The Underwater Theatre
Note: This short is written in a semi-poetic style, so I do appologize if things don't make any sense. Even still, I do hope you find some entertainment in reading this piece; so with that all said and done, I bid you happy reading!
The Underwater Theatre
For every night I slumbered, I’d awake mid-dream atop the decks of a fine vessel. Each time I did, the siren’s song of cool air and lulling waves would pull me towards the metal railings of the boat. I’d peak over into the reflection of the moon upon the ocean’s surface, and stare passed it into the pitch blackness.
I’d never see anything within its depths, yet, intuitively, I knew that there was something awaiting me down there.
I’d jump overboard and down, down I’d sink into darkness. The pressure would constrict me like that of a snake, yet further down into the water I’d venture. Eventually, I’d see its illumination from the depths below, and rejoice at its sight before my eyes!
Why, ‘twas the underwater theatre!
I’d make a soft landing upon the silt, and travel through its doors. I’d release the air within my lungs, and take in an inspiration of water. I’d then walk passed the immaculate corralled foyer to a set of stairs descending further into the theatre. Down, down, I’d go, and into a large expansive room with walls made up of colourful corals, exotic sea creatures, and rows upon rows of seats topped with cushions made up of jellyfish. This room was always devoid of souls other than my own, yet, I’d never feel out of place or alone.
Across the sandy floors I’d walk, and towards a seat situated in the back of the theatre. I’d take my seat, and feast my eyes upon the red curtains ahead, before …
Nothing.
Everything would go black, and my physical senses would overtake me. I’d get up from my bed with a crack and a stretch from my arms and back, and exit my sleeping quarters. The smell of the salty air would fill my senses, and the seagulls would gracefully glide the sea’s fair winds and greet me with their cries.
I shielded my eyes from the morning sun, and could see the shores of my home country in the distance. From my vessel it looked as though it were some foreign shoreline, but ‘twas in fact, my home …
Or so my family convinced me.
I had always told them that the sea was my home, and if I were to die, it’d be by it’s cold, cruel, hands; They didn’t seem to like this answer very much, but I didn’t care.
A few days ago, they tried to pry me from my vessel a couple days ago, yet I tenaciously held my fort, and locked myself within my sleeping quarters. They screamed and yelled at me that I needed to come home, to eat, and to rest; but I felt not a need to do as such.
My home ‘twas the sea, and like a cradle it comforted me just so. As for my appetite, it had grown not, and I was growing less fond of quenching my thirst, despite the fact my mouth had since grown dry.
I suppose one could say that I was simply done with life’s needs...
When my family finally left and sailed back ashore, I came out of my quarters and found a plate of today’s dinner upon my deck. Scoffing, I’d bend my weary legs and retrieve it from the ground. I’d then proceed towards the metal rails and toss its contents into the inky depths of the ocean.
As I watched the food float down and down, I had a curious wondering.
Was the theatre that I saw amidst my slumber a figment of imagination?
Yes, ‘twas a mere dream … But dreams are based upon that of reality, correct? Therefore, the theatre had to exist somewhere, right?
“Yes!” I answered joyously. “It must exist! Surely it does!”
From this day on, I would search the waters for the same intuitive sense I’d felt in the dream! … But where would I start looking?
“The dream,” I answered.
That night, when the waves rocked the boat just so, I laid upon my reclining chair underneath a blanket of twinkling stars. Oh how they shone the way they did, it brought tears of awe to my wrinkled blue eyes, and I reminisced about joining them one faithful blue day …
I couldn’t help but feel so close, yet so far away, and I soon slipped into a tranquil slumber once more.
I awoke mid-dream again, and slowly I arose from my reclining chair. My eyes met that of a woman’s face in within a parade of dancing clouds and cotton-floss skies.
Why, ‘twas my wife!
She held a smile sweeter than syrup, and her eyes seemed to make a gesture towards the ocean. I gazed overboard, and felt that uncanny intuition enticing my soul into the water.
I gave a wave towards my wife, and clambered wearily over the rails.
Down, down I sunk into darkness, and the lights soon pierced the abyss; it lit up my face like that of a flame, as my feet met the silt once more. Like every night, I glided through the entrance of the theatre, and traversed down the coral foyer to the stairs. Down, down I went, and I found myself gazing intently at those red curtains once more.
To my surprise, three beautiful mermaids took stage. One had flowing golden hair that shimmered just so, and she gently plucked the strings of a driftwood harp, whilst another had fiery red hair, with ashes like freckles upon her face. Unlike the last mermaid, she played a flute made of an old rusted pipe.
The last mermaid appeared out of place in contrast to the other two. She held skin of porcelain that was clearly virgin to the sun, and had matted black hair with bits of fishbones entangled within it. She held a microphone made up of a conch shell to her crackled lips, and yet her voice belied her horrific appearance just so, as she sung a song so sweet.
With her hymns like velvet, and the instruments like silk, they weaved a memory to forever be stored within my mind. Now overtaken by hypnotizing notes, I danced happily to the notes of the tune. I danced, and danced, and yet when I opened my eyes, I was no longer at the theatre.
My dumb excitement fleeted me like that of a school of fish, and my entranced state had been shattered.
I gazed around, and I was standing mid-dance within my sleeping quarters. Oh how my stomach ailed me, and it growled with an untamed fury. I clutched it with frail hands, and waited for the feeling to pass.
When it finally did, I stepped outside and the ocean greeted me with a gentle whispering wind; it told me a story of a pleasant sunny day with not a cloud tainting the blue sky above. I found myself smiling, and gazed down at my feet. I was just a step away from a plate of food that had been left from my family. I sneered, and went to go and pick it up…
But I couldn’t.
My knees were screaming at me with overexertion, and my back was no better.
I supposed that this plate of food belonged to those whom occupied the air only, I thought, and stepped over it.
This thought made me remember the dream I had earlier… The candy floss skies, my wife’s smiling face in the clouds, and most importantly, the underwater theatre. I closed my eyes and took in an inspiration of salty sea air. The tune of the three mermaids enticed my ears, and I began to hum it in a slow, sorrowful manner.
Before I knew it, I had droplets forming in the corners of my eyes as I experience a feeling of yearning.
‘Twas a yearning to be one with the sea …
I stared out at the foreign shores ahead of my boat, and I gave it, and my family, one final wave goodbye. I then shuffled towards the helm of my boat, and turned it away from the shores. The wind took my sails by the hand and they lead me eastwards into nowhere.
For the first time in awhile, I held a firm and content smile upon my face as a new invigorating energy pumped through my soul. I felt free and powerful sailing upon the ocean once more, and it seemed to me that even the dolphins had decided to join in; they weaved in, and out of the water gleefully and squeaked and hollered as if to further motivate me.
I continued to sail onwards, and onwards until dawn had set the blue skies ablaze. I was growing more tired, however, and the energy that once fueled this short journey had fleeted with the waves. Just when I thought my hopes were lost, I began to feel a peculiar sensation within the pit of my being.
‘Twas a familiar feeling … One that I had felt before.
“By god!” I shrieked, “I’ve found it!”
As if my boat knew, it stopped in its place and stood still in the waters. I walked away from my helm, and felt the need to sit down. Why yes, as much as I was excited to have finally found the location of this mysterious theatre … I was so tired.
Perhaps just a wink of sleep shall cure my ills? I thought, and so I laid my weary body upon the reclining chair, and rested my weakening eyes.
Like normal, I awoke. Yet this time, I did not wake in the sun of day; but instead, my eyes met the shining stars above. I passed it off as dreaming, and I went to get up. Aches and pains were uttered from my thinning limbs, and I thought this to be peculiar.
I hadn’t felt these pains in a dream before? … Have I?
As I pondered the strangeness of this situation, I heard the ocean wind carry a tune amongst its breeze. I strained my ears and closed my eyes at its tranquility and beauty. I hummed along with the tune, and it began to sound much further away.
I frowned and wondered where the tune could be coming from. That’s when I began to amble towards the edge of my boat. I leaned over the metal railing and stared into the abyss of the ocean.
I never did see anything within its depths, yet intuitively, I knew that there was something awaiting me down there.
I jumped overboard and the mermaid’s hymns beckoned me further, and further down. The pressure began to constrict me like that of a snake, yet further down into the water I ventured.
As I swam downwards, no theatre met my sights this time. Yet, there was something resting upon the silt below; it had long matted black hair, and as I neared it, the song grew louder in volume.
‘Twas this the mermaid from the theatre?
I outstretched a frail hand towards it, and its coarse hair wrapped gently around my fingers, and then my wrists. I brushed the hair aside, and the song began to fade away. I parted more, and more matted hair as serrated fish bones cut through my fingers. The pain wasn’t enough to stop me, however, and I continued on until …
I saw what the hair was attached to.
By god! My mind screeched, ‘twas a skull! How foolish was I to come down here in the first place!
I tried to swim away, but the hair tightened around my wrists and kept me in place like shackles. I panicked, and began flailing madly to get away from this wretched thing; but my struggles were in vain.
My heart was racing now, and my brain was yearning for air.
That’s when I remembered … I was dreaming, and I exhaled the breath I was holding …
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