Mermaids in Massachusetts

The Boundary

The next morning was spent trying to scavenge for bits and pieces of seafood and plants to eat, but that in itself made Austin feel like a better person. Tanner and Ian were up hunting, trying to find another source of food, but the way Tanner had been talking made it seem like there wasn't a chance of finding any, anyways.

"Tristan," Austin said, arms full of miscellaneous plants, "What was it like growing up down here?"

"I mean, it was okay. Kind of dangerous, but okay. I was hunting as long as I can remember. My dads were super hard on me, but it made me a great tool for finding food and stuff," Tristan said. He pulled a stalk of seaweed from underneath a small rock, grimacing as small fish swam up around him.

"What did you guys even do for fun? Like, I can't imagine childhood without Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street, and you were already out here, searching for food."

"Oh, I loved hunting- that was my fun. I was good at it, and that was like, the one thing I could do right. Especially four-ish years ago, when I was like, an early teen. I sucked at everything."

"I'm sure you didn't suck at everything, Triss-"

"No, you don't understand. I sucked at everything. I was not fast, not stealthy, not good at recruiting, but my echolocation? It was flawless. It is flawless. I know I say that coming across as a major asshole, but it is my talent," Tristan said, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face.

"But, you know, after my pa was killed," Tristan continued, "I started getting worse and worse. Like, I had no concentration, my focus drifted, all of that garbage. And I mean, I sort of stopped caring. I stopped caring if some random man would come and kill me in the night. I just sort of lost it."

"Tristan..." Austin trailed off.

"Yeah, that was bad. But the rest of my Teach started picking up on the lack of food I was bringing back, and they started getting really pissed off. The Aries who was in charge of my Teach, Paul, decided I was not of any help to them, and kicked me out. My dad tried to protest, of course. He did not want to be without both Pa and me, but Paul threatened to kill us both if I did not leave. He let me go. I was Teachless for a year. It is really a miracle I survived," Tristan said.

Austin felt an overwhelming wave of pity. Tristan, this boy who he was originally okay with killing, had been through so much shit. Everyone down here had. Tristan lost his father, Ian lost his hearing, and Tanner lost... everything. Sympathy was never Austin's strongsuit, but he still felt incredibly guilty for all these wretched things that have happened to his friends.

"Tristan, it's no miracle. You are a terrific hunter, and that's how you made it, no matter what some Aries named Paul might say. You're fucking amazing, mate. And besides, you have us now. And no matter how shitty we are at hunting, we make up for it with terrible jokes and good company," Austin said, patting Tristan on the shoulder. Tristan smiled, looking at the ground.

"Thanks, Aus."

"Anytime."

Another day of travelling passed, then another. "It's been a year," Ian said one day, when they were out in the open.

"A year?" Tristan asked, looking at Ian.

"Not for you. It has been two months with you," Ian said.

"Well yeah, I knew that, but you guys have been travelling for a whole year?"

"Yes," Ian said.

"Damn," Austin muttered, looking out across the ocean.

"That means it is coming soon," Tanner said ominously.

"It? You're gonna have to be more specific," Austin said, chuckling.

"The boundary."

"Okay... what?"

"It is the line separating the Northern and Southern hemispheres," Ian explained.

"Wait, you mean the equator, okay," Austin said, nodding.

"Call it as you might, it is still going to be a problem," Tanner said, running a hand through his hair. "A problem I am not looking forward to solving."

"How is the equator a problem? It's imaginary," Austin said, confused.

"Imaginary? Who ever told you that?" Tristan said.

"Everyone, ever. The equator is just a line used by map makers to cut the world in half."

"Well, they must have done a pretty good job at cutting the world in half, then," Tanner said, and Austin shook his head, still not understanding.

They only swam another mile or so before Austin realized what they were talking about.

"Austin, look here," Tanner said, leaning down to point at the ground. Austin followed, looking at what Tanner was gesturing to. The plants nearest to him were green, healthy, and thriving. Their stalks were colored correctly, the coral was alive.

There was a distinct line. Everything past it- the coral, the plants, the sand- was a sickening gray color. The water was murky and dark, as if light could not pass through it. Austin could not see more than five feet into the depth. It seemed as if everything abruptly died across the line, like the life was drained out of it.

"That's really creepy," Austin said, touching on of the alive plants on his side.

"Tell me about it," Tanner said, shaking his head. He sat down near the line, looking closely at the other side. "I have never been here before, I have only heard of it from stories. Mermen cannot pass the boundary. There is an invisible wall that prevents-"

"Tanner, I hate to break up your story," Tristan said, sounding nervous, "but Ian just walked over the boundary."

"He what?" Tanner asked, launching up from his crouching position. "That should be impossible."

"He just kept swimming. Ian!" Tristan called, but Austin shot him a look.

"He can't hear you, he's god damn deaf," Austin said, looking over the dead white plants and dead white coral to see Ian- blue tail, blonde hair, and all- walk into the distance.

"I'm going after him," Austin said, as Ian faded into the murky water.

"No you're not. It's too dangerous," Tanner said, grabbing Austin's arm.

"Yes, I am. He's in our Teach, Tanner. We should protect him no matter what," Austin said, and Tanner released his grip.

"Austin, listen. If it is safe over there, you just shout, okay? We'll come rushing," Tanner said.

"You break into contractions when you're nervous," Austin observed.

Tanner pulled him into a tight hug, and Austin closed his eyes, relaxing. "I'll come back, Tan. Don't worry."

With that, Austin crossed the boundary into the land of dark and dead.