Rachael woke up with a jolt, her eyes bolted open as she tried to adjust to the dimly lit room. She was lying on a cold, hard floor and could feel the dampness seeping through her skin. The air was filled with the smell of salt and seaweed, making her feel nauseous. It took a few moments for her to realize that she was not in the cave they had kept her captive, but she was in a theater.
A wave of confusion washed over her, as she had no idea how she ended up here. Her last memory was of her being captured by four mermen who skillfully put her to sleep using their haunting melody. She scanned the room and saw that she was surrounded by merfolks - creatures whose existence sounded unreal to her.
Rachael rubbed her eyes, hoping it was all a dream, but when she opened them, the merfolks were still there, staring back at her with unblinking eyes. They were more sinister, with razor-sharp teeth, and their eyes glowed in the dark like a predator waiting to pounce its prey.
