Solivagant (Palaye Mermaid AU)

Chapter 3

Emerson had one side of the deck scribbled in his writing and drawings, he was much too into the world inside of his mind to anticipate the wall knocking him to the floor and then start shaking and moving. He watched in horror as the wood starts to crack and crumble around him and a window cracked open, water flowing in and starting to flood the deck and Emerson had to get as high as he could to avoid getting drowned. As he climbed up the stairs as fast as he could while the water rose higher and higher, he could hear the horrific screams of his crew mates and blood-curdling shrieks that he had never heard in his life, but it made him more scared for his life. The water had finally caught up to him as it submerged him deep in it, and he swam up as much as he could to see the ship was crumbling down and the water was starting to be polluted by blocks of wood and half-masticated bodies as they turned the water red. The sight was like a nightmare and it scared him more to see the mermaids splashing around as they continued to eat at and fight for the dead crew members. Before he knew it, the mast of the former ship leaned and fell on his head, knocking him unconscious and his body sank more into the water. The last thing he could make out before everything turned black for him was a figure with a fishtail swimming toward him with great speed under the water.

***

"Ha ha! Pathetic little runt can't even go to the Father's Day Fishing Trip because his is gone!" The bigger boys continued to bully Emerson as they threw rocks and seashells at him as he hid himself up in a tree with help from his brother Remington who was trying to keep him safe from the other boys. "Go away!", he shouted as he shielded his little brother from their blows, "I'm going to tell on our teacher if you don't stop!" "OOH! I'm so scared, won't change the fact you and your useless brothers are father-less, and you will never be normal like everyone else!" They were about to strike again when two hands bumped their heads together and pushed them to the ground as they landed on their faces. They turned and looked up to see Sebastian glaring down at them and ready to throw more punches as he cracked his knuckles. "Run. Or else...", was all he said and enough to make the bullies run away crying. Remington and Emerson felt safe enough to climb back down and they hugged their older brother tightly as he held them close and felt happy they were safe and okay.

***

When Emerson woke up, he could taste the tears on his face that must have been because of the flashback he experienced in his dream. He also tasted...sand and saltwater? He's alive and stranded on a small island? He sat up and felt a throbbed pain in his head as he rubbed his temple to make it go away and take a look at where he was. It turned out to be a small patch of land on the sea and he was on the cove where there are seemed to be a cave that seemed vacant and there was no sign of life there. At least, he thought there wasn't until he noticed something shiny in the cave and stood up to walk over and see what might be there. It turned out to be a collection of ocean gemstones such as emeralds, opals, aquamarines, moonstones and a pearl. They were all glimmering in the small parch of sunlight that barely snuck inside the cave while everything else was concealed from it. Emerson had never seen such beautiful jewelry expect when wealthy ladies back home wore expensive jewelry to formal events and occasions. Of course they were cut and shaped for wearing, but seeing the real deal was incomparable in the best way possible. He was about to pick up the pearl that stood out from the rest when he heard distant splashing from behind him and he could spot a fin splashing into the water before it disappeared to the right.

Emerson ran over to the shore and jumped into the water to try to find the mysterious figure who might have been watching him, but all he could find by the cove was a large boulder in the water. He noticed a shadow in the water below and decided to swim closer and dive his head in for a moment to one see a fishtail hiding behind the boulder, his only suspicion was that some creature was hiding behind there and may have brought him here to the island. He went back up to the surface and stood on his side of the large rock before clearing his throat and starting to speak despite his throat being dry due to dehydration, "Um, ex-excuse me. You don't have to be afraid of me, I'm not gonna hurt you." He swam only a little closer hoping to get them to hear him better and spoke a little louder, "If you are the one who saved me from drowning or being killed, I wanted to thank you. I was really scared I would die, and I was sure I would drown. If you could come out and face me, I would love to thank you personally and properly, you've done a great thing. But I must ask: why would you risk your life for a young sailor like me?" Finally, the mysterious figure came out from hiding, and Emerson felt his breath (and heart) being stolen from him as he came face-to-face with a gorgeous and gentle-faced mermaid who kept her eyes low when coming out, but soon looked into his aa she answered his question in a kind of melodic tone, "I may be a monster, but I'm not a killer."