Mermen on Accident (DNF Mermaid AU)

The Beach

We walked along the beach, feet sinking into the wet sand, waves rolling over our ankles trying to reach our rolled up school pants. George's hand sways harmlessly by his side and I really want to grab it. My heart pounds and I clench my fingers. My nervousness ebbs away and I reach, but he pulls his hand up to run it through his brown locks. Instead, I swipe at his pants making him turn.

"What's up Dream?"

I frantically pull my hand away. "There, uhh... there was a bug on your pants."

He gives a light laugh. "Oh, thanks."

Our eyes return to the fading sun. I roll up the sleeves on my school shirt and untuck it from my slacks, something George had done just minutes prior. My eyes graze the sandy beach, watching the foamy waves attack our bare feet, our shoes long forgotten by our chained up bikes that were far behind us.

I take a deep breath and return my eyes to the sinking sun, the beautifully colored sky, the vast ocean that lay before us. George's side profile outlines his long eyelashes, plump lips, and rounded nose. I drag my eyes across his features before pulling them away, staring straight ahead at the rock beach in front of us. We were walking up the end of the beach and to a rocky cave.

My eyes scan the cave in confusion just as I see something light up from inside.

"Woah!" I call out, catching George off guard. "Did you see that?"

"What?" he looks at where I am pointing.

"In the rocks over there. Let's look!" I carry myself across the wet sand and leap over the rocks searching for the entrance.

I hear George huffing behind me. "Wait up!"

"In here," I point at a small entrance of a dark cave. "I saw something light up. What do you think it is?"

He peeks into the dark entrance. "I don't know, but we probably shouldn't go in there." He looks scared.

I pull a flashlight from my pocket. "I have this. We will be fine."

His hands clench in uncertainty, eyes scanning my face with fear.

"I'll protect you," I reassure with a smile.

He sighs. "Okay."

I jump down to the entrance and flick my flashlight on. The beam lights up a circle of the cave. It looks really deep. George jumps down behind me.

"Stay close," I mutter, my voice slightly echoing back.

He nods his head and we slowly walk in. The bottom of the cave is mostly sandy, but our slapping footsteps still reverberate back to us. I let the beam of my flashlight explore the cave walls. It seems extremely ordinary, it just has a strange feel that soaks into my skin.

The further we go, the more intrigued I become. How have I never noticed this cave on a beach I've walked a million times with George? The flashlight flickers out and I hear George's breath hitch. His hand wraps around my bicep. I click the button repeatedly to no avail. I smack at it trying to get it to turn on, until I notice a light in the cave.

Actually, there were lights all over the cave, tiny lights spotting the ceiling and floors, and one bright one at the very end.

"Dream?" George's voice shakes and his grip tightens. "We should go."

"Don't you want to see what's down here?"

"No." George answers bluntly.

I grab at his hand. "Oh c'mon."

His arm wraps around mine and I continue forward.

"This is beautiful isn't it?"

I can faintly make out George's features as he turns his head to the glowing lights on the ceiling.

"I guess... if it wasn't so creepy in here."

I scoff. "It can't be creepy if it's beautiful, right?"

He gives a soft giggle. "That's true."

I pull him towards the glowing light. We approach it slowly. It's a yellowy glow, almost like a lantern, or a fire. We stand in an archway and I pull George inside. As we enter a strange feeling rests in my chest and tingles my brain.

"What is this?"

George squeezes my arm. "This is weird."

We step down the rocky cave hallway and find ourselves in a circular room. I look up and see giant stalactites pointing down on us.

"Maybe we should go-"

The room lights up like before and I collapse to the ground shielding my eyes. George yelps in fear. The light fades and I reach out for George's hand.

"Let's go!" I scramble to get up. We stumble to the rocky hallway and before we can make it I feel myself falling.

I clutch George's hand desperately and have enough time to register my surprised shout and George's scream in the falling wind before I am surrounded in darkness.

Thanks for reading the first chapter of my new story "Mermen on Accident". Let me know if you enjoy it so far. Make sure to check out some of my other stories, "Famously Infamous", "Leaving me Flustered", and "Runaway Prince" while you wait for the next chapter.

(Welcome back people who have already read my other stories. Good to see you again!)

847 words