Work Text:
The Phantom was the greatest ship the ocean had ever seen. Her grand form had sailed the waters for nearly a century. The crew on board weren’t jokes either - keeping The Phantom from going overboard for as long as she sailed.
“Minute! Lower the sails! We’re heading to rocky areas!” Jumper called over the crashes of waves.
“On it!”
“We’d better be careful, they say that mermaids are known to reside here.”, Leo said, looking down at the map.
“Mermaids? Aren’t they an old maiden’s tale?”
“Of course not! They exist!” Leo said, “Minute and I met one before.”
“You have?” Red questioned skeptically.
“Yeah, I’m sometimes in contact with him. His name’s Clown.”, Leo explained, “Anyways, mermaids tend to be territorial, so we'd be torn to shreds if we entered one of their territories.”
“We better keep that in mind…”, Vitalasy mused, “Jumper! Keep watch for any suspicious figures while we’re passing through!”
“You got it, Captain!”
“Let’s hope we don’t sail into any trouble…”
***
“Vi! There’s something in the water!”
Vitalasy snapped out of his daydreaming, as Jumper pointed to something in the distance. He clutched the wheel, moving the wheel to avoid the area.
“Do you see what it is?” Red called up to her.
“No but…”, Jumper let out a noise akin to a strangled seagull, “UHM. GUYS? IT JUMPED INTO THE WATER!”
“Oh shit, we might be in their territory!”, Minute cursed, “I’ll grab the harpoon!”
Minute disappeared below deck as Vitalasy, Leo, and Red kept look out in the waters. Along the clear blue sea, Vitalasy couldn’t see any sign of a dark shadowy figure underneath the water. It’s a few tense moments, though nothing seems to come of it.
“...Maybe it was a seal.”, Red said after a whole minute of silence.
“We’re in the middle of the tropical ocean, that’s impossible.”
“It could be on vacation!”
He could hear something, then. It was faint, but it sounded like…someone singing? As they drew closer, Vitalasy could almost hear the words being sung. Something about the voice was alluring, the words pulling his heartstrings in a way no one had pulled them before.
Sweet promises of a person now lost, found. Promises of safety of his crew - of riches and treasures they only dared to dream of. Vitalasy stood closer to the edge, entranced by the mysterious voice.
In the distance, he could see the ship steering closer to a mound of rocks. There, he could see a figure just by the rocks, the sun glistening around their head like a golden crown.
Leo and Red quieted down their arguing, when it got louder.
Leo reacted violently, stepping back from the edge of the deck.
“Cover your ears!”, he cried out, terrified, “It’s a siren!”
The back of Vitalasy’s mind supplied that sirens were dangerous creatures. Old tales of sailors falling victim to their poisonous words, only to die in the water. But the words of this siren had settled into his soul, pulling him off of the ship. He felt the ghostly fingers grazing his arm, before he plunged into the depths of the water.
He was sinking, and Vitalasy could barely keep his eyes open. In a blink, there was someone above him. It hurt to keep looking, even as the figure smiled widely at him. He felt hands grip at the hems of his coat, pulling him closer. He choked, his mind panicking as the bubbles floated to the surface.
Then, there was a jolt. He could hear the mangled screams of the figure, as his vision turned red. It let go of him, as a wall of bubbles appeared between them. Another pair of hands grabbed onto him and pulled. Vitalasy gasped, as they breached the water, sweet oxygen filling his lungs.
And he blacked out.
***
“...waking…Le..!..ute!...Red…! He’s….Vi…hear…. VITALASY!”
Vitalasy jumped up with a start, sitting up. He took in big breaths, greedily breathing in air. His eyes scanned the ship, relaxing as he counted all of his crew on board. Jumper gripped his arm, her eyes red and puffy.
“Oh my god.”, she whispered, her voice shaking, “Oh my god- you almost- Vitalasy-”
“Captain!”, Minute was already by his side, “Are you okay? You were down there for too long, if Red didn’t jump in, if I didn’t shoot- if I missed-”
“Guys, calm down.”, Leo chastised, “Vitalasy will be fine. Don’t crowd him.”
“I…Thanks for rescuing me.”, Vitalasy said hoarsely, “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You weren’t. It was stupid of me and Red not to notice sooner. Sirens are known to entrance anyone who hears their voice; once you hear it, you can’t control yourself.” Leo shook his head grimly.
“Yes, but I should’ve-”
“Don’t worry, we’ve dealt with that…siren.”, Jumper reassured him, “It got away but Minute definitely gave it a nasty scar!”
“I panicked when I saw you fall into the water. I’m glad that I didn’t hit you though, that would’ve been a nightmare.”, Minute confessed.
“I guess I can put “survived a siren attack” on the brag sheet.”, Vitalasy said, earning a few chuckles.
“Uhm, guys?”
Everyone snapped their attention to Red. Vitalasy noted that his clothes looked damp, though Red himself looked more concerned than anything.
“That siren is stalking us.”, he continued, “It’s not singing or anything - just staring. It’s kind of freaking me out.”
Vitalasy stood up, Leo flinched, reaching out to grab him. Vitalasy waved him off, shaking his head.
“I want to see what it wants.”, Vitalasy said, “Just keep the harpoon at the ready.”
He walked out with the complete confidence of someone who had almost drowned. It’s night already, the moon waning across the horizon. He sees the siren in the distance, watching the ship.
“What do you want!?”, he calls out to it.
In a flash, the siren is up against the ship. It lets out a laugh; melodic and wild. From the corner of his eye, Vitalasy could see Minute aiming the harpoon.
“What is your name, captain?”
“...Vitalasy.”
The siren gives him a grin, with sharp teeth that could’ve ripped out his throat.
“Vitalasy…”, the siren repeats, “I’ve never had a victim escape me before! That was fun! But know this; before the end of your life, I will kill you.”
It disappears beneath the murky surface, leaving Vitalasy standing there in the cold. He stands there, staring at the spot the siren used to be. His crew stood beside him, tense at the statement. He sighed, adjusting his hat.
“Continue on course. We’ll be ready.”