my world would fall apart in front of my very eyes.

Now here I was, bound to get in trouble for straying from my home kingdom, and swimming out near the abandon surfaces of this world. Besides the humans, I have heard of other stories of creatures lurking above. I have always been aware of the dangers of the creeping monsters in this world. But must I always fear them? To fear the dragons I have been told fly above our heads in the blue dome covering our planet; or the ones below our fins in the deep blue. To fear the creatures they call the sirens that call you to devour you in the flesh. To fear the beautiful orange flame of a bird named the Phoenix. Or to fear the werewolves that howl at the moon at its full peak in the dark of the night. These and more I have been told too fear, but if should I do not know. Some may be fearful when we see or hear these stories. But how do we know unless we discover for ourselves?

The sound continued as I drew ever nearer to the maker of the music. I could feel my heart began to beat faster as the noise rang louder. The clear water around me seemingly transformed into a green murky cloud the closer I came to the source. I could not see my own pale hands in front of my face, yet I could not stop. The music pulled me closer and closer, I couldn't control my own body anymore. The closer I became, my mind filled with darker thoughts, and I seemingly began to become blind. I could feel though, and I felt my hands touch something smooth. The feeling sent a gush of red horror inside my body. My eyes shot open and I could see the ugliest creature in front of me. Green skin with algae hanging off the naked mermaid like dead skin peeling off. The face was half covered with straight black hair that flowed in the dark waters surrounding us. The eyes were a dead man's eyes that seemed to be stitched the face. And the mouth was a crooked smile with teeth as long as my fingers. Then I realized the beautiful music emitted from this mouth. The tail of this creature was long, curling in unnatural ways. So this was a siren... As I snapped out of the trance, I noticed the tail wrapping around my waist.

In a hit of adrenaline, I used my tail to strike the creatures face, in which it hissed a sound that came from the devil itself. I squirmed from its grip in the moment and moved rapidly, cutting through the waters. Then I felt it, an irregularly long hand grabbing my arm and scratching it up with disturbingly sharp finger nails. I yelled in pain, and pulled from the wretched being. Before I could break free, it used its tail again to wrap around my waist. Then I saw out of the corner of my eyes more sirens swarming to me like a mad hoard of bees and wasps. I fought as hard as I could, but tails began to circle around my waist, my neck, my mouth, my arms, and my tail. I could not move but I did not want to give up in a moment of weakness that I brought on myself.

My eyelids began to close and my eyes rolled into the back of my head. I could not breath as they squeezed me all the harder. While I still held a little breath, my vision went completely dark, and I could feel chunks of me being ripped off my body. The pain shot through me, and soon I could smell the blood from my own self surround me. The smell causing the sirens to lick their lips and teeth.

They devoured me with a smile on their face. And I fell to death, I remember my mother. My mother who was always there for me. Taken from me from a tender age by what, I don't know. But I do remember her shell necklace that she gave me, in hopes I would never give up on this hopeless struggle we call life.

Remember, no matter how hard life gets, or how much it tries to devour you, never give up.