Content warning: descriptions of violence, a rotting corpse, grief
I woke up to someone lying on top of me. I knew that was her and I knew how her little game worked, so I didn't try to look up to see her.
I reached behind me, feeling around for her hand until I found it. I carefully pulled it in front of my face. The sight didn't surprise me. Strips of her flesh pulled away from her bones exposing the muscle underneath. It was weird seeing someone you loved slowly decompose in front of you, but at least she was still here.
I must have accidentally woken her up because she pulled away from me. I groaned when she got up. I didn't like it when she did this. I didn't care that her flesh was tearing away in shreds. I've touched enough corpses in my life, so it didn't gross me out.
"Can you please stay for a little longer?" I pleaded. I didn't want her to go just yet.
I could feel her hesitate for a bit, then I felt her pruney fingertips touch my back ever so softly. She didn't say a word but I knew that it was a silent apology. She placed a small kiss on the top of my head.
When I lifted my head up to look around the room she was completely gone. I couldn't even feel her presence anymore. I dragged myself out of the hammock I made out of seaweed. There was no longer a point in staying in bed since I was wide awake.
I pushed open the stubborn wooden door that let out to the deck. I didn't really know if you could still consider it a boat since it was now covered in coral and seaweed. Schools of fish started in and out of the reef of shipwrecks.
As I was captivated by the sight my stomach grumbled for breakfast. Plenty of fish were around, but it just wasn't the same, or as filling, as human flesh.
My stomach grumbled again and I decided that it was time to pick the shipwreck clean of any tasty morsels that were still on it. Since the wreck was a couple days old now, most of the bodies were scavenged by sharks and other scavengers. So it took a while for me to find something that is still intact enough for my liking.
I dragged the bloated corpse to the surface so I didn't have to deal with any sharks trying to take it away from me.
As I got to shore I noticed flags waving in the distance. There were three ships on the horizon, but they were a ways away and I was hungry, so I carried on eating my breakfast.
Once I was full, I turned back to the approaching vessels. They were about ten minutes away from the rocky shore. I climbed up onto a rock and looked out on the gray morning sky. It was going to rain today, but clearly that wasn't the top of my priorities.
I started singing and the words just flowed out of my mouth like a deadly melody. I watched the chaos unfold as both of the smaller ships crashed into each other. Wood splintered and strained as the mast completely collapsed. As I continued to sing, worry started to creep into my voice as the biggest of all the ships continued, unaffected by what just transpired.
My song came to an abrupt halt as a harpoon almost took out my eye. The metal harpoon clattered to the ground behind me. It was obviously designed for siren hunting because it was big enough to hunt whales.
I decided that it wasn't worth it to stick around so I quickly made my way to the water. I dove into the cold ocean hoping they'll leave me alone.
If they were in fact siren hunters, then I knew I wasn't going to be safe in the ocean since they usually hunt with mermaids. I dove into my hideaway to grab whatever was most important to me. The first thing I grabbed was her jacket, and then it was my wedding ring. I wish that I could throw on the jacket but that was impossible with the giant fin running down my back. Same thing with the wedding ring, webbed hands after all. So I held them in my arms while I made a break for it.
I knew this atoll better than anyone else so at least I had the advantage when it came to unwanted mermaids. So hopefully, today wasn't the day I became some mermaid's lunch.
I looked behind me for a split second to see a flash of red and orange. I was always jealous of mermaids. Why did they get to have all the flashy colors? While I was stuck with desaturated purples.
Never mind, this wasn't the time to be envious. I dipped below some debris as I searched for somewhere to hide. If I were to swim out into the open ocean, it would be a terrible idea because I was outnumbered and outpaced. Or I was supposed to be outpaced, for some reason these two were swimming sluggy.
I ducked into a completely coral-covered vessel. It was the perfect spot since there were plenty of exits. I hid in its hull, where there were still plenty of barrels.
I hid close to where shipworms ate a hole through the wood just way enough for me to fit through.
I looked up to see her standing on the ceiling, her lips mouthed the word "run". I turned to swim out from the ship when my exit was blocked by a third mermaid. Before I knew it, I was surrounded on all sides.
As I lashed out at one another came from behind and gagged me with a piece of cloth. I snarled at them while desperately clinging to her jacket.
Just beyond one of the mermaid's heads, I could see her looking at me with sad eyes. Then something hard hit the back of my head.
Special thanks to @michelangelgoo who edited this!
