Alone with my empty thoughts. I didn’t know what to think at the moment.

 My sisters really did not care what happened to me. But why should I complain now? By tomorrow, it will be all said and done. I will be King Nanuq’s wife. I'll be a queen. Considering my current situation, I should count it as grace. Except, I don't.

 Atlantica is my home. Atlantica, my mind repeats, thinking it will somehow strike rebellion in me, even though I know there is little of that left.

 The very name of this place was so synonymous with the people I love that it would feel like a form of treachery to leave. Especially after how I have helped to ruin it. I couldn't help but wonder, Is there nothing more I can do?

 But I knew the answer to that. No, there is nothing more. I hated to admit this to myself because I used to believe that there was always a way to fix things. And it made me angry to have to face the facts. Why fight? Why even try to stay in a place doomed beyond repair? A war is bound to start.

 I was startled by the sound of the doors wrenching open. They were taking me already? It was too soon.

 “Ariel.”

 When I heard the hiss of one of my sisters, I let out a relieved breath. She moved inside. “Psst, Ariel.”

 “I’m here,” I swam over to her, her face becoming clearer. It was Adella.

 “I knew you could talk.”

 “Well, I couldn't before.”

 She felt around for me. Finally we held each other’s hands. “Ariel. There you are.”

 “What are you doing in here? Did the gaurds let you in?”

 She held up her hand. Dangling from her finger were the keys to every part of the castle.

 “How did you...? You stole them, didn't you?”

 “Of course, I did.”

 Of course, she did. Sticky fingers. “But why?”

 “We’re getting you out of here.”

 “We?”

 “Hey, hurry!” another mermaid said as she poke her head in. “The coast is clear, but I don’t know for how long.”

 Adella pulled me, “Come on, Ariel.”

 “But...” I took back my hand. “You can’t. I have to go or one of you will.”

 “Yes, and we have already decided who will go.”

 “What? Who?”

 Adella grunted, “No time now. Just come if you want to be free.”

 “Adella! Get her quickly!” the one keeping watch urged.

 “Ariel, are you coming?”

 I hesitated. I don’t know why I did. Something about all of this just felt surreal.

 “Ariel!”

 “Alright. Alright, I’m coming.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

 We swam out of the tube, meeting my other sister outside. “Aquata,” I said enthusiastically.

 She held a finger to her lips to shush me. “Want to play a game, Ariel?”

 The way she asked the question told me she had a plan in mind. I smirked.

She pointed upward at the ceiling. There were lights. Green lights above the passagway. “Follow the algae. Race me to the front of the castle.”

 Those were the only two instructions she gave before she zoomed away. I started off after her trail of bubbles. She swam from passage to passage, green lights illuminating the way.

 I caught up with Aquata, swimming by her side now. I never thought I'd have this moment with her again. And though my situation was serious, I was certain that we shared a mutual nostalgia. She looked at me with a smile that I couldn't help but return.

 She looked ahead, her smile dropping. “Stop,” she said as she grabbed my arm. The lights above us her red.

 “Someone’s close.” She took me up to hide in the corner of the ceiling.

 Below us, three soldiers came into view. One of them was Evander. “Amateurs! How could you have lost the keys? Where did you lose them?”

 “Officer!” Another guard interrupted them, coming from where Aquata and I had been. “The doors to the tube have been opened. And the mermaid is missing.”

 “Oh, no,” I breathed out.

 “Hush,” said Aquata.

 “You have to be pulling my tail. Organize a search party. No one sleeps until they find the mermaid.”

 “Sir, yes, sir,” the guards saluted.

 “And, whatever you do, do not make Princess Attina suspicious of anything.”

 “Sir, yes, sir.”

 We waited until all of them left. My mind was sinking into worry. Aquata turned me around. “Alright, change if plans.” She moved in front of the algae then released her hair from its band. The red lights fell off the wall, sweeping over to her hair and covering every strand.

 “Now I'm you.”

 “My hair doesn't glow. You really think they'll fall for that?”

 She shrugged, “It’s worth a try. I’ll tell the others to do the same.”

 “The others?”

 Aquata grinned. “Yes, Ariel. We're all in on this. Except for—”

 “Attina.” I finished her sentence already knowing who she meant. “Aquata, tell me. Who's going?”

 She drifted towards me solemnly. “I am.”

 I held in a gasp. “No.”

 She took me into her embrace.

 “Why, Aquata? Why?”

 “It will be an adventure. And King Nanuq... he’s rather mean. I like it.”

 My eyebrows drew up in surprise. “But he's so old.”

 She cleared her throat. “Our father is old. King Nanuq is merely mature. I don’t expect you to understand. But I’ve lived in these walls for a long time, Ariel. I think it’s time for something new. I know you understand that, at least.”

 “Yes. But I will miss you.”

 “I know. I'll miss you too.” She pushed away from me. “Now you have to make a swim for it.”

 “Wait. I just want to know why you are all helping me. I thought I ruined things between us.”

 Aquata nodded. “We were sad you left. A little angry, too. But we all know you were never meant to be contained. You're like a shark. If you don't move, you’ll die.”

 I laughed. I hadn't heard anything more true.

 “Go, Ariel. While there is still time.” She shot away.

 I went forward, continuing to follow the green lights. Until I heard someone shout, “There she is!” The sound came from my left. I saw the gaurd and drew up towards the ceiling. Then I realized that he was not looking at me. In fact, he swam in the opposite direction. The gaurd must have seen one of my "impersonators". I kept moving.

 I heard a whistle. “Over here!”

 I saw the glowing red hair a mermaid showing herself then evading down the hall and was startled by the gaurd who was just under me. His attention was garnered just in time before he noticed me.

 For the next ten minutes or so, I passed through the castle as more impersonators distracted the ubiquitous amount of gaurds that were in my way.

 I stopped for a moment against a wall. Craning my neck, I saw the doors to the outside. But there were two gaurds keeping post at the doors.

 “Psst.”

 I looked above me. It was Arista. She pointed ahead and my eyes followed the gesture. Of course. The widow.

 I looked back at her asking with my eyes for her to distract the gaurds. She gave me a wink then swam into their view, making sure to turn her face so they wouldn't be able to recognize her.

 “Oh boys,” she crooned. “How did I get out of my confines?”

 The meremen's eyes widened as they came to alertness. They held out their spears. “Halt!” they shouted.

 Arista giggled swimming away. As planned, they went after her. I smiled. Now was my chance. I could be free. I angled my self perfectly in front of the window. As I pushed forward, I slipped right through like a thread through a needle's eye. I continued on, trying to make it as far as possible. I began to feel relief. I couldn't believe that I had actually escaped.

 But my hope fled when I felt someone grab at my arm. I came to a stop as he jerked me.

 “Where do you think you're going?”

 Turning, I saw his face. “Evander, please.”

 His expression was furious. “You said you couldn't talk.”

 “Evander...” I said. “That's logically impossible.”

 He pulled me back towards the palace.

 “Wait. Stop. You have to help me.”

 “I do not have to do anything for you.”