Mermaids Never Smile (standard:horror, 7336 words)
Author: Rene Amador	Added: Feb 02 2002	Views/Reads: 3399/2259	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A twist on the concept of mermaids. Adapted from japanese comic book originally written by Rumiko Takahashi, an artist who has a knack for writing very entertaining stories. Hope this does her justice.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

woman sat on the floor next to her bed and stared at her.  She observed 
everything the young woman did without moving. 

“Mana, you have truly become a beautiful woman.  My heart is filled with
so much joy in this momentous stage of your life.  It is all that the 
rest of the women talk about.  Each time I see you, you grow more 
beautiful...” 

The old woman lowered her head and slightly winced her eyes shut.  It
looked as if some evil thought passed in thinking. 

“What are you starting at, you old hag?!?  That’s rude, not to mention
weird.  On top of that, why do say the same thing every day?” 

Mana flung her rice bowl at the old woman and hit her on her wrinkled
brow.  Her tray overturned and the remaining food spilled scattering 
rice, fish and soup on the floor. 

Ever since her she was a child, Mana was taken out of her house carried
by the old woman.  The old woman spoke to her as she walked with Mana 
in her arms. 

“This town is completely surrounded by mountains.  We have not even set
one foot outside of this town.” 

Some women standing by spoke as they passed. 

“Isn’t that Mana?” 

“Yes,” another spoke, “She will definitely become beautiful when she is
older.” 

This was her entire existence.  Women attended to her every whim, no
matter how small or trivial.  She spent all day indoors in bed because 
the women believed her to be a princess of some sort.  They would even 
call her a princess on occasion.  It sounded as if their very lives 
depended on whether she lived or died.  She lay down looking out the 
window.  The summer cicadas lining the tree branch outside chirped.  As 
she lay on the bed, she softly spoke:  “I want to walk.” 

Later that evening the women met in the town’s main hall.  Old and young
sat down in a room lit by torches.  They sat in a circle, almost 
ceremoniously, around a young woman in her late twenties.  The old 
woman who took care of Mana sat in the center facing all of the women.  
The old woman scanned the room at all who was there until she came to 
one. 

“Mana has already turned fifteen years old.  One of us here must be
killed.” 

The women sat silent.  They wore worried looks.  This was a day that
they didn’t look forward to because they knew it could be their turn.  
The old woman raised her bony finger and pointed at the young woman. 

“Ayu.  It will be your turn.” 

She sat in silence as some of the older women spoke. 

“Yes.” 

“It only makes sense.  Ayu has lived the longest in the town among us
all.” 

“Very well, then.  It will be tonight.” 

“Yes, great Mother.”  Those were the last words anyone heard Ayu said. 

A group of eight women led her outside to a cave in the forest. Inside
was a stone path leading to a pool of salt water.  The smell of the 
water filled the cave.  It smelled ancient.  Ayu stepped to the edge of 
the water and began to disrobe.  Two women held torches.  Her delicate 
white skin shone from the torchlight reflecting from the water’s 
surface.  The rest of the women held harpoons in their hands, waiting.  
As Ayu stepped into the water, the crowd stood ready.  She approached 
the water and sat down.  She dipped her leg into the water.  The 
harpoons sailed into the air.  Ayu screamed.  Two women closed in to 
her body and skewered her with their spears.  It was all over.  An 
older woman from the group stepped to the water’s edge.  A fish’s tail 
lay on the rocks, just extending from the water.  It looked to be 
larger than an ordinary fish, almost the size of a dolphin.  With a 
small knife in hand the woman began to cut at the tail. She carved some 
meat. 

The next morning at breakfast, the old woman brought food to Mana.  This
morning, however, there was a change.  Instead of a broiled fish, there 
was sliced raw fish, sashimi.  Mana hesitated before eating this new 
entry. 

“What is this?” 

“It is a rare fish that we caught this morning.  There seems to be a
great number swimming near the shore this season.” 

Mana picked a single piece of this fish and ate it.  The old woman
stared at her as if something were supposed to happen.  Her eyes closed 
slightly looking for some sign.  Her fragile lips pressed together and 
stretched out, forming a smirk.  Finishing the piece, Mana stared back 
at the old hag. 

“What are you starting at?  This isn’t a side show, you know.”  Mana
again threw her rice bowl at the old woman and hit her on her temple. 

Later that day, as a group of women worked in the field, they talked. 
Word had spread around town about how Mana ate the fish. 

“So, what happened?  Did she eat it?” 

“Tell us!  We’re dying from the suspense.” 

“Yes, she ate it, and she seems healthy, but we cannot rule anything out
until we check all over.” 

The group of women began to regale in the news.  They cheered out loud. 
In the midst of this celebration, another woman ran to them. 

“Quickly, everyone!  There’s a man in the forest.  There’s a man in the
forest!” 

“A man?  Are you sure?” 

“Yes.  I’m sure.  I saw him while I was gathering firewood.” 

The young man walked though the trees and brush.  He noticed that
several branches had broken away, but on closer inspection the branches 
were cut with a expertly clean stroke.  Obviously it was a sign that 
there were people that lived nearby.  Over his shoulder there was some 
rustling. 

“Why have you come here?” the woman asked.  They had found him. 

“Nothing suspicious I can assure you,” he answered. 

“Are you lost then?” 

“Are there other people with you?” 

“What are you looking for, boy?”  So many questions were being asked of
him. 

“Look,” he finally said, “I can tell you I’m just by myself, so if
you...” 

Suddenly, one of the older women rushed at him and pierced his stomach
with a harpoon.  It went straight through his back.  He was taken 
completely by surprise.  As he fell to the ground another woman with 
harpoon in hand stabbed at his chest.  Both of the women stabbed him a 
few more times with great fervor making his arms leap off the ground.  
At last he stopped moving. 

An older woman knelt on the ground and listened to his chest. 

“He’s dead.” 

“Let’s take him to the cave.  The soulless will take care of him.” 

“It should eat him, bones and all.” 

The group of women dragged his body through the forest to the cave.  To
distinguish it from others paper wards were strung on fishing wire and 
tied from one end of the opening to the other, overhead.  A few steps 
into the cave there was a drop of about twenty feet.  They threw his 
body into the opening and it landed with a thud on the cave’s floor.  A 
pool lay nearby. The body was alone, save for a large fish, its tail 
resting on the bank. 

Night fell.  One by one, the cicadas began their usual concert.  The
young man’s body still lay on the floor.  He landed on his back, one 
arm extended, the other laying across his chest.  His clothes were 
heavily stained with blood and his eyes, though deeply colored brown, 
were glassed over.  Then, his hand twitched, just a little.  A moment 
later his eyes closed and the young man raised his head.  His eyes 
opened and gasped for air.  He turned over and lifted himself a little 
at a time. 

“Uh...those damn old women...what am I going to do ...” 

He looked around the cave.  His eyes panned over the floor to the water
and he noticed the large fish’s tail resting on the bank.  He sprung up 
and dashed to the tail. 

Back at the village, Mana was speaking with the great Mother. 

“We’re going outside?  Now?” she asked. 

“Yes.  We will carry you out on this bench.  Come.” 

Two older women began to pick her up from the bed until a female voice
rang out from outside of the room. 

“Who are you?  What are you doing?” 

The footsteps became louder as they approached the door.  The door slid
open.  The young man stood, his clothes stained with blood, holding the 
large fish over his shoulders.  The older women stared in wonder. 

“The young man.  From before, that died.  But how...” 

“All right.  Listen up!  I could just complain about what you did to me,
but I have more important things to ask you.  Especially about 
mermaids!” 

The young man flung the fish from his shoulders in front of the old
woman. It was not a fish after all.  It was a mermaid.  With a thud the 
body hit the ground.  Its arms floundered up and then rested.  The body 
lay limp. The neck ended abruptly with a stump.  Its head was missing.  
Mana looked at the corpse and then looked up at the young man. 

“You impertinent dog!  What do you think you’re doing?” 

Mana picked up a ceramic dish that sat on the side of her bed and threw
it at the young man. He shifted to his right and a harpoon head pierced 
the air where he stood and deflected the dish.  Three older women had 
snuck up behind him; two held harpoons and one held an axe.  He grabbed 
the harpoon that tried to strike first and forced it free from the 
woman’s hand.  With the harpoon he rushed to the old woman.  The old 
woman sitting at Mana’s side cried out. 

“Kill him!  Quickly, kill him!” 

“Don’t come near us!  Stay back!”  The old woman clung to Mana with all
her life.  The young man struck her aside with the handle.  He rushed 
to Mana’s side but she flung her fist up and struck him on the chin. 

“Out of the way, old woman!” 

The older women now stood in the doorway with a look of dreaded shock on
their faces. 

“Mana!” 

The young man held Mana with one arm around her neck and held the
harpoon with the other to her neck. 

“Well, looks like we won’t be able to discuss this over tea.” 

The old woman sat up. 

“Let her go!  You must not lay a finger on her!” 

“Oh, really?  You value her that much?  Guess I’ll have to take her with
me to guarantee my safety.” 

With the harpoon he flung the bed sheets off of Mana and wasn’t
suspecting to find what was underneath.  The old women had shackled her 
feet together to prevent her from walking.  As he stared at the 
shackles, another old woman charged at the young man with a scythe.  He 
stopped the blade with the harpoon handle and brought the harpoon up 
with all his might.  The scythe flew out of the old woman’s hands over 
the young man’s head.  He caught it with his other hand and tore at the 
bed sheets.  Cutting it into strips he looped it around Mana, picked 
her up and strapped her to his back. 

“What are you doing?” an older woman cried out. 

“I’m doing this!”  The young man ran out the door and rushed outside. 

Mana shouted, “Put me down, you!”  She grabbed his neck and clamped down
his throat. 

“Stop it!  What are you going to do if you kill me?” 

The old women followed the young man and Mana outside and began to hurl
harpoons with ropes attached as they ran.  A few struck the ground.  
One though came dangerously close and sliced across Mana’s cheek. 

“What the hell is wrong with them?  Are they planning to kill you along
with me?” 

“Give her back!  Give back Mana!” 

They ran until they found an opening in the ground that led twenty feet
or so down underground.  The slope was steep so they had to take each 
step careful not to fall headfirst onto the cave’s rock floor. 

“What are we going to do now?” the young man asked out loud.  He set
Mana on the floor of the cave and began to pick at the shackles with 
the harpoon.  A metal tie held the shackles together and as he pried it 
open, Mana let out a small cry. 

“Sorry.  Did that hurt?  Let’s see what we have here.” 

The young man threw the shackles aside and exposed Mana’s ankles.  The
shackles held her ankles for so many years and so tightly that there 
were deep scars all the way around.  The blood had dried along the 
lines of the shackles’ grip.  The young man used the scythe to cut some 
of Mana’s clothing to dress the wounds. 

“Now let’s see about cleaning the wounds on your cheeks.  It’s salt
water so it may sting a little.” 

He crossed to the water’s edge and dipped an extra cloth strip into the
water.  The young man knelt by Mana’s side. 

“Hold still.  It looks like a pretty deep cut.  A lot of blood.” 

The young man wiped her cheek.  The cut wasn’t as bad as he thought. 

“Oh, good.  Looks like it was only a lot of blood.  It should heal
pretty quickly.” 

Mana asked, “Where do we go from here?” 

“We can’t go anywhere from down here.  I think that this is the same
cave where I found that mermaid...” 

“Mermaid?” Mana asked. 

“Yeah, but it’s dead now.” 

“Oh, that thing, that headless thing, ” she said coldly.  “What are you
going to do when you find a mermaid?” 

“Well, I ate the flesh of a mermaid.  Hmph.  How many times over the
last hundreds of years have I told this story?” 

The young man had a long life and he proceeded to tell it to Mana. 

“I was a fisherman.  One day, some of the others brought some fish. 
They told me that it was very delicious but I had never seen it before. 
 They also said it was mermaid.  I didn’t believe them.  They also said 
that the flesh of the mermaid is an elixir that will grant you eternal 
life and youth.  Well, we all sat around the fire and cooked the meat 
and ate it. About halfway through, though, something happened.” 

One of the fishermen sitting around the fire clutched his throat and
bent over.  He gasped for air momentarily.  He sat back up but his face 
had changed.  His skin had turned green, like seaweed, and all along 
veins grew and throbbed.  Some new kind of blood coursed through them.  
His eyes ballooned and bulged from their sockets.  He let out a loud, 
drawn out moan and then collapsed to the ground directly into the fire. 


“He died.  Two more fishermen died the next day lying in a pool of blood
they had coughed up.  One by one, the fishermen who ate the meat died.  
I became scared, but eventually time passed and I got over it. 

“I married and eventually I forgot about the whole thing.  Twenty years
passed and I noticed that with each year my wife grew older but I 
remained young. ‘You scare me,’ she told me.  ‘I grow older with each 
year but you retain your youth.’” 

The years passed and the young man remained the same while his wife grew
older.  Her face wrinkled and her posture worsened with each year.  Her 
lips had pruned into a perpetual frown.  Her brow sagged and partially 
forced her eyes shut. 

“Yuta,” she gasped, “if one eats the flesh of the mermaid, they become
an immortal possessing eternal youth and life.” 

“I won’t die then.  No matter how I injure myself, the scars will heal
themselves.  I’ve become something horrible...” 

“You must meet with a mermaid,” the old woman said. 

“If I meet with a mermaid, does that mean I can become an ordinary human
being again?” 

“I don’t know, but,” the old woman started, “the one thing I do know is
that a mermaid could tell you more than what I could.” 

“I left my village soon after she died, in search of a mermaid.  I don’t
know how many hundreds of years I’ve just wandered.  Even if you don’t 
believe it...” 

Mana had fallen fast asleep.  She rested her head on her arm and leant
up against a rock. 

“Must have been exhausted.  Falling asleep like that in the middle of
the story, she must have really been exhausted.” 

As she slept, Mana began to think to herself, ‘Why?  I don’t understand.
Why did they attack me with those harpoons?” 

She dreamt when she was around five years old.  Two old women sat by her
bed discussing her future. 

The older of the two said, “Mana is our most precious treasure.” 

“Yes.  She will give us back our lives and our charms.” 

‘It doesn’t make any sense that they were attacking, caring not if I
died.” 

Suddenly, a moan echoed through the cave.  It was soft at first but
began to rise.  It stirred Mana from her sleep.  Then it became louder. 
Yuta noticed it as well but his face read that he had heard it before, 
like some long forgotten song.  Whatever it was it was coming closer.  
Footsteps shuffled to where Yuta and Mana sat.  Yuta stood with the 
harpoon and positioned himself closer to Mana to protect her, almost 
reflexively.  Left foot brushed against the floor with a muffled 
scratch.  Closer it crept. Finally a hand clawed the rock.  Its partner 
soon followed.  In between rose a shadow.  The shape had long billowing 
hair resembling a mane of some sort.  It drew in and the first thing 
Yuta and Mana noticed were the eyes, bulging from their sockets with 
tears flowing.  It moaned again.  Stepping into the light, the monster 
revealed its disfigured self.  Its arms hung ready to strike, the 
pronounced veins slightly throbbing.  Again it moaned and its mouth 
opened and bore razor sharp teeth, four longer than the rest in order 
to have a stronger grip on its prey. 

Yuta lunged the harpoon at the beast and it plunged directly into its
chest.  It let out a cry in pain and pawed at the harpoon, trying to 
remove it.  When it realized that it was there for good, it attacked.  
It rushed forward at Yuta, mouth open ready to eat.  Yuta picked up the 
scythe, stepped forward and swiped at the monster, cutting across its 
chest.  Now it was angry and roared out. 

“It’s no good!  Nothing’s working no matter what I hit it with!” 

“It’s no use,” Mana said.  “In order to kill it, you have to use
poison.” 

“Poison?  Where are we going...Ah!” The monster had an attack of
opportunity and crossed Yuta with its claw scratching from his chest to 
his chin.  The force of the blow knocked him to the floor.  The monster 
cried out.  Its cry carried through the cave and out of the opening 
above spilling into the forest.  Someone heard it. 

A young woman had been sent to search for Mana and brought harpoons and
a torch.  She turned in the direction of the monster’s voice.  ‘I 
wonder if it’s escaped,’ she thought.  She knelt to the ground and 
swung a pouch forward from her hip side.  She opened the pouch, dipped 
the harpoon spear into a white powder, and quickly set off to the 
opening. 

She threw the torch down the opening and cried out, “Mana!"  She then
slid along down the wall of the cave and rushed harpoon first at the 
monster.  Her harpoon entered its stomach.  It reeled back but then 
lurched forward immediately.  Again it swiped its claw up but focused 
on the woman’s neck.  She wobbled back and collapsed to the floor on 
her back, her arms spread out.  The monster limped further into the 
cave from where it came.  It let out one more moan, almost in 
satisfaction that it killed at least one person. 

Yuta wiped his hand across his chin and cleaned the blood away.  The
scar had already healed.  It was minor.  His attention was momentarily 
diverted and then he remembered the young woman.  He sat by her and 
propped her up. 

“Don’t worry about me,” she said.  “That spear I dug into it was touched
with poison.  It will soon die.  Mana...let’s go home, 
quickly...There’s probably more than one of the Soulless in this cave.” 
She trailed off and fainted. 

“Soulless?  It was the same thing!” 

“The same?”  Mana was surprised. 

“My friends who ate the mermaid’s flesh and turned into a monster and
that thing, they’re the same, I’m sure of it.  Anyway, I think it’s 
best we get out of here.  I may be able to save her if I carry her back 
to the village.” 

Yuta picked up the sheet he used to carry Mana out of the village and
used it again for this woman.  He stood up. 

“Mana, wait here.  As soon as get her topside, I’ll come back for you,
and then...” 

“I can walk on my own.”  Mana planted her hands on the ground and began
to push herself up. 

“It’s no use, Mana.  You haven’t used your legs for years.  I don’t
think you’d be able to walk, let alone stand up.” 

With all her might, Mana lifted herself up and stood.  She was off
balance, but she was standing.  Before Yuta could say anything, Mana 
lost her balance and fell to the floor. 

Yuta brought the woman outside and then came back for Mana.  He sat her
inside the hollow of a tree near the opening. 

“Alright?  I’m taking her back to the village.  Now stay here.  Don’t
move at all and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”  With that, Yuta left 
for the village. 

By the time Yuta returned to the village it was the early morning.  He
carried the woman on his back.  As soon as he entered a wall of women 
greeted him.  They all were armed with harpoons ready to strike.  The 
great Mother stood with staff in hand. 

“Why did you take Mana?  Answer me, boy.” 

“Don’t attack!  If you kill me, then you’ll never find out where Mana
is.” 

The old woman stared at Yuta directly into his eyes.  He could have been
bluffing but she didn’t want to take the chance.  He had won for now. 

“Someone tend to her.” 

Two younger women stepped forward and relieved Yuta of his burden.  They
circled around him.  One unfastened the sheet while the other hooked 
her arms from underneath to the fainted woman’s shoulders.  They 
carried her off together and Yuta noticed that all three women looked 
alike, almost like triplets. 

“This is a strange town to tell you the truth.  There are only women
here, but when I look closely at all of these old women’s faces and how 
they look alike, it disturbs me.” 

The great Mother and Yuta moved indoors and sat on the floor opposite of
each other.  She had brought tea for the both of them.  Yuta held his 
cup in his hand while the great Mother hadn’t touched hers. 

“What is your purpose?  You say that you are in search of a mermaid. 
What will you do when you find one?” 

“What are you trying to do, poison me?” 

Yuta pitched the teacup to the ground.  The cup shattered and the tea
spilled onto the floor.  It was so hot that steam rose as it fanned 
out. 

“There was not any poison in the tea.” 

“Doesn’t matter.  It wouldn’t have worked on me anyway.” 

Yuta picked up a shard of the cup.  He traced a line along his forearm
cutting from his wrist to the inside of his elbow.  The gash opened 
quickly and began to bleed.  He held his arm up to the old woman.  As 
he held it out the cut healed itself.  The broken skin closed up and 
the blood stopped. 

The old woman asked, “So, you have eaten the mermaid’s flesh.” 

“I just want to become a normal human being.” 

“What do you think will happen if you meet a mermaid?” she questioned. 

“That’s what I’ve asked myself many times.” 

“Isn’t eternal life difficult?  If you wanted to die it would be best to
cut your head off.  Then you would have no need to meet with a 
mermaid.” 

“You must be kidding,” Yuta exclaimed.  “I’m saying that I want to
become a normal human again, live my life and die from old age.” 

Suddenly, the great Mother asked, “Where is Mana?” 

“Why?  Do you know where I can find a mermaid?” 

In the forest, Mana had waited for hours and became impatient.  She
pulled herself out of the hollow of the tree.  She came closer to the 
roots.  They were large enough to support her weight.  She took hold of 
the tree and began to pull herself up.  She let out a slight moan of 
effort and successfully stood up using the root for support.  She took 
a wobbly step forward and used whatever was near to help her walk. 

After a few minutes, Mana was walking through the forest with no
support, still wobbly.  Suddenly, three women appeared.  The three 
women looked very similar, like triplets. 

“Mana, thank goodness we have found you.” 

“Kajika?  Your wounds have already healed?” 

“Yes, completely.  Now then...” Kajika went to reach for Mana’s arm for
support, but she said, “I’m fine. I’ll walk by myself.”  As they 
walked, Kajika looked concerned and confused. 

“What exactly is Mana to you and this village?” Yuta asked the great
Mother.  “You’ve kept her here in this village, shackled her feet.  
Then there’s this cave of the Soulless.  Now that thing down there is 
probably a human being who ate the mermaid’s flesh.  Am I right?” 

“Hmmm.  You seem to know a thing or two for a young boy.”  The smile
crept up on her pursed lips. 

“Who are you to talk?  This year I’m five-hundred years old.” 

“Well, if you must know, Mana is youth.  She is the youth of the women
in this village.  You see, when a human eats the flesh of a mermaid, 
that person may become an immortal, granting eternal youth.  But, when 
a mermaid eats the flesh of a human, her youth is rejuvenated.” 

“What?  Do you mean to tell me that all of the women in this village are
all mermaids?  You’ve got to be kidding.” 

The old woman’s eyes stared off and she slightly lowered her head.
“Sometimes, a girl can become immortal.  When we eat the flesh of that 
girl we regain our youth.  That is why we snatch a girl once every ten 
years from the outskirt villages and bring her back to our village when 
they are very young.  If they are strong enough they become an 
immortal.  But, the mermaid’s flesh is also a terrible poison.  Most 
girls may die without enduring a hideous and violent change.  Sometimes 
they will escape death and become a Soulless and live on for eternity 
in a monstrous form.” 

”What?  Those monsters from the cave were all young girls?” 

“Mana is perfect in every way.” 

“So, you mean to tell me that you bred Mana for your food?  That’s
inhuman!  If that’s your intention then I won’t give Mana back to you 
old women!” 

Suddenly over his shoulder outside there was a cry. 

“Let me go!  What do you think you’re doing?!?” 

Mana was led back to town tied up.  A group of older women forced her on
with harpoons ready to attack if she didn’t cooperate. 

Yuta stood and went to door outside saying, “Mana!  Why have they...” 

From behind, an old woman drove a harpoon into Yuta from behind. 
Luckily it only pierced his side but the harpoon head went clean 
through.  Yuta extended his leg and drove his foot into the chin of the 
old woman from behind.  She fell to the floor of the room.  The great 
Mother crept up from the floor and stepped beside Yuta. 

“It is too bad.  There is no way to return to a normal human.” 

“What?”  Yuta turned to the great Mother with the harpoon in his side,
clutching it. 

“If you meet a mermaid something will happen:  You can die if you use
the mermaid’s poison.  The drug is made from the mermaid’s corpse 
decomposed with a certain poisonous plant.  In fact, it is covered on 
that harpoon,” she said pointing to the harpoon in Yuta’s side. 

The old women outside by now have picked up Mana, still tied up, and
began to carry her off. 

“Let me go!” she shouted. 

“Do you think I’m going to die here?!?” 

With all his strength, Yuta ripped the door off of the hinges and
slammed it down on the old women carrying Mana.  They all fell to the 
ground.  As he dropped the door to the ground, Yuta caught Mana in his 
arms and ran to a barn next door.  In the center of the room there was 
a kiln and several jars of oil.  He took one of the jars and flung the 
lid aside. 

“Mana!  Get a torch!” 

She took the torch down from its holder on the wall.  The old women had
risen and made their way to the barn.  As soon as they entered, Yuta 
shifted back and splashed the old women with the oil.  Mana threw the 
torch at them.  Fire erupted all over the old women’s bodies.  The two 
women raised their arms about them and tried to shield some part of 
themselves from the fire. They let out a long muffled shriek and then 
collapsed onto the floor.  Yuta and Mana took off and headed out of the 
village into the forest.  He ran the best he could with the harpoon in 
his side.  There was a lot of bleeding. 

“What will we do now, great Mother?” 

“Do not worry.  We will be fine if we follow the trail of blood. 
Besides, he will not last for long.  When he dies and she is alone, she 
will be as helpless as a baby.  She will never be able to leave the 
village.” 

As they walked through the forest, Yuta clung to Mana for support.  His
breathing was heavy and he was losing a lot of blood. 

“So, do you really believe that they were going to eat me?” 

“I don’t know what to believe at this point.  I certainly don’t believe
that those damn old women are mermaids.  It’s like a dream or fantasy.” 


They continued to walk but Yuta was weakening with each step.  He
hunched over until finally he fell to the ground. 

“Where’s...someplace to hide?” 

He couldn’t walk any farther.  Mana walked ahead trying to find
someplace to hide and also to rest.  She came across an opening in the 
ground.  She went back to Yuta and dragged him along the grass and 
helped him down the opening into the cave as best she could. 

“We shouldn’t meet another Soulless down here.” 

“This is probably a different cave.” 

Yuta noticed a salty smell hanging in the air. 

“This cave and the others all seem to be connected to the sea.” 

“On the evenings of the full moon and the new moon, the saltwater rises
inside of the cave and the Soulless cry out, driving them to the 
surface. At least that’s what the old woman used to say.” 

Yuta stood up and took Mana by the shoulders. 

“Mana, take out this harpoon.” 

He took her sleeve and bit down on the fabric to brace himself for the
pain.  Placing the end of the harpoon against the wall, Mana began to 
push Yuta to the wall.  She at first couldn’t get a good footing and 
slipped a bit but she dug her feet into the floor, placed her hand on 
Yuta’s hip and pushed hard.  There was a bit of resistance at first.  
Yuta clenched his teeth together.  Mana then leaned into Yuta, used her 
weight and shoved him.  The harpoon went completely through.  Yuta 
breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Good.  Now...suck out the poison.” 

Mana sat Yuta on the ground and bent over his stomach.  She sucked some
blood and poison.  When her mouth was full she turned away and spat the 
mixture out.  She did this three more times.  She looked up at Yuta 
with her mouth covered in blood.  His eyes were closed. 

Mana asked out loud, “Did you die?” 

Yuta smiled a little.  He fell asleep from exhaustion. 

A few old women had tracked Yuta’s trail of blood through the forest to
the cave where they hid.  The grass was red and the blades stuck 
together in a straight line to the opening on the ground. 

“They’ve gone inside the cave,” one of the old women spoke up.  “What do
we do?  Should we go in and search for them?” 

“No,” another old women snapped back.  “All of the caves are connected
to each other.  I wonder if they’ve come across any Soulless...” 

While Yuta slept on the floor of the cave, Mana kept watch over him. 
While she was in thought, a faint moan wafted through the cave.  It 
caught Mana’s attention.  She shuffled over to the harpoon on the 
ground and picked it up to defend herself. 

In single file all of the women walked through the forest.  As they
walked the great Mother talked. 

“Before we head out and search, even if Mana is eaten by the Soulless,
we must open the flood gates.” 

“You mean the flood gates of the mountain lake?” 

“Yes,” the great Mother answered.  “It will be best to flood the cave.
There is only one entrance to the sea.  It will be best to wait there.” 


“What about the village?  The village will be flooded if we open the
gates,” the woman wondered. 

“Well, that may be,” the great Mother said, “but if we do not eat her
flesh, who knows how many hundreds of years we will have to wait 
again.” 

At the top of the mountain, the lake stood still.  They opened the gates
and the water began to race through. 

Mana had cleaned the harpoon of blood to better hold it and tied her
long hair back.  The moan cried out louder as the Soulless approached.  
As she stood to find her footing, the Soulless made itself visible. 

The water flowed down the mountain and crashed on the village.  Houses
were swallowed whole.  Belongings were cast aside and carried along 
with the waves. 

The Soulless lurched toward Mana.  She charged forward with the harpoon
and dug the tip into its stomach.  The Soulless swiped Mana across her 
cheek. She reeled back and fell on top of Yuta into his arms.  Mana’s 
head rolled over to the side.  A noise started, almost like a drum 
beating, and it was getting louder.  It became so loud it woke Yuta.  
The Soulless stopped and turned its attention to the sound.  A wall of 
water rushed at them.  The force knocked the Soulless back.  Confused 
and out of control, it let out a long drawn out moan. 

Outside in the sea, the old women were waiting at the entrance of the
cave.  They raised their arms ready for the water.  The draining water 
ran out of the cave’s mouth.  Yuta and Mana were carried around in the 
water.  She clung to him and closed her eyes.  The waves tore off the 
old women’s clothes and undid their hair, letting it run freely.  Some 
of their spears with ropes attached got caught in the water and flowed 
along.  They whipped their tales and swam farther into the cave.  They 
headed towards Yuta and Mana. 

Yuta stared in amazement.  These were not mermaids as people normally
think.  The mermaids charged at Yuta with their large mouths wide open, 
showing their long claw-like teeth.  Their hair was stone white.  One 
broke through and clamped her mouth on Mana.  A trail of blood flowed 
out of Mana’s arm.  Its face began to change.  The age began to regress 
from her face and started to resemble Mana. 

Yuta quickly took the harpoon from Mana’s hand.  He raised his arm and
plunged the harpoon into the mermaid’s face.  He quickly removed the 
spear. The blood escaped and dissipated in the water. 

Three more mermaids swam to them.  Yuta scissor kicked and swam up a bit
and dodged one mermaid.  He drove the harpoon its head.  Another 
charged and he stuck the mermaid into its chin up through its mouth.  
One more closed in and Yuta pierced her heart.  There were too many for 
him to handle.  He swam out of the cave to the rocks.  They followed in 
pursuit. 

Yuta climbed onto the rocks as the waves crashed against them.  One
mermaid leapt out of the water and tried to attack but Yuta launched 
the harpoon and hit it in the chest.  He pulled on the rope and reeled 
it to the rocks. Again he stabbed it and it was dead.  Just to be 
thorough he swiped at its neck and removed its head clean off.  Another 
leapt out of the water while Yuta’s back was turned and caught him by 
surprise.  It landed on him and pinned him to the ground.  It opened 
its mouth ready to attack. 

Mana lay on the ground motionless.  The great Mother slowly approached
with harpoon in hand.  As she drew closer her intent was clear.  She 
knelt by her side and wrapped her arm underneath her.  Her hand rested 
on the side of her breast.  As she lifted Mana closer, the great Mother 
positioned the harpoon’s tip at her chest.  Suddenly Mana’s eyes opened 
and she summed up the situation.  She seized the great Mother’s neck 
with her left hand. 

“I am going to eat you completely, my dear.” 

The great Mother took the harpoon and placed the tip on Mana’s neck.  It
dug in a little from the ongoing struggle.  A trail of blood ran from 
her neck to the tip.  Another trail ran down her throat. 

“Old woman!”  Yuta was wrestling with the mermaid and was on top of it
now. 

The great Mother muttered, “I have lived to see this day come.” 

“I’ve been saved for all this time to be eaten?” 

Mana with a great rage struck at the great Mother and sent her back onto
the rocks.  She sat defeated in front of the water, the mermaids 
clawing at the rocks, not knowing if it was wise to attack. 

“After living in pain all these years, an eternity of solitude, perhaps
this time I can find peace in death.” 

“I’m going to live!” Mana shouted, “You’re not going to eat me!” 

The great Mother faced away from the mermaids still in the water.  Their
tails splashed in the water sending sprays of water up onto the rocks.  
They opened and closed their mouths making their teeth clack together, 
eager to take a bite. 

“It is too late,” the great Mother uttered.  “These fools.  It’s too
late for them to take on human form.  They will be forever trapped in 
their mermaid form.” 

“Then why did you come to eat Mana, old woman?” 

The great Mother stared at Yuta and Mana.  She began to cry tears. 

“You see,” she started, “I am just like the both of you.  I am a human
who ate the mermaid’s flesh.  I am such a fool for living here for all 
this time.  I only wanted to live a normal life, a life where I could 
laugh, I could smile and I could regret, as strange as it sounds.” 

Yuta spoke.  “I’m going to take Mana with me.” 

“I,” the great Mother began, “I will stay here with them, until they rot
away and die.” 

As she finished her promise, the sun began to rise over water lining the
horizon.  The light reflected off of the water producing various shades 
of reds and oranges.  Mana and Yuta left.  They didn’t know where they 
were going.  They walked until they found themselves on top of a cliff 
outside of where the village was.  From the height they could see a 
larger village, almost a big as a city.  The boats were coming into the 
port with their morning catches.  Yuta and Mana sat on the grass 
looking down at the village. 

Yuta turned to Mana and said, “There are more things in a lifetime that
will make you happy.  Besides, living a long time isn’t such a bad 
thing, though.” 

Mana looked out for a moment and then turned to Yuta. 

“But isn’t it difficult, living for such a long time?” Mana asked. 

“Not necessarily.” 

Yuta stood up and turned towards the town with a slight look of hope. 
He then turned to Mana. 

“Well, whatever you do, just try living until you get tired of it. 
There’s nothing bad about that.” 

Yuta took Mana’s hand and they started for the town.  It was a new day,
and a new beginning. 


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