Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #12 March 2015 | 页面 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.

PAGE 50

“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.