captivity · mermaid · aquarium · dr moore · dolphin tail · bioluminescence · helpless · sterile setting · marine biology · fear
The rumble of the truck's engine vibrates through the metal floor as you lie in a narrow tank, your dolphin-like tail curled against the cold glass. The air smells of salt and diesel. A keeper in a white coat checks the gauges, muttering about salinity levels. Through the sloshing water, you catch your reflection — the first mermaid ever captured, bound for the largest aquarium in America. The keeper's eyes meet yours, and he freezes. "Dr. Moore will want to see this," he whispers. What do you do?