Lunette pursed her lips, “Nothing’s wrong with it. Except for the fact it’s the same stupid song.” The melody of the piano continued softly, filling the room with a sense of mystery until a sour note rung out. “And then that. It never finishes. It just always ends on a bad note, tries to fix it, gives up, and then plays from the beginning.” Just as Lunette said, the piano melody attempted to add to the previous tune, eventually halting before starting up from the beginning. “I’m going crazy here.” She pressed her hands to her head, brushing the hair out of her face.

            Jerrard stared at her irritable figure and then towards the bookcase exit. “How about we do some field research?”

            Lunette lifted her head, curious. “What kind of research.”

            “Are you familiar with the whirlpool that is around here?”

            “Old Sow?”

            Jerrard’s lip curled, disgusted. “Yes, I suppose.”

            “What about it?”

            “I propose we head over there. Silas and I were supposed to evaluate it for Walter. Apparently, the leviathans have been causing an upset amongst the spirits in the water.”

            “There are spirits at the whirlpool?”

            Jerrard rolled his eyes and began to stand. “There are spirits everywhere, the smaller ones especially like to cross over because they can fit through the cracks.” He brushed off his pants and long-sleeved jacket, finding them to be accumulating sand. “Shall we go?”

            For once, Lunette’s expression lightened, and she followed after Jerrard with newfound energy. Once stepping out of the library, however, she noticed the piano had increased in volume as if it were coming from the higher levels of the home. Lunette lifted her head towards the stairs once they were in view, curious to find where the strange song had been originating from.

            “Meet me at the car, I will need to see if Vera or Silas can join.” Lunette’s features turned into a frown, but she complied. Neither option was a good option. On one hand, she could deal with an awkward, naïve, and uncomfortable experience with Silas. Or a nerve-racking, dangerous, and blood spilling one from Vera. Ultimately, Lunette found out it would be Silas joining them for this mission.

            “How are we getting to the whirlpool by the way?” Lunette in the end asked once the group had driven a far distance towards the docks.

            “With a boat of course.”

 “So, you guys have your own boat then?”

            Jerrard sneered, “No.”

            Sure enough, when the group had reached the docks, Jerrard had merely paid for slots on a tourist ferry. “You know,” Lunette started, taking her first few steps on to the boat behind Jerrard and in front of Silas. “I was expecting a family, like yourselves, to at least be fancy enough to not ride on a ferry.

            “We need to see what it’s like in everyday scenarios. We can’t just show up and spook them.” Lunette, though she heard and understood what he meant, gave no indication that she did.

            The three enjoyed the boat ride on the lower deck of the ship, focusing on the stern of the ferry. They were only joined by a few other passengers, though no one paid attention to anyone else as they crossed waters and towards Old Sow. Now December, the chilling winds sent shivers down Lunette’s spine and the ocean’s spray continued to suck the heat out of her.

            Luckily, it only took a matter of minutes to approach the whirlpool and the captain's voice boomed through various speakers on the ship; Providing an educational overview of Old Sow, it’s history, and why it has come to form. Lunette stared curiously into the waters.

            “It looks like the water’s boiling.” How lucky would it be to have boiling water at this temperature? “You sure there’s anything actually in there.” The ferry rocked slightly from the currents but did it’s best to stay steady in the water. The surrounding islands and lighthouses were dull in comparison to the growing whirlpool.

            “Ladies and gentlemen, it is your lucky day.” The captain continued to announce, “It seems Ol’ Sow is very active right now!”

            Silas joined Lunette in looking over, curious for himself as well. Lunette watched the water stir over itself over and over, eventually turning into a spiraling whirlpool. The experience in real life was much different from her second-hand exploration in the classroom.

            But there was something about the water that Lunette noticed. With every wave and current that crashed into one another, forming a white film of air, Lunette could see more and more of her own reflection. She leaned further to inspect, trying to figure out how the water could possibly be reflective in its violent state.

            As she continued to watch, she grasped it wasn’t her reflection, but instead the face of a woman with white hair and black eyes. Though she wanted to speak, Lunette couldn’t bring herself to do so. As if time slowed down, her own body was suddenly enveloped in a bubble of water. The ocean reaching out and grabbing her out of the boat. Her body turned back, her hand reaching out to try to grab something or anyone. Silas, the first to notice, immediately held out his hand, ready to grab her back, but stopped. And just like that, Lunette was taken under the icy cold waters of the Atlantic.

The girl struggled for air; the sounds of water thrashing hit her ears like drums. She struggled against the sea, trying to swim to the surface, but only felt more resistance and a pull for her to stay. Her lungs and windpipe burning, Lunette gripped her throat and started to curl into a ball.

            “You.” A voice echoed clearly through the water. Lunette hesitantly tried to see the figure past the rushing of water and air bubbles. “Enough.” The voice commanded, and as if suspended in time, the currents around her stopped moving, allowing her to float in place.

            Lunette’s eyes widened as the vivid image of the pale woman with snowy hair filled her vision. Her eyes were completely black, no whites to be seen, and her body seemed to fade out into the water.

            “Fix what you have done.”

            Lunette, seeming to forget her need for air, tried to speak through the water. “W-what?”

            The woman floated closer, her eyes piercing straight through Lunette. “Fix the mess you have brought on with the beasts below, they are disrupting the peace of my waters.”

            “I don’t know anything about – ” Lunette tried to voice out. Somehow, the woman understood, but became enraged, a beaming aura surrounding her.

            “They are plotting to return to the surface to eat your disgusting flesh, only then will they be able to roam free again! Correct the mistakes you have made with bringing the beasts here. Or, if you prefer, I could consume you now and do it myself.”

            Lunette remained quiet, unable to formulate a response. The bubbles around the water began to stir, and the currents slowly started to flow again. The woman glanced up to the surface, watching it begin to churn as well.

            “You will live…For now. But if you do not heed my threats, I will be back to enact my vengeance.” Her melodic voice turned bitter, eyeing the girl before raising a pale and delicate hand, flicking it upward. Following her command, the water around Lunette began to pull her back to the surface, allowing her head to breach the water.

            “Lunette grab my hand!” Jerrard yelled out. Lunette’s eyes stung and remained closed as she coughed heavily, trying to expel the water from her lungs. Her arms flailed towards the sound of Jerrard until her forearm was gripped tightly.

            Her body was then smoothly lifted out of the water and planted on the firm ground of the boat. “Oh, my goodness!” A woman shrieked, realizing someone had fallen overboard. “Help! Help! Captain!” Her voice continued to shout as she headed towards the upper deck.

            Lunette continued to cough, her body shivering and convulsing from the lack of heat. Her lip quivered, and she felt a warm fabric meet her back. Finally, she opened her eyes to see Jerrard had wrapped his jacket around her. His face, though apparently concerned, seemed more interested in what happened father than her wellbeing. His eyes darting to the water and back to her shaking figure.

            Lunette raised her head higher to see a bewildered Silas staring down at her. Anger soon rushed over her as she remembered how he refused to grab for her. “You!” She screamed, “Why didn’t you help me!? You let this happen!” Silas’ eyes widened, and his posture fell poorly. He continued to remain silent which only angered her more. “Why?!” She screamed louder.

            “You told me to never touch you…” He mumbled, unsure of what she wanted anymore. Lunette’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

            “W-What?”

            “Oh dear!” A man’s voice yelled out. “What happened? Did you fall over? Here, let's get up and I’ll bring you inside.” The man cupped her shoulders against his hands and chest, helping her get up and head over inside to warm up.

            Silas watched as Lunette was guided away, unsure of what to do now. He turned his figure back to Jerrard, who was curiously looking over into the water. “What just happened?”

            Jerrard remained focused on the stirring water. “I believe our secular just met the spirit of the whirlpool. And I don’t believe it was very happy.”

            Silas combed his hand through his hair roughly, his feet pacing on the deck. “And what does that mean?”