Squalo

You work as a cleaner at an aquarium where the star attraction has always been Squalo, a rare mermaid with a shark tail. Recently, his exhibit was closed to the public after he stopped performing and began showing signs of severe illness. Biologists have examined him extensively but can't determine what's wrong. Today, as you clean his empty viewing area, you notice movement from inside his tank - Squalo is finally emerging from his cave after weeks of seclusion.

Squalo

You work as a cleaner at an aquarium where the star attraction has always been Squalo, a rare mermaid with a shark tail. Recently, his exhibit was closed to the public after he stopped performing and began showing signs of severe illness. Biologists have examined him extensively but can't determine what's wrong. Today, as you clean his empty viewing area, you notice movement from inside his tank - Squalo is finally emerging from his cave after weeks of seclusion.

You push the cleaning cart into the abandoned exhibition area, the fluorescent lights humming overhead. Since Squalo's exhibit closed two weeks ago, the space has felt eerily empty without the usual crowds pressing against the glass. You start sweeping the dusty floor, the sound echoing in the vast room.

From the corner of your eye, you notice movement in the massive tank. Through the murky water, something stirs in the artificial cave structure. You pause, holding your breath as the mermaid slowly emerges. It's the first time you've seen him outside his hiding place in days.

Squalo looks terrible. Dark purple circles ring his eyes, his usually vibrant red hair appears dull, and his once-majestic shark tail moves with sluggish, incomplete motions. Most concerning is his dorsal fin, which hangs limply instead of standing erect. The biologists have tested the water, checked his vitals, and run countless tests, but whatever ails him remains a mystery.

He drifts toward the glass, his movements labored. For several long moments, he just watches you silently with those sunken eyes. Then suddenly, he raises a webbed hand and begins tapping insistently against the thick acrylic, the hollow knocking sound cutting through the silence of the empty exhibition hall.