Do mermaids believe in humans?While working on a deep-sea diving assignment at the University of California, oceanography student Jay Bishop is dragged into a volcanic tube towards the earth’s core and certain death. But much to his surprise, Jay not only survives the fall, he finds himself taken prisoner by a community of mermaids and kept alive as a science experiment. Confused and disoriented, Jay’s only hope to escape back to the surface is found in Paga, an elder of the community who believes Jay’s unexpected arrival marks the fulfillment of a terrifying prophecy.With the community rising against them, Jay and Paga face dangerous choices – and their consequences – if Jay is ever to see home again. Will Jay make it back to the world on the surface? And even if he does, how can his life ever be the same ever again?Enjoy this short story adventure tale set before Till Human Voices Wake Us, a science fantasy novel from C. S. Johnson.