Rising Above

Life with Eleanor was a world I had never known—a life filled with warmth, stability, and belonging. I was no longer an outcast lurking in the shadows but a girl with a home, a name, and, most importantly, a future. It was overwhelming at first, adjusting to this new reality, but Eleanor was patient. She taught me about the human world, guiding me through its complexities with unwavering kindness.

She enrolled me in a private school, a place filled with sharp-eyed students and watchful teachers. The first day was terrifying. I was surrounded by unfamiliar faces, all of them judging, all of them assessing. I had never needed to compete in a world like this before. But I was determined. I had survived years of loneliness; surely, I could survive this.

Academics became my refuge. I devoured books, memorized equations, and mastered subjects at a pace that astonished my teachers. I worked harder than anyone, pushing myself beyond exhaustion. In just a year, I skipped several grades, leaving my classmates behind. It was exhilarating to excel, to prove that I was more than an abandoned child from the river.

But it wasn't just academics where I shined. Swimming was my true strength. Though I hid my mermaid heritage, my natural instincts in the water couldn't be concealed. I dominated every competition, moving through the pool with a grace that left my competitors awestruck. I shattered records, my name whispered with admiration. 'Sarah' became legendary.

Eleanor was proud of me. She attended every swim meet, every award ceremony, her eyes filled with pride. She had given me a chance, and I had seized it. For the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged—not just in her home, but in the world itself.

By the time I turned fifteen, I had already been accepted into one of the best universities in the city. My achievements had granted me entry into a world far beyond what I had ever imagined. It was there that I met William and Daniel.

William was sixteen, sharp-witted and endlessly curious. He had an insatiable hunger for knowledge, a mind that never stopped questioning. He was drawn to mysteries, to things that didn't fit neatly into the world's expectations. Then there was Daniel, seventeen, confident, charismatic. He commanded attention wherever he went, his presence as powerful as the tide. They were different, yet together they were unstoppable. And somehow, they let me into their world.

At first, I was hesitant. I had spent so long being alone that friendship felt foreign. But they were relentless, dragging me into late-night study sessions, spontaneous city explorations, and endless conversations that stretched until dawn. With them, I felt human—truly human. They knew nothing of my past, nothing of the black-tailed mermaid that once haunted the river. And for a time, I was content to let it stay that way.

But the past is never so easily forgotten.

One evening, while William and Daniel were busy with an assignment, I wandered to a river on the outskirts of the city. The moment I saw the water, something inside me stirred—a longing I had buried beneath years of pretending. The ripples called to me, whispering secrets only I could hear.

Then, I saw them.

Mermaids.

Their tails shimmered in the moonlight, their eyes filled with curiosity rather than fear. I froze, half expecting them to recoil at the sight of me, to call me cursed as my village had once done. But they did no such thing.

Instead, they smiled.

"Hi," one of them said, her voice gentle, welcoming.

I wasn't sure: a part of me wanted to run. Another part wanted to dive into the river and never leave. They welcomed me to play with them.

"We live nearby," another said. "Come with us."

The invitation sent a thrill through me. For years, I had believed I was alone, the only one cast out. But they welcomed me without question, without hesitation. Was this the home I had been searching for all along?

Excited, I agreed. They led me down the river, deeper into the night, their laughter filling the air. My heart pounded with anticipation.

But something was wrong.

Their voices shifted, their smiles turning sharp. A strange tension filled the air. The river felt different—less welcoming, more constricting.

I struggled to keep up as they swam faster, their bodies cutting through the water with practiced ease. My muscles burned, and my breaths came in ragged gasps. They didn't slow down. They didn't wait for me. I was falling behind.

Then, I lost them.

The river was vast, stretching endlessly before me, its currents foreign and unkind. Panic clawed at my chest. Where had they gone? Why had they left me behind? I swam desperately, searching for any sign of them.

Finally, I found it—a house nestled beneath the water, its coral-covered walls glowing faintly under the moonlight. I approached cautiously, my heart hammering against my ribs. I hesitated at the doorway, pressing myself against the cool stone, listening.

Then, I heard it.

A voice, rough with anger. "She's lost? Useless!" the first voice snapped. "We need to drain her powers and experiment on her. Find her, or else!"

A chill ran down my spine.

I had been right to be afraid.

Before I could move, a shadow fell over me. The door creaked open, and I felt their eyes on me. They twisted into sneers.

I wasn't being welcomed home.

I was walking into a trap.