Without a Pod [#underthesea2016]

Chapter 5: Dreams

(Shall now be told in 1st person because it makes it easier as a beginning writer)

     I couldn't feel anything. I was moving two tails at once. Wait, as I looked down I saw no scales only the soft flesh that had been on my torso. Human. I had become a monster.

      It was impossible to breathe. I was suffocating, but there was only darkness.

     I woke from my short nightmare and look to ensure my tail and fins were still there. Yup I was good. I looked around but it was so dark and near impossible to see anyone. I put my hand to my right and felt a broad shoulder.

Atlas.

     I had almost forgotten about the paired sleeping.

     As Atlas slumbered beside me peacefully, I attempted to do the same, but, alas I was unable to. The same horridly terrifying dream would come every time I closed my eyes. My eyes soon grew weary though and I at last gave in to the calling of sleep.

     I was no longer a human. It was all there- my tail, fins and scales were right were they belonged. A light was coming from above and it was comforting that somehow in someway I wasn't alone here. Something wasn't right and I couldn't figure out what until I reached to my siren Mark. It wasn't there. Something was very, very wrong.

     The scene changed quickly to a bright colorful reef where a mother and her daughter were playing. They both seem so familiar.

     "Oceana! Oceana where are you?" The mother called out in a sweet voice and I realized what this was.

     No, no, no. Not this one, anyone but this one.

     I tried to warn them but it was useless as I was literally speechless. After I realized what was happening I closed my eyes not wanting to remember this painful memory.

"Mother I'm in the coral but you still can't find me," she whispered.

     "Hmmm, now where could my little mermaid be?" My younger self giggled, giving away her location. "I found you!" My tickled her mercilessly and I was laughing, almost hysterically.

     "Marina! Marina take Oceana, find a new pod and escape. The Sirens have been spotted. They will take her. GO!" My mother grabbed my hand and they began to swim as fast as they could, for Sirens were known to take the young females and raise them with dark magics.

     "Where are we going?" My younger self curiously questioned.

     "Far away my calf. Your pod will fight to the last one before they get their fins on you." Still confused, I obeyed her and went with her to an underwater cave.

     "Welcome, sisters, to the Sirens' lair." a mermaid with an emerald tail and long ruby hair said, swimming slowly towards the pair.

      The siren that took everything from me, Venus.

     "Venus leave her alone and you may have me seeing as you destroyed the rest of the pod already." Marina spat at the Siren.

     "Too bad, we will simply keep her after we kill you."

     "You will never get her."

     "Oh, but we will she can't hide forever and bears the mark of the pod already if she were to go without you, they would surely kill her until she reaches age when she no longer can be subjected as a Siren, Marina."

     Venus attacked my mother and I was helpless. From that day all I could clearly remember, was red swirling around my mother's body as it sunk to the bottom of the the endless blue abyss.

     I woke up, but this time there was light and Atlas wasn't next to me. I looked around and saw everyone but Caspian and Opal.

     "Where did Caspian and Opal go?" I asked Coral, tiredly. She didn't respond and only looked at me with what seemed to be sympathy but that soon turned to nothing and she looked at me emotionlessly.

     "Well they went to collect food. Opal informed us that unlike the shallow pods, reef pods don't eat flesh." She sighed and turned to Opal's brother, North, who had apparently been attacked by a monk seal before I had woken up. There were bruises on his cheek and abdomen.

     Reff looked at me with distaste in his eyes, so I ignored him and turned to Atlas. He was currently helping Coral with North. After helping him move to a comfortable position, they rejoined Reff and me.

     "How did you sleep, Oceana?" Atlas asked politely. He was always nice but difficult to figure out. There was something about him I couldn't quite put my finger on and it was frustrating to me. He was handsome I'll give him that but there was something unusual. I almost asked if he was hiding something, but a shadow soon passed over us.

     Pirates! Gold! Blood! Death!

     A human ship soon passed overhead and it was incredibly close. They were stupid to even think about trying to cut through a reef. It would surely crash and sink.

Yes, die petty sailors!

I don't want them to die, but they gave their lives away when they tried to cut through a reef.

"We must find Opal and Caspian!" North exclaimed. He sounded worried and concerned for his sister's wellbeing. I was worried as well for at least they treated me with sympathy, much like Atlas. Opal showed more courtesy then anyone. She knew that I was broken and lost. Caspian is just sweet like seaweed.

The human ship passed overhead and maneuvered through the reef with precision. They took no interest in us and continued till shore.

Sing! Death!

It was the mark again. I always did my best to resist the calling of the mark, but it didn't always work. I've never wrecked a ship but I've had many close calls. The mark is powerful and I'm not strong enough to resist it. I was always hungry. Hungry to hurt, to kill. The hunger only gets worse if I were to kill. Then the only thing that could feed me would be the souls of shipwrecked sailors. I cringed at the thought.

     Reff had a look of relief on his face and then spoke. "We should go search for Opal and Caspian now." We all nodded in agreement and set out to look for them.

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Why hello there.

I missed you all! I think this is the most popular one of my original stories. I'm very proud of myself now so pat yourselves on the back.

Did you like reading it in 1st person?

It was definitely easier for me to write and in case you're wondering it is Oceana's view but you probably got that from the memory thing. Anyways, how have you been?

-Hannah