february
Just three days before Valentine's Day, Pacifica leaned over the side of the boat, letting the chilly breeze brush against her cheeks. Despite her sweater, coat, and scarf, she could definitely feel the cold as they sailed further north. So far, she still hadn't seen any mermaids or penguins, but Ford did start babbling about some kind of cryptid fish the week before.
By now, she had adjusted to life on the sea. She woke up around 8 every morning and would make breakfast. Afterwards, she would either spend her time writing or listening to music out on the deck if the weather was decent. In the afternoons, she had short lessons with McGucket, usually involving history or algebra. The nights were especially cold, so she would huddle up inside under as many blankets as possible and leaving the lights on. Out there, their lamps and the stars were the only sources of light. The dark and the idea of whatever could be looming out there made her uneasy.
Her eyes closed slowly, her chin resting in her soft palms as they sailed along. She was running out of space in her journal and she'd already read the majority of the books Ford kept on the boat.
"Bored?"
She opened her eyes and looked up at Stanley, who was leaning back, holding two peach sodas. He handed one over to her.
"Thanks. And yeah, I guess so." Pacifica opened the drink carefully and took a sip.
"Me too. Sometimes this boat feels too small sometimes, y'know?" The old man glimpsed out at the water, one hand gripping the railing along the side of the Stan-o-War.
"I know what you mean," she replied, cupping both hands around the soda can. "I wish I had cell service out here. I could call Mabel or at least find something to keep me occupied." Pacifica then spit out a peach pit out into the water. She always forgot about the pit.
"Well, at least we're only gonna be out here for a few more weeks. I'm sure we'll find something to keep us entertained. I think I've got some playing cards around here somewhere, maybe we can play poker or-"
Stan was suddenly interrupted by the loud creaking and groaning of the boat.
"What was that?" Pacifica murmured.
"That didn't sound too good," Stanley uttered. "Stay here. I'll be right back."
Pacifica was alone on the front deck, since Ford was by the wheel and McGucket was napping inside. A fog had rolled in over the waves, making it difficult to see more than a few yards beyond their small vessel. There was another groan as the boat rocked a bit to the left.
"Stan?" She called out. "Ford?"
No answer.
Swallowing her nerves, she peeked over the railing, half-expecting some sort of ocean goblin to pop up at her. Pacifica sighed with relief when there was nothing there. At least, she thought there was nothing there. Only moments later, she heard a faint humming.
"Hello?" Pacifica called out. The fog was too thick for her to see where the sound was coming from. Hands shaking, she took another sip of her soda.
"Paz, aren't you gonna share some with me?"
The soda can slipped out of Pacifica's hands as her eyes shot wide open. In the water staring up at her were the wide brown eyes of Mabel Pines. Shocked, Paz stumbled backwards, her boots tracking the sticky substance she'd spilled with her. She balled her hands into fists and rubbed her eyes. You're just imagining things, she told herself.
"What, are you just going to ignore your best friend?" Mabel called from beneath the deck.
Slowly, Pacifica made her way back to the edge. "How are you..."
Mabel's long hair was completely soaked, her bangs hanging down and nearly covering her eyes. She reached up and tucked her locks behind her ears with a wide grin. She appeared to be wearing her swimsuit, but it was awfully cold to be swimming in the water. "The water's fine, Paz, c'mon in!"
She didn't answer my question. "Mabel, I don't even know how you're here, but you need to like, get out of the water before you get sick or worse!" Pacifica pleaded before sticking her hands out to Mabel, hoping to pull her friend up onto the deck.
"Don't be such a downer! It's so warm out, you should really take a dip with me," Mabel pouted. "Please, Pacifica?" She stuck her bottom lip out and pressed her hands together. "Pretty please with some Mabel Juice on top?"
"I don't-" Pacifica shook her head. This is Mabel. The girl you've been missing for two months is right in front of you, and you're turning her away? Get in the water.
Mabel reached out for Pacifica's hands and pulled herself closer. Leaning over the railing, the brunette pressed her forehead against Paz's. "I think you'll like it in the water." Mabel's voice was soft and sweet, sounding like a lullaby to Pacifica. "Please? For me?" Her palms held Pacifica's cheeks, soft against her skin.
"O-okay," Pacifica whispered. "If that's what you want, Mabel."
Just as Mabel moved away from Pacifica, the blonde was dragged backwards, two heavy hands clamping over her ears. She struggled to try to break away for a moment, before realizing with dread that the figure that had been inviting her to take a swim moments ago was not her friend. It was a siren.
Ford, who was still holding Pacifica back away from the creature, shoved her through the doorway of the cabin and slammed it shut.
"Sheesh, what's he doing out there?" Stan grumbled as he sat down on the edge of the futon. "Trying to hog all the handsome guys for himself?"
Pacifica raised a brow. "Handsome men?"
"Y'know, all the shirtless guys that came up to the boat? I figured they were some sort of, I'unno, mermaid species."
Letting out a snort, Pacifica shook her head. "I don't think those were hot guys."
"Look, each to their own opinion or whatever, but those men were certainly very attractive and-"
"No, I mean, those weren't even men. They were sirens, right?" She looked over at McGucket, who was watching out the window by the dining table.
"I think so," he answered. "Good thing they can't get to Ford, or we'd all be doomed!"
"How come?" Pacifica asked.
"Well, it's all a trick. If you're attracted to someone, that's usually what they'll look like to ya'," the older man explained. "Ford's never really been into romance, or anything of the sorts. If you block out the song, you'll see them for how they really are, but for him, they always look like that."
"So that explains why I saw..." Pacifica bit her lip. She balled her hands into fists. "They used me. They used me! Why?"
McGucket shrugged. "Dinner, probably."
Pacifica crossed her arms with a slight huff, gazing out the window. Nobody tries to do this to me and gets away with it.
Out on the deck, Ford was slowly backing away from the railing as three sirens hauled themselves up onto the boat. With his back pressed against the wall, his eyes widened. Pacifica could see his mouth moving- he must've been trying to negotiate with them.
An idea dawned upon Pacifica. She threw aside her journals and papers on the workbench and reached for her earbuds and phone. Before Stan and McGucket could even react, she was already dashing out the door, loud music blaring from the device in her hands.
Immediately, the sirens noticed the teenager joining Ford. Luckily for her, the music coming from her earbuds prevented her from falling under their spell. The sirens still had razor-sharp teeth that were ready to tear into her, though, and they still were making their way in her direction. Will this even work? What am I doing out here? Do we even have a plan? They're getting closer to us... Pacifica's back was pressed flat up against the wooden wall and she could only watch as the creatures crawled towards her, angry looks in their eyes. This is how I die. This is it. Fish people in the middle of nowhere.
As panic settled in, she glanced around the deck, looking for something, anything that could help them. Just when she thought it was hopeless, she noticed a rather large fishing net drooped over nearby.
"Ford," she hissed. "The net."
Pacifica couldn't hear his response, but she saw him nod twice. The two began to inch towards the mesh, neither one taking their eyes off of the sirens. All Pacifica could hear was the bubbly pop tune blasting in her ears. Together, they both scrambled to reach for the net.
Holding the thick screen as tight as she could, she stumbled away from Ford, stretching the net out towards the other side of the deck. They then rushed forwards, pushing the sirens towards the edge of the boat. Pacifica leaned over the railing just in time to see the sirens dive into the ocean, drifting below the surface.
Her hands shook as she removed one earbud. "A-are we good?"
"I'm glad you had those headphones in- they have a mouth filthier than Stanley's!" Ford chuckled. "But yes, we're good. After exchanging some... colorful words, they said something about finding food elsewhere. I think we'll be okay now." He reached over and patted the girl beside him on the back.