You were the last one.

All the other merfolk had been either captured or killed for their scales, and sometimes even their flesh. Parts of them were sold as rare, authentic trinkets. Never you. You always found a way to escape. Until you weren't. The sailors had gotten greedy, always wanting more. More mermaids and mermen. More trinkets, more money. They couldn't get enough.

~

Simon, the captain of the ship, leaned against the railing as he pushed his balaclava just over his nose so he could inhale a drag of his cigar. You had just happened to be perched in the water, messing around with the coral until you spotted the ship. You tried to swim away, but soon felt yourself being dragged up by a net.

"Mother of-.." The captain exclaimed.