The Pale Woman's Song

Escape

Smiling Finn grimaced as he tightened the scratchy rope around his waist, the grey wetsuit protecting him from the harshest effects. The siren beside him thrashed around angrily, scales refracting the sickly yellow light like stained glass.

She hissed for the millionth time as he pulled the helmet over his mop of dark hair.

"Would you stop that? Someone is going to hear you, then we'll be busted", Finn chided, paranoia causing him to check the rope again as he grabbed for a pair of flippers, narrowly avoiding the talons thrust at him, swiping furiously thought he air, just centimetres from his face.

"Well I would be quieter if there wasn't currently a rope tied around my tail", she motioned angrily at the thing fastened securely to the start of her large, pointy fin, just at the end of her inky appendage. "And I see getting a helmet to protect your face has filled you with courage. But remember, if I wanted to, I could easily shatter that glass, leaving you to the mercy of the sea. And she is not a forgiving mother"

Fin sighed, but couldn't ignore the thin chill of fear that raced up his spine. She was right of course, his whole plan hinged on the hope that she wouldn't attack him once they where in the water. "Just get in". he motioned to a wooden crate resting on a trolley, a large bolt of scratchy fabric nearby.

The Siren grumbled but managed to launch herself out of the barrel and into her new, slightly more spacious, accommodation. Finn smiled slightly, half expecting her to reject the idea.

"Come on, Pirate boy. I'm sure you don't have eternity to wait", she angrily pulled the tarp over her box. And Finn barely caught the image of her scowling as she curled up, her arms crossed over her chest with a deadly gleam to her eyes before the blanket dropped over the water.

He pushed open the heavy door, before rushing over to the trolley and grasping the handle, pushing it out into the hall. "I didn't realise how heavy you were", he mumbled as he struggled to build up enough momentum to take the strain of his quickly aching arms.

"And I didn't realise how much of a wimp you were", the Siren hissed poking at the fabric.

"I'm not a wimp, your just heavy", he shot back, adrenalin racing through his blood as he neared the moonpool. The Siren was suddenly strangely quiet as if sensing his rising excitement.

The room was quiet, and the water dark with forboding fellings as Finn pushed the trolley as close to the edge as he could, making sure his helmet was secured on tightly as he pulled on his flippers, listening to the Siren shuffle around, fidgety as water splashed to the floor.

He stood, slightly wobbly, as he reached for the cloth.

And a sloppily aimed bullet flew past his leg.

Finn jumped back, yelping in surprise as his flippers slapped against the wet metal, echoing around the room. Three pirates rushed at him, all in various states of awakeness, one still with his nightcap on. Finn rushed towards the crate, only to be stopped again by a harpoon narrowly missing his torso.

"Smiling Finn. Stop. Captains Orders", he gasped, ignoring their words as he watched the Siren shred through the blanket, screaming inhumanly as she bared her teeth, eyes filled with a burning desire.

One of the pirates swore, frightened as they watched the creature breath heavily, shreds of the blanket drifting around her.

Then she leapt, and Finn had just enough time to slam his palm against the button that would open the moonpool before he was yanked into the water, stomach lurching painfully as projectiles were fired down after them.

Finn squeezed his eyes shut, hoping that the Siren was avoiding any reefs or rocks as she sliced through the water like a torpedo. Water pummeled the back of the helmet as Finn curled into a ball, hoping the siren would stop soon so he could somehow get his bearings.

That escape went better than he had thought it would.