Silence of the Sirens

There was only one rule: don’t open the door. This time of year, the tides rose so high on the shore and the whole town of Klein Karoo, South Africa knew what the troublesome waters would soon bring. Each year on Halloween night, Mami Wata commands an army of her strongest mermaid soldiers and snake charmers to roam the streets as landlocked vultures.

All night, they sing songs to the high heavens to lure in their harvest of children. Parents held tightly onto their children in the living rooms as the mermaids traveled the streets singing high pitched songs that only children could hear. Any child that was not supervised would fold under the hypnosis of the song and go out to meet their demise. Mami Wata required child sacrifices in exchange for her protection of the town. This was an agreement that was signed between her majesty and the townsfolk hundreds of years ago. An agreement that is written where it can never be erased. Adults are no use to the goddess because they have been tainted by the gnarly woes of the world.

The mermaids, snake charmers and Mami Wata workers who were landlocked water creatures all require at least one child sacrifice to carry the agreement over into a new year. Throughout the night, parents implore their children to stay away from doors and windows. The beautiful aquatic creatures stand outside the door and sway their hips in a sultry, captivating dance and sing the most beautiful songs the human being can experience. However, their siren calls are the most deadly song and the golden rule is to stay inside. They prefer to lure in their prey. Parents who turn their backs for even just a second can lose their child to the deadly charm. Happy Halloween!