A Villager's Catch. (A short story)

The crack in the sun.

As the days passed on, the father had to go back out into the sea on yet another voyage. But Tang Shen came down with an illness that was popular at the time. They didn't have a name for it since it was new and only happened to a few villagers. Tang Shen was the first one to come down with it, so her children had to take care of her.

Leo, was usually the one making soups and helping her in bed and out of bed in the dawn of morning light. Raph, was the one to help do the chores along with Mikey. And Donnie did the cooking and more adult chores for their mother. Tang Shen laid in her bed, her sons letting her sleep and rest.

The food ran low, meaning one of the sons had to get food soon. "Leo, we need more fish." Raph mentioned, facing Leo. Leo was sitting at the wooden dining table, his leg bouncing underneath the table. He hummed softly as he looked over at Raph. "What did you say?" He asked, his motions slowing down slightly. 

"We need more fish." The second eldest repeated, looking back at Mikey. Him and the youngest were playing a made up card game they used to play when they were children. Leo sighed, standing up from the table and making the chair scratch across the floor. "Okay..I'll be back." Leo said, grabbing his net and spear and walking out the door.

His footsteps were loose on the path, kicking some loose stones. His thoughts were screaming inside as he walked closer to the lake. Placing down the spear and net onto the ground, he just stood admiring the flowing water. His face showed no emotions, yet on the inside he was freaking out like crazy.

The flowing dark water was lurking with sirens, and other creatures. But, he needed the fish. Needed it for his family to feed and not starve. For his mother who was very ill. 'This is for your family, just get a few fish and bring it back. No big deal.' He thought in his mind. He inhaled, and started to take off his boots.

The boots hit the ground with a thud, his socks were next. He knew that there could have been sharp things in the water, but he didn't care for right now. The young boy then took his first steps into the water, it's chilling temperature sending shivers down his spine. The hair on his arms raising from the cold.

'Just a few fish, just a few fish.' Leo thought to himself, he just needed to go out a little deeper to get the bigger fish. He reached for his spear, grabbing it by the handle and bringing it into the depths of the lake with him. His legs shrank as the water swallowed them, bringing the boy deeper into the lake. 

Leo's arms sprawled out, the water up to his chin. His legs were floating. The water seeped into his clothing, making him shudder. The ends of his darkened locks got damp. Inhaling the scent of the dirty lake, his lungs filling with the smell of muck. His taste buds tasting the saltiness and ick of the lake.

The only way to get fish was either on a boat, or going underwater. And for this, the young man needed to go underwater. He inhaled, feeling the sharp stab to his ribs as he went under the water. His eyes opened barely, looking in the depths of the mucky water. The burning sensation  from his eyes being open in the water, he couldn't even see any fish.

His lungs started to close, feeling the air collapse from being underwater for too long. As he swam back up to the surface, feeling the sun breathed onto his chilled skin. He sighed, knowing he would have to go even deeper to get fish. "Let's just get this over with.." He said to himself, inhaling and going back into the water.

His entire body using all of the strength and capability to move through the trenches of the muck, aching for fish. Just one or two would do for tonight, especially for mother. But as he swam and dove up for air once more, something fluttered across his leg. He looked down into the water, his hopes rising that it was a fish. 

It felt like a big fish, so he stayed still. But then he remembered, sirens. Before he could swim away, the sliminess of a hand gripped onto his ankle, dragging him under into the water. His breath in his throat, his lungs already aching for air. Those blue eyes opened, just barely. His vision blurry as he seen what grabbed him.

Indeed, a siren. But not just any siren, oh no. The only male siren. Leo's eyes clashed against the siren's deep blackened eyes. The way they glowed under the water, making Leo somewhat interested in this siren. Leo's nose burned, his throat aching for air. But for some reason, he didn't wanna go back up to the surface.

He knew sirens were dangerous, and knew that they could kill and feast on your body. But, he was intrigued by this siren. 'Air, air Leo you need air stupid!' Inside, he was screaming. Why couldn't he go back up to the surface. His vision started to get blurrier and more dark as he was losing air.

So, he knew he needed to get air. He stabbed the siren in the shoulder, making it scream a violent scream that rang through his ears. The siren backed off, swimming down back into the depths. Leo's arms swam upwards, when he broke the water surface he inhaled deeply and heavily. 

He started to swim even if his body was aching from not having any air for a few moments. The young man finally reached the surface, panting as he sat onto the dirt. You could see the slight dark red in the murky water. "...Holy Gods.." Leo said to himself, breathing shakily yet heavily. The adrenaline pulsing through his veins, feeling his heart thumping in his chest.

Hopefully this siren he saw wasn't endeared or intrigued by him, but he sure was.  His breath grew more calm, his body still trembling from adrenaline from the encounter. No fish today, great. But his eyes glanced down to his ankle, seeing slight blood splats on his pants. His fear rose, he lifted up his pant leg and seen the slight marks in his ankle.

The crimson color of blood flowed down his ankle and down his foot, painting the ground. He then rolled down his pant leg, not wanting to see the marks. He could heal it up when he got home, just don't show his parents or let his brothers see. Leo's body still trembled as he stood up, realizing his just lost his spear to that siren.

At least he didn't get eaten today, his brothers would be pissed, but his mother would understand. The feeling inside of his veins and chest is a feeling he couldn't understand, but he knew it would go away. He grabbed his net, turning on his heel and walking back into the darkened forest.

This siren still lurked in the trenches.