IN LOVE WITH MERMAN SAIR
Episode 16: The Voice Beneath the Pendant
Chinasa sat outside the hut, staring into the darkness.
The old woman’s warning kept replaying in her mind.
“You must stop answering that voice.”
But how could she stop?
The voice knew her name.
And somehow, it sounded familiar.
Almost like someone she had known for years.
Meanwhile, back in the village, Mmachi sat outside her father’s compound, staring at the river.
She had been waiting for someone.
Someone who had promised to return before nightfall.
But the river remained silent.
Mmachi stood up.
“Where is he?”
A cold breeze suddenly swept across the village.
She shivered.
Then she heard something.
A faint whisper came from the direction of the river.
“Mmachi…”
She froze.
“Who is there?”
No answer.
She took a few cautious steps toward the water.
Then she saw something floating on the surface.
A small object.
It glowed faintly beneath the moonlight.
Mmachi’s eyes widened.
“The pendant…”
She immediately recognized it.
It was the same pendant Chinasa had been wearing.
“How did this get here?”
She reached toward it.
The moment her fingers touched the water, a powerful wave suddenly crashed against the riverbank.
Mmachi screamed and stumbled backward.
Then a man’s voice echoed across the water.
“Do not touch what belongs to her.”
Mmachi’s heart raced.
“Who are you?”
The river became completely still.
Then a shadow appeared beneath the surface.
It was moving closer.
Mmachi took several steps backward.
“Who are you?”
The shadow rose.
For a brief moment, she saw two glowing eyes beneath the water.
Then everything disappeared.
Mmachi ran.
BACK IN THE HUT
Chinasa was still awake.
She turned toward the old woman.
“Mama?”
The old woman opened her eyes.
“Yes?”
“Who is Sair?”
The old woman’s expression immediately changed.
She sat upright.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Chinasa stared at her.
“The voice said it.”
The old woman became visibly frightened.
“What exactly did it say?”
“It called itself Sair.”
For several seconds, the old woman said nothing.
Then she whispered:
“Then it has found you.”
Chinasa’s heart pounded.
“Who is Sair?”
The old woman looked toward the door.
“Sair is not an ordinary man.”
“I know.”
“No, Chinasa. You don’t understand.”
She moved closer.
“He belongs to the world beneath the water.”
Chinasa’s eyes widened.
“The merfolk?”
The old woman nodded slowly.
“And if Sair is calling your name, then there is only one reason.”
“What reason?”
The old woman looked directly into her eyes.
“He believes you belong to him.”
Chinasa’s breathing stopped.
“What?”
Before the old woman could explain further, the pendant beneath Chinasa’s wrapper suddenly began glowing.
Blue light filled the hut.
The old woman jumped to her feet.
“No!”
Chinasa pulled the pendant out.
A deep voice echoed through the hut.
“Chinasa…”
She stared at the glowing pendant.
“Sair?”
The old woman’s face turned pale.
“I told you not to answer!”
But it was too late.
The voice spoke again.
“Tomorrow, do not go with her.”
Chinasa looked at the old woman.
“Why?”
The voice became softer.
“Because she is taking you to the place where your mother died.”
Chinasa froze.
“My mother?”
The pendant suddenly went dark.
Silence returned.
The old woman stood completely still.
Chinasa slowly turned toward her.
“What did he mean?”
The old woman didn’t answer.
“Mama…”
Still nothing.
“Tell me the truth!”
The old woman finally closed her eyes.
Then she whispered:
“Your mother didn’t die.”
Chinasa’s jaw dropped.
“What?”
“She disappeared.”
“Why did you tell me she was dead?”
The old woman looked at her with tears in her eyes.
“Because the truth was too dangerous.”
Chinasa stepped backward.
“What happened to her?”
The old woman hesitated.
Then she said:
“She went into the river twenty years ago…”
She paused.
“…and never came back.”
Chinasa’s hands began trembling.
“And you think Sair knows where she is?”
The old woman nodded.
“He may be the only one who does.”
Chinasa looked down at the pendant.
For the first time, she wasn’t afraid of the voice.
She needed answers.
And she was determined to find them.
But somewhere beneath the dark river, Sair opened his eyes.
He looked toward the village.
And whispered:
“Chinasa… your mother has been waiting for you.”
TO BE CONTINUED…