Chapter 2: The Catch of the Deep (Jane POV)

"Elara!" Paul and I staggered back onto the deck, and I yelled. It was even more chaotic than previously. The slick wood was covered in bodies, some moving, some horrifyingly motionless. As the waves pulled them under, others were flailing in the sea and screaming for assistance.

"Come to the rails!" Amidst the terror, Elara's voice broke through. She stood her ground this time with a tranquilizer rifle in her hands and her harpoon gun dropped. She examined the lake, her eyes burning with concentration.

A member of the crew screamed, "Help me!" and gripped the boat's edge as a huge wave threatened to pull him away.

Paul grabbed his arms and pulled as hard as he could as he ran at him. "Hold on just a little!" he groaned, his muscles tensing.

I grabbed Paul's other arm as I hurried to his side. We pulled him over the railing and onto the deck together. He almost passed out, coughing up water, but he was still alive.

"Thanks," he whimpered.

I was too busy to answer. Once more, the water below churned fiercely, and a dark shadow emerged from under the surface. Its luminous eyes focused on Elara, and it was larger than the rest.

She didn't recoil. Instead, her mouth clenched, she raised the tranquilizer rifle. "You bastard, come one," she whispered.

Like a torpedo, the creature's long, scaled body sliced through the water as it pushed forward. The crew yelled and dispersed, but Elara remained.

"Elara, get out of there!" I yelled, but she didn't hear me.

She exhaled sharply and fired.

The beast was struck squarely in the chest by the dart. Trying to shrug off the tranquilizer, it thrashed frantically and let out a primal growl.

"Did it work?" Paul's voice was tense as he asked.

With her gaze fixed on the beast, Elara replied, "Wait for it."

Once more, the thing lunged, but this time its actions were less synchronized and slower. Its claws scraped the boat's side as it rammed against it, then slumped into the water, its breathing hard and heavy.

"Now! Get it onboard!” Elara gave the rest of the team a signal with a bark.

The weakened monster was hauled onto the deck using ropes and pulleys after a net was tossed over the side. With a horrible thud, its enormous body struck the wood, and I took a step back.

Paul exhaled while gazing at the thing, saying, "Holy crap."

It was more than just an animal. There was more to it. It had a humanoid upper body with a well-defined torso and powerful arms. However, its scale-like, shimmering skin, which terminated into a strong tail, covered its lower half. It had an angular, pointed face and piercing eyes that burned dimly as it grew weaker.

Unable to take my eyes off it, I muttered, "It's a merman."

Elara lowered her rifle and grinned. "No kinding, Sherlock."

Breathing became difficult for the merman, and its chest heaved. Its bright eyes darted around, taking in the throng. Even though it was weak, its eyes were defiant, refusing to give in.

Elara said, "Keep it sedated. We don’t need it waking up and tearing through the rest of us.”

Another member of the crew came forward with another tranquilizer, but I took hold of his arm. "Hold on!"

Elara's eyebrow went up. "What are you doing, Jane?"

I responded, my voice shaking with a mixture of enthusiasm and terror, "We need to study it. We could kill it if we give it too much. We must keep it alive."

The crew member paused, seeking confirmation from Elara.

With a sigh, she put her weapon down. "All right. But it is your responsibility if it awakens and murders us all."

My heart was racing as I knelt next to the merman. It was even more captivating up close. Its damp, matted hair had a silvery sheen, and its skin glistened in blue and green hues. There was something inherently human about it, even though it seemed strange.

"Jane, what are you thinking?" Paul crouched next to me and asked.  I tentatively reached out and said, "I don't know." Its skin felt soft and silky against my fingers as they touched its arm. "But this might be the breakthrough we've been seeking."

The merman's gaze suddenly met mine, and I froze.

Paul grabbed my arm and shouted quickly, "Jane, get back."

I muttered, "It's okay," but my voice faltered.

The lips of the merman parted, and for a few second, I believed it was attempting to speak. Instead, it growled in a low, guttural way that made me shiver.

Elara said, "Enough staring," and moved forward. "Put it in the containment chamber and secure it. We'll take care of it when we return to the facility."

Before lifting the merman into a reinforced tank, the crew worked swiftly to restrain its arms and tail with heavy ropes. Despite being imprisoned inside, its defiance remained unwavering.

I had the unshakeable impression that this wasn't just another organism even after the tank was sealed. There was a difference with this. Something more.

"Are you alright?" Paul put his hand on my shoulder and asked.

Even though my thoughts was racing, I nodded. “Absolutely. I simply haven't seen anything like it before."

His tone softened as he stated, "None of us have. But you must exercise caution. It is more than just a research subject. It's  extremely dangerous."

I looked at the merman sitting slouched against the glass in the aquarium. Its bright eyes locked with mine again, and for a moment I believed I saw something. Not rage. Not fear. Something more profound.

"Jane?" Paul's voice drew me in.

"Yes," I replied, averting my eyes. “I know.”

I couldn't get rid of the thought that our lives had just been irrevocably altered as the crew secured the tank and got ready to return to base. And I knew in my heart that this was just the start.