Through Hearts And Waters

Ghostly Encounter (Part I)

Night time is truly dark, especially when you’re underwater. The bottom of the ocean seems to be coated in dark ink, ready to swirl and scatter around when disturbed. Soleil paid that no attention. Her excitement multiplied as the moonlight bleeds through the water, guiding her throughout the darkness.

That’s when she noticed shipment wrecks beneath her as she swam by. Murky waters caused by the sand and currents going against the debris makes it hard to venture further, Soleil pondered. She must be near the island, where the ghost haunts. She should swim near the surface, she thought.

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Swimming near the surface is truly fun, until you come across fishermen’s boat sailing through the night, making use of the highest tides to catch abundant amounts of fish. This rattled Soleil’s nerves. To her panic, she almost went into one of their nets, almost trapping herself and exposed their kind to the poor humans.

Her painstaking experience led her to a cave, her traumatized self wanted to hide and catch a breath. As she did, her eyes wandered across the sea, admiring how the waves and the moonbeams dance together like lovers swaying to music, creating shimmers and sparkles as they move. What a perfect combination, Soleil sighed. Alas, her fright was long forgotten.

Her reverie was broken as she notice a graceful movement at the corner of her eye. She froze out of terror, thinking what kind of earthly creature has discovered her from her hiding.

She gasped as she saw it floating towards the mouth of the cave, the winds around its form seem to be unmoving, leaving Soleil wondering how is it able to move considering its translucent opacity.

Soleil drank its existence through her eyes.  Pale, skin that seems to glow as it moves, ponytailed long hair as creamy as the prettiest conch shell, and slender body that depicted an elegant yet firm stature. She seems human, yet feels so distant from the living. It is as if it lost contact of physicality.

Is this a ghost? THE ghost? Solei thought as she observe the entity. It is as Lady Zahara described her, but she didn’t say that it would look this ethereal…

And Soleil seemed to have troubles in determining whether it is a ghost man or woman. Its long blonde hair contrasts with its dark blue vest, and white…… What is it called again, breaches? Yes, the ones that sailors she had observed had worn, showing its phantom ankles. Its clothes suggests it’s a man but she feels otherwise.

The ghost observed the night scenery, seemingly sighing at the vast beautiful sight laid upon it. Soleil can’t blame the being, for she also found herself a slave to such spectacle. In her trance, she began to come out from her hiding, albeit carelessly. Her brash movements caused the waters to stir and alerted the ghost of another presence, causing it to turn towards the commotion.

“Who’s there?” A deep womanly voice asked with a tone that would compel anyone to obey of her orders.

Soleil’s breath hitched. The ghost snatched the air out of her lungs, making it hard for her to breathe. It’s as if she’s looking at the beautiful sea meadows for the first time, marvelling at the sparkling sea water under the sun, or watching the moonlight waltz with the waves. Soleil is rendered breathless.

And the ghost isn’t even doing anything.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” The ghost asked once again as she approached Soleil who seemed to be under a spell.

Soleil swallowed. She couldn’t even meet the ghost’s gaze out of shyness. Oh, how she hoped the waters would swallow her and save her from this embarrassment.

“Answer me, girl. Who are you and what are you doing in my sanctuary?” The ghost asked for the third time.

“I was sent by Lord Poseidon.” Soleil squeaked in a small voice, the dark-haired mermaid shrinking in her position every second the ghost lays her intense stare at her.

“Poseidon? The sea god?” The ghost mused, her mind cannot quite believe what her ears just heard. “Such god actually exist?” She continued her musing.

 “How can you say that? Do you want to be blasted into pieces?!” Soleil gasped in horror, in awe of the bravado but at the same time irked by her lack of reverence.

“I don’t know about your lunatic mind and your gods but what is your business here? This is my cave, my sanctuary, and you are trespassing.” The phantom snapped at the mermaid.

“I told you I was sent by Lord Poseidon, to help and free your soul so you can finally rest!” Soleil said exasperatedly.

The ghost was taken aback, eyes shrouded with perplexity.

“If your god is true, why does he suddenly care about my existence?” The ghost inquired, curiosity replaced her bewilderedness.

“You’ve been wreaking havoc, drowning sailors and terrorizing humans, and these humans sought help from Lord Poseidon to stop you from doing such deeds!” Soleil said, her confidence grew word after word.

The ghost was once again dumfounded, and this time anger mixed in with the confusion that is in her brown orbs.

“I didn’t do such things! How dare you accuse me of that?” The ghost bellowed. Soleil found herself shivering in fear, her conviction melted into a puddle.

“Then how would explain the sunken ships under the waters of this island?” Soleil asked shakily.

For a split second, she also asked herself, is this ghost really capable of doing such crimes? This blue, lonely ghost who seemed to hold such soft regard on her face as she watched the nightly beauty of the moon? Soleil found herself admiring the ghost again, heart beating so fast that not even the fastest dolphins can match its speed.

“These sailors are foolish to tread these waters, even on stormy nights. I’ve seen a lot of them; complaining, drowning, and even blaming me for the last seconds of their lives just because they had a glimpse of me. The island itself is cursed of deadly storms and hurricanes, no one can survive these tides in such conditions. Even this calm summer night can trick you into thinking that the sea that stretches before us is friendly.” The ghost spitefully explained, bitterness lingers in her words.

Soleil went silent, and so did the ghost. The sound of gentle waves crashing against the cave walls can only be heard, making it hard for the mermaid to believe that such waves are capable of drowning lives.