Blind. Eyes bolted shut with the fleshy folds that encompas them. I tried to open them once before, only to be greated with an all encompassing biting sting. Lemon juice in a fresh cut: “If it hurts that means it’s working”.

Suffocated, I descended further into the abyss. At first l fought against this aquatic fate; Kicking, screaming with what little air I had left. But I became calm with time - what choice do I have but to allow the savage ocean to claim my body and soul as another careless child returning home after straying too far from aquatic providence.

Reclusive from the world surrounding me once again, Blind, deaf, motionless. My head is now bowed, towards the spirit of the water - my God.

Contorted, my arms tucked under my chin and my knees swung in to protect nothing but my slowing heart.

My spine exposed to the darkness around it; the fish recognise my body as an extension of their habitat. They know little of the difference between the harsh ridges of my ribs to the waves of sand dusted across the water's floor.

A return to the mother - my mother. Once again wreathed within her womb; safe, protected.

Deeper still, I descend.

Here’s a suspenseful criminal story for you:

The Silent Alibi

Detective Sarah Hale was known for her sharp intuition, but the case of the Vanished Composer had stumped even her. A month ago, renowned composer Elias Grant had disappeared from his penthouse in the city, leaving behind no evidence—no fingerprints, no signs of struggle, no note. It was as if he had simply vanished into thin air.

The case had taken the city by storm, with everyone buzzing about theories: a sudden escape, a secret lover, even rumors of the occult. But Sarah sensed something different. Her instincts told her it was no random disappearance; it was carefully orchestrated.

One cold night, as she sifted through Elias’s personal belongings, she discovered a crumpled concert program with a small, smudged mark on it—barely visible. It was the logo of a hidden speakeasy downtown called The Silent Note, a place only a few knew about.

Sarah decided to investigate. Disguised as a regular patron, she entered The Silent Note. It was dimly lit, filled with the murmur of whispers, and the faint sound of jazz. As she ordered a drink, a familiar face caught her eye: Marco Flynn, a notorious art dealer with a dark history of smuggling and forgery. He was known for his love of fine music—and connections to organized crime.

Acting casual, Sarah edged closer to overhear Marco’s conversation. He was talking to a man she recognized as Alex Moreau, a musician who had once played in Elias’s orchestra.

“…but he never knew what was coming,” Marco whispered, chuckling.

Sarah’s pulse quickened. She had uncovered the link she’d been searching for. Elias hadn’t simply disappeared; he had been taken by someone who wanted something he possessed—possibly one of his unpublished compositions rumored to contain encrypted codes for accessing offshore accounts.

That night, Sarah followed Marco to an abandoned theater on the outskirts of the city. She watched from the shadows as he unlocked the door and slipped inside. Following him in, she found herself in a room full of priceless stolen artwork and rare manuscripts. And there, bound but alive, was Elias Grant, disheveled and weak.

Before Marco could react, Sarah confronted him, her gun drawn. “It’s over, Marco,” she said. “The music stops here.”

With Elias safe and Marco in custody, the case was finally closed. But as Sarah left the theater, a question lingered in her mind: How many other secrets lay hidden in the world of art, crime, and the silent notes of the city?

Let me know if you enjoyed this story or want more!

It started with colors Blues, greys, green, aquamarine
And it’s not always clear What’s up or down But kelp orients us back to The light

Curiosity takes us deeper But as we descend Clarity ends A blue world on top Instead of green below Adding weight Building pressure Our bodies say no There’s nowhere to go But down There’s nowhere else to explore
When you never feel right

Deep black Once you’re there You can’t go back Swallowed whole by how everything Is nothing Demons pounce in the dark No wonder the fish don’t go Too far below The sane aren’t willingly swallowed By endless night

Crushed by the void Turns out that the urge to explore The darkest depths of the sea floor Isn’t drive, it’s desperation Nothing more
And those who said to buy a tank for your darkest thoughts Were right

The flow of the world on my skin cooling the essence of my soul with undying

flashes of Blue movements twisting into visions of lives.

thrown to the abyssal plain to give

                         meaning 

to true oblation as we fall deep within the ribs of the world.

screaming upon horizons.

                        cold lights.

beaming the sensation of salt and blood on the lives that reside within the depths.

I allow the world to cover my flesh I embrace the cold of it all beginning to slowly let my lungs fill with the profound cold embrace, understanding

         My soul 

Will reside Within the beautiful Cold

Embrace.

The waves of the world bring nosies of splashing.

                   manic laughter 

my lips begin to intake the salt of the world.

My eyes roll back My lungs are full Cold crossing my flesh The noise of waves

Salt.

The gun in my mouth couldn’t stop the water of the beautiful

World.

I transformed for the first time that night, stepping my cold feet on the wet shores of the Mediterranean, my footsteps leaving marks that lasted only moments before the slow wave wiped them away. The moon was bright that night, not a full moon, but bright enough that I could see where I was going without any light present. I didn’t know what to expect, stepping into this new world, following my instincts of a world better than I lived in before.

Summer was just turning into fall, so the weather was warm and clear but the sea seemed to be ahead of dry land, embracing winter with open arms. All I had was the clothes on my back, but that too would disappear once I fully submerged beneath the surface. I could finally start over and not have to think one more minute about the sister who lived across the road and refused to speak to me for years, about the loss of my father, about he who broke my heart. I could be someone entirely knew as I sunk deeper into the sea, allowing my baggage to float at the surface.

The salty smell of the waves enveloped me as I stepped closer, the water reaching my hip, my stomach, and then my elbows. I felt the webs growing between my toes and soft scales adjusting in the right position on the outside of my thighs and legs. The calming sound of the waves lured me in slowly and my body responded to the water surrounding me, just like in the lab aquarium where I was experimented on, over and over again.

I kept walking inwards until my head became totally submerged and my hair floated around my face, seemingly coming alive for the first time. I held my breath, counting to thirty as I trained, and felt my body adapt to the new environment and adjust to the coolness of the water. I began to hear the smooth glides of various fish nearby and the careful crawls of crabs on rocks nearby. Inhaling the oxygen through the gills in my sides, I excitedly opened my now dilated eyes and could see vividly. Underwater.

(Nixie’s pov)

I swam across the depths of the ocean as fish if every color swam around me. I stopped for a while feeling their living essence. The thrum of the ocean felt like music all around me. “Nixie, it’s time for dinner!” Called my Mom from our house made of shell bricks and seaweed. I went inside our house. Breathing in the sweet smell of my Mom’s sweet loaf I looked around. Everything was just like I left it.

Our house was relatively small, but it was cozy enough for us to make it work. The sea pulp chairs took up half of the living room floor. They we’re placed so me and my Mom could watch the news on our small sand line together. I sat down in our dining room, well I say dining room it was really more like an eating corner. A small table attached to the wall hung over two chairs

“Nix sweet heart I have you know how I have been talking about moving for quite some time?” My Mom asked. “Yeah, why?” “Well I found a new house by the bay in the Pacific Ocean and I think we should go there. It has more space and there are more mermaids for you to make friends with.” She said. I had gotten used to Mom saying that she wanted to move. I heard it so many times that I didn’t think it would bother me if she said that we would actually move away, after all she gave me years of notice, but boy was I wrong.

“What! Move!” I said. “Nixie I thought you would be fine with it.” I could tell that she was surprised at my outburst. I couldn’t blame her I was too. “Mom listen to me. I. Can. Not. Move.” I empathize the word, not. “I think this will be a good opportunity for us Nixie. Think about the adventures we would have. The friends you would make.”

Mom knew that I had always been a loner ever since childhood. She always pushed me to make friends, but I never understood the point the more people you trust the more you get hurt, that’s what I always thought and she will not change my mind.

Like it or not, I was moving to the Pacific, and I was no where near ready for it.

As I drift onto the sea I’m as scared as I can be On the medium sized boat And it’s on its way to float

I see a big octopus staring And I finally tell I’m very daring It slowly swims away As I slowly drift away

I land on an island full of trees As well as the sound of buzzing bees I go to a coconut tree And start drinking the water

I don’t know how I’m going to eat But that’ll be a challenge for sure I might not survive But I know that my heart will always be alive

Deep dark shadows Silence in the depth Sunken in the hallows Stillness at rest

Smell of stale air Skin covered from cold Deep down nowhere Nothingness were told

Writhing beneath the gentle current floats the great Sockeye salmon. She has begun the arduous trek toward her home-waters, the smell of familiar gravel and streams guiding her wayward journey. The scales on her body begin shifting color, sensitive to the touch. Here where the rivers meet the sea, the water remains murky, severely limiting her vision. However she is strong and healthy, and relies upon that scent of home like an invisible beacon during a storm. She tastes the freshwater, knowing she is on the right path, but a biological stopwatch has been activated. Her body has adapted to the salt, and returning to the freshwater will inevitably be her demise, hopefully after a successful spawn. But that is a long ways away - she thrusts forward into the warmer waters. Rapids and currents cannot stop her, the quiet ocean must be left behind. Her sixth sense, that natural instinct, drives her to continue her genetic legacy. She will attempt one of the most challenging, strenuous and dangerous journies in the animal kingdom: the journey home.

Did you know, That we don’t have a sense for water? We can only tell by the temperature shift or the change in pressure. Or the fact that it would burn in our lungs.

But we need water, right? We need water just like oxygen to survive. But suddenly when you’re surrounded by it, When it’s consumed everything and everyone, It’ll kill you.

That’s a metaphor for a lot of things, isn’t it? Being healthy is good, but not when it’s an obsession. Confidence is key, but an ego makes an asshole Patience is a virtue, but don’t waste your whole life waiting for something. You’re supposed to be humble, not hate yourself. I said you’re not supposed to hate yourself, you idiot.

What’s the view even like down there? Is it as dark and dreary as you make it out to be? Are you still thrashing and fighting to get back towards the surface? Or are you just pissed you’re still alive.

Do you even hear me, anymore? Remember? Remember me? I’m your conscience, your rational thoughts. I know I go away sometimes, I’m sorry for that. Just please, open your eyes again.

I know the sun filters through dimly, And you have to fight to float, But it’s not worth dying here. Open your eyes, Just open them.