(Warning cringey content)

[ ...I turn off the light and crawl onto the cot I placed down a good bit away from the tank. I turn towards the tank, the mercreature is staring at me. Placing my bandaged hand under my cheek I close my eyes. ‘There’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep.’ I think to myself right before passing out... ]

I feel someone’s presence near me and slowly gain consciousness to my surroundings. It’s dim, the sun hasn’t risen yet. The soft sound of something sliding draws my eyes to a shadowy figure on the ground. My heart starts pounding even though I know exactly what it is, I’m frozen in fear. The merman slithers closer and closer until I can see the pale reflection of animal-like eyes.

‘I’m being hunted.’

A shiver courses through my body as it lunges and I jump awake. I cuss loudly as I sit up, still fighting off the nightmares' effects on my body. The merman is peacefully sleeping. Once again curled into a ball.

‘That was way too creepy for me.’ I think and, jumping up, go outside. 

I light a cig right outside the door.

‘It’s just stress,’ I comfort myself, taking long drags.

‘I shouldn’t let it get to me like this.’ The thought of numbing my anxiety with a few drinks is so alluring I almost break. But Honey starts barking, pulling me back to more responsible thoughts like walking her. 

Once I have my hulking Mastiff pulling me around the yard, I start to feel better.

“You’ll protect me right?” I ask her. She looks back at me with a derpy, happy, expression. Then continues to yank me down towards the docks. I snort and allow her to, I’m in no rush. Now that the sun is up and the air is full of the scent of flowers and sea water my fear seems childish.

A growl snaps me back to my senses as a loud splash comes from the docks. I look at the spot, whatever it was, caused and at the bristling fur on Honey’s back.

‘What if?! The dream I had wasn’t a nightmare?!’ I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up at the notion then shake my head, that’s ridiculous. I turn around and click my tongue for Honey to follow. She refuses to bulge, still growling then as a seal pops it’s head above the water starts barking madly. I stare at the startled seal and then start laughing.

‘I’m losing my mind.’ I touch my head with my palm, ‘But seriously that’s the last time I let my imagination get the better of me. Heading back up the hill I feel my neck prickle again but refuse to look back. ‘I’m not going to get paranoid now.’

A silver dorsal fin breaks above the water, the seal sees it and barks in alarm before it’s pulled under. 

Brewing a cup of coffee I feed Honey and while she’s busy go to the lab. The merman is still asleep, but the second I enter he uncurls. He bubbles a little in a daze and then swims to the surface.

“I’m hungry.” He complains. 

“Good morning to you too.” I grumble. “I’ll get you something in a minute.”  

“But you promised!” He gasps.

I lift my hands in defeat. “I need to wake up a little more and drink some coffee before I can drive.” Quieter I mumble, “nonetheless deal with people.” 

The merman pouts a little and then tilting his head at me asks, “What’s coffee?” 

I smirk, “It’s a drug humans use to stimulate their bodies in the morning.” I answer curtly. He looks confused. 

“Okay.” He says. “Why does your body not work in the morning?” He thinks about it, “Are you nocturnal?” 

“That reminds me of something.” I say completely ignoring the question, “You know, a lot. How long did your teacher tutor you for?” 

The merman flushes, “Almost my whole life.” He picks at a scale on his arm. “I don’t want to talk anymore!” He exclaims and ducks underwater. 

I just accept it and take my coffee to go, lock up the house and go to my car. I pause at the trunk. It’s open.

‘Did I leave it open? The bloody blankets might give me trouble if I’m pulled over...but I’m a renowned vet and I’ve taken in seals before…’ I leave them.

Driving to the supermarket I realize that I not only have to work today, but I’m incredibly late. Cussing quietly at a red light I put my forehead against the steering wheel. Grabbing my phone with a snarl I call in.

“Hey I’m not going to be able to come in today, I was up most of the night-”

“It’s okay, our volunteer said you came in right after getting off because of a wounded seal. Just remember to get some sleep once you’re sure it’s stable, okay?” 

“Uh...yeah.” I say rubbing my stubble. “Thank you.” They say goodbye and hang up. I expected to be chewed out but I guess it’s a small clinic in a small town without much action. Parking I swig some coffee. “Let’s make this quick.” I murmur. 

     Checking out all the fish I could afford to buy at once, I pretend to be on my phone. “Wow, that's a lot of fish!” The cashier bubbles.

‘Why are you so happy in the morning?’ I think.

“Yes.” I mumble.

“Do you have a pet seal or something?” They press.

“That’s unethical.” I mumble and then look back at my phone. ‘And illegal except with specific paperwork but seals are social animals and it would be cruel to keep one as a pet.’ I sigh, ‘I wonder if that mercreature is supposed to be social, it said it couldn’t find a pod.'

I pay for the fish, an ungodly amount but I want to stock up so I wouldn’t have to go out as often. I’d freeze most of it to keep it fresh. 

When I pull in front of my house I realize I’ve barely drunk my coffee. I take a few more sips and then grab the bags of fish, unlock the lab door and enter there. Putting the excess fish in the fridge and freezer I glance at the tank and then start when it’s empty.

“Hey!” I exclaim and start forward when the water shifts and the merman reappears.

He beams at me and then shoots upward exclaims, “Look I’m getting stronger already!” He lifts his hands and concentrates hard, his face fins seem to vibrate as water droplets start to float, he gasps in, losing control of them, “See!” 

I gawk. Unable to respond as my mind struggles to make sense of what I just saw, ‘how could science explain this? It makes sense that creatures had to have some special abilities to stay hidden for so long, but how did the water defy gravity like that?’

The mercreature deflates, “Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have…” 

“Is, is it some sort of-” I cut myself off, “How did you do that?” I ask firmly.

The mercreature looks scared. “I, I don’t know. I’ve always been able to control the water like this?” 

I look at the fish in my hands and force myself to let it all go in a long breath and walk up to the tank, “It’s fine. It just startled me.”

The merman just stares warily. I give him the fish and he takes it quickly diving into the bottom far corner to eat. I go back to the cot and lay down with a sigh. ‘I’m exhausted.’ Throwing my arm over my face it doesn’t take long before I doze off. 

I wake up overheated and then snap awake, “What time is it?!” I gasp, rushing to my desk to check the clock there. It’s been five hours. Cussing, I rush to let Honey out. She frolics around the yard while I clean up her mess. When I’ve finished I call her back in but then hear her barking down at the docks again. I head down with a bit of a headache. Honey is on the end of the dock barking at the water. I grab her by her collar and turn to drag her back to the house. A splash startles me and I look back while dragging her forward. She snarls and salivates, practically rabid.

“Honey!” I exclaim and look back at dry land, feeling my heart pounding. Knowing there is something horribly wrong I pick her up and run. Glancing back as soon as I’m off the dock I swear I saw something dip back under the water. I have goosebumps and the hair on the back of my neck is up, 'there was animosity and dare I say it hunger in the air, that was no seal.'

I carry Honey into the house and close the door feeling frightened, for the first time of my life that something was going to try to come and get me. I let Honey into the lab with me.

“Behave,” I say to her and then to the merman.

He looks at Honey with a strange expression. She bristles and growls at him softly. He hisses then disappears back into his corner pouting. I click my tongue at Honey but she stays alert staring into the tank. Sighing I got to get the leash and attach her to the leg of the metal desk. I pet her to let her know she was a good girl and then climbing the ladder touch the top of the water with my palm. 

     It was cool to see a shiver go up the merman’s scales along his spine and he turns looking up. Swimming to the surface he looks past me at the dog then whines, “Why is the scary beast in here?”

“It’s her job.” I respond curtly, “Is there any reason for… would there be any mercreatures looking for you?” I ask slowly.

“There shouldn’t be.” The mercreature says almost too nonchalantly, “Can I have more to eat, I’m starving.” 

I scruff my hair and then show my palms complacently, “I think I saw another mercreature at the docks, it felt...bad, like it was out to get me.”

The boy blinks those strange eyelashes and then looks very concerned like he just remembered something. “Th, there’s a chance th, that um, it’s a hunter.”

“What’s a hunter?” I ask. He looks away scared to tears.

“M, my wounds hurt and I’m hungry.” He whimpers.

‘It’s like dealing with a kid.’ I think.

“Okay I’ll take care of your wounds, can you leave the tank to lay on the table?”

“The dog!” The mercreature explains. 

“She’s tied up, she can’t hurt you.” I soothe. He swims closer to me and then shivers when I touch his scales to pick him up. “Try not to move.” I ask him. He nods and then as I go down the ladder slowly grips his arms around my ribcage. “Gentle.” I whisper. He clenches his fists as we pass the snarling, Honey. I place him down on the table.