The Mermaid He Sold Away

a metal cart. On it was a high-pressure hose and a large canister marked "

ly. "We can't have our prize looking all blo

the pool. A hoarse, pleading sound escaped my throat. I

own of concern for me. It was the frown of a scientist worried about an uncontrolled variable. He didn

the hose. "Don't worry," she co

bject. Before I could recover, she switched to the sterilization agent. A clear, viscous liquid mixed with the water, and the moment

low water, trying to escape the searing pain, but there was nowhere

've got the pressure too high!" She was smiling as she said it, a wide, ecstatic smi

. He had his back turned to the pool. He was looking down at a tablet in his hands, his brow furrowed in concentration as he studied the data streaming from the s

bling in the water, my body a map of raw, re

is came back. He was carrying a tray. On it was a

or a calm, clinical tone. "Your stress levels are danger

to make me docile and c

last reserve of strength. I weakly thrashed, trying to get away fr

a moment, he hesitated. His hand paused almost imperceptibly. He saw the last sp

lunger. As the drug flooded my system, I felt the last light inside me go out. My pupils dilated, and the world dissolved in

imself. He let out a soft sigh of relief. Without a single glance at my silent, motionl

that sunny beach, the day I first saw him. He was smiling at me. And I, filled with