Wounded

Chapter II

Jack watched the beautiful blonde as she continued to cling to the side of the dock and softly sing. He sank to his knees as tears began to stream down his face.

"I never gave up hope," he blubbered. "I knew you'd come back to me. Welcome home, Jennifer."

The woman didn't respond, but continued to sing.

Jack wiped his eyes with the back of his hands and smiled.

"I didn't know you could sing so well. Why didn't you ever sing for me before?" he asked.

The woman motioned for him to come closer.

Jack continued to smile and crawled toward the love of his life. The woman placed her hand on his when he was within reach.

"Come into the water with me," the woman said softly.

Jack shook his head.

"What? No, you know I'm not the best swimmer. You come out so I can hold you. I have food and wine. Come up to the house with me."

The woman tightened her grip on Jack's hand.

"Don't you want to be with me?" she asked. "All you have to do is come into the water."

Jack shook his head again.

"But I just said... Jennifer, what's going on with you? Why are you acting strange?"

The woman's smile suddenly turned into a snarl.

"I said 'come into the water', toplander!"

She grabbed Jack's arm and began to pull with all her might.

Jack felt himself being dragged off the dock.

"Stop!" he screamed. "What are you doing! Let go, Jenn! Let go!"

"Stop calling me that name!" the woman shouted back and pulled even harder.

Jack managed to grab the back of his little boat with his free hand as his body entered the sea. He frantically shook his hand to dislodge the crazed woman attached to it. He caught a fleeting glimpse of metallic green and blue scales in the lamplight.

"Mermaid!" he screamed and shook his hand even harder.

The woman screamed back as she dug her nails into Jack's flesh.

Adrenalin rushed through Jack's body. Now fully panicked, he managed to wrench his arm free and hoist his body into the little boat.

The mermaid pressed her attack and followed after him. She used her powerful tail to raise her human torso high enough that she could grab at Jack's legs.

"Get away from me!" Jack screamed and kicked at his attacker.

"You'll make a fine prize for my love, toplander!" the mermaid screamed back and clawed at Jack's flailing boots. "He'll be pleased to eat your liver!"

Jack's hands desperately reached for something – anything – that he could use as some sort of weapon. His fingers found an old weighted fishing net that he used from time to time. He flung it at the nightmare trying to drag him down into the depths.

One of the weights struck the mermaid in head and stunned her. She sank out of sight and the fishing net followed after her.

Jack scampered to the front of his boat and clung to the captain's seat. He lay curled-up in the fetal position for the next ten minutes until he felt his heart slowly start to calm itself.

"Mermaid..." he muttered as he slowly made his way to the end of the boat again. "There's no such thing."

He leapt back onto the pier and lay prone on the wooden planks. He listened. No splashing. The sea was relatively calm all around him.