Sea Foam

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The air was slightly colder than the warm sea. Kaelyn could feel the water droplets slowly slipping down her hand and wrist. She twisted her hand around, in-curling the air in her fingers. With one last kick of her tail, her torso was propelled up into the warm, above sea air. For a short second, she could feel the wind  on her face, and the sunbeams warming her cheeks, until gravity brought her back  down into the water.

She landed with a booming splash, sending shock waves through the water. Kaelyn let her bouncy float her back to the surface. She floated for a minute with her torso and tail absorbing the sun's warmth. She felt her hair was slightly heavier and it plastered itself to the back of her head.

Kaelyn felt a grin stretch across her face. She slowly opened her eyes. She stared up at the sun. It was round and bright, nothing like it seemed underwater. Kaelyn's eyes began to sting, so she glanced away.

She looked to her left. There was nothing but vast ocean as far as her vision would reach. It was the same on her right.

Is this all?, Kaelyn thought to herself, Is this all there is to the surface? Where are the humans? The towns and homes?

Kaelyn moved herself so her tail pointed downward. She dipped lower, careful to keep her nose and mouth below water so she could breathe. She felt something wrap around her tail and yank her down, back into her watery prison.

Kaelyn thrashed and kicked. Someone took hold of her shoulders and turned her around. Al held her still.

"Kaelyn," Al said, "Pull yourself together. They saw the you! The guards ar after us!"

Kaelyn felt a sudden pain in her chest as if her heart had collapsed in on itself.

"Where-Where is Coral?" Kaelyn whimpered

"They captured her already. We have to go!"

Al grabbed Kaelyn's hand in an iron grip and tugged her along behind him. She dared to glance over her shoulder. The guards perused close behind. They gripped their spears an swords tightly in their hands. Their clam and oyster chest plates gleamed.

Al and Kaelyn beat their tails furiously against the current. Rocks zoomed passed them as they attempted to escape. Kaelyn noticed a solid figure materializing of  the sea's vast blue. She felt her heart skip a beat when her mind recognized it.

"SHARK!!!" Kaelyn screamed

Al gasped. He came to an abrupt halt, causing Kaelyn to collide into his back. The shark snapped its jaws and flashed its razor sharp teeth. A metal collar was clasped to the beast's neck. A guard held the chain that was attached.

Kaelyn's scream scratched at her throat. Her hand fell limp as Al dropped it. In a frantic panic, Al propelled himself into the shark's path. The shark growled and lunged. It happened before Kaelyn's mind could understand the danger Al had put himself in. The shark clamped its jaws. Al's blood filled the water creating a murky cloud. Kaelyn's body turned numb. She didn't move as the guards closed and locked the shackles on her wrists.

"Collateral damage." One guard muttered

If Kaelyn could have cried, she would have. She had let everybody down, especially her father. Kaelyn had turned out exactly like her mother.