A voracious world...

Chapter 6

The group woke up early and started packing up their campsite. As they were preparing to leave, Molly suggested they go to a nearby lake to fill their water bottles before they hit the road. Everyone agreed, and they set off towards the lake.

As they walked, the group chatted and joked around, enjoying each other's company. Jake couldn't help but steal glances at Evie, who was walking a few steps ahead of him. He wanted to talk to her, but he didn't know what to say. Meanwhile, Aislinn was trying to get Jake's attention by playfully teasing him and making him laugh.

When they arrived at the lake, they filled their water bottles and took a break to relax by the water. Sam and Molly decided to go for a swim, while Digby sat by the shore and watched them, a smile plastered on his face.

Aislinn took the opportunity to sit next to Jake, trying to get closer to him. "Hey, Jake," she said, batting her eyelashes. "Do you want to go for a walk with me?"

Jake hesitated for a moment, looking over at Evie, but she smiled at Aislinn and agreed. He had no idea Aislinn had feelings for him, and was completely oblivious to her true intentions. "Sure!' He replied, standing up and following her.

As they walked along the shore of the lake, Aislinn tried to make small talk, but Jake seemed distant. She could tell something was bothering him, and she wondered if it had to do with Evie. Aislinn took a deep breath and decided to be honest with him.

"Jake, can I ask you something?" she said, stopping and turning to face him. "Do you like Evie?"

Jake's face turned red, caught off guard by Aislinn's question. "I-I don't know," he stammered. "I mean, I think she's great...' Jake stuttered, trying to figure out what to say.

Aislinn nodded, understanding. "Well, just know that if things don't work out with her, I'm here for you," she said, giving him a reassuring smile.

Jake smiled back, feeling grateful for Aislinn's friendship. "Thanks, Aislinn. That means a lot to me." He still had no idea of Aislinn's feelings, and heard what she said as friendly support.

As the group continued their journey towards the safe zone, Jake couldn't help but think about his feelings for Evie. He didn't know what the future held, but he was glad to have such supportive friends by his side.

Jake and Aislinn returned from their walk to see Molly and Sam swimming in the lake, smiles on their faces. Sam looked into the water, and saw movement, and recognised the silhouettes from legend, it was a group of mermaids.

The mermaids began to sink, luring the boys into the water, much to the girls dismay.

The mermaids surrounded the boys, their voices like a siren's call. Jake, Sam, and Digby were mesmerized, swaying in the water, as if in a trance. The girls tried to snap them out of it, shaking them, and splashing water on their faces, but to no avail. The mermaids were too powerful.

Evie, Molly, and Aislinn knew that they had to act fast. They couldn't let the mermaids have their way with the boys. They exchanged looks, and without speaking, they came up with a plan. Evie grabbed a nearby stick and used it to poke at the mermaids, who hissed in response, but didn't budge.

Molly started to sing loudly, hoping to break the trance with her own voice. Aislinn grabbed Digby and pulled him to the shore, away from the mermaids. She knew that they had to get the boys out of the water to break the spell.

Jake and Sam were the hardest to move, but Aislinn managed to grab them by the arms and drag them to shore. Once they were on solid ground, the trance was broken, and they shook their heads, confused.

"What happened?" Jake asked, rubbing his eyes.

"You were under a spell," Evie explained. "The mermaids were trying to lure you in."

The group looked back at the mermaids, who were now hissing and spitting, angry that they had lost their prey. The humans quickly gathered their things and fled the lake, knowing that they had narrowly escaped becoming the mermaids' next meal.