JIN POV:

What had been one of the most exhilarating dance practices I'd seen, four of the most beautiful, soulful dancers I'd seen move had quickly gone from a rush of emotions to this sinking feeling of despair.

I didn't know how (Y/N) was going to react but when we'd been given the text from Hobi, we'd been excited, elated to tell (Y/N) that we all knew each other just how we all knew her- I'd imagined surprise, full rosy lips to part in surprise or shock, perhaps a moment or so of being stunned. But not this, never this. 

What I had hoped would be a pleasant surprise and drastically changed so quickly, all of us had been unable to hold back our cheers for their performance- for seeing this wonderful dynamic and chemistry. And then she'd suddenly slumped- as if the sound of them had shocked her, but what shocked me, what still made fear zing through my body was the way she'd suddenly curved in- as if in immense pain. The three had dropped down next to her, trying to get her attention, to see if she was fine- the sheer fear and worry in their voices had propelled us all forward, had cut the exuberance joy off as we'd hurried to hover fretfully over her. Yoongi had gone silent, face paling slightly and I saw the worry floating in dark eyes. Tae was holding onto Joon but even so he'd been the first person to drop down into a crouch in front of her, to join the other three in calling out for her- deep voice cracking slightly as he asked her to tell him that she was fine, to give even the slightest signal that she wasn't hurt. I could see the way her body trembled, held up on shaky arms and when she'd raised her head I knew I hadn't mistaken the pain that had been drowning her eyes, tears gathering.

Tae tries again.

"(Y/N) are you okay? Can you give me a sign to let me know you're okay?" and she meets his eyes, looking at him but her lips don't separate from the tight press of them, as if she can't answer.

Unable to bear it any longer I reach out to touch her shoulder, and she turns her head up to look at me- silent still as she shakes.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" I ask gently, forcing the panic not to bleed into my tone and affect her.

Silence and just as Yoongi is about to reach out to tap her hand, to get her attention when it looks like she's zoning out, losing focus on what's happening she suddenly flinches, shrinking back and my hand falls off her shoulder. We watch as she staggers onto unsteady feet, rushing to get her things- a stiffness in them, but also fear. 

And stumbles past all of us, who are frozen but even as Joonie and I turn to stop her, to go after her but she rushes out. And even though the maknaes and Hobi had been left frozen with the suddenness of the departure we all go after her. 

Because even though our friendships with her are newly forming, not yet strong and firm- there's still this urge to go after her, to make sure she's fine. She has been nothing but kind and gentle and sweet, has left an impression of her silent sweet ways that I find myself hurrying away the quickest.

And I feel my heart squeeze itself in pain for her when I see her shakily get into her car, see the way she grips at the steering wheel with a tight grip and curves over it, body shaking slightly. I watch as she locks herself in, spends long minutes there to compose herself. It's clear to all of us that she's hurting, that she wants to be alone even as Kookie starts to move past us to get to her.

Yoongi stops him, wrapping an arm around him and tugging him back even as he turns worried large eyes towards him.

"Kook-ah no, give her space." He says even if it's clear the idea pains him too.

"Hyung she needs someone to be there for her." Kookie insists as he tries to move past the barrier his hyungs pose.

I can't help but look at the sight of her alone and vulnerable in the car and wonder whether we did that. 

Whether the idea of hiding this from her had made her so unwilling to talk or stay.

But I also can't help worry for her, for the pain she was silently enduring.

And hope that her response wasn't triggered by us.

(Y/N) POV:

The moment I get home, I scrabble to get out of the car, to get inside as quick as I can. Mi-sun unnie and Habaek oppa look up from where they'd been curled close to each other on the couch and the two get to their feet, equally stiff and pained as what I'm feeling remnants of still coursing through my body.

"I didn't expect it to be so soon." Mi-sun unnie mumbles when the two have tugged me under the large blanket on the couch, sandwiching me in between their warm bodies.

"Me neither. I hoped that the Ocean would've given us longer, that we could've normally lived a while longer. It's barely reaching over two months." Habaek oppa comments, turning so he can pull me onto his lap, so he can hold me as the three of us curl towards each other, feeling the heaviness in our bodies as an effect of not being near Her waters.

"She must be getting restless...I hope after this time we don't have to return for ages." I mumble into the blanket, twisting it around my fingers. Mi-sun unnie leans over, a hand squeezing my knee reassuringly.

"Will you be fine?" she asks, voice soft.

I can't bring myself to nod, can't promise that because I don't know how hard it'll be, how much worse it could potentially be from the last time we serviced Her.

I look down at the soft material of the blanket.

"I have no choice but to be." I whisper.

But my words are heard.

None of us have any other choice. I know the two of them suffer too in their own way, that they cope and deal with it in their own way. But none of us have the choice except to endure and live through it.

I wander how the others are feeling, whether they've felt the tug too, whether aside from the three of the others are feeling the same pain too.

And I wander just how long it'll be until we inevitably find ourselves called back to the Ocean, helpless in resisting Her call.

----

It turns out that the call only worsens until the third day I realise there's no way we can go without going straight there, feeling this jittery restlessness, this feeling of wrongness when each hour passes and we aren't submerged in Her waters.

And it's on the third day that the three of us in bundled up layers drive to Busan, to the coast. I glance guiltily at my screen where steadily  the number of notifications have increased from the day I ran out of the dance studio, fear had bled out to give way to guilt and cowardice and even though I knew they were contacting me out of concern, I couldn't help but feel bad. Bad that I'd worried them to the extent that the initially harried phone calls and text messages had slightly lessened to more periodic texts sent regularly- trying to check up on me, asking me to let them know I was fine, messages that were imbued in concern and worry.

I'd read the text messages, each and every one of them, had seen the number of missed calls grow and had listened to the voicemails left with an aching heart- that I'd stumbled on such kind souls who were worried for someone they barely knew, listened to the different emotions that came out through the phone's speaker and when I couldn't take it anymore- hid under the blankets unable to bear the sight of my phone.

Even know it sat as a glaring reminder of the mess I'd left behind, of the mess I had to sort out, hopefully could even return to sort out.

But for now, I couldn't. Right now all that I could think about was the way the gnawing pit in my stomach just grew larger and larger, the way the fear began making it churn and my heart began twisting itself into knots, especially when I caught a glimpse of a sign pointing out the distance left until we reached the sea.

"We'll be fine sweetheart...we always are." Mi-sun unnie says from where she sits at the front, twisting to face me with a look of confidence and assurance that almost puts the worry to rest.

How the two manage to sit at the front whenever we have to drive to the Ocean, I'll never know. They're always the ones to get the first glimpse of Her waters and yet are so strong, so contained that they don't want to weep at the sight like I do.

And when fifteen minutes later we come to a stop, I feel my heart weep for what's to come. For something that we can't avoid anymore.

We all take a few minutes to gather ourselves, for the two of them to tear their eyes away from the sight of Her waters before we all get out of the car, worldly belongings left behind as we pick our way down to the shore, feel a nervousness grow inside me even as the buzzing restlessness under my skin fade and a wave of relief to go crashing into me instead- relief that I'm returning to the source of the call.

And when we reach near the shore, we wonder down a path that's hidden away from eyes- so what we're about to do doesn't cause alarm. I toe off my shoes and pull of the thick jumper, the other two doing the same as we peel off the thick layers, setting them into an enclosed space between the rocks. 

"Ready?" Habaek oppa asks and even though there's no way we'll ever be ready for this, the two of us nod, grasping onto either one of his hands as we wade into the waters.

The feeling of the cold water sends a shock through to my system, sends goosebumps to erupt across my skin and I instinctively hiss because of the sudden change in temperature, trying to accustom myself to it. And hand in hand we wade in further, as my jeans are slowly submerged into the water, the icy grip of it felt through the way the material tightly plasters itself to my skin.

Further and further in, as t-shirts become drenched and a second skin, as our bodies become wetter and further in still.

And then we feel it. Her presence. Gentle as it whirls around us, water becoming warmer and bearable, the touch of the waters brushing against us now is more tender, gentle. Like a mother's caress or warm embrace.

You're back. She says, deep voice heard in our minds.

"We came because You called. We will always come." Habaek oppa says, voice steady and level- never letting himself betray any of his emotions to Her, even if she can read our minds and know what lies in our hearts. Centuries of living haven't only taught us to adapt, it's taught us how to lie so well, that even our hearts can't betray us.

You haven't visited. Not once since the last time. Her voice takes on the tinge of disappointment, betrayal- a mother chiding her children.

"We wanted to explore the world. See what it had to offer. Even with living for so long, there's always something new and exciting." Mi-sun unnie fluidly says, not skipping a beat and not disclosing that in reality, all we'd done was escape Her, rush away because I didn't know how long I could go living with the guilt that piled higher and higher.

How've you been (Y/N)? Have you been sleeping well? She asks, voice warm and gentle as she directs Her words to me, I shift, water rippling around us as we remain afloat despite the deep depths.

Her question is carefully voiced, wanting to know if I've woken up screaming from nightmares, clawing at my skin because I couldn't deal with the despicable monster I had become. Because when we stayed near the Ocean, I'd find myself wading into Her dark waters, seeking comfort and solitude in the one place I despised the most.

Given her gentle maternal tone that she uses is exactly what makes it so hard, to see her as an enemy, to hate her with every ounce of being, because She worms her way in with compassion and understanding- as if She knows how we feel and wants to shield us from it.

"I've been okay." I answer, sentence short and close-lipped. I didn't want to tell Her about the seven boys I'd become friends with, or the way being in their company made me feel truly normal, or the way they were so kind and gentle and sweet. Because telling Her would be like giving away a part of me and I'd already given Her my life, sharing this with Her was giving Her a weakness to use against me.

And I never wanted that to happen.

There's a few beats of silence, and then slightly coolly she responds.

The others will be there soon, let's go. She says before we find ourselves tugged under the water's surface, eyes blinking in the deep blue depths as we find ourselves propelled, tugged deep and further into Her waters effortlessly, further, and further away from Busan and into the deep depths of the Ocean. The ease to breathe and see and move in water was something that took a lot of time to grow accustomed too. The first time I'd had to do service, I'd screamed and thrashed in panic that I was going to die, that I was going to be killed, that She didn't want me to remain alive for all that She had saved me. Now it's a familiar feeling.

And when we emerge from the waters, our clothes have changed. Gone are the jeans and tops and layers we'd been wearing. Habaek oppa is bare from the waist up, skin glistening and shining with rivulets of water that trail down a muscled toned frame. Mi-sun unnie and I are provocatively dressed, dresses formed from the salt crystals of Her waters, colours from some of the most beautiful treasures that lie hidden in Her depths. The dresses are a second skin, tight and revealing, deep necklines to reveal curves of our cleavage, slits and gaps to reveal waists, fabric gliding over hips. Deep low backs to expose smooth skin, to allow hair to tumble down. 

I always feel cheap. Used. Whenever this happens.

Feel the intentional way that our bodies are clothed in a way to highlight attractive features, to make us seem more desirable. To add to the siren song- to create an image of lust, beauty and desire as we lead people to their watery deaths. Because our voice isn't enough, the Ocean uses our bodies to make the illusion of death prettier for them in a grotesque way, that the last sight they'll have is of beautiful destruction.

And coming over from the left of our side are the three other sirens. Because at any point, there's always six of us. 

They sport matching tight expressions, bodies glistening and glittering under the reflective waters.

Two more male sirens and one female, the other three that complete the group- the other three who live together and joined together.

There's a tense ominous silence that descends on us as the six of us are swept further and further by Her current, until we catch sight of a large cruise ship.

Oh no.

Please no.

I can feel the devastation hang on all six of us, weighing us down with the knowledge of what we have to do, of what we're about to do.

I twist in the water, staring into the blue depths.

"Please no. You'll kill so many." I beg, feeling my throat threaten to close up.

The answering voice is disapproving and stern, cold just like the waters around me could become at any point.

You know we only take to survive. That you service me to sustain me, so I in turn sustain the world. Don't make it harder than it has to be. She warns, firm and foreboding.

And without another word, Her tides push us closer and closer to the cruise ship, where one of the couples who are looking out to the blue waters, arms around each other suddenly spot us, faces expressing alarm and shock- voices calling out for someone to help, that there are people overboard.

It makes me feel worse because they're caring for us, worried for us when we're the people who will take their lives.

Others join them at the edge of the ship, clutching at the railing as they gasp and point and shout, drawing more and more gazes, more and more people onto us.

And just then we get the order.

Sing.

(THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE ACTUAL SIREN'S SONG DETAILED CHAPTER BUT THIS WAS BUILD UP FOR IT- I HOPE IT WAS GOOD BUILD UP, THAT IT HEIGHTENED THE ANTICIPATION HOPEFULLY! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND MY HEART IS JUST SHREDDING FOR (Y/N)- FOR THIS PAIN THAT'S HAPPENING TO HER! AND NOW WE'LL SEE JUST WHAT THE REASONS ARE WHY SHE HATES THE OCEAN, HATES HER SERVICE, AND THEREFORE...HATES HERSELF. GET YOUR TISSUES READY, SEATBELTS ON AND HAZARD LIGHTS ON- WE ARE IN FOR A BUMPY, TOPSY TURVY ROLLERCOASTER RIDE! HOW WAS IT?? I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE ALL YOUR REACTIONS! HOW DO YOU THINK SHE'LL BE AFTER HER SERVICE...AND HONESTLY IT FEELS MORE AND MORE LIKE SLAVERY ALMOST- SOLD IN TO IT BECAUSE THER LIVES WERE SAVED! IT COMES WITH SUCH A HUGE BURDEN AND DEBT! AHH! STAY SAFE LOVELIES!)

QUESTION...ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS YOU'VE LEARNT?

Mine is...you're more likely to meet someone famous if you're not a fan of theirs. Which sadly made me realise that ARMY's would have a higher chance to meet BTS if we weren't fans...that sucks!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3