A Twist of Fate: The Tale of a Mermaid

Chapter Two: Alaina

    We were sloshed back by the ripples of the ship’s sudden impact with a sharp formation of rocks. They must not have noticed it jutting out of the water like a hand reaching for the heavens. Now, it was buried deep in the ship’s side as oil and gasoline pooled into the water.

     I grabbed Magdalena’s arm, desperate to get her away from the wreckage, but she wouldn’t budge. “Look!” She pointed up toward the part of the ship that was still barely above water. I could see an orange glow spreading across the deck.

     A little glowing speck jumped from the boat and landed on the water. I didn’t know much about fire except that it couldn’t survive in water. But the moment it hit, the sea ignited in a roar of wild, orange tentacles lapping at the sides of the boat.

    Fiery pieces of debris plummeted into the water, burning as they sank to the bottom. When I finally tore my gaze away from the wreckage, I noticed my sister had vanished. I scanned the ocean floor, worried one of the pieces of debris had crushed her. Nothing. I looked up toward the blazing ship catching a glimpse of blue scales. 

    I swam toward the surface. The roar of the fire was much louder, hotter, and brighter than I could have imagined. It burned through the steel, melting it into nothing. 

    "What are you doing?" 

    She didn't answer. She just pointed toward a large barrel floating in the water. Two unconscious humans clung to the barrel as it floated away from the wreckage and into the open sea. 

    "We can save them," she answered, swimming closer.

    "Let them drown." Please, just let them drown, I thought. But Magdalena had other plans. Unlike me, she wanted to save them. Unlike me, she believed humans were good. 

    "Help me take them to shore," she called over the raging fire. 

    I looked around. The sky had grown increasingly darker, bringing with it an ominous chill. A storm was forming. But it wasn't just any storm. It was a hurricane. 

    I'd heard stories about merfolk who'd ventured out during a hurricane - how they'd been plucked from the water, never to be seen again. I was not about to be another one of those stories. Not for a pair of weak humans. But Magdalena refused to leave their side. 

    "We need to get out of here," I called to her. The waves had grown more forceful. "There's a hurricane coming." 

    "Help me get them to shore," she insisted. "They'll die out here."

    "Just let them drown, Maggie. They're not our concern."

    She gave me a stern look. "I'm going to help them," she shouted, grunting as she tried to push the barrel against the harsh waves. 

    I swam over to her, gripping the other side of the barrel. I pointed to the rock formation by the ship. "Let's just push them over there." 

    Magdalena shook her head. "No, shore!"

    I gestured to the open ocean. "There is no shore! It's miles away. We won't make it there in time, and neither will they. These humans aren't worth dying for."   

    "Then go. I'll do it on my own." It was a lie, though. We both knew she couldn't save them on her own.

    I looked back at the thick clouds. Lightning streaked across the sky following a strong gust of wind. We weren't going to make it, but I wasn't going to leave my sister. Turning back to the barrel, I started shoving it toward the direction of land - hopefully. 

    We got about two miles from the ship when we were met with powerful waves nearly ten feet high. The ones that didn't strike us, dragging us underwater, knocked us back several yards. 

    We were exhausted by the time we spotted the shore. The humans were barely hanging onto the barrel, still unconscious and barely breathing. It wouldn't take more than a light tap to send them sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Then we could finally escape the whirling winds of the hurricane. 

    The shallow waters were rocky, but we managed to maneuver onto the sandy shores. Our arms ached - worse than the time we tried lifting a large anchor embedded in the sand to prove we were stronger than some of the boys. 

    Magdalena looked relieved as she watched the rise and fall of the humans' chests. "We did it. We made it." She glanced up at the sky - at the swirling clouds. "The storm has calmed. Now would be a good time to leave." 

    I nodded in agreement. "Go ahead. I want to give my arms a rest before I swim again." 

    "I always knew I was the strongest," she teased. "Thank you for looking past your hatred to help them, Sister."    

    "You're welcome." 

    Magdalena dove back into the water, leaving me alone on the sandy shore. I waited as several minutes ticked by. The winds had picked up once more, and I was certain Magdalena was long gone. I focused my attention on the two humans.

    A low hum began deep in my throat. My song grew strong - louder - as I opened my jaw. The series of low and high notes struck the first human. His eyes snapped open, completely glossed over as he turned his head, following my song. I reached my hand out, touching his ice-cold cheek. Almost immediately, blood began to ooze from his dark brown eyes. 

    Through the howl of the wind, I could hear his lungs filling. More blood began pooling from his nose and mouth like a waterfall. I released him, and he fell back against the sand, writhing until finally, he was still - dead.