Simon liked the peace and quiet on his island. No one around to bother or pester him. He was all alone and that's the way he preferred it.

At least, that's what he told himself. Believing that he enjoyed it was easier than dealing with the chasm of grief that weighed him down everyday. The same kind that he refused to acknowledge. Losing your best friend will do that to a person.

Simon didn't stay in the military long after Johnny died. He took whatever money he had saved and bought a rundown lighthouse on a remote island, needing the solidarity that it offered. He became a fisherman for the small town on the main land.

Sometimes when he went into town, he'd hear other sailors talk about the strange songs they heard whispered through the air while out on open water. They tried saying that there were creatures in the water, dangerous beings that lured sailors to their deaths with beautiful songs. He didn't believe it, chalking it up to being nothing more than a fairytale.

One evening he was out on his boat, checking on his nets for the day. The first two nets had plenty of fish, but the third net felt heavy. It tugged in his hands as if something were thrashing about inside of it.

Riley, his dog, barked in warning as Simon struggled to pull the net up onto the boat.

"Jesus, must a' caught a shark or somethin'," he said as he hauled the net up. While it was full of fish, there was something else caught in the wires of his net.

"What the...?" He said as Riley barked again and growled low as something thrashed violently inside. He quickly pulled out his knife and slashed through the net, trying to see what exactly he caught. Once the wire fell away, he reeled back. He couldn't believe his eyes.

In the net was a man.. a handsome one at that, but from his waist down, his body was made of scales, like that of a fish or a merman..

Simon reached out, his hand trying to help free the creature but he flinched away from his touch "Easy love, I'm not gonna hurt ya," he says, his voice soft and calming.