The Sirens Gift

Chapter 9

“Well, well, well…” I heard Otis crone as he neared the dock where I was pulling my shoes on and stuffing my headphones into my bag. “If it ain’t the Little Lady…” he said as he coasted toward the dock.

“Sorry… I was just leaving.”

“Ain’t no need.” He said as he pulled his little boat up to the dock. Tying it to the post of the dock before he climbed out. “I’ll only be a few minutes. He loaded his buckets onto the dock and pulled a cooler from his boat. “Just easier to muddle on dry land…” he winked at me before dumping still flipping fish from the cooler into the bucket and began grinding them down with a pestle-like object.

“Ah… No, I'm headed out anyway…”

“No, I insist.” His gritty voice was deep and foreboding. I swallowed hard as the scent of fish being ground into the metal buckets wafted toward me as he worked.

I shook my head, “Sorry… that smell is… disgusting.”

“That’s what draws 'em in…” he responded, then paused as he continued working his hand around the bucket “My uh… fish… I mean.” He added, “They like it fresh.”

“Uh Huh…” I nodded, “Right…”

“You’re Rich Rutherford's Daughter, Ain’t ya?”

A burning sensation erupted over my face and engulfed my body, but I nodded. “Uhm… Yeah…” I nodded.

“That one that likes to swim in the winter.” He chuckled, “That’s why you come out here.”

I nodded slowly, “Yeah… how did you…?”

I watched him stand and wipe fish chunks from his hand onto his jeans before he took a few lingering steps down the dock toward me.

“Ah, well everyone knows the girl that swims in winter, like yer own local legend in town.” He grinned. As he grew closer, I noticed a scar running through his beard over a piece of his lip, hair was split where the scar started at his chin and up to his cheek. “Plus, when ya ask folk about me in a crowded diner… word starts to spread…”

“S-sorry.”

“Oh, no need to be sorry… I know I look suspicious…” his grin grew wider, “but maybe keep yer voice down next time you wanna gossip ‘bout me to Jim and his boy.” Another wink from weathered blue eyes before he looked me up and down. His eyes fell on my wrist. “That’s a nice little bracelet… Where’d ya get it?”

I quickly used my other hand to cover it from his prying eyes and stepped away from him. “Uh… a friend…”

“Interesting…” he mused as he shrugged “very… unique craftsmanship…”

“S-sorry for bothering you Mr. O'neill...” I responded as I took another few steps away. “I have to go to work so…”

He waved me off as he stepped back to the dock, “Remember… Loose lips sink ships, Little Lady… keep yer gossip to yourself…”

“Ew…”

“Sabby, I'm telling you something isn’t right.” I told her as she munched on a piece of toast, leaning back onto the counter.

“I get that Addy, but he seems really dangerous… I think you should stay away from the lighthouse…”

I shook my head, “I can’t!”

“Why?”

“I just… can’t.”

“Addy, you have the whole coast to swim. Why do you have to go to the lighthouse if that creep is there!?”

I sighed, rolling my eyes, then I grabbed her wrist and pulled her with me through the diner kitchen and into the entryway to the alley that led up to our apartment, lowering my voice as she gave me a concerned look.

“He was there…”

“Otis?”

I shook my head. “No… him…”

“The… Merm-…”

“Shush!” I hissed harshly. “Someone in the restaurant told Otis I was asking Jim and Cal about him…” I whispered, “I can’t risk him knowing I met you know who…”

“Oh my god, Adalaie you’re being ridiculous! There is no such thing! You’re daydreaming again!” Sabrina hissed back.

“No I’m not!” I responded in a pleading tone. “Sabrina! He is real! Okay? I saw him! I spoke to him!” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the Swiss Army knife. “Look, I dropped this when I helped him and he brought it back to me.” She rolled her eyes then I lifted my wrist to her. “H-he gave me this!” I pressed. “He said “thank you” to me!”

“You spoke to it?” She asked, “like face to face?”

“I mean, I didn’t speak to him… he can’t talk.”

“Oh very convenient.” Sabrina rolled her eyes once more and I shook my head.

“No, no, Sabrina, think about it, voice boxes don’t work underwater. He used sign language… he even spelled out his name.”

“Uh huh and what’s that, Goldfish?” Sarcasm oozed from her.

I rolled my eyes angrily at her and shook my head. “Sabrina!” I groaned.

“What, you expect me to believe this bullshit!?” Her voice started to rise.

“Yes I do! You KNOW I don’t lie to you, ever!” I growled, “Why would I start now!?”

“I don’t know Addy! Cause you’re sick of working here and want to be in the water?” Her voice became louder.

“That’s completely beside the point, Sabby! Why can’t you just f*****g believe me!?” I yelled back at her.

“Cause all you do is make excuses to not be here! You were “sick” for days, you’ve been spending all your time at the beach, coming back with these far-fetched stories.” her blue eyes turned angry, “It's time to grow up Adalaie! You’re 20 years old, there’s no reason for you to be skipping out on work and lying to us about this stupid mermaid s**t!”

My lip quivered as I took a deep breath. Tears came to my eyes and I took a step back from her, shaking my head. Then I pushed past her and trotted up the stairs as I heard her call for me. I let my bedroom door slam and locked it before I threw myself onto the bed and sobbed myself to sleep.