Making a Splash

Veronica's Return

The hidden entrance into Aquaria was in a remote area of the sea. It was done this way on purpose to prevent humans from easily discovering it, even though the door to the tunnel wouldn't react without the magic of a mermaid. And it was rare for any large group of merpeople to be going in or out at the same time. Which is why a massive group of children swimming out from the tunnel was a sight that would almost never be seen.

After the last of the children swam out of the tunnel, Emma followed them, bringing up the rear. She hadn't noticed any mersharks noticing them leaving, and if there were they didn't seem to be bothering to give chase. Similarly, there didn't seem to be any mersharks lying in wait outside of the tunnel.

Emma breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. It looks like we're finally out of danger."

The head of the Nursery motioned for all of the children to gather around her. "Alright children, make sure to stay together. No wandering off on your own, understand?"

"But where are we going?" one of the children asked.

It was a valid question. The shore would normally be safest as it was far away from the kingdom, but there were simply far too many of them to get on shore without drawing attention.

"We're going to get away from the kingdom for now. Remember, the ocean is a vast place. There are plenty of places for us to go while the situation in the kingdom gets resolved." the head attendant said.

One of the kids frowned. "Those mermaids that helped us... they're going to get eaten, aren't they?"

"Now, now, you mustn't say such things. They'll be fine, I'm sure."

"Those mersharks are gonna eat them! And then they're gonna eat us too!" another one of them cried.

"I'm scared! I want my mommy!" a third said.

It wasn't long before most of the group was crying out of fear and despair. Emma frowned at the sight. Even the youngest of the children seemed to realize just how hopeless their situation was. She was no different. While her friends were going on a hopeless quest to stop Grimlur, she was doing the logical thing and running away. No one could blame her for wanting to keep herself safe when she had been so close to death several times already today.

So why did she feel so horrible about it?

Emma hated being such a coward. She wished she could be brave like her friends, but she just didn't have that kind of courage. While she was out here, away from the danger, her friends were currently risking their lives to save the entire kingdom. At least, assuming they hadn't failed already and gotten eaten or enslaved.

Emma's body shivered. The carnivorous mersharks on their own were bad enough, but Grimlur was in possession of the trident now too. Flashbacks of what the cecaelia had done to her those three nights a couple months ago still haunted her. How her body had been toyed with and violated. She couldn't risk going through that again. For all she knew, Grimlur would use the trident's power and make it even worse for her this time around.

And if her friends got caught, that would be exactly what happened to them.

Emma sank towards a rock and curled up, hugging her tailfin. It wasn't fair. Why did this have to be happening to them? Hadn't they already gone through enough? Was this their punishment for what they had done to escape Grimlur's clutches?

One of the mermaid attendants swam down towards Emma and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You alright?"

"I'm such a pathetic coward." Emma sobbed. "I know we need to save everyone in Aquaria. But I can't bring myself to do it. I'm too scared. Even though my friends all volunteered without hesitation. They're all so brave, and yet I can't do anything."