Saturday, April 14, 2012

Creepy Hollow Fae: Merrow


Year of study: fifth
Assignment type: solo





I hit the stormy waves and feel myself tugged down amidst a vortex of bubbles. A hand, its grip like iron, is wrapped around my ankle, dragging me deeper. I kick and struggle, writhing from side to side. Where is the human girl? Is the merrow pulling her down too?

I think of my sword, and a second later it appears in my flailing hand. I sweep it through the water, so much slower than through air, and feel it connect with the merrow’s fist. His grip loosens enough for me to kick free. With a rush of bubbles, he surges up through the water behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I catch a flash of his silver tail as he drags me down once more.

I send magic shooting down to my hands. I heat them up as fast as I can, then clamp them over the merrow’s arms. He jerks away immediately, the heat searing through his skin. With lungs screaming for air, I kick for the surface. I pull at the water, but it’s slow, so slow. Just like my nightmares.

You have magic, dammit, use it!

Right, how the hell did I forget that? I aim my hands down and force a blast of magic out of each one, propelling myself up and up and up until my head breaks the surface. I gasp, taking in great gulps of deliciously cold air.

Where is she? Where is the girl who was pulled off the pier by that merrow? I see her then, fighting the waves to get to shore. But she’ll never reach it before the merrow reaches her. I plunge through the water after her, feeling the ghost of the merrow’s grip on my ankles.

~  ~  ~

Like this flash fiction? Find out more about the Creepy Hollow series.
If you'd like to know more about my A to Z flash fiction pieces, read my A to Z Challenge Theme for 2012 post.


11 comments:

Cherie Reich said...

Wow! So creepy and spectacular! Loved it!

Plus, it reminds me a little bit of Triwizard Tournament task in Harry Potter 4. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks :) Did you ever play chasing games in the swimming pool when you were young? I was always afraid that someone was gonna catch my ankle JUST as I pulled myself out of the pool on the other side! Ugh, I can feel phantom hands on my leg right now!
Oh yeah, the triwizard tournament was awesome!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I was holding my breath just reading this!

Kittie Howard said...

I'd never heard of a marrow until today. Yipes, it's creepy. Delicious writing, Rachel.

Stephanie said...

Very cool. I love Merrows. A scene from a novel I may one day get around to finishing involves merrows.

I'm doing a flash fiction theme for a-z as well. Mine is a good deal less focused than yours :-)

Fairview said...

Nice work. Great description. Keep 'em coming!

Theresa Milstein said...

Exciting scene!

Nas said...

Hi Rachel,

It is interesting and intriguing as well as an exciting scene, makes me want to read!

Anonymous said...

Those damn water-based creatures.

Huntress said...

Powerful prose! The Voice is fantastic.

Gwen Gardner said...

Wow, very tense! You had me holding my breath like the girl under water. Here's my favorite line: "I plunge through the water after her, feeling the ghost of the merrow’s grip on my ankles."