Best Australian Yarn: Journey to the Dark Abyss

The Abyss Sea. One of the darkest things to come from this world- or more likely, the oceans.There are many rumours of this dark place. It is known more for two things, however.Its treasures, and its monsters.For even the darkest depths have their secrets...

My feet shook as I stepped onto the platform, my hands numb from the cold and my lips chapped and dry. I would never be nervous on a typical day, no.But this wasn’t one of those days, and the only reason for my trepidation was simple.So, I sat at this dock, with an oxygen mask strapped to my face and gloves that were much too big for my hands. By all accounts, I shouldn’t be here. I should be in my room, playing games or screaming at the top of my lungs for the sake of it. A 16-year-old should live their life to the fullest. But-“Xavier?” The stern voice came out from far away, pushing me out from the depths of my mind. This was a class of 10, and the smallest, shortest person in the group would easily be spotted. I looked up to be greeted by a slightly upset face, framed by a dash of silver among a sea of black.“Sorry,” I muttered. She sighed, and my face flushed with embarrassment. My nervousness was getting ahead of me.“As I was saying,” Kairy continued, shooting me a look. “The abyss sea is incredibly dangerous. It is not just the ocean that brings risk, however. I’m sure that you all know about the monsters of the abyss sea, so be careful. You’re all here for one reason- to find abyssal pearls.”Abyssal pearls. What our lives were on the line for, just a small and tiny thing. However, one of these could go for a quarter of a million dollars. Why were they so expensive? They were gorgeous. Tales and stories showed that the pearls were so gorgeous that they enhanced a person’s beauty, so much so that people fell in love with them.It was irony, really, that such beautiful things were found in such an ugly place.

“Everyone, please align your feet onto the platforms,” I stepped forwards, correcting mine into the outlines of the boots. Several gaps showed from either side of my feet. Just a stark and simple reminder of everything that was wrong. I strapped the buckles around my waist, tightening them as hard as I could.Thoughts shot through my head. I want to go back. I don’t want to be here.Well… too late for second thoughts.The platform slowly began to lower, and it was at that point when my heart began to race. The glass helmet gave a clank as it snapped over my head. We were now submerged, and my brown curls of hair started to look black in the darkness.Slowly but surely, the dark embrace of the ocean came to meet us, and the last cracks of light disappeared.After what felt like forever, the platform came to a stop, and I unstrapped myself from the buckles, hands shaking.I took a deep breath, propelling myself into the depths of the abyss, the metallic fins strapped to my boots pushing me away from the platform. The water seemed to swallow all the sound, the strange moment broken only by the sound of my sharp and fast breathing. For a few seconds, I floated around, taking in the environment. The black, slick rocks sitting nearby mottled blue coral, as though infected. Beside it hovered an octopus, eyes inky black. I shuddered in horror and moved on. As I descended further, the strange feeling of isolation and quiet began to overcome me.

Was this it? Was I going to go insane?No. I had come to far just to be broken. I kicked and swam, my natural diving instincts taking over as I whirled through the abyss. A gift was what my grandfather called it. A natural talent. I focused on those words.But even amidst the small wonders, I couldn’t shake a feeling. The feeling… of being watched. I turned, and the shadows danced in my vision. It was then that I knew that I wasn’t alone. The rumours, the visions, what I thought were lies… they were all true. The monsters of this sea weren’t figments of anyone’s imaginations. They were real. Turning, my mind went back to a conversation Kairy, and I had two weeks ago.“Monsters are myths,” She had said. “But here, all myths are real.”The shadows moved once more and I gasped, a piercing sound that escaped from my body. It was so quiet, too quiet, like the creature had drunk all the noises from the waters. Don’t move, I told myself, pressing my figure against the black rocks. I made myself as tiny as I possibly could, hugging my knees and keeping quiet. Then, the shadows began to form something. It began as a simple, small shape in the distance. Then I saw it.It seemed humanoid, but with too many curves. It had a sleek body that was ended off with a fine black tail that darted around, dark as midnight. Atop the tail, a flowing silver cloak billowed. I looked up, and the creature came even closer. I quietened my breath even more. Atop a dark blue splash of curled hair sat a tiara, adorned with a shining object.An abyssal pearl. But what was it doing on a creature’s head? Another thought came to mind, from a book that I’d read as a child with my grandfather, of how abyssal pearls gained their powers of beauty.

“They belonged to mermaids, Xavier. Each had a pearl. However, when they lose it, many say that they’re cursed to turn into something else. A monster.”Was that what this creature was? A mermaid turned monster, a legend turned real?As I held my breath, its eyes saw mine, mesmerizing in the darkness. Cobalt blue, just like my grandfather.Suddenly, something in me changed. Fear turned to courage, and I remembered the stories my grandfather and I discussed, about empathy with the ocean and animals of the deep.“In the unknown, it’s important to understand the other side of the story,” He had said. Keeping that in mind, I slowly came closer, and to my surprise, so did the creature, its movements mirroring mine.It occurred to me that although dissimilar in appearance, something in this creature seemed- special. Like although it was a monster, it felt more human than the divers who had come with me. The doubt started to vanish, being flooded by something more. Like that small moment of eye contact enlightened a new thing inside me. Hope. I edged close enough to touch the creature, and it placed a grey, webbed hand atop mine, and I stiffened. It began to speak, a melodic and haunting tone.

“Little child, what brings you to my waters? What is it you seek?”I swallowed, gathering strength to respond. “Abyssal pearls,” I whispered. It tilted its head, and I got ready to swim. But it didn’t move.“That is not all you wish for.”“I want to prove myself to my grandfather, a great abyss diver,” I replied, so quiet that I was surprised it heard. “I want to conquer my fears of the darkness.”As I watched, its expressions softened, showing empathy. “Good luck, my child, but remember that true beauty lies deep within. It touched the object on its head. “The abyssal pearls hold great power, but on the outsides are nothing but a small, black sphere. They are not what they seem on the outside. Keep those words with you, land dweller. Don’t lose your inner beauty.”It gave me a gentle smile, and within those few seconds I felt the layers of terror shedding away, comfort sinking in.“I won’t. I promise.”It nodded, and the creature disappeared into the dark. I floated there for a moment, thinking about what it said. I felt my oxygen begin to fade away and swam back up towards the light. It felt different, like the abyss was more natural, the land more inhumane.Back atop the platform, the rest of the group was already there, discussing their successes. The chatter dissipated when I arrived, and I could see the curiosity in their eyes to what I had brought.Kairy arched her brow. “Xavier, did you find anything?”I took a breath as though ready to sink into the ocean once more and allowed the words to flow like music. “I didn’t find any pearls, but I found more. Knowledge. I met something within the depths, something that taught me that there is beauty within us all, and a purpose,” I swept my arm towards my group. “I know my purpose now,” I said, this time in a quiet voice. “To protect the creatures that live in the darkness and bring their beauty into the light. We are not the only living things here.”A brief silence stilled the chatter, before another voice broke it. Kairy’s, filled with pride. “Congratulations on your discovery, Xavier. I hope that your purpose is accepted and accomplished by all.”Another pause, followed by nods of agreement. I smiled and turned back towards the sea. The sea that only hours ago, I had considered a breeding ground for doom. But now, it was something else. A place of hope, a place where new discoveries and adventures would be made.I then came to realise how tired I was and knelt on the metal platform, which was cold against my knees.And in the distance, I thought I saw a small black tail move as though waving, before disappearing into the depths.