Running Out of Time

On the third evening, as the sun sank low, Ariel walked along the shore, her heart heavy. Time was running out.

The prince joined her, humming a tune without quite knowing why.

It was the very melody Ariel had sung to him the night of the storm.

“It was you,” he whispered, staring at her in wonder. “You saved me.”

But before Ariel could answer — she had no voice to answer with — the sky began to swirl, and the sea rose around her feet.