Coco

Darkness Above the Water

I thought my life was perfect. I could swim and be free of a normal human's responsibilities. I could go on land, though. I was a mutant, and I loved it. When I did go above the water, I wore pants. I have a white print on my legs, a print that looks and shimmers like my scales. I never went to school, nor did I have a family. The only life I knew was in the water. While heroes fought above, I swam in the rivers where debris fell. I surfaced where helicarriers dropped out of the skies.

I knew that when I met people, I should just say my name was Megan Colette Heartwood. Megan Colette Heartwood was the name of the girl I used to be, though. That was the girl that hid in alleys and never went into the water. That was the girl who was scared of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers. Megan Colette Heartwood had to die, and Coco had to be born. I knew that I could never be normal. I knew about the battles, the mutants captured and tortured. I knew about all of those.

I was unique. I could control water and make it obey my every command. I could split the Atlantic Ocean in half if I wanted to. I could do any of that stuff, if I wasn't being hunted. The Avengers thought I was a Siren, or some mermaid girl who killed sailors with her voice. Every time I was sitting on a rock or beach and a Quinjet flew by, I dove into the water. When they went diving to find me, I swam so deep that their helmets would nearly shatter. I was only a child when I was forced into this life. I was only three when S.H.I.E.L.D. caught wind of a girl who could part water. I was seven when I was forced to run. I was twelve when I started my new life in the water. I was twelve when I became Coco. Nobody noticed I was gone. I was just some kid they saw begging for money. I was nothing. I became something when I was wanted.

I can still hear their voices. I can hear them saying that I was dangerous. I can hear them from that night in the foster home.

"We'll take good care of the girl." One said.

"Yeah, she'll be okay." Another said.

The way they said it made me uneasy, even as a three year old child. That's when I left. That's when I snuck out of the back door.

The Siren child. That's what the news called me. I had caramel hair, and slightly tanned skin. My hair had streaks of blue and pink. My eyes were aqua, and they sparkled when I smile.

The darkness above the water turned a world of peace and kindness to a world of hate and war. Now that darkness was creeping below the water.