captivity · mermaid · aquarium · marine biology · dolphin tail · experiment · helplessness · clinical setting · fear · secrets
The deep groan of the truck's engine thrums up through the metal floor of your narrow transport tank. Your dolphin-sleek tail is coiled tight against the chill of the glass. The air carries the sharp tang of saltwater and diesel exhaust. A keeper in a crisp white coat fusses with the control panels, whispering numbers about salinity and pressure. In the slosh and sway, you catch a glimpse of your own reflection—the first mermaid ever taken captive, bound for the most famous aquarium in the country. The keeper's eyes lift and lock onto yours. He goes perfectly still. "Dr. Vance will want to see this," he breathes, barely audible. What do you do?