All your life you've lived in this quiet picturesque town on the edge of a lake. You've always heard tales of danger in going on the lake at night. Mermaids said to dwell in the depths taking men to their watery graves. More likely drunk fisherman falling in at night, but the town loved keeping the myths alive.
Not having ever believed the myth you were regularly teased by your peers for not being willing to join in the regular game of sneaking out at night and rowing out to tempt the mermaids. It was a dumb game, you had no need to prove yourself to anyone, but it did get to you. A few nights after your 18th birthday, you decided to do it. To embarrassed to have anyone else know, you resolved to do it alone.
A couple hours after the sun set, you snuck out. Some of the old fishermen thought it was harmless fun for the kids and regularly left small row boats on the shore around the lake. Finding one of these was easy enough. After looking around several times to make sure no one saw you, you slid it into the water.
On edge just from feeling ridiculous about the whole thing and super nervous about anyone catching you, you grab the single oar left with the boat and begin to paddle. The oar slapping into the water, and flinging water out as you finish your stroke sounds incredibly loud. Maybe it's just how focused you are on not being seen or just unfamiliarity with this that makes it seem so. Either way you want to get this over with and start paddling faster and faster. After all you are far less likely to be seen by anyone out on the water then by the shore.
You finally rest and turn to see how far you've gone. To your surprise you are fairly far out. You can still see the shore, but swimming there from here would be difficult. You lay the oar in the boat and sit back resting your arms. There tiredness finally burning its way into your mind past your anxiety. You dip your hands in the cool water, and slip off your sandals. You catch your breath and relax staring up at the night sky.
This whole game maybe stupid, but this gorgeous view and relaxing atmosphere made this all worth it. Then something brushes against your hand in the water.
You stand up, grabbing the oar, and peering into the water. Just in time to see something moving away in the water. Difficult to see in this darkness, you quickly attempt to survey the surrounding water as best you can.
Suddenly something rocks the boat. You flail trying to keep your balance. To no avail. You crash backwards into the water as the oar is flung from your hands.
You pull yourself to the surface, gasping for air. You move your hands to pull your hair away from your face. Moving both hands at once to part your hair in the middle. Then it strikes you, that you can only move your hands so freely, because you are being supported. Supported by a pair of hands under your bust, with someone else's bust being pressed into your back. You feel a chill crawl up your spine, with this realization. You have found, a mermaid!
You lurch forward. Surprisingly out of her grasp. You turn to see her. Blue grey skin and teal braided hair glistening in the moonlight. Her haunting black eyes, like voids you fear falling into.
She smiles at you, displaying her maw full of daggers. She giggles before she sinks back into the water. Your eyes strain trying to follow her under the surface.
The chill of anticipation far colder than the water itself. You very slowly start drifting your way back to the overturned boat. Trying to move as little as possible.
You feel something press and drag from your heel to the ball of your foot. Reflexively you shunt your knee up. Pulling your foot away. This impedes your ability to keep yourself afloat momentarily.
For but a second your head dips underwater, during which time you hear her giggle. Distorted by the water, but unmistakable. Goosebumps now prickle your skin.
You decide it's either now or never and do your best to swim quickly to the boat. Legs kicking. Arm over arm. You feel your fingers scrape the boat.
A hand wraps around each of your ankles and you are dragged back. Your arms already tired and your resistance making no difference, you give up.
After Isolating you from the boat, she rolls you to your back. Leaving you to float alone for a moment as she seems to dive away again. Maybe a matter of seconds or minutes later she resurfaces by your feet.
Her hands grace the underside of your calves. Slowly tracing them down to your heels. Then gently she raises both feet slightly. Just enough to get them out of the water before letting them fall.
Her hands both wrap around your right foot gently. Her thumbs rolling on the sole. Pressing in alternation from the middle then up toward your toes. This foot massage about the last thing you expected from a monster you've been told eats men.
One of her sharp teeth presses lightly on your right big toe, as she gives it a playful nibble. The goosebumps, which had begun to subside, flare back. She giggles. Her right hand departs your foot. It touches the inside of your knee. Then proceeds to dance down your leg over the goosebumps, until it reaches your foot again.