Mermen in Melbourne

The End

"It's just a minor fracture, but he will not be able to swim for quite a while," one of Trent's friends, Josh, said. Both Teaches were  crowded around Wyatt, unconscious, whose tail was under close examination. "The bones in the lower part of his fin are bent slightly backwards, which might be a permanent handicap on his swimming speed. As he is not a hunter, this should not be the biggest issue, but it still kind of sucks," Josh said. Russell nodded. He was sitting the closest to Wyatt's head, running a hand through the blonde's hair. Trent was avoiding looking, but Austin could sense the jealousy. Bruises coated Wyatt's skin. Austin shuddered, only imagining what could be happening to the other three members of his Teach.

"We should find them," he said, and the group looked at him. "It doesn't feel right leaving them out there alone like that."

"Austin, we cannot find them if they do not want to be found. They sacrificed themselves for us-" Russell started, but Austin cut him off.

"No, Russell, you don't get it," Austin said, frustrated. "They're still out there, somewhere. I don't know if they were kidnapped. I don't know if they were killed. But what I do know is that I care about them. If there's even the slightest chance that Ian, Mason, and Tanner are still alive, I will keep looking for them. I don't even care if you're with me."

"Fine then, Austin," Isaac said. "Go ahead. Chase them down to the ends of the Earth. You can waste your whole life for all I care. But they are dead. There's nothing you can do about that."

"I think you're wrong," Austin said. "I think they're still out there." With that, Trent looked up, eyes meeting Austin's.

"I understand. It is the feeling that you would do anything for a person, trust them with all of your heart. I get it."

Austin nodded, sliding his eyes shut. "I don't know how to explain it-"

"Then don't," Trent cut him off. "Follow your heart, Austin. Do not make the same mistakes as I have."

Austin opened his eyes, looking around the room. He couldn't stay here. It didn't sit right. He was going to find them, Tanner, Ian and Mason, whatever it took.

He burst out the door as fast as he could. He left like looking back would change his mind, like turning away would make him return. The water outside the home was colder, but it wasn't like he could just throw on a jacket, so he kept going. He followed the route back as close as he could remember, retracing his footsteps -er, fin strides?- as fast as he could.  He passed Trent's Teach, passed the rock where he met Seth, passed where his own boat had gone down only a few months ago.

That's when he saw it. The little underwater structure that had once been his Teach's was torn apart, pieces of driftwood floating around and above it. If he didn't know any better, he would've thought a tornado had come through.

"Fuck, Tanner! Ian! Mason!" Austin yelled, moving as fast as he could. The interior of the place was almost as bad as the outside- their table was smashed to pieces, blood covering the left edge. "Shit, fuck," Austin murmured, pulling himself up the stairs. Claw marks lined the left side walls, and even more blood floated ominously in the water. Austin swallowed hard, trying to trace the stream to its source. Austin's ears picked up a low groan, and he rushed to the source- Mason's room. Opening the door slowly, Austin heard someone jump up.

"Who goes there?" a voice called, and Austin tensed up. "Mason? Is that you?" the voice continued. Austin opened the door the rest of the way. The sight he saw made him tense up even further.

Tanner stood wielding the trident, and it was pointed straight at Austin. Austin took a step back, eyes widening. "Oh, thank Poseidon, it's just you," Tanner said, lowering the trident. "I thought Matt might be back to take us all," he said. Austin looked around the room. He looked down, and felt his heart leap in his chest.There, on the ground, Ian lay there, eyes shut and breathing shallowly.

"What the actual hell," Austin said, kneeling down next to Ian. "What did those freaks do to you guys?"

"They are not freaks, but rather, just like we are," Tanner said, leaning down to sit next to Austin. "I mean, this Teach has killed already, it is not like it is an unusual occurrence."

Austin looked up, realization dawning on him. "Where's Mason." It was spoken as more of a desperate statement than a question. Tanner took a deep breath, his eyes sliding shut. Austin took in his appearance. Scratches covered his bare chest, his hair was completely disheveled, and a long, gushing cut covererd his right cheek.

"Mason... Mason, uh," Tanner said, his voice cracking.

"Tanner. Where is he?" With that, Tanner's eyes slid open. He looked directly at Austin. Austin could tell that his eyes were glassy and swollen- he must have been crying. The tears, though, were carried away by the ever moving ocean waves.

"Austin," Tanner said, slow and careful with his words. "Mason's gone."

END OF BOOK ONE