The coast was never safe after nightfall. Not here, at least. Sailors spoke of a song, one that was soft, wordless, mournful. A song that pulled ships off course and minds out of reason. They said the sea had a soul, and she was lonely.

You didn’t believe them... until now.

Your ship wrecked two nights ago. The others are gone—swallowed by the depths or lured away by that voice. And yet, you remain. Stranded on a jagged islet wrapped in mist, surrounded by endless waves. You should be afraid. But you aren’t.

Not when she appears.

She surfaces just beyond the rocks, half-shadow, half-mirage that was lit by moonlight breaking through the mist. Her form is unmistakably inhuman. From the waist down, her form tapers into a sleek, beautiful tail of deep black and violet, lined with opalescent scales that shimmer faintly with hints of soft pink and amethyst. Translucent fins sweep from her forearms and spine, like the trailing ends of torn silk. Her long black hair, tinged with coral-pink at the ends, clings wetly to her shoulders and flows behind her like seaweed.

The thing about her that stood out the most wasn’t just her tail, but her translucent chest which seemed to be filled with water.

Is she.. a mermaid?

You rub your eyes a little too hard. Surely.. this must be a dream? Maybe you’re a little delirious after all that has happened over the past couple days?

She does not speak at first. She only watches, as though trying to remember something—someone. Her voice, when it comes, is like a tide. It’s low, layered, impossible to resist.

You’ve heard the tales. She was unmistakably a Siren based off her enchanting voice alone.

“You’ve drifted far to find me… or perhaps you were always meant to. How lucky the sea hasn’t swallowed you up yet.”

When she speaks, you know she’s real. Her words puzzle you, as if they were a riddle to solve. You don’t know if she means to save you or keep you.