They started to snicker in unison, giving each other obvious looks of disgust. 

Silly Salmon, the group leader, looked at me. 

“What’s up, tiny trout?” 

I didn’t reply and I swam back a bit to create some distance. 

Silly Salmon cocked his body to the side and he grinned. “Don’t be such a scaredy trout,” he mockingly started. “Just here to show you the large gathering of fish that follows me.” His body moved out of the way to show off all his pals that were behind him.

I glared at him. “I don’t need to show off to others,” I settled for a reply. 

He scoffed at my remark. “Trout,” he started. “You’re a nobody; a nothing.” 

I opened my mouth then promptly closed it. I had to refrain from arguing with him further as it wouldn’t get me anywhere except being picked on more. I had to be quiet and stay quiet. This was the only way I could possibly survive. 

“You ready to race and get demolished again?”

I pursed my lips. “I can’t, I’m busy.” 

Silly Salmon chuckled. Every sound he made caused bubbles to pop out of his mouth. The other fish behind him did the same thing.

“Hehe..” 

He swam closer to me and circled around me, looking me up and down in judgement. 

My body tensed up in anxiety as I watched him from the corners of my eyes. 

“Busy? Busy doing what exactly… we all in Fish Dale school know how lonely you really are," snobbish voice coming from one of the fish said.

I sent them a glare. “Just leave me alone, I’m in the middle of my job right now and I can’t afford to damage the rest of my scales that are still intact.” 

He mulled over something in his head before his face turned cold. “Nice to hear,” he replied with dry sarcasm. 

“I’m being honest,” I argued with obvious bother. 

“What kind of incoherent bastard would hire you for a job?” He ridiculed me before swimming back to his pals. They all laughed together at that. 

Salmon was a jerk who thought less of people who were lower than him, and his friends who came after him helped elevate him. He would often pick on me when he saw me because I was unfortunate.

I watched them alone, giving them a long annoyed look. I huffed in dejection, deciding it was a good time to escape. 

“.. I have somewhere to go now.” 

Silly Salmon quirked his lips up in a smirk. “Cool, I have better things to do than talk to losers like you.” 

My eyes watched him as he turned around, his fish followed behind him. 

“Catch you later, loser,” he yelled. 

“Yeah, loser,” someone else said. 

Silly Salmon swam off, making his way further away and down to eat some algae while the rest of the group followed just inches behind him. 

“I hope they don’t come back,” I muttered feeling a little restless. 

I turned around to swim off. However, I was a fool to not notice that the water below me had started to turn black.

I stopped as I began to smell something odd. 

What’s going on…? 

My body felt frail, and I was starting to lose consciousness. I began to sway from side to side as the water around me turned a different colour. It began to surround me, engulfing me in its dark shadows. 

I huffed in panic, alarmed at the new circumstance. 

“What is this? I need to get back..” my voice squeaked in fright. I swam as fast as my flimsy body could. Why was this happening? I need to survive. I can’t die here, even if there is nothing left for me.. I need to stay alive. 

“I must…” I tried to stay awake, but it was too late. 

The darkness had overwhelmed me, knocking me out into a sleep of unconsciousness.