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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Horror / Scary
- Published: 03/14/2021
Of Land and Sea
Born 1960, M, from Orange Park, FL, United States.jpeg)
It was mid-August, and the harbor was covered with a heavy shroud of darkness. The sea breeze pushed against the side of the house as though trying to enter. I lay there in my bed listening to the sounds of the sea and straining to hear the voice of the Lady. Her voice calls for companionship. She is lonely and cries for the seafarers who are her children.
Through the thickness of the night, I began to hear another sound. It was that of a whimpering child. I sat upright in bed and listened as it grew nearer and louder. Suddenly I realized the sound was from within my own bedroom. I yanked the bed sheets up to my chin and with a false braveness challenged the intruder. “Who’s there?” I received no reply except for the continued whimpering. This time it was so near to me I could feel the moist breath of the child upon my face. My entire body began to shake for fear of the unknown. I jabbed my hand through the darkness to reach the light. Just then I felt the tiny fingers of a child on top of my hand and the soft voice of a young girl echoed out to me.
“I don’t want to go.”, she said. Suddenly I found myself unable to move. The sadness in her voice crawled into my very soul and held me from within. I was no longer frightened but instead filled with a feeling of sorrow. I reached out for the girl and embraced her. Her body was cool and damp to the touch. Through this I could feel the warmth of her heart reaching out to me and I knew I was needed.
As the child wept, I again began to hear the voice of the Lady, but this time it seemed different. The wind grew in strength and with it so did her voice. Rain beat the side of the house and the ocean’s waves rose against the rocks that serve as its foundation.
The girl at my side began to shake and from within her frail body came a sound that by itself riveted my heart with fear. She began not to embrace me but to clutch at my body searching for the security she needed.
My eyes opened wide and searched the darkness for the horror this child felt. Just then through my bedroom window I saw something. At first it was only an outline but then features began to form and from these I could make out a face. The face was that of a beautiful woman with long, dark billowing hair and eyes that pierced the darkness like those of a watchful mother.
As she peered through the glass, I saw a look of relief come over her face which all at once became one of intense anger. The pools of her eyes grew deeper and from within them came a rage which focused on the girl and me. The house began to shudder and move within itself until finally the window to my bedroom gave way to the forces of nature and slammed open. The wind and spray of the ocean gushed into my room and embraced our bodies. Pulling myself from the girls clutches I fought through the onslaught and after great deliberation forced the window closed. As the latch clicked into place, I noticed what seemed to be a sudden lull in the storm. I slid to the floor with my back to the wall and listened. The strength of the storm had decreased and now seemed to be moving off into the distance leaving the harbor in a settling chop and mild silence. I then settled back into myself to regain my composure. I absorbed the silence of the room and was for a moment content with it, when suddenly I was struck by the absence. The little girl’s whimpering had faded with the storm! Clambering for the bed I began to frantically call out for her but there was no answer. At last, I located the light and upon illuminating the room found what I had feared to be true. The girl had vanished.
As the night bore on and no trace of the girl could be found, I began to tire. I returned to my bed and laying my head to the pillow fell into a fitful sleep. From within my dreams the girl’s whimpering persisted and I drew no rest.
The dawn rose grey over the harbor and with it a great feeling of loss rose from within me. I walked about the house searching for something to occupy my mind but found no relief. Grabbing my jacket, I left the house and began to walk along the shore. As I walked, the misty sky bore down around me and with it came a heavy silence.
Some time had passed and being uncertain as to the distance I had traveled, I stopped to regain my bearings. I looked about but could not spot a landmark to use as reference. As I peered through the mist, I began to hear voices further down the beach. Drawing nearer, I saw a small crowd gathered at the water’s edge. Unable to see through the crowd I asked one of the men at the rear what had happened.
“It’s a shame,“ he said. “A damn shame! A little girl out here all alone!”
My heart suddenly stopped and restarted at a more rapid pace. I pushed through the crowd with fear and anticipation as my guide. Breaking through to the other side my eyes were forced to the ground where she lay half on the rocks and half submerged in the cold, dark water.
The voices surrounding me faded away and as I knelt beside her frail body, I was alone. I reached out and touched her pale cheeks and feeling the cold began to cry. After a short time, I stifled my tears and realizing I had a responsibility to the girl, set about caring for the body. Embracing her, I gently lifted her from the water and turned towards the crowd.
Suddenly I heard several gasps and looking up I saw everyone was staring unwillingly at the girl. Slowly I looked down and studied her. The realization struck me. She did not belong with me but with the Lady. Turning around I returned her to the ocean knowing the Lady would take care of her as she does all her children, whether they be seafarers riding upon her waves, the creatures that swim beneath her depths, or these rare creatures who desire the best of both worlds, the mermaids.
Of Land and Sea(Steven W Kimball)
It was mid-August, and the harbor was covered with a heavy shroud of darkness. The sea breeze pushed against the side of the house as though trying to enter. I lay there in my bed listening to the sounds of the sea and straining to hear the voice of the Lady. Her voice calls for companionship. She is lonely and cries for the seafarers who are her children.
Through the thickness of the night, I began to hear another sound. It was that of a whimpering child. I sat upright in bed and listened as it grew nearer and louder. Suddenly I realized the sound was from within my own bedroom. I yanked the bed sheets up to my chin and with a false braveness challenged the intruder. “Who’s there?” I received no reply except for the continued whimpering. This time it was so near to me I could feel the moist breath of the child upon my face. My entire body began to shake for fear of the unknown. I jabbed my hand through the darkness to reach the light. Just then I felt the tiny fingers of a child on top of my hand and the soft voice of a young girl echoed out to me.
“I don’t want to go.”, she said. Suddenly I found myself unable to move. The sadness in her voice crawled into my very soul and held me from within. I was no longer frightened but instead filled with a feeling of sorrow. I reached out for the girl and embraced her. Her body was cool and damp to the touch. Through this I could feel the warmth of her heart reaching out to me and I knew I was needed.
As the child wept, I again began to hear the voice of the Lady, but this time it seemed different. The wind grew in strength and with it so did her voice. Rain beat the side of the house and the ocean’s waves rose against the rocks that serve as its foundation.
The girl at my side began to shake and from within her frail body came a sound that by itself riveted my heart with fear. She began not to embrace me but to clutch at my body searching for the security she needed.
My eyes opened wide and searched the darkness for the horror this child felt. Just then through my bedroom window I saw something. At first it was only an outline but then features began to form and from these I could make out a face. The face was that of a beautiful woman with long, dark billowing hair and eyes that pierced the darkness like those of a watchful mother.
As she peered through the glass, I saw a look of relief come over her face which all at once became one of intense anger. The pools of her eyes grew deeper and from within them came a rage which focused on the girl and me. The house began to shudder and move within itself until finally the window to my bedroom gave way to the forces of nature and slammed open. The wind and spray of the ocean gushed into my room and embraced our bodies. Pulling myself from the girls clutches I fought through the onslaught and after great deliberation forced the window closed. As the latch clicked into place, I noticed what seemed to be a sudden lull in the storm. I slid to the floor with my back to the wall and listened. The strength of the storm had decreased and now seemed to be moving off into the distance leaving the harbor in a settling chop and mild silence. I then settled back into myself to regain my composure. I absorbed the silence of the room and was for a moment content with it, when suddenly I was struck by the absence. The little girl’s whimpering had faded with the storm! Clambering for the bed I began to frantically call out for her but there was no answer. At last, I located the light and upon illuminating the room found what I had feared to be true. The girl had vanished.
As the night bore on and no trace of the girl could be found, I began to tire. I returned to my bed and laying my head to the pillow fell into a fitful sleep. From within my dreams the girl’s whimpering persisted and I drew no rest.
The dawn rose grey over the harbor and with it a great feeling of loss rose from within me. I walked about the house searching for something to occupy my mind but found no relief. Grabbing my jacket, I left the house and began to walk along the shore. As I walked, the misty sky bore down around me and with it came a heavy silence.
Some time had passed and being uncertain as to the distance I had traveled, I stopped to regain my bearings. I looked about but could not spot a landmark to use as reference. As I peered through the mist, I began to hear voices further down the beach. Drawing nearer, I saw a small crowd gathered at the water’s edge. Unable to see through the crowd I asked one of the men at the rear what had happened.
“It’s a shame,“ he said. “A damn shame! A little girl out here all alone!”
My heart suddenly stopped and restarted at a more rapid pace. I pushed through the crowd with fear and anticipation as my guide. Breaking through to the other side my eyes were forced to the ground where she lay half on the rocks and half submerged in the cold, dark water.
The voices surrounding me faded away and as I knelt beside her frail body, I was alone. I reached out and touched her pale cheeks and feeling the cold began to cry. After a short time, I stifled my tears and realizing I had a responsibility to the girl, set about caring for the body. Embracing her, I gently lifted her from the water and turned towards the crowd.
Suddenly I heard several gasps and looking up I saw everyone was staring unwillingly at the girl. Slowly I looked down and studied her. The realization struck me. She did not belong with me but with the Lady. Turning around I returned her to the ocean knowing the Lady would take care of her as she does all her children, whether they be seafarers riding upon her waves, the creatures that swim beneath her depths, or these rare creatures who desire the best of both worlds, the mermaids.
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Sylvia Maclagan
03/23/2021Charming as well as scary story, Steven. I love stories about mermaids. As a child, I used to want to be one...lol.
You kept me enthralled from begining to end. Best wishes, Sylvia
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