Pitch black.

All I remember is the burning. Him and the burning.

"Unh..." I grumble. I turn over onto my side. I put a hand on the ground and don't feel my mattress. Sand. All I feel is sand. I hear waves in the distance. I weakly open my eyes and look around. I slowly sit up and take in a deep breath.

"So the beauty awakens." A male voice says. I bolt around and see the man I saw in the water. He is still in the water when I see him.

"Do you always stay in the water?" I ask quietly, still recovering from my sleep.

"No. But when I come out it's for special reasons." He says, smirking. (btw for all you dirty minded people; NOT THAT WAY!!) He pulls himself out and sits on the sand next to the water. No part of him is touching the water so I can fully see him. I take in all his features slowly.

I start with his face. Oval with perfect brown hair complete with his perfect brown eyes. His lips are a soft pink. They're full and strong. He is very muscular through his arms and chest. I look down towards his legs. Only his legs weren't there. Instead there was a dolphin like tail covered in scales that are a peach and sunset mix.

I stare at his tail in awe. "You like it?" He asks. I just stare. "You have one too, you know."

"No. I don't." I say, looking back up to meet his eyes.

"Come." He becons. I shake my head. I'd prefer to stay dry today. "Come." He demands. I suddenly have the impulse to get up and go to him. I stand up and walk to him. He takes my hand and leads me to the water. I step into the water. Once deep into the water, I feel the burning. The burning is berable but it still hurts.

"I-i-it burns." I whisper. He holds my hand tighter. I smile a small and weak smile at him. The burning spreads and I fall limply into the water.

"Are you ok!" He asks swimming over to catch me.

"It burns!" I wail curling up. As the burning dissapears I feel my legs dissapear with it. I look down and see beautiful teal scales form a tail just like his.

"There. All gone." He smiles. I smile back.

"This my dream." I say straightening up.

"What is?"

"This!" I say spinning in a circle. He laughs. "Although, I didn't think it'd be this torturous." I say.

There's a pause. "I never caught your name. What is it?" He asks.

"Kena. What's yours?" I ask politely.

"Collin." He says.

"Alright, Collin. Where am I and why did you bring me here?" I ask, my voice taking a turn.

"You're in my cave. And you're here because you're mine." He says sternly.

"Yours? What on Earth do you mean 'yours'?" I ask.

"You belong to me. I'll explain later but you better stay here while I get us some jellyfish." He adds dryly.

"I belong to no one!" I yell as he dives under. "Ugh! Mermen!" I yell louder.

What am I saying!? I think to myself. I swim over to the sand bank on the side of the cave. I drag myself up and look around.

"Is there any normal food in here?" I question myself. I wait for around an hour for my tail to go away. I'm completely dry but my tail stays.

"Eww. Don't tell me Collin brought you here." A disgusted female voice says. Her voice is like soft and gentle waves.

"Eww. Yes he did." I mimick.

--------} Collin's cave