Chapter 1

Greenland Sea, North America, 1990.

A gentle-going ship sailing on a peaceful sea. The sky, sauntering clouds, and the stars were shining. The mermaids jumped up and down back into the sea. 

On a far corner, a small mermaid swam in delight underwater.

 The yonder sky illuminated by the brilliance of stars was fascinating in her sight every time she would bob her head out of the water every night which she longed to see during the day. Her name is Isobel. She was very much aware that sons of men might see her when paddling their ship on the calm water so she always swims with caution.  

One day, on a moving ship sailing in her direction, she saw a little girl sat down near the edge while gazing at the water. Isobel then swam to her and let the girl see her. 

"Oh!" The little girl was surprised and the mermaid just smiled at her as she swam away wiggling her tail back and forth. The little girl can't do anything other than gaze in awe.

"Daddy! Daddy!" she immediately said, "I saw a mermaid. You won't believe it, she just smiled at me!"

"They love little kids," Dennis said, lighting a cigarette. 

"Jane, come over here," her mom commanded her to stave off any catastrophe. "Arthur sifts for Jane, she should sleep here."

"There is enough space for them," Dennis said.

"I want to see her near me," she replied.

"Dad," Arthur said, "You remembered your promise?"

Dennis looked at him. "Which one?" 

"You said you would tell us the story of how you marry our mom."

Their mom smiled looking at Dennis.

He cleared his throat. "I met Janet when she was fetching water with her friends-"

"Does she looked beautiful?" Jane interrupted him. And Janet laughed. 

"Sure. She was as beautiful then as she is now," he said while looking lovingly at his wife.

"So, you -" 

"Shut up. I asked the question first," Arthur interrupted her.

"As if I care," Jane attacked back.

"Easy guys," Dennis meddled, "I will answer all your questions."

"So, do you love her?" Jane asked and Arthur looked at her with bad eyes. 

"Don't look at me like that again. Do you hear me?" their parents giggled. Jane behaves like a big girl in town, sometimes.

"Easy guys. Your mother charmed me. And I find all ways just to capture her attention and -"

"How did you get her attention?" their only daughter interrupted him.

"That." He laughed so hard while reminiscing. "You know, it's not easy. Sometimes I would go to their house to buy eggs. If my mom asked me to buy five. I would buy it one by one just to see her face."

"Wow," Arthur said.

"Did you confess?" Jane asked while her doe eyes widened.

"I left.." he laughed "I gave her a letter when I went to buy an egg."

"And she accepted it?" she asked.

"No." He looked at Janet, who is smiling at him now. "Her mother come back to me with the letter." 

"Oh goodness, she beat you?" Arthur asked

"No. She just insulted me and left," he clarified, "And then later, Janet came to me and slap my face-"

"Ouch..really dad?" Jane giggled.

"Yes, but I saw it in her eyes that she doesn't want to. She was just forced by her anger." 

"Dad look!" Jane shouted.

Bright torches flared to them. Dennis looked frightened while Jane hugged her mom in fear. 

"Dennis Williams," a voice said from a man climbing to their ship.

"John." Dennis recognized the voice. "You swam here?"

"Childhood friend," John said, "You have a guest. I didn't come alone." Five people came out from the water and climbed the boat. 

"Oh. Where are you going?"

"Here," John responded.

"What made you come here, my friend?"

"To have your golds and silvers."

"What are you talking about, John?"

"I don't have time. Be quick or else," he said while revealing his gun.

They are shocked and Jane screamed in her mother's arms.

"Who should I kill first?" He pointed the gun at their mother. "This one?"

"John, why are you doing this?" Arthur asked in confusion.

"Or I should start here." He pointed the gun at Arthur, targeting his head.

"Easy John, it's over there," He opened a treasure and showed him the shining golds and silvers. John smiled and carried it. 

"Sorry...Old friend." He shot Janet. 

"What-"

"Momm!!" Jane and Arthur screamed.

He then shot Dennis down while the kids started running, but John grabbed Jane's arm. He was able to shot Arthur in the arm. Arthur ran with the pain and jumped out of the boat into the water. "He can't save himself. He would get drown like a drunkard and die," John said while laughing with others.

They threw Dennis and Janet's dead bodies out into the sea and tie Jane's hands with a rope as they sailed away.

"Mummy... Daddy" Jane cried.

"Shut up," John said. "I'm your father now."

"You heartless killer," she spat with disgust, "You just murdered my family. You can never replace my father. Let me go!!"

"Should I shot her sir?" one of his men asked him.

John looked at him. "Touch her and you will die." 

"Mummy..."

John smiled at Jane. "I can erase your memories when we get to the city. You will just forget everything like a flash of light," he said while patting her head, "Just like a dream."

Arthur heaving breathlessly sank deeper into the water. He imagined his parents were calling for him in white clothes. "Wait for me, mom and dad." 

"Your sister, Jane. Oh my poor Jane," Janet lamented.

"Go back son. Hurry and save her," Dennis said and they disappeared.

Arthur shouted, "No!" 

His body kept sinking beneath the waters. Isobel saw him and swam near him. He is still conscious despite his condition, he instantly felt an irresistible attraction towards the mermaid. She held his head up and swam up to the surface. She looked at his face and she was stunned by his handsome features. Beauty beyond the shining stars. She perceived Arthur was breathless. What seems odder was she felt pity towards him in which she rarely does. When a storm arose and angry waters killed travelers in twenty boats, Isobel didn't pity them. But here, she wept for the boy she barely knew and her tears dropped in the form of small shining golds.

"You looked handsome without opening your eyes but I can't deny that you were far more attractive in your conscious state," she whispered in his ears, "I wanted to see you every day. I wanted you to look at me with your winsome eyes and tell me that you felt it too. I don't want us to become strangers again but I had no choice. I will come back to you after I use all the time that I must use in the water. I wish you remember me again someday," she wished. And she kissed him.