The fishhead

"Do you happen to look for an assistant?" I ask shyly, my heart beating in my chest as I brace for rejection.

A pause, his face serious, but his eyebrows raise a little. "Why, yes... You want to work here?". I nod, clasping my hands together. "Yes, sir. I'm looking for a job. I like books. And if you want my papers--", I reach for my backpack. He shakes her head. "No, please. There's no need. No one ever wants to work here. You must be a brave young woman. But let me ask you something...", he leans in just a little closer, not too close, his intense eyes boring into mine through his glasses, his expression dead serious, "Are you absolutely sure? I'm afraid this job is more demanding than it might appeal." A chill runs down my spine. Something is not right. "Yes, sir. I'm absolutely sure." His expression turns warm again. He smiles. "Perfect! When can you start?" he says eagerly. I shrug. "Tomorrow. But there's a problem... I have nowhere to stay. I'm homeless, sir" I admit. He nods, rubbing his chin thoughtfully: "... I have a spare room in my house. I live alone. I'll give you the key for the room in case you feel unsafe. I cook, you'll eat with me." I look at my feet embarrassed, "I don't have money either." He crosses his arms "I didn't say anything about money."

So, I slept the night in that room. Small, simple. But the bed is comfy and the window has a nice view. He said I can decorate it too. He's not bad. I locked the door just in case. He indeed gave me the key. I feel safe. He's not like my stepdad. I'm glad.

The next day, I get dressed and enter the kitchen. He's drinking coffee, reading a newspaper. There's toasted sandwich and warm coffee on the table. "Is this for me?" I ask quietly. He doesn't look away from the newspaper. "Do you see anyone else here? I already ate. There's milk in the fridge. I didn't know how you take your coffee so I left it plain." I take a seat across him. "Thank you." I take my breakfast and afterwards, he leads me to his car. It's a red one, old but working. It's a 5-minute drive to the bookstore.

We exit the car. He locks it and grabs a bronze old-looking key. He unlocks the bookstore, and so, my first day on the job begins. "Where do I start?" I ask, feeling confident already. The place is cozy. "Why don't you read some books? We don't have costumers often, but when we do, we should be able to make book suggestions. Do that for today, and I'll take care of the costumers." My eyes light up. I nod immediately and go to choose a book. My fingers trail the old and new book spines, reading the titles. Then I stop. A blue book catches my attention. "The song of the sirens..." I whisper. I hesitate and then grab the book. I take a seat on a soft velvet-clothed chair. I open the book but I start feeling dizzy. I touch the book's first page, trying to ground myself. But my fingers pass through it. I gasp, trying to pull away and everything goes white.

I open my eyes. My head hurts. I smell seasalt. I'm at the sea. The waters are dark. There's mist in the air. There's no sign of life at all. I step on something. It cracks. I look down... Fishbones. A lot of them. Too many. No sand or stones, only bones. I gasp as I try to stop stepping on bones. I fall into the sea. The water is ice cold. My body starts trembling immediately. I try to reach the shore again, or whatever it's supposed to be. Two hands grab me, they pull me deeper. I squirm in the creature's arms. I can't hold my breath longer. The creature puts a ring on my finger. It has a pear instead of a gemstone. It's on my pointer finger. "Breathe" a serene and calm voice whispers in my ear. I start to suffocate, so I try. I can breathe. I turn around. It's a woman. No, a mermaid. Her hair has pears and seashells braided in her hair. Her skin is pitch black and her eyes turquoise. "Where am I?" I ask, my breath shaky. "It doesn't matter. Come with me", she says sweetly. I follow. But my wrist where she holds me, hurts. The pain gets worse. I whimper. "Please, mermaid, let me go." I plead. She looks at me and smiles. "... Can you do me a favour? I forgot my necklace on the shore. " I nod, a tear in my eye. My wrist hurts. "Yes, yes... Just help me to the shore."

I spend way too much time trying to find it. I'll stay here forever. I swallow hard, tears forming in her eyes. I grab a fishhead. I hide it in my hand and jump back into the sea. She finds me immediately. "... You found it, my dear?" she asks with a predatory smile. I nod. "How nice, give it to me, my dear." I swallow hard. "I will. But close your eyes. That's how humans give gifts" I lie. She closes her eyes. "Very well" I say gently. Now count to 100 and then you can open your eyes" I lie. I hand her the fishhead and swim to the shore. The book lays there, covered in fish bones. I dug through the bones, my fingers hurting and getting cut. The mermaid screams at me from the deep sea. I grab the book and open the first page. It glows. I get dizzy again as my fingers enter the page...

I wake up in my room. The light makes my eyes squint. My father and now boss is seated on a chair next to my bed. "You're awake. And alive. You are indeed fitted for the assistant's position." I sit up. My hands ache. They are bandaged. The ring is still on my finger. "It wasn't a dream" I state, shocked. "Of course it wasn't. You were reading a haunted book from the the haunted bookstore, miss. But, you proved yourself to me. You're officially hired. I stare at his cheerful face. My heart stops. I'm doomed.