In a dystopian future, an acidic flood reigns and the only signs of old life lie in the deep. Alex - an outcast with an inquisitive mind and a set of strangely specific skills - must navigate a world where she is shunned from the safety of the domes and stuck in the water. One day, while exploring a set of deep-sea ruins, she is haunted by a mysterious spirit; a spirit that seems to be warning her of something. The problem is, this ancient being doesn't seem to have any memory of its previous life. With a newly-possessed fish at her side, she must now uncover a secret organisation, find out what it means to do and save both humans and spirits from their plans. --- This is my entry for the Open Novella Contest 2026. Prompts used: 93, 86 (I have listed them in the author's note) --- | 🌟 Longlisted for the Open Novella Contest 2026 | #1 oceanpunk #1 explorer #1 deepsea #1 flood #1 climatechange #2 acid --- © 2026 | This is original work. Any references to other persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Please do not adapt in any way without the author's permission.

In a sci-fi future, Myra and her crew traverse the galaxies as musicians, performing at spaceports for a living. On the side, they explore and investigate ancient ruins - the only things left of the old world. When Myra accidentally awakens a siren, the whole universe gets caught up in a war that less than half of the population actually know about. The sirens are the hunters, the humans are their prey. The only things is, these sirens aren't normal. They've also evolved. If you like mythology, sci-fi or magical twists, this book is for you! | 🏅 Honourable Mention in the Panhellic Games 2025 by mythandlegend & highfantasy | | 🌟 Round 3 Qualifier for the Ambys 2025 | --------------- HIGHEST RANKS: #1 in contestentry - 27/04/25 Featured on the ShortStory profile. --------------- © 2025 | This is original work. Any references to other persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Please do not adapt in any way without the author's permission.