I waited a few heartbeats for the lighthouse’s beam to glide over the top of the water, then leapt into the waves, quickly diving so I could disappear before it came back around again.
I swam for I don’t even know how long, until my arms were burning with the strain and my lungs ached with each breath. I don’t know how I ended up at the cave – but she was waiting for me.
‘Come in,’ crooned the woman in black, her hair floating aimlessly around her head. She fixed with a wicked grin and slowly swam backwards, into the inky darkness. Compelled, I followed her.
It was much roomier inside than I’d anticipated, with stacks of bottles and jars lining the walls and large cooking implements scattered around the floor. I frowned, looking closer. Not cooking implements, per se… mostly just cauldrons.
‘You must be lost, dear,’ the stranger smiled, suddenly between me and the entrance.
‘H-how did you know?’ I gulped.
She let out a peal of laughter and came closer. ‘Everyone who ends up in my home is lost – one way or another. How can I help you?’
‘I want to live with the humans,’ I said, before I could stop myself. Why had I said that?
‘Interesting,’ she hummed, stroking her chin. ‘Why the human world? There’s all sorts of nasty things up there – have you seen the toenail conditions? Cheltenham alone is full of disgusting ailments.’
‘I know,’ I nodded. ‘And I want it all. The ups and downs, the twists and turns, the—’
‘Alright, alright,’ she cut me off with an eye-roll. ‘No need to break into song. I might be able to help you.’
‘Really?’ my eyes widened. ‘You can?’
‘Sure,’ she shrugged. ‘This is my job.’
‘Your job is to give people human legs?’
‘I’m something of a… foot specialist,’ she said, with a grin I didn’t trust.
I surveyed her carefully, mind racing.
‘My time is limited,’ she said quickly, cutting me off as I began to reconsider. ‘It’s now or never.’
I nodded, slowly.
‘Gooooood,’ she crowed. ‘Now we just have to discuss… payment.’