by DAN MONTY
Abigale thrashed her tail, swimming towards the streets, making her way towards Flinders Street Station again her spear held firmly in her hand by her side. Completely alone in the deserted city, submerged in water and desperately trying to stay calm, Abby pushed forward, swimming past the arts district; home of the art gallery, which was now completely submerged like everything else around her.
Boats had been pushed out of the river when the wave hit, forcing them over the bridge and they were carried along with the tide. Looking upward, Abby could see the silhouette of what could only be a boat high above her head. Abby pushed upward, swimming for the surface to investigate.
Abby broke out of the water, leaping onto the boat and dropping the spear at her side on the deck. She began her transformation, her tail becoming two legs, and her gills vanishing beneath her skin which turned from blue to a pale pink again. Abby coughed as her lungs adjusted to breathing air again and she took a few deep breaths, pushing herself up to her feet and standing on the deck of the boat.
There was nothing but water and sky in every direction. Abby walked into the lower cabin of the boat, which was equipped with a bed, a small kitchen, a shower, a small toilet, and a wardrobe. She sighed with relief when she saw there was a fridge in the kitchen, a stacked mini bar, and running water. She opened the fridge to see there was also plenty of food. Boxes of leftover Chinese food, cans of fruit, chocolate bars, and bread. Enough food to last her for weeks.
She opened a wardrobe in the small bedroom, sighing with relief when she found several sets of clothes – female and they even seemed close enough to her size. The small houseboat would serve her perfectly as a home, and she left the lower cabin heading upstairs to the main deck.
The helm was located on the main deck of the houseboat, which conveniently looked pristine and untouched. The keys were in the ignition and the gauges indicated there was plenty of fuel. There were also reserve tanks that Abby had noticed on the way in. A ghost boat, alone at sea with no one to sail her. Abby was delighted.
The sun went down and Abby returned to the lower deck, stepping out of her wet clothes and into a hot shower.
Abby crouched on the floor of the shower crying, letting all of her fear and emotion pour out in one moment. Everyone was gone. Everyone. There were no people to be seen or heard, and no John, Bo, or Beverly. Abby thought of all the things that had happened in the last five years, the changes she had gone through... The friends she had lost... it all poured out of her and in that lonely moment in the shower, Abby screamed at the top of her lungs.
*****
Abby opened the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of denim shorts and a white singlet, slipping into the clothes, trying to find the closest things she could to feel comfortable, her shark tooth necklace hanging around her neck, and her long, dark hair finally dry. She stepped into the living quarters and fell onto the bed, staring up at the hardwood ceiling.
She would have to leave Melbourne and she knew it. There was nothing for her here now but sadness and regret. In fact, there was only one place in the world she would be welcome at all and she knew that getting there would likely be quite a journey, though as she lay on the bed she could not help but wonder if she could do it – travel to the Caribbean in her new found vessel.
Her houseboat would not make the journey, it would be impossible. The boat she had found was intended for rivers, not open ocean. If there were any more large waves or rough seas, the boat would be ripped to pieces, and she knew it.
However she decided to sail the boat out of Melbourne regardless. She had to get away from the city, and who knows? Perhaps there were other boats out there somewhere and maybe even land.
After facing off with the shark, Abby had suffered flashbacks of the island. She could not go in the water right now and she knew it. The underwater world was perilous and after losing so much, she had no desire to lose her own life as well. She would stay on the boat, and get as far away from the city beneath her as she could. She would not give up, not while she still had breath in her lungs. She had to find survivors or land.
Abigale sighed again, closing her eyes and drifting off into a dreamless sleep. She was exhausted and tried to stop thinking. She took comfort in the fact that for the time being, at least she had a warm bed and a roof over her head, Shelter from the Storm as Bob Dylan would say. Tomorrow she would look more around the boat and worry about what to do next. For now, she was safe.
The boat drifted in the water as Abby slept – no heading, just guided by the ocean. There was no land in sight, no birds or trees – just the stars and moon in the night sky as the boat drifted through the endless ocean. 2025 was shaping up to be a bad year.
*****
The deep sea city of New Aquatica was alive with sharks gliding over the underwater metropolis and submersibles known as mantaships; unusual underwater craft that jetted beneath the waves and literally resembled massive glowing manta ray. They were glowing diamond shaped cruisers with long tails protruding from the rear of the vessels, creating the illusion of great glowing manta rays. The mantaships cruised around the underwater city as a way for mermaids and mermen to navigate long deep water exploration, the craft having been designed by the highly intelligent mermaids. They comfortably could seat up to three passengers and reach speeds up to six hundred kilometres an hour. They had limited weaponry, which mostly served as deterrents to large ocean predators.
Fisher Gree was a merman, not unlike the others of his kind – created by the strange German scientist several years earlier, he was muscular and even in his bluish skinned underwater state, he was considered handsome. He was also however, rather roguish and was known for his rebellious nature. He thrashed his tail through the water near the underwater mermaid city, sneakily swimming into a glass tunnel where a mantaship floated idly.
Fisher opened the canopy of the underwater vessel, climbing inside and sealing the canopy behind him, flipping switches and firing up the vessel as it lifted up and shot out of the glass tube and shooting through the water like a missile.
Bojak Khan, a merman guard, had watched the brazen theft with admiration at first. Fisher had a reputation for pinching things every now and then, but a mantaship? That was brave. Bojak swam over to his own craft, sighing. He was a large creature with a large bluish belly marked with tattoos, his bearded face bearing razor-sharp gritted teeth as he fired up his mantaship and taking off after the thief.
The cockpit of Fisher’s ship drained of water, and his bluish skin began to change into his human-looking skin, his legs reaching for the accelerator. He was a handsome, athletic man in his forties, with a mop of sandy blonde hair, and a youthful face. Fisher smiled as he glanced at a touch screen monitor, noticing the ship tailing him.
“Oh you wanna race? Okay. Let’s race!” Fisher said, slamming his foot on the accelerator as the mantaship zoomed out of the underwater city, aiming for the open ocean.
Bojak shook his head, his bluish skin now dark as he took on the appearance of a Jamaican man, with a very cross expression on his face.
“Oh no you don’t, Fisher! Not today, man!” Bojak flipped a switch, opening a channel of communication to the other craft.
“Fisher! You get back here! You can’t be stealing these ships, man! I ain’t playing around!” Bojak insisted. Fisher’s voice came back loud and clear.
“I’ll come back if you can catch me!” Fisher said. Bojak slapped his forehead.
Fisher’s mantaship weaved through underwater canyons, veering left and right as it dodged sharks and rock formations. Bojak followed him closely, desperately trying to keep up, though Bojak clearly wasn’t the deep sea pilot Fisher was. He tried to get closer to Fisher, but the bastard was so fast and navigated the depths like a pro.
“GODDAMMIT FISHER! SLOW FUCKING DOWN YOU BASTARD!” Bojak yelled, and Fisher’s laughter came through the speaker.
Fisher lifted the stick in his cockpit, raising the mantaship upward as it glided through the dark water head
ing towards the open mouth of another rock formation. He floored it, speeding through the open mouth of the rock, passing through and gliding downward, skimming the surface of the ocean floor.
Bojak reached the rock opening and cursed, scraping the rock as he passed through, lowering his mantaship and following Fisher across the ocean floor. He navigated the craft precisely, speeding up and gliding alongside Fisher’s vessel.
“Turn back now," Bojak said. Fisher nodded through the canopy before raising his middle finger and speeding up again, overtaking Bojak.
“Why? Why you gotta do this?” Bojak asked, risking a little more speed as he shot towards an underwater field of seaweed.
The two ships raced through the tall field of seaweed, darting in and out of the dancing green algae – their mantaships passing a hammerhead shark, that was startled by the racing vessel, swimming into an underwater cave out of sight.
“YOU’RE PISSING ME OFF, FISHER! COME ON MAN! QUEEN TEERA’S GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!” Bojak insisted. Fisher darted into another canyon, slowing down when he realised the canyon was full of submersibles, one of them firing an electrical charge from a cannon, hitting his mantaship and disabling its engine. Fisher cursed as the vessel slowed and crashed into the side of the canyon. He cursed under his breath as his canopy was forced open by two angry looking mermaids, Fisher’s skin changing blue and his legs forming into a tail in the water.
“Ah shit," Fisher mumbled, as one of the mermaids jabbed him with an electrically charged spear, jolting him and knocking him unconscious.
Chapter Eleven: Fisher's Quest
Fisher opened his eyes. He was in a glass cell that looked out into the ocean, iron bars preventing him from escape. The back wall and floor looked directly through the glass out into the deep blue of the sea - and the only thing in the room was a wooden bed decorated with hand carved mermaids. He sighed, sitting up in the bed and looking out at the sea, before turning towards the bars, where the queen stood outside the closed gate glaring in at him in her glorious red robe which trailed behind her. Her long blonde hair flowing to her hips, bright red lipstick accentuating her full lips. Her eyes, narrow and examining his every move.
“Fisher Gree! Why am I not surprised? Stealing a mantaship is more than enough to keep you in here a long time. I hope you don’t mind eating sardines," she said, her pale skin only adding to her beauty.
“I was bored," Fisher said with a grin. He was handsome alright, but reckless. Teera knew a good warrior when she saw one; this man was wasting his life.
“You know I don’t give a shit about your stupid problems, Fisher! There is no room for thieves or idiots in my city. Your boredom doesn’t interest me, that’s not why I’m here! You outran one of my best guards. He said you put up quite a chase. The question is, Is this really how you want to live your life?” Teera asked, and Fisher laughed.
“Please, your majesty! Do you really call this a life? We were fucking lab rats! Little monsters cooked up in a fucking lab! We’re not special, we’re freaks! We were humans once, remember? We belong out in the world! Not down here with the sharks!” Fisher said. Teera pressed her face against the bars of his cell.
“There is no world out there anymore, Fisher! It’s gone! The ice shelf collapsed! Most of the planet is now underwater, and the rest of it will soon follow! We were chosen to rule the new world, and if we’re not careful the shark-men will take it from us. We will be enslaved and harvested for food!” Teera said. Fisher looked away, sadness in his eyes.
“It finally happened? It’s really all gone?” Fisher asked. Teera sighed.
“Yes. We just heard. The island is still dry, but it won’t be long before the sea takes it too. I know this wasn’t the life you chose, Fisher. None of us did – but it’s all we have now. Soon, there won’t be any land to go back to... ” Teera added, looking out at the sea.
Fisher nodded his head. He looked down through the glass beneath his feet, watching a school of fish pass below him.
“So what? Am I to be executed now?” he asked, and Teera shook her head.
“No. I have a better use for you. When the island goes under, the shark-men will come here. Ivan won’t want to join our community and you know it, he will simply take it from us. We will all be killed by his army unless we fight, which means I need warriors. Now most of my warriors are mermaids. Women are far better warriors in the sea – but you? You’re special. I see great strength in you, Fisher," Teera said. Fisher shook his head.
“You women are the fighters down here. I’m no warrior," Fisher said. Teera raised a finger to her lips, silencing him.
“Unless you wish to stay down here, you are what ever I want you to be. Your first task is to take a mantaship to the coast of Australia and bring back Eagleeye. She has a tracker in her arm, so you will be able to follow her coordinates. She must be brought back to the city as soon as possible. The two of you will lead our warriors against the shark-men, so do bring her back alive," Teera said. Fisher shrugged.
“What if she is dead already?” Fisher asked. Teera looked at him with a grin.
“She is alive. Abby was the one who set us all free. She was born to lead, but she chose to try to educate the shark-men. They rebelled against her, but she’s a natural leader. As far as I’m concerned, she is royalty and must be brought home. Do you understand?” Teera asked. Fisher gave a reluctant nod.
“If you think of running away, Fisher – just remember, you have a tracker in your arm too. We will find you and next time, I won’t be so forgiving," Teera added calmly, unlocking the gate with a small key and allowing him to leave the cell.
“Why are you trusting me? I’m a nobody," Fisher said. Teera smiled.
“Nobodies are the ones who get things done," Teera replied. Fisher nodded in thanks.
*****
Fisher climbed into a mantaship, flipping switches and activating the screen. He watched as a little red dot lit up on the screen, Abby’s tracker signal. He closed the canopy, and looked out of the launch tube, pushing the stick forward, as he launched out into the open sea shooting into the depths.
High above in the tower, Teera watched the mantaship shoot out into the distance, as a beautiful shark glided past the bubble window of the tower. Bojak walked up beside her, his dark face smiling as he ran his fingers through his black, braided hair.
“Do you think he will find her?” Bojak asked. Teera smiled.
“Of course he will. We need them, Bojak. We need them both," Teera replied, walking away from the window and into her sleeping chambers.
*****
Abby lay on her bed in the living quarters of the houseboat, staring at the ceiling as she drank from a bottle of Jack, Skylar Grey and Marilyn Manson's song Can’t Haunt Me playing from a CD player as she drank, wanting to get up but wondering what on earth the point would be. Everyone was gone. Literally the entire city was underwater, and she was completely alone floating on a sea of predators, one of them being an injured shark that would no doubt want revenge at some point.
Bo. She couldn’t help but think of him. He had been so handsome, and funny once – and such bravado. She remembered he would often quote the song Brandy, saying My life, my love and my lady is the sea – which was a bullshit excuse to exit her life. Why? Why disappear from her existence for five long years, leaving her alone on Strucker’s island of monsters? Then he stumbles back to her, literally hours before the earth sinks into the sea, looking like shit and telling her he loved her? Bastard! Abby thought, crying again, as she took another sip from her bottle of Jack Daniels, which of course had been his favourite drink. She drank the rest of the bottle, tossing the empty vessel to the floor of the living quarters where it hit with a thud but did not break. A whole bottle of booze was not enough to get a mermaid drunk, but she was a little tipsy. Luckily, the bar was fully stocked and she had all the time in the world to write herself off.
She got out of bed, returning to the kitchen, and retrieving another bottle of Jack, openin
g the bottle and tossing the lid. She went back to the bed and slumped onto it, curling up and toying with the shark tooth hanging from her necklace.
She thought back to the day she bought it. It was the day before she left Melbourne to fly to Strucker’s island. She had bought it from a guy at Queen Victoria Market – man it felt like yesterday, but that was five years ago. She had given it to Bo when he left the island, she couldn’t remember why. Luck maybe? Well it hadn’t brought him much. Abby took another swig of her drink.
She sighed. It did bring him back to her, no matter how briefly. She tried not to think about him, John, and Beverly being sucked out and ripped apart in the tide of the ocean. The only comfort was, they hopefully died before they felt much pain. Hopefully.
Gypsy by Lady Gaga played from the stereo as Abby lay back in the bed, placing the bourbon bottle on the bedside table. She had wanted to explore the houseboat today but wound up drinking instead, slinking into bed half hopeful she would sink into the mattress. She closed her eyes tight. Tomorrow, she lied to herself. I’ll feel better, tomorrow. Once again, Abby fell into a long, black sleep.
The boat was suddenly struck with a thump that was powerful enough to shake the bed; Abby’s eyes fluttering open as she bolted up in the bed. She stood up as another powerful thump smacked into the side of the boat. Abby walked out of the living quarters and onto the deck, almost toppling over as she stumbled out of the doorway.
The boat had not hit rock or another ship, rather something was hitting the vessel from beneath, so Abby rushed out to the deck in time to see a large shark fin cutting through the water and circling the boat. Shit she thought to herself.
She rummaged around a pile of supplies, and retrieved the spear she had made, seizing it in her hands as she glanced overboard. The shark had gone under again, and as she peered over the railing of the houseboat, Abby could imagine the large fish beneath the surface – it’s massive body gliding beneath the surface of the waves, taking it’s time and preparing to pounce again.