The Sea Dweller

Jack ventures underwater in search of the famed Sea-Dweller and its ship.

The bar was quiet that night. No one except Jack and the barman was there. He liked it that way. As he sat, sipping a small whiskey and typing away on the laptop, a rather large man entered. He was cloaked in black, his face hidden beneath a thick scarf. His eyes were just visible and locked onto Jack's. Fear settled over him as the man approached, and he focused on his story.

"Jack Torrace?" The voice was gruff, and filled with a hint of awe. "I never excpected to see you here of all places."

"Do I know you?"

"Just a fan of your writing is all. It really got me on track again."

"Oh, that's great to-"

His words faded on his tongue as the man's scarf fell away to reveal green skin with tints of grey. Jack stumbled back as the thing began to advance.

"You will stay away," it hissed. "You will."


Jack woke in a cold sweat, and to the crash of waves against the cliffs. He lay, gazing at the sky, then slipped out of his sleeping bag. The sun was already beginning its ascent, and heat washed over Jack. It was a perfect day, but first he had to get ready.


Jack stood at the water's edge, goggles misting as he issued a breath. A shiver ran down his spine as he gazed at the endless miles of water. The Sea-Dweller can't be real. Surely? Jack drew in a breath, tightened his goggles, then leapt into the ice cold water. The shock of it quickly faded, replaced by that of awe. Jack's lake back home was nothing like this. Coral marked various spots, and fish swam about, ranging from small to large.

He swam by them all, and many paid him little to no heed. If only I could speak with them. I'd be able to find the Sea-Dweller in no time. Jack could not recall what the famed creature looked like. The picture had been shown to him whilst at a bar in North London. Now here he was at the Dover Cliffs, in search of a myth that he found hard to believe.

All of Jack's muscles were already aching. It had been a while since he swam last, but he could not give up now. After what felt like a millennium, a large sunken ship came into view. Jack's eyes widened at the sight of it. I never thought it to be true. He swam faster in hopes of reaching it, all thoughts of the creature that lurked there forgotten.

It were as if he was being called to it. A fair, female voice began to sing, drawing him closer. He was lost in a daze, drawn by whatever creature sang. It was a warm, welcoming song. Then the urge to remove his diving gear rose to his thoughts. Jack shook it off. It was ludicrous to even think such a thing. The singing grew louder, almost demanding, and he managed to break out of whatever trance he was in.

Just then, a large creature glided out of the ship, and the colour drained from Jack's face. It was a siren if the stories were to be believed. The creature's skin was grey, and where a mermaid's tail was said to be vibrant colours, this one was black. Her eyes locked onto Jack's and she issued a screech.

"Stay back, human," a gruff voice said from behind, and a pale figure shot by.

Jack could not make out what happened, for the new figure and siren were locked in a ball of bubbles. By the time they faded, the siren was gone and the pale figure floated, panting for breath. He was a ghost, and Jack assumed him to be the Sea-Dweller.

"I would invite you to some food, but I lost my provisions many years ago. Besides, you're human so you wouldn't be able to eat with me if you wanted to. You best be getting back, young one.

"I have held back the sirens for many years, but their hunger is insatiable. They will escape, and eat anything in their path. I'll help you get back quicker, though I am bound to the ship and can only go so far."

He swam over with twice the speed of a dolphin and gripped Jack's arm. Then they were rising to the water's surface at an astonishing speed. As they broke the surface of the water, Jack felt the spirit loosen its grip on him.

"You're the Sea-Dweller, aren't you?"

The spirit nodded. "Some call me that. the one's who don't know what I do. Stay out of the sea, Jack Torrace. The sirens are bound to break free. They have your scent now and can follow you whenever you get in."

"Thanks for coming when you did. I would have been a goner."

The spirit paused. "It is my duty. A duty which I must return to."

With a final goodbye the spirit vanished into the depths of the water.