There is something beautiful yet terrible about a tear.

Her long dark hair hung loosely over the side of her face. Tears dripped over her lips, splashing on the sparkling ocean's surface, the ripples distorting the figure of her reflection. Taking in a shaky breath, the young girl wiped her nose with the back of her sleeve.

Myrtle carefully poked his head out of the water to get a better look at her. "Poor dear." He whispered to himself. "I suppose I should go cheer her up."

He dove back under the water and began swimming swiftly in the direction of the girl. There was a soft tug on one of his back legs. He glanced over the back of his shell to see his orange and white-striped friend pulling on him. He shook him off in annoyance.

"What are you doing Zip?" He asked in a weary voice.

Zip's eyes were wide with fear. "The mermaids are nearby!"

"What!? A-are you sure?"

"Yes!" Zip replied, tugging on Myrtle again in a more urgent manner.

Myrtle's beady eyes spotted a hiding space in a crevice under a rock and they hurriedly took cover beneath it, their eyes peering out in search of the dreaded mermaids.

"There they are!" Zip gasped, slapping his tiny fin over his mouth.

"Oh dear." Myrtle cried, as he realized what would happen next.

The girl didn't struggle much before she was dragged deeper and deeper into the depths of the dark ocean.