Beneath the Painted Ocean Read online

  “Possibly. It could be a big discovery,” Callum murmured, laying his napkin down on his lap. “It could change how we look at the ocean now.”

  “I’m glad to see you’re in a better mood,” Mr. Knoll said as the appetizers were being served. “I was wondering if you had time to think about what I had said earlier.”

  Callum’s good mood seemed to disappear at that moment. He had forgotten that they had a guest and that this person gave him the creeps. He couldn’t pinpoint it but he really didn’t like the man. “I thought about it a little bit. I still need more information though. I can’t get involved with something that could possibly jeopardize my research or someone else’s life.”

  “That is completely understandable. Your job obviously means the world to you. You will fight to keep the world safe from pollution especially our oceans. Your father told me what an activist you are.”

  “An activist.” He heard someone chuckle and a few other laughs were heard. He glowered at his siblings before facing Mr. Knoll.

  “Before I say yes or no, I need to know what you want to do,” Callum went on. “I will say right now that I’m not going to accept any offer that could be harmful to the ecosystem.”

  “Callum, son...” His father looked up from eating. “I told you not to jump to conclusions.”

  “It’s all right, Jake. Your son is just taking precautions,” Mr. Knoll said. “I don’t blame him for being a little wary. You have every right to be concerned about the environment, Dr. Caldwell. While it doesn’t seem like it, I get your point of view. My proposal is to help you with your research, not hurt it.”

  “I don’t see how you could help me. My current research is on coral and how to keep the reefs safe,” Callum reminded him. “What would a businessman want with a marine biologist?”

  “Your knowledge is very valuable. I know you can help me expand my business. I need the use of the ocean, but it won’t be harmful to anything,” Mr. Knoll went on. “Granted, I will need space and that does include space that other people are taking up. I’m not going to leave them high and dry though. I will make sure they are compensated and that they get a better job. If needed, we can train them to do something else. I will make sure they are taken care of.”

  “But the ocean...”

  “Again, I mean no harm to the ocean. Everything in the company will be environmentally friendly. You’re not getting oil spills into the waters. None of the creatures will be hurt. I just want to build something on the ocean. That’s it.”

  Callum heard all his words but he still felt like he wasn’t getting the whole picture. “I need to think about this a little more. I’m sorry.”

  “No need to apologize, Dr. Caldwell. As I told you before, you can take your time with it.” Mr. Knoll turned to everyone else. “Now, who’s up for the main course?”

  They kept eating and Callum tried to remember his merman again. Those warm brown eyes were locked on him when he was underwater. His skin was dark like copper and his tail gleamed in the dark waters. The merman was scared and shy, but he was also curious. Judging from his face, he couldn’t have been very old. Then again, he didn’t know how old mermen could get. It was something he would have to find out when they actually spoke.

  Wait, he wouldn’t be able to speak my language! How could we communicate? Callum wondered. Or maybe he does know how to speak English. I’d have to surface if I want to talk to him. If I can’t, I’ve got to find another means of communication.

  The discovery of merfolk was going to change science the way everyone saw it. He could learn so much about them. He could figure out how long they had been in the ocean and how they survived in it. He would also be able to help them keep their home safe and do everything he could to help. Above all, he would be able to find his angel. He didn’t know if it was that merman who saved him, but it was one of them. The smile broke out on his face again as he thought about that beautiful merman. No wonder he felt so safe in the ocean. Someone was watching him. Someone wanted to protect him.

  “Callum?”

  He looked up to see that everyone was staring at him. “I’m sorry. I missed out on what you were saying.”

  “You’re smiling again,” Emily smiled back. “We asked you to pass the potatoes and you just started humming. You have to tell us what’s going on.”

  “Oh.” Callum passed the potatoes around. “I’m afraid I can’t talk about it now. It’s just that I’ve come across something special.”

  “You found someone,” Abigail realized.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “That’s what it is though! That look on your face...you found someone!” She clapped her hands and looked around the table. “Don’t you all see it?! Our brother is in love!”

  “Huh? Abby, that’s not what…”

  “Ah, so that explains your happy attitude,” Brent said. “I knew it! I knew you were seeing someone behind everyone’s back! It’s about time too! You always said that you were more concerned with your job!”

  “I am more concerned with my job!” Callum nearly burst out laughing when he heard all this. “I found something special. That doesn’t mean it’s someone.”

  “Sure it doesn’t.”

  “All right, everyone! Stop teasing your brother.” Elizabeth cut in, looking at her son. “It’s okay if you did find someone, Cal. You deserve happiness.”

  “I said I found something, not someone.” His grin never left his face. “It’s something that could change my life.”

  “Well, I’m very happy for you.” His mother said. “Whatever it is, I hope it continues to make you happy. I think I speak for everyone when I say that I have missed your beautiful smile. When you smile, you light up the whole world.”

  “Mom, you don’t have to get gushy on me.”

  “It’s the truth, son.” His father followed up. “It’s good to see that you’re happy.”

  The rest of dinner went well and Callum decided not to indulge anyone’s questions about what he had found. No one would ever believe him. He was now in his room, looking at his camera. Next time, he was taking it with him and getting all the pictures that he could. If the merman wouldn’t approach him, he would go after him.

  I won’t try to expose them though. I don’t want any harm to fall on them. He decided.

  His brothers entered the room and saw him fiddling with the camera. Frankie leaned over and tried to see what he was doing. “Oh, you’ve got the photos of your new girlfriend?”

  “I don’t have a girlfriend,” Callum murmured. “What I was referring was related to my work.”

  “It’s always related to your work,” George said. “It seems like you have nothing else in your life.”

  “Technically, I don’t. However, I might have stumbled across something that would change everything.” Callum wondered if he could tell his brothers about the merman. “Can you guys keep a secret?”

  “Oh, I knew it!” Frankie snapped his fingers. “I knew it! You couldn’t keep this from us forever! Who is she, bro? Who are you seeing?”

  “It’s not a woman.”

  “It’s a man?”

  “No.”

  “Then I’m confused,” George said. “Who are you seeing?”

  “It’s not exactly a who. It’s a what.”

  “A what?”

  Callum nodded and sat up in his bed. “Okay, you guys have heard me talk about that underwater angel for a long time, right?”

  “Please! We know the story about how that brown-eyed angel reached into the depths of the cold water and saved your sorry ass,” Frankie said. “What about it? Did you finally stop chasing it?”

  “No, I think I found them,” Callum smiled. “For the last few years, I’ve felt like someone was watching me in the ocean. No matter where I went, I thought I was being followed and it was in a good way. I felt comfortable and safe.”

  “I remember you talking about that too,” George nodded. “What are you trying to get at, C?”


  “My angel exists. However, it’s not a person.” He clasped his hands. “I could be hallucinating and this is going to be an odd question. Do you guys believe in mermaids?”

  Frankie and George exchanged looks with each other. They were both convinced that their brother was completely insane. Mermaids were folklore. Mermaids could not exist. If they didn’t know any better, it sounded like Callum’s angel was a so-called mermaid.

  “Um, I don’t know,” Frankie said. “It’s hard to say because you don’t have any proof.”

  “What if I got you some proof?”

  George saw where he was headed. “Oh, no! C, you can’t be serious! You did not see a mermaid, let alone be saved by one.”

  “No, it wasn’t a mermaid,” Callum agreed. “I haven’t seen a mermaid out there.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  “It was a merman.”

  Frankie shook his head, trying to make sense of what his brother was saying. “A merman? You think you saw a merman?”

  “I know I saw a merman. I forgot my camera or else I would have taken a photo. He was there though. He was staring right back at me and I was frozen. I really wish I had followed him.” Callum put the camera to the side. “I was scared and fascinated at the same time. I thought I was seeing things too but it was real. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. My angel is a mermaid or a merman.”

  “You don’t think this is your angel?”

  “I don’t know. I just know that they exist. One of them saved me that night. I’ll never understand why but I never forgot their eyes. I couldn’t make out their face but I could make out their eyes. I saw the light in them and I knew I would be all right. I never found out their name or why they saved me. I never forgot them.”

  “So now you’re convinced that your angel is a mermaid or a merman,” George concluded. “It’s the only thing that makes sense to you. Maybe you saw a giant fish and assumed it was a mermaid.”

  “Giant fishes don’t have human torsos or faces. Yeah, the waters were a little murky but I know what I saw,” Callum sighed. “I didn’t think you guys would believe me but I had to tell someone. It’s killing me inside. I have to go back and get the proof. I need you to know that I’m not crazy.”

  “I don’t think you’re crazy, bro,” Frankie said. “I do think you saw something. It just isn’t what you think it is.”

  “I played around with that idea too but I know what I saw. I’m not going blind.” Callum lay back in his bed. “I have to go back in the water. I have to find him. I know I’m supposed to have fun but I’m not resting until I find that merman or a mermaid. I have to know.”

  “You’re going to wear yourself out, bro.”

  “I don’t care. I told myself I would search every corner of the ocean for my answer. I’m going to do it even if it kills me.”

  “Yeah, that’s the part we’re scared about,” George said. “You’re going to get hurt, C. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, it will do more harm than good.”

  “I’ll be careful. You know I know what I’m doing.”

  “Yeah, I do,” George sighed. “And that’s precisely the reason why I’m scared.”

  Chapter 5

  Before making their way to the island, Callum decided on an early morning dive in hopes of seeing the merman again. If he didn’t catch the same one, he could at least find another one. This time, he made sure to take the camera along. He would be able to take plenty of pictures even if he didn’t find his merman again. Most of his family was still asleep so he could get a dive in before breakfast. His youngest sister, Pearl, asked him to bring back a pearl from an oyster if he came across one. She always asked him for that and he told her he would try to find it. So far, he had come back empty-handed, but he always made sure to get his youngest siblings some seashells on the shore. It was his way of saying that he never forgot about them.

  “I’ll get you the biggest pearl out there.” He gave her a big hug before putting her down. “I haven’t forgotten my promise to you.”

  “You should eat something light before you go.” His mother suggested, watching as he checked everything. “I know you’re eager but it’s never a good idea to do anything on an empty stomach.”

  “I’ll be fine, Mom. I’m not really hungry at this moment anyway.”

  That did not do anything to assuage his mother’s worries. “Oh no, please tell me you aren’t...” She lowered her voice. “Are you all right? Please, sweet, I need to know. The last time this happened, it was because you were sad. You stopped eating all together.”

  “I’m not sad this time. I really just want to get this out of the way before everyone else wakes up,” he promised. “I know you’re scared but there’s nothing to be worried about. I’m not doing anything to hurt myself. I’m just busy with work. That’s it.”

  “I know how dedicated you are to your job, but don’t forget to take care of yourself. Make sure you eat regularly and you get enough sleep. You’re here to have fun, not work. Don’t stress yourself out.”

  “I’ll try not to.”

  Callum did understand why his mother was so concerned about him. His attempted suicide was what led to his change in behavior. Prior to that, he went into a deep depression that no one knew of. It was hard for anyone to notice because he kept to himself. People would ask if he was all right but he would shut them down. There were times where he completely stopped eating and drinking. He would forget all about sleep or having a social life. He didn’t even know what fun was. He had gone to see the school counselor a few times after the teachers noticed his change in behavior. While he was a good student, he was struggling to focus in class. He dozed off too much during it and he stopped talking to people all together.

  The school counselor determined that Callum needed to see a professional for this. His parents agreed that his twin sister’s death was definitely affecting him. They took him to a few people and he went on various medications. They helped calm him down, but nothing was making him feel better. He was in a void and he couldn’t get out of it. A part of him didn’t want to come out of it. He wanted the darkness to eat him up inside. It all led up to that summer where he attempted suicide. At eighteen, he felt like he was a hundred years old. He had thought about dying before but now he had the opportunity. He just needed the right moment to jump.

  I’m not even sure if I’m all right. I just think I was kept content for the next few years. He thought, watching as the fish swam by him. They were all so beautiful so he needed to get a few shots of them. The water was beautiful and clear today so he didn’t regret coming down here. It was a shame no one else in his family was going to see what he saw. They liked to hear about his adventures but none of them would ever follow him underwater.

  Well, it’s their loss. They have no idea what they’re missing.

  He swam around the area for a little longer, choosing not to stray from the boat. He knew they weren’t going to leave without him, but he felt safe to know it was close by. He was planning to surface soon because he was starting to feel a little hungry now.

  There’s that feeling again. He thought, looking to his right. He didn’t see anything but he could sense those eyes on him. Someone is watching me. Someone knows I’m here. What do they want with me?

  He turned to the left now and saw a school of fish swim by. He took a quick picture of them and immediately felt let down. He was hoping that he could get some proof of his merman again. Maybe they didn’t come out in the morning. It was very early so they probably did sleep. If so, how did they sleep? Did they sleep like people or were they always swimming? Not only that, he wanted to know how this merman lived his life. It would be fascinating to learn all about them if he got the chance to communicate with one.

  Oh, would I ever be able to talk to them? I have to prove that I mean no harm. How can I do that?

  He snapped a few more photos before he decided to surface and go back to the boat. It might have been a
good thing that the merman didn’t show up again. He would have no idea how to approach him or what he would do. He needed to go back in with a plan next time.

  Once he was back on the boat and he had cleaned up, he went down to get some breakfast. His mother seemed relieved when she saw him. She was glad to see that he was in time to eat and that he was still in one piece.

  “Good morning, son!” His father greeted him. “How’s the water?”

  “Warm and calm.” Callum took his seat between his brothers, Michael and Nathan. He hadn’t seen them in a long time and now they were both almost the same height he was. “There are a lot of fish in it. I got pictures.”

  “You can show us after breakfast. I hope you’re hungry because we’ve got your favorites today; pancakes, vegan omelet, and vegan sausage.”

  “Sounds good. Right now, I need some coffee.” He pushed out his cup so that someone could pour coffee into it. “Low-fat cream and a tiny bit of Splenda please.”

  “Your son is very health-conscious, isn’t he?” Mr. Knoll asked. “There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. Health is very important.”

  “Yeah.” Callum took a sip of his coffee and winced when it burned his tongue. “Whoa, I should have waited ‘til that cooled down a bit.”

  “It happens to the best of us, son,” Mr. Knoll said. “Now I know this is a sudden change of subject but have you thought about what I said last night?”

  Callum wanted to burn his mouth again. He hadn’t thought much about Mr. Knoll last night because the merman had excited him. “Um, I don’t know if I’m the person you should be talking to. I’m not really for big businesses. You can ask my father about the time that a couple of my friends and I tried to...” He yanked his collar. “I’ll be honest. We tried to vandalize another building because they were harming the environment.”

  “Son...” Jacob began, not really wanting to relive that moment. He remembered how upset Callum was that night and how that anger carried over into the morning. They might have forgiven each other but he still felt terrible about the words he had said. “Look, we don’t need to rehash that.”