Published by arrangement with the Delta Green Partnership. The intellectual property known as Delta Green is a trademark and copyright owned by the Delta Green Partnership, who has licensed its use here. The contents of this document are © Augustine Stuart, excepting those elements that are components of the Delta Green intellectual property.

I led the woman, her hands still tied, back to my house.

My house stood out in Innsmouth. Despite my family’s repeated warnings, I’d painted it in bright colors— sky blue, butter yellow, mint green. I just couldn’t stand living in the skeleton of a once-beautiful building. Victorian houses were meant to be lovingly painted; they were meant to stand out like a shining jewel in a tiara. So I cared for my old girl. She deserved it.

I pulled out my key. Unlike Akeley’s house, I actually had a door— and a lock.

“Welcome,” I said, not quite knowing what else there was to say. She was a prisoner, after all. But it felt so cold not to say anything.

The woman just looked down, but I could see her eyes blazing with anger and more than a little fear. I was still one of them, after all.

“Do you need food?” I asked.

She shook her head.

“It’s real food,” I urged. “Not whatever Akeley may have fed you.” I knew my uncle’s habits. He ate only what he could catch in the bay. His house and his person had a perpetually fishy smell as a result.

She shook her head again. “I’m good.”

Her voice surprised me. She was a small woman, lithe of frame, but her voice was low and husky like a barroom singer’s.

“Okay, then,” I said. “Let me show you to your room.”

“Don’t treat me like a guest,” she snapped. “I know what I’m here for, Deep One.”

I winced. I don’t like being called a Deep One. It’s not true, after all— I’m still on the surface. Still partly human.

Partly. But one day, they expect me to shed that part of myself and join the rest of my family in the sea.

I dread that day. I’ve never told any of them that— they’d take it as heresy of the worst kind. But the ocean… beautiful as it is, she’s a terrifying mother. She doesn’t care if you get a bit battered and bruised in her lessons.

I showed the woman to my guest room. I didn’t know why I even bothered to keep a guest room— no one ever visited me. But something about leaving that possibility open was important. The empty room signified my potential connection to the outside world— that possibility that maybe, there could be more to my world than Akeley and Howard.

And now, there was. She was a prisoner, of course, destined for a short and miserable life at the hands of my relatives. But at least she was a new face.

“Do you have a name?” I asked, opening the door.

The woman stepped into my guest room. I had kept it fresh and tidy: there were clean sheets on the bed, and a watercolor I had done of the bay hanging above the dresser. The window was one of the few that faced the bay, instead of facing the dilapidated, ghostly buildings across from mine. It was almost a pleasant room.

“Clara.” The woman took a deep breath, looking around the room. I saw a look of surprise flash across her face, which gave me a thrill of simple pleasure. “My name’s Clara.”

I gave her a little smile. “I’m Evelyn.”

“Evelyn,” she repeated. “And you’re… related to that— that man?”

“Akeley. Yes, he’s my uncle,” I said.

A look of revulsion crossed her face.

“Can you untie me?” She snapped, the memory of Akeley seeming to return her to her previous fear and distrust.

I hesitated.

“I’m… not sure I’m supposed to,” I said warily. “I can’t let you escape.”

She scowled.

“Then I’m not sure what you expect me to do,” she said. “Just— sit here? Contemplating—“ A look of fear crossed her face.

I bit my lip.

“Look,” I said. “We’re not going to do anything until church tomorrow. You might as well relax. It’ll make this a lot easier on us all.”

”Relax,” the woman spat sardonically. “Like you could relax if you were about to be ceremonially raped by demons.”

“We’re not demons,” I said softly.

“Prove it.” Her eyes flashed up to meet mine. They were a piercing gray, like the sea before a storm. They dared me to do better than Akeley had. They dared me to defy her expectations.

I pulled my pocket knife out of my purse and grabbed her hands. She jerked back in fear.

“Hold still. You said you wanted this cut,” I snapped. With a deft motion, I cut the cords that bound her. She yanked her hands away, rubbing at her wrists.

“Thanks,” she said roughly. “Now what? Going to drug me so I can’t escape?”

“Nope.” I turned my back on her. “I’m going to let you sleep. You’ve had a long day.” And you’ll have an even longer one tomorrow.

“What if I crawl out the window and escape?” She asked as I closed the door.

“Then I’ll come after you,” I said, turning back. “And I’ll force you back here at gunpoint. Because that’s my job.”

Clara held my eyes.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said after a moment.

“No, I do.” I went to shut the door again.

She stuck her hand in the way.

“Why?” She asked, pleading.

I looked back up at those stormy gray eyes.

“Because this is what I was born to,” I said finally. “I was born here. I’m an Innsmouth girl. And one day— as I’m sure you know— I’ll be an Innsmouth Deep One. And when I go below, I don’t want them calling me a traitor. I’m loyal to my family. They may not be the best—“ I looked away— “But they’re my people. They’re the only ones on this earth that won’t kill me on sight.”

”I wouldn’t—“ Clara started.

I cut her off.

“You would,” I say. “Delta Green— monster hunters— you people shoot folks like me on sight. I know this. I’ve heard the stories. I’ve lost cousins. Don’t lie. I’m an Innsmouth girl because Innsmouth’s the only place that will have me.”

Clara swallowed hard and shut the door.

I went down to the kitchen and made myself a cup of tea, staring out at the bay.

I could let her go. I could choose not to be complicit in whatever happened tomorrow at church.

But if I did that, I would be betraying my family. And they were the only people in the world who wouldn’t shoot me in the back at the first opportunity.

So Clara had to stay where she was.