The Unexpected Prey

Like before, Viv would’ve forgotten all about that strange encounter if she hadn’t been walking on the beach after hours yet again. It had become a habit of hers in recent times to stroll around there late at night, to Wendy’s intense horror. Viv had never been afraid of the sea. It was an elusive bond which grew in its fascination and intensity over time.

If there was any reason to fear the magnificent ocean, particularly in light of recent events, Viv couldn’t remember. All that remained were faint images of blue-grey eyes and a large fish tail which entered her mind at the strangest hours. Wendy was too distracted with work and saving up to travel abroad to take Viv’s recent abstraction too much to heart.

Life went on as per usual for Viv. She waited tables at the seafood restaurant close to her home and jogged on the beach every morning. And on nights like this, she reclined on a smooth boulder near the rock pools, listening to her iPod for hours. Tonight, the moon was full, but an opaque silver with a washed-out glow. Viv didn’t notice; her only concern was to shut out the world and drift off into her own pensive thoughts.

Just when she selected a song on Spotify, she heard a strange, muffled sound. Viv frowned and took off her wireless earbuds, depositing her iPhone into her shorts pocket. She got up from the boulder and stepped cautiously through the rock pool with her bare feet. Streams of gurgling seawater tickled her ankles, making them cold and tingly. The sound she’d initially heard grew louder as she stepped out of the water and climbed over sprawling sand dunes. Viv realised the sounds were whimpers coming from somewhere close by. It sounded like an animal that was in trouble.

It was darker on this part of the beach, the palm trees throwing patches of ominous black shade onto the sand. For the first time ever, Viviane was afraid of the beach and everything beyond it. The sounds grew closer and were only outmatched by the pounding of Viv’s heart as she struggled to keep her breathing even. The moon twinkled with renewed vitality and a beam fell over a figure sprawled in the sand. Viv gasped when she saw thin black ropes intricately woven around the figure, cutting painfully deep into a pair of pale legs.

“No!”

With sudden clarity, Viv recalled a young woman with the lower body of a fish who rescued her when she nearly drowned two weeks ago. The memory returned effortlessly to her as if it had never abandoned her before.

“Allina!”

Viv knelt beside the young woman and examined her. Allina was conscious and struggling against a fish net she’d unwittingly gotten trapped in. Her blue-grey eyes were dilated and infused with anxiety. Her whole body was clammy and limp, like a fish that had been out of water for too long.

“Oh my God.”

Viv searched haphazardly for any kind of blade in her pockets. But all she had was a pack of hardened chewing gum and some stray lint. She got on her hands and knees, searching for anything sharp to use. She soon found a jagged rock shard that had washed up onto the shore. She grabbed it and hacked away at the fishnet which kept Allina bound. Several tense minutes ensued and Viv soon had Allina freed. But even with her liberty, Allina still couldn’t move. Her human legs wobbled, sending her sprawling onto her knees. Allina wheezed pitiably, hitting her chest with her hand as she gasped for air.

Viv knelt beside Allina and patted her back. Her gaze was rife with worry. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Too weak. Need...water.”

Viv stared out at the ocean and understood. She was about to help Allina onto her feet, but hesitated. “Your legs – will they change back into a fish tail when you go in again?” Allina nodded rapidly and coughed.

“Can you swim back to where you came from?” Allina nodded, but with less conviction, which concerned Viv. “You won’t make it on your own in this state.”

“I’ll be fine,” Allina gasped out stubbornly.

Viviane groaned in exasperation. “Ally, you can’t.” The affectionate term left her lips spontaneously before she could ponder further on it.

Allina’s eyes blazed electric blue. “I don’t have a choice!” Her gaze softened when she saw how despondent Viviane looked for her sake. “I can’t stay here.”

Viv racked her brain for a way to help Allina without abandoning her. Luckily, a solution was forthcoming. “Wendy, my friend, works at a gym near here. It has a swimming pool-”

“Regular water can’t help me!” Allina snapped.

“It has sea water in it. Prospective divers use it to help them acclimate before they go into the ocean.” Viv explained patiently.

Allina fixed the human girl with a look of deep uncertainty and distrust. But the longer she stared, the more sincerity she saw in those hazel-green eyes. They spoke volumes about a woman who had never hurt so much as stepped on a snail or pointed a magnifying glass at ants under the hot rays of the sun. In that millisecond, Allina trusted that Viviane wouldn’t hurt her.

“Fine.”

Viv smiled encouragingly and took out her cellphone. “We’re going to need a little help.”