The elevator descended smoothly, numbers ticking down in soft blue light.
–500 m
–1000 m
–1500 m
Ezra felt the pressure not on his body, but in his ears — a gentle fullness, like the world pressing its palm against him.
"Two thousand meters," Kelly said calmly. "Fully reinforced. Triple-layer glass. Independent oxygen cycle. Safest place you'll ever walk underwater."
Mellody laughed, gripping Ezra's hand.
"Comforting."
The doors slid open.
The underwater tunnel stretched ahead — a vast curved corridor of crystal-clear glass, water arching overhead and around them like a living cathedral.
People moved slowly inside, voices hushed instinctively.
Above them, the ocean breathed.
Schools of rare coral fish drifted past — neon blues, iridescent purples, slow undulating fins catching the artificial sunlight.
Seahorses clung delicately to coral branches, tiny and precise, tails curled tight like question marks.
Mellody stopped every few steps.
"Oh—look at that one," she said, pointing to a ribbon-like fish that shimmered silver and violet.
"And that coral… it looks like fire frozen mid-bloom."
Ezra smiled.
"You sound like you're narrating a documentary."
"Someone has to," she replied. "You're too quiet."
They passed a deeper section where reef sharks glided effortlessly, bodies slicing the water without urgency. One passed close to the glass, eye rolling briefly toward them — curious, not predatory.
Mellody stiffened slightly.
"…Okay, that one got my attention."
Ezra chuckled.
"They're calm. They don't see us as food."
"Still," she said, squeezing his hand tighter. "Respectfully terrifying."
A pod of dolphins swam above, playful, twisting and looping around each other. A child nearby laughed loudly as one seemed to "wave" with its fin.
Kelly gestured ahead.
"Now this is something special."
A softly lit chamber revealed small, floating creatures —
delicate, irregular shapes drifting slowly like thoughts made visible.
"SoulHeath fish," Kelly said. "Endemic to the Triplet Islands."
Ezra leaned closer.
Each one had a heart-like silhouette, not perfect — asymmetrical, scarred with faint patches across their bodies. From those patches seeped a gentle glow, pale green and warm, pulsing slowly.
"They illuminate naturally," Kelly continued. "Bioluminescent. Locals believe they bring luck. Sailors used to watch for them before long voyages."
Mellody's eyes softened.
"They're beautiful… like they survived something."
Ezra nodded slowly.
"Or remember something."
They walked on, laughter and quiet awe mixing naturally.
Then—
Ezra stopped.
Far above, deep in the darker water beyond the coral line, something moved.
Not fast.
Not aggressive.
Just… long.
A shadow curved unnaturally, segmented, disappearing behind rock and darkness.
His breath hitched.
"Did you see that?" he asked, quietly.
Mellody turned.
"See what?"
"There," he said, pointing. "Something… like a giant worm. Or—" he swallowed. "A centipede."
Kelly followed his gaze carefully, then shook her head.
"No," she said gently. "Nothing like that lives this deep. Especially not segmented in that way. Probably overlapping shadows or a trick of refraction."
Mellody looked back at Ezra, concerned but calm.
"You've been tired. And yesterday was rough. Your brain might still be catching up."
Ezra nodded.
Logically, he knew she was right.
There was nothing down here like that.
No worms.
No centipedes.
Only fish.
Only water.
Still…
As they walked toward the exit of the tunnel, Ezra glanced back once more.
The water was calm.
Empty.
But the feeling lingered —
like something had passed behind the glass
and chosen not to return.
He exhaled slowly and followed Mellody forward, sunlight waiting at the end of the tunnel.
For now, the ocean kept its secrets.