We Breathe Water, You Breathe Lies

Page 5

With a sudden, violent motion, the pirate drew back his arm, ready to end the woman's defiance in one brutal stroke. Elara's heart raced, anticipating the inevitable. But just as he lunged forward, the woman made a desperate leap off the boat and plunged into the dark ocean.

"Foolish woman," Elara muttered under her breath, irritation flaring within her. You were safer on the boat. The depths were no sanctuary for someone unprepared. Sharks had a keen sense for blood, and cruise ships were often surrounded by them, drawn in by the refuse of humanity. The scent of discarded food mingled with the brine of the sea, a siren's call to the predators lurking beneath the surface.

Elara watched, half-curious and half-annoyed, as the woman disappeared beneath the waves. You'll be nothing but a meal soon enough. The thought lingered in her mind like a dark cloud as she braced for the chorus of screams that would inevitably follow. She had heard them before — the sharp, terrified wails of prey meeting their end. It would be irritating to listen to the woman's desperate cries as the sharks devoured her.

But then again, there was something interesting about this one. Elara recalled a time she'd witnessed a man fight off a shark for almost a minute before being chomped down upon, a wild display of desperation and courage. It had been impressive, something she had never seen before until that moment, and a flicker of curiosity ignited in her. What if this woman surprises me?

Elara focused on the darkened depths, narrowing her gaze to spot the figure that had plunged into the water. At first, it was a chaotic swirl of shadows, the murky sea obscuring her vision. But as the woman flailed, a shimmering trail followed in her wake, drawing the attention of the sharks.

Wait...

As she glided closer, drawn by an inexplicable force, Elara squinted through the gloom. The shape began to clarify, her heart racing with disbelief. The figure surrounded by circling sharks wasn't human at all.

It was a mermaid.

The shock of it sent ripples through Elara's thoughts. She had never seen one like this before, not one who would so foolishly dive into the jaws of danger. The woman's red curls danced around her, and as Elara drew closer, she caught the faint glimmer of scales shimmering along the mermaid's arms, blending seamlessly with the depths.

Elara paused, the thrill of intrigue washing over her. Would this mermaid fight back, or would she succumb to the beasts circling her? Either way, this was far more interesting than the stench of humans. The moonlight above flickered as clouds shifted, and she felt the pull of the tides urging her to watch, to see how long this beautiful creature could hold out against the inevitable.

The sharks closed in. Their dark shapes ominous in the water. Elara hung back, curiosity piqued, waiting to witness the unfolding spectacle.