The Woman With Storms In Her Eyes

A few nights later, Viv tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. The sound of the wind whistling outside shrieked like angry seagulls in her eardrums. Dull waves crashed like doldrums, creating their own mantra of monotony in the cold, listless night.

Viv finally had enough and got out of bed to use the toilet. When that was complete, she journeyed into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. Her home was a nondescript affair: a tiny bungalow packed like a sardine amongst many other wealthier holiday houses located on North of Wilshire. She and Wendy rented it together, having remained steadfast friends since they were in elementary school.

Lauren Viviane Macdonald had always loved the sea; it reminded her of days long gone when she and her parents would leave their suburban home on the weekends and picnic at the beach. She was an only child, the product of a dangerous and trying pregnancy which had made her parents dote on her even more as the years progressed. Even though they had given their only child a first name which meant ‘wisdom’, Viv’s parents often lamented about her heedless pull towards the ocean. And yet, they never once tried to stop her when she first began her swimming lessons in that vast blue of mystery. They were immensely proud of the numerous trophies and medals Viv brought home from the swimming competitions she won at school.

Now she was all grown up and still drawn to the sea. Even more so now after she nearly drowned and struggled in vain to remember who had rescued her. It frustrated Viv, especially since she’d always prided herself on being able to remember the minutest details of life’s many banalities.

Like the time when Wendy lost her white gold seahorse-shaped earring; Viv later recalled that her friend had been baking that afternoon and leaning too far over the mixing bowl filled with flour. She even remembered the first book (‘The Little Mermaid’) that her mother had given to her as a young child. So why couldn’t she remember what had happened the other night?

Viv downed her water and set the glass down in the kitchen sink with a loud clink. Then she raced back to her bedroom and got dressed in the first items of clothes she could find. She tiptoed past Wendy’s bedroom, being careful not to step on any of the squeaky wooden floorboards. Wendy had an early shift at the local gym in a few hours and Viv didn’t want to disturb her peaceful sleep. She glanced over her shoulder with a weary sigh before shutting the front door behind her.

Viv found herself standing on Santa Monica State Beach a few minutes later, gazing wistfully beyond her. The black sea was illuminated in silvery streams by a full moon overhead. Viv still wasn’t sure why she had come here; only that she needed answers to the questions filling her head. The wind had picked up even more, encircling her body in a grotesque caricature of a lover. Those cold arms rippled through the sleeves of her hoodie, pulling her enticingly closer to the water. Despite the loneliness of the setting, it was tranquil; fresh, briny air wafted into Viv’s nostrils, temporarily clearing away the cobwebs from her mind.

She squatted on her haunches and scooped up a handful of wet sand, letting the mushy grains dance over her fingers. As it had for days on end, her mind drifted back to blue-grey eyes; those enigmatic orbs haunted her every thought and shrieking nightmare, a pesky starfish stuck to her senses. Viv let the wet sand drop back onto the ground and stood up, wiping her dirty hands on her jeans. As she rose to her full height, she jumped back in fright when she realised she wasn’t alone.

A tall figure stood before her, conjured up as if out of thin air. Upon closer scrutiny, Viv realised that it was a woman. A young woman with an athletic yet curvaceous build; pale, alabaster skin tinged with light-brown freckles all over; shoulder-length hair of a vivacious, coppery colour. And grayish-blue eyes.

Based on how much of her skin was visible, Viv surmised that the woman was naked. Viv’s heart jumped in her chest as the woman gazed at her, seemingly in no hurry to break the impregnable silence surrounding them.

Finally, Viv couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped forward and the woman retreated at the same pace. Viv’s cheeks flushed crimson, realising too late that her actions might be construed as threatening. She lifted her palms, making them flat and open in a gesture of supplication.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Please...I’m not going to hurt you. I just need to know something: did you save me from drowning five nights ago?”

The woman stared at her and Viv feared that nothing would come of her question. Then out of nowhere, the mysterious woman gave an imperceptible nod. Just when Viv heaved a sigh of relief and smiled encouragingly, the woman turned away.

“Wait!” Viv called just as the woman waded into the shallow waves. “What is your name?”

The woman tilted her head to the side, surveying the human girl as if she was weighing her options. Then she emitted what sounded like a weary sigh before her lips moved.

“My name is Allina.”

“Allina.” Viv‘s mouth curled while sounding out the name. “I’m Viviane, nice to meet―”

Allina didn’t wait to hear the end of her sentence. Viv gaped in astonishment as the mysterious woman turned away and dove through the waves. Her upper body rose in perfect imitation of a dolphin spiral, making Viv’s eyes bug out of their sockets. The woman’s legs had disappeared and was replaced instead with a tail and a scaly lower body like that of a large fish.

Half woman.

Half fish.

A mermaid.

Impossible.

Viv whispered those four syllables to herself as the woman named Allina vanished beneath the waves.