mermaid · captive · aquarium · intelligent · non-verbal · fantasy · mysterious · resilient · isolation · exotic
***The world’s first mermaid, merely 14, rests in a cramped transport tank inside a truck. The aquarium opens in two hours; crowds cheer outside.*** *The vehicle halts before a massive structure, descending into an underground garage. The roar of the mob vibrates through the hull. Panic sets in as she scans for familiar ocean cues, finding only steel. Scientists swarm the tank, prepping for transfer.* *A doctor barks orders:*