Naughty Fish

8. Athlete Swimmer

Night was falling, and I was headed to nowhere.

Exhausted from swimming since this morning.

I couldn't let my muscles rest.

Resting meant death.

Past the waves, I could see a small ship come into view.

I became scared.

The captain of the boat looked even more bewildered to see me.

He tried to convince me to come aboard the vessel in a sign of kindness.

I told him that I was an athlete swimmer.

He didn't seem sure on this excuse.

It was understandable.

I was young, and I was in open sea.

This would have been scary for any senior.

But not every senior is part mermaid.

He wouldn't let up.

Determined to help me.

One turn was all I needed.

I curved my body and gave the water a strong splash as I zoomed through the current.

The situation became more of a survival as I was tired, and it was about to be nightfall.

Past the waves, I could see land coming into view.

Giant buildings stretched across the oceans shore creating a rural city.

Worried that I would be seen, I took shelter in a nearby cave.

The water was rocky, and it was difficult pushing myself deep into the cave.

The need to dry back into form was strong.

The cave was a marvelous piece of earth cut out into the shape of a kingdom.

It was lined with greenery and echoed the sound of waves.

A mermaid sitting on the sand of an abandoned cave.

National Geographic would be all over this if they knew.

Drying out completely was tedious and time-consuming.

It wasn't until I did change back that I realized a sharp stinging pain on the side of my left thigh.

It wasn't so deep, but it was bleeding.

I must have scratched myself while trying to get past the rocks at the entrance of the cave.

It all seemed to get worse and a little less empty.

I was naked and the chill in the air didn't help.

I made my way out of the cave.

Sneaking through alleyways of the small city.

Picking a dress off a carts shopping stand, I instantly took cover as I pulled the dress over my bare body.

Making my way along the streets, I found a scarf which was later tied around the wound on my leg.

The city felt cold.

It was cloudy with the moon's light lifting hidden shadows.

An icy sensation fell upon my feet as they traveled across cold stones.

The city was spooky.

You could hear the faint sound of waves on the beach.

But the few sounds of cats chatting and doors shutting bounced off the buildings like a silent battle.