Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #12 March 2015 | Page 50
et he looks the same as he did when he came to the
house. Why did this have to be his ship?
“Touch me again, and I’ll show you fighting.” I snarl
at him, and stand up. He reaches for me again, and I
kick him between his legs as hard as I can. I won’t let
that man have his way with me again.
Several men hold me back while I kick, claw and bite
everything I can reach. I hear the captain yell out,
“Toss her overboard; let the sharks deal with her!”
Someone ties my legs and hands with some rope. I
feel my hands and feet go numb as they lift me up and
carry me to the fence. The water feels hard, like I have
crashed into a wall. It engulfs me. I start to sink down
fast. Looking down, I notice two cannonballs tied to
the ropes.
I need to set myself free, I need to untie the knots.
I want to be free. Maybe this way I will be. I can’t
swim away. I open my mouth and let it fill with water.
Maybe this is the only way.
Something grabs my arm. I jump up when I see her.
She is like a blur in the water. She puts something in
my mouth. It’s a shell.
A sudden gust of air surprises me. I can
breathe. I feel the ropes being untied. My legs
feel stuck together. My eyes clear. Now
I can see the girl in front of me. I look
down.
The skin sheds of my legs, revealing slimy
scales underneath. I see my feet slip off
and fall, a bright blue fin appearing in its
place.
When I touch it, I notice my fingers are
now webbed, and my face no longer feels
bruised.
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“Come on!” A jingly voice reaches me. I turn around,
and I see an entire shoal of girls giggling and waving.
They all have fins.
I look down. I am not human anymore. No one can
reach me, no one can make me do anything, no one
can punish me. A rush of happiness comes over me.
I’m free.