Whistling to himself as he walks in the rain, the man in orange does not allow the cold rain to dampen his mood. Drops fall from the brim of his top hat. His saturated orange suit jacket clings to his arms and chest. His ruffles sag limply from his neck. Yet, his face is turned up toward the heavens in wonder, and his unwavering smile won’t persist.
Tears of joy mingle with rain on his wet cheeks as his hand instinctively reaches for his neck, now bereft of the cherished that had adorned it for countless years. The smile on his face widens further, fueled not only by his own delight but also by the anticipation of what the trinket will bring to the young man’s life.
The silver tip of his cane taps rhythmically on the wet cobblestones, and he begins to hum along with the melodic tune it creates as he walks. He spins to make the tails of his coat fly out. “EverAm, you possess that ineffable quality that defines your very essence. I stand in awe of your extraordinary abilities. Show me the wonders, in the realm of your adventure from splendor to dark trial, wherever you are, I will go.” He sings as he taps his toes and cane on the pavement but those that overhear only hear vowels and long joyful notes. To those who chance upon his mirthful performance, his words remain a mystery. He is an enigma to them.
Soon he is alone walking to where the barge slopes down to the sea. The waves reach up the gentle slope and lick it before returning back out to sea. Although this stretch of land is called the beach, no sand or stone graces its surface. He walks down to the water and looks out. The storm obscures where the stars meet the sea, but he knows where they should be.
His song fades, and he stands motionless, allowing the rain and breeze to envelope him. A bolt of lightning fractures the sky, striking the water in the distance. Soon, another electric surge stretches across the swollen bulbs of the low-lying clouds. Just as he is about to turn away when his ears catch a sound that halts him in his tracks.
He hears a voice from the sea. A voice so exquisite, it feels like a response to his own melody. A woman singing. He is mesmerized at once, caught in a trance. His eyes welling up at the angelic sound. How had he existed before he experienced the ethereal beauty of this precious voice? At the inception of her singing, he is nearly compelled to dash headlong into the sea.
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Then he sees her emerging from the water’s edge. If he thought, her voice was fair then her appearance is angelic. Long, damp, dark tresses cascade over her shoulders. Glints of starlight shimmer in her dark eyes. Her golden-tanned skin radiates a soft luminescence, reflecting the lights of the city behind him.
Her song tugs at his heartstring, and he yearns to join her in harmony. How magnificent their voices will sound together, entwined in a symphony of shared emotion. For a moment he wonders if she will comprehend his words, and a pang of longing tugs at his heart. But surely, she must understand.
Resolved, he strides purposefully toward her, paying not mind to his water-filled shoes. He unleashes a primal cry, emanating from the depths of his soul a song so raw and untamed that it sends a shiver down his spine. His voice weaves effortlessly around the enchanting notes she creates, their harmonies blending in a dance of tender caresses and ecstatic cries.
Finally, he reaches her, his eyes brimming with tears of overwhelming love. Their lips are mere breaths apart, and he feels as though the next beat of his heart might burst it wide open if he doesn’t capture her lips in his own. The tide obediently retreats as she embraces him, her arms encircling his form. In a fleeting moment, he glimpses scales shimmering from her hips downward. His heart skips a beat.
In an instant, the surge of love in his heart is replaced by paralyzing fear as she smiles, leaning in to claim his lips in a kiss. Sweet poison lingers on her soft lips as they meet his, and he feels himself cascading into darkness, his soul being drawn out through his mouth.
The once-blonde curls atop his head begin to dull, turning gray and losing their lively bounce. His skin pales, taking on a sickly blue-green hue. Life drains from him and the man in orange crumbles from her embrace, his lifeless body tumbling into the shallow water. She hovers over him, her long, dark nails rifling through his pockets and ruffles adorning his neck. She pays no heed to how her claws slice through his lifeless flesh.
“Where is it?” She screams, her once-honeyed voice now replaced by a raspy, reptilian growl. She tears the ruffles from his neck, searching through them with reckless abandon, her clawed hands leaving trails of destruction in their wake. Finally, she lifts her gaze to the city above, unleashing a scream of unbridled rage that echoes through the night.