Short Stories Written by Tellie

Into the Fisherman's Demise

At dawn, the fisherman goes to his usual endeavor: fishing.

He eagerly dragged his boat in the middle of the sea thinking of a great catch he would receive.

Unfortunately, he caught not a single fish at all.

So he went farther to find where the fishes appeared.

Sunrise now lightens up the horizon but still, no fish.

He's now downcast preparing to go home.

Then all of the sudden, a loud thud hit his boat.

The fisherman looked at the waters, shocked in awe, not believing his eyes.

'This can't be true. This can't be real. It's a myth,' he thought to himself.

Water splashed on his face waking him up from his thoughts.

He saw what he considered the most beautiful woman in the world.

With her silver hair, pale complexion, and dainty face but what makes her peculiar is her tail.

"Why the long face? I can feel through the depths of the sea your misery," the mermaid said with an alluring voice.

"U-uhh My name's Joel!" the fisherman awkwardly introduced himself.

"What a nice name you have! Never heard of it for centuries." she giggled.

They stared at each other for a moment.

As if in a stance, Joel, hypnotized by those gleaming sapphire blue eyes, wished all of these better be not a dream.

The mermaid smiled at him sweetly.

"I want to linger near you a bit longer but I guess I have to go now.

I hope to see your face again, Joel." she said with melancholy and swam back to the deep.

"Wait! What's your name-" he hurriedly shouted but in vain.

Unfortunately, the mermaid is already gone, nowhere to be seen.

He sighed knowing he was empty-handed.

He tried to fish for a few more hours but nada.

No fish and with only a memory with a half fish to bring home.

He arrived safely to the shore at noon.

On his way telling his fellow fishermen what he witnessed in the sea.

He walked towards a tiny hut surrounded with trees that provides a cool shelter where some fishermen treat it as their hangout place.

He entered the hut and saw three people: Diego, Ileias, and Pilar.

Who are infamously known as "Tres Marios" because they're incredibly mischievous and they're inseparable.

They are evil enough to not miss the opportunity to mock Joel for fun.

"Hey mudskipper! Still no catch?" Pilar smirked.

"What do you expect, mi amigo? He can't even catch a single lady,"
Ileias added on.

"Even worse, he can't make a living because he's quite unskilled for a fisherman.

He can only catch tadpoles when we were little HAHAHA!" Diego even continued roasting.

"Here, you can have a drink of booze."

"I'm hoping it'll make an improvement to a loser like you. Don't worry, there's no poison in it~" Ileias said while pouring the alcoholic beverage into the cup and handed it to Joel.

"Give me the bottle," Joel spoke monotonously with no emotions shown in his face.

"Fine, just pay me later.

"You know you owe me," Ileias shrugged and gave him a bottle full of booze.

Joel tossed the bottle and quickly chugged it.

Then he dazed, staring at a blank space.

All he could remember is the dainty face of the mermaid.

Meanwhile, the "Tres Marios" are still yapping their mouths about Joel... about how big of a failure he is.

Joel didn't hear what they said, lost in his thoughts until... "If only he could catch a mermaid, oh well, he could've got a life HAHAHAHAHA!"

Joel snapped in anger and then walked as fast as he could out of the hut.

'I will catch that mermaid no matter what,' he made up his mind.

Since then, he's been searching for the mermaid dawn after dawn.

Somehow, the mermaid finds its way towards him.

Relief gushes towards Joel the moment he sees her.

They talk less and most of the time just looking at each other's eyes.

He adored the mermaid.

He's certain of it.

Although he can't stop thinking of killing and selling the mermaid for fortune.

One day, he confessed...

"Immén, you're as valuable as the ocean to me. My heart yearns for you," he seriously spoke while gazing at her glistening sapphire eyes.

"By any chance, do you hide something from me?" her eyes, surprisingly, had a tiny drop of jest.

"N-no, not at all," he stuttered.

"Beware, otherwise your ends will meet sooner than you expect." she riddled.

"Farewell to you Joel! Don't search for me once more. Please, let me go," she swam back to the deep.

The next dawn, he still searched for Immén.

Acting against her words.

The waters are serene.

Peaceful and quiet.

'Why do I feel very anxious about this?'

'Nothing bad will happen to you Joel, calm down.'

'It's not about what Immén said, right?'

He took a deep breath.

His hands are shaking nonstop.

A sharp pain suddenly hit his head.

He winced then faltered.

A giant wave rushed and slammed him and his boat.

He fell into the sea.

Slowly sinking.

The water slowly took the air out of him.

But before he even lose his breath, he caught a glimpse of a mermaid-like silhouette in the water.

Blue glowing eyes is all he can see.

Pangs of regret gathered in his chest.

Then the creature swiftly charged on him.

In that moment he knows that he'll face torment before his demise.

The creature chomped him, devouring his body limb after limb while he's paralyzed feeling every bit of pain.

He can feel his flesh teared apart and his bones being crushed. He let out not even a single muffled scream... He can't.

All of these pain are nothing for Joel compared to the excruciating despair he felt.

There's nothing left of the remains of that fisherman, not a single fragment of a bone.