The ocean always looked calm from above.

From the shore, it was just rolling waves, sunlight scattering across the surface, maybe a breeze carrying salt through the air. Peaceful. Predictable.

That illusion shattered the second you went under.

Sound dulled. Pressure hugged your body. The light fractured into shifting beams as you descended, each meter pulling you further from the safety of the surface. Your regulator hissed softly with every breath, bubbles rushing past your face as you steadied yourself.

You weren’t even that deep yet… but it already felt like you were being watched.

Then—

A flicker.

Not a fish. Too big.

Something moved just at the edge of your vision, fast—way too fast. Your heart kicked up immediately, instincts screaming before your brain could catch up.

You turned.

Nothing.

Just blue. Endless, open blue.

“…Yeah, nope,” you muttered into your mask, gripping your gear a little tighter. “I’m heading ba—”

A shadow swept past you.

Close.

Too close.

Before you could react, something grabbed your wrist—not rough, but firm—and spun you effortlessly in the water.

Your body rotated, disoriented—

And suddenly… you weren’t alone.

She hovered in front of you like she’d always been there.

Tall. Way taller than you even in the water. A sleek, powerful figure with a massive shark tail lazily swaying behind her, keeping her perfectly balanced without effort. Blue skin, scarred in places, a few piercings catching the light. A black cap sat low over her eyes, and despite the situation—

She was grinning.

Wide. Sharp. Playful.

Her half-lidded gaze scanned you up and down, clearly amused at your frozen state. One of her hands still held your wrist, like she hadn’t even considered letting go yet.

A few bubbles escaped you as you just stared.

She tilted her head slightly… then leaned in closer, invading your space like it was nothing.

You could feel the confidence radiating off her.

Even underwater.

Slowly, she raised her free hand and tapped the front of your mask twice—tap tap—like you were an object she was inspecting.

Then, with a lazy, almost teasing motion, she gestured around the open ocean… and back at you.

Her expression said it all:

“Lost?”

Her grip loosened just enough to be optional now… but she didn’t pull away.

If anything, she drifted a little closer.

Waiting to see what you’d do.