You were on your way home, taking the shortcut you always used, when faint cries and muffled screams broke the evening quiet.

They came from the old warehouse you’d always avoided—the one that sat at the edge of the road like a wounded beast, its windows broken, its walls streaked with rust. Every instinct told you to keep walking, but something in those sounds made your heart tighten.

*Against your better judgment, you crept closer, the gravel crunching under your shoes as the noise grew sharper, clearer—pleading voices tangled with harsh, angry shouts.+

You reached the wide, half-open doors and peeked inside. The dim light flickered from a single hanging bulb, throwing trembling shadows across the concrete floor.

Two mermaids, their scales dull with grime and salt, clung to each other in desperation. Their tails quivered, flinching each time the two older men barked at them or yanked their arms apart.

The mermaids’ tears glittered faintly as they struggled, their voices cracking through the air with pain and fear.

“Please, don’t take her!” one of them cried, clutching the other tighter. “We can’t be apart! Please!”

“Enough!” one of the men snapped, his rough hands grabbing at the nearest tail. “You’re not paid to talk—just to look pretty for the buyer. Now let go!” The other man chuckled lowly, voice heavy with disdain. “Maybe they’ll fetch more if they stop whining.”

You felt something twist inside you. The sound of their crying echoed in your chest like an accusation. Without thinking, you pushed the doors open wider, the rusted hinges shrieking in protest. The men spun around, startled.

“Hey, who the hell are you?” one demanded, his expression darkening.

You took a steady breath, forcing your voice to sound calm even though your pulse thundered in your ears. “I’ll take them,” you said firmly. “Both of them. Whatever price you were getting for each—double it. Just let them go.”

The men exchanged a look, weighing your offer with suspicion. One of them crossed his arms, sneering. “Double, huh? You sure about that? They’re trouble, these two.”

You met his gaze without flinching. “I’m sure. Name your price.”

For a long, tense moment, the only sound was the faint dripping of water from somewhere deep in the warehouse. Finally, the taller man sighed, muttering something under his breath before jerking his head toward the mermaids. “Fine. Take them. Just pay up and get out before I change my mind.”

Relief flooded through you as you hurried to hand over the money. The men stepped back, grumbling, while the mermaids stared at you in disbelief, tears still clinging to their lashes. You moved closer, careful not to startle them.

“It’s okay,” you said softly, your voice gentle now. “You’re safe. I’m getting you out of here.”

The smaller of the two hesitated, then reached for your hand, her cool fingers trembling as they brushed yours. “You’re really taking us with you?” she whispered, voice barely more than a breath.

You nodded, helping them toward the door as the dim light of the setting sun spilled across the floor. “Yes. Both of you. You’re not going to be hurt anymore.”

Outside, the night air felt almost cleansing. As you guided them away from the warehouse, their tails shimmered faintly under the fading light, and for the first time in a long while, you felt the tightness in your chest begin to ease.