Hearing Sirens

The Impersonator

After six hours of fishing in the sea, Gray could feel his arms turning to jelly. His body wasn't as strong as it once was. Spending a whole day under the water fighting the weight of salt water was not an easy task. Yet, he finally made it to sunset and the moment he saw pink in the sky, he was speedily pulling himself back into the boat. It was just something about the darkness that got to him.

As he swapped the deck with his own pant leg he caught sight of three gleeful sailor's stuffing their faces with his hard work.

"Best fish ever, Gray," Leon beamed as he took another bite of the fillet in his hand.

Gray had never seen a day that Leon looked so happy. He remembered seeing him rarely as he would walk from his kitchen late at night to his bunker. Every time they had crossed paths, Leon would nod as he grunted irritably. Gray always tried to conclude that it had something to do with his personal life. Now he just wondered if he was regularly hangry.

"I'm glad I am better for more than fish bait," Gray laughed, quickly feeling his nerves shutter inside of his body.

"Gray," Sirus spoke up. "You have always been the best fisherman our boat has ever had. Nobody ever doubted that. That's why we need you here so terribly."

"That's why," Gray chuckled back.

As his eyes met Tessica's she excitedly patted the boat floor where she was sitting in front of an empty plate. Gray followed her silent command and walked up to her before sitting down in his designated spot. He grabbed a piece of fish and brought it to his mouth without letting it reach the plate. With one bite he was in astonished. He had never tasted fish that was so readily accepted by his taste buds; especially after eating it for what felt like months.

As he ate he looked over at the middle of their tiny boat where a sail would usually be present. This was the first time he found himself wondering about it. Why were they in a boat with no sail? Why didn't they attempt to paddle?

"It was ripped when coming out of the ship," Leon said catching Gray's attention. "I am attempting to sew a new one under the floor with old blankets and shirts. Just pray for warmth."

"What about paddles?" Grey quizzed.

"Sharks," Sirus said certain.

"Sirens," Tessica chimed in at the same time. "I mean the sharks."

Gray looked at the two crew members confused as Sirsus's face scrunched up in frustration. He seemed to be dead set on ignoring all of the warnings about the sirens and he wondered why. Did he just feel he was more mature being fifty-one rather than being in his late twenties?

"Sharks young child," Sirus said again. "Stop your dreaming and smarten up."

Gray furrowed his brow as he noticed Tessica fold in to her legs, grabbing another piece of fish and stuffing her face; reminding him of the young chubby Tessica he knew from sailor school. She was so sweet, so innocent, and was an extreme people pleaser. He could only wish she would actually give in to an actual reaction just once, without being stopped by someone.

"No Sirus, you smarten up. Don't always assume you are right especially when you are outnumbered! Can't you read the signs? How did I get here? How did I manage to forget almost everything? What are those songs that we hear late at night and early in the morning?" He shouted.

Leon got up off of the barrel he had been sitting on near the group and walked away, avoiding the conversation all together. Gray couldn't blame him this time. Even he could realize he sounded like a crazy person. No one else had ever mentioned the songs before. No one else had even acknowledged them. How did he feel that was completely normal up to that moment?