Alicia couldn't believe her eyes. He was gorgeous! To top it all off, he was a psychiatrist with extremely high credentials. How was this man not married? He probably didn't have to be, he probably went through women the same way a baby went through diapers. And more than likely, probably treated them as such.

"It's nice to meet you, um Doctor, um." She started to say, "I'm sorry, I've already forgotten your name?"

"Please." he replied with a beautiful smile. "Let's just skip the formalities. Just feel free to call me Alan. May I call you Alicia?"

"Well if we are skipping the formalities, I'm fine with Alicia." She replied.

"Um, I have some work to do." Said Ophelia. "I'll just leave you two alone, and make sure that your are not disturbed."

"Thanks you, Ophelia." Replied Alicia. As she left she gave Alicia a quick smile, as if she was giving her a hint of approval.

"Would you like to sit down?" Alicia asked Alan. She gestured to a couple of wingback chairs close to the fireplace.

"Actually my legs are a bit tired, I think I should take a seat." He replied as he sat in one of the chairs. "You have a lovely home. It's very impressive."

"Thank you." She said, as she sat in the other chair. "This is the study, but my husband. I uh-I mean my late husband used this for his home office." As soon as she said it, she could feel the tears well up within her eyes.

"I'm sorry." She cried. "It's just so hard being here. I have such happy memories of this house. But now all that it is to me, is a sad reminder of everything that I've lost."

"Please don't apologize." He said. "My job is to help you overcome this horrendous tragedy. Your letting go like this, will actually make my job a lot easier." He then leaned forward, and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm going to help you get through this." He told her. "I promise."

"Thank you." She replied as she smiled at him. "I have to be honest, I wasn't to keen on having to find a new psychiatrist. I feel like I had made a lot of progress with Dr. Bowman. He was my rock the last few months, I just can't believe he suffered a fatal heart attack. I mean I know that he was sixty, but that's somewhat young for a massive coronary. I mean maybe if he was someone who never took care of himself, but that man was a healthy as a horse."

"There's many things in life that just can't be explained." he told her. "The best we can do is go on with our lives."

"Please." She said as she gave him a sarcastic chuckle. "I haven't been able to go on with my life since that fateful night, when most my family was killed. It's kind of hard to do that when your late husband's greedy brother has you locked up in a sanitarium for nine months."

"Yes I heard about that." He replied. "How did that come about anyway?"

"Let's just say my dear brother-in-law wasn't too happy to find out, that I was alive." She explained. "That meant that my late husband's entire estate reverted back to me. Having me locked up in an insane asylum disguised at a five star resort, prevented that form happening. He especially didn't like the idea of Holly being alive. Because I kept insisting on it, he had me committed. He bribed a judge to have me declared incompetent, while at the same time being diagnosed as delusional. Of course it was much easier to bribe a judge, if you're sleeping with her. That's why I owe so much to Dr. Bowman. he stood up for me. He's the one who got the ball rolling on petitioning the court to have me declared competent, and to have me discharged."

"Yes, I read your file." He said. "Talk about dumb luck. The good Dr. Bowman had no trouble at all proving your sanity, once your brother-in-law and the judge were killed in that strange boating accident. My guess is that you are not the kind of person to relish in the death of others. However, you must admit that it was some form of poetic justice."

Alicia looked at Alan and smiled.

"You know, I was afraid I would have trouble adjusting to a new doctor." She told him. "But I feel some sort of a connection with you. I can't place it. But I swear I know you from somewhere. Have we ever met before?"

"Believe my dear." He stated as he gave her sweet smile. "If we had met, I definitely would remember you. But I'm glad you feel so comfortable around me. There's something that you just brought up a while ago, that I also read in your file. Despite what the coast guard believes, you believe your stepdaughter is still alive. May I ask why?"

"Deep down in my heart." She began to say. "I know she's out there somewhere. It's not just because our remains were the only remains not found the night of the accident. I just know that she's out there. And I know that someone, or something has her. Do I sound crazy to you, doctor?"

"Not at all." He replied.

"I have no memories of what happened after the accident." She began to explain. "But the doctors told be that my genital region, and even my sphincter had suffered from multiple trauma. They said my injuries were equivalent to those of a woman who had been raped multiple times. But what was really strange, were all of the circular bruises on my legs. It looked as if I had been attacked by an octopus."

"I am very sorry that happened to you." He said as there were noticeable tears in his eyes. "That should never happened to any woman, especially a woman like you. I almost feel as though I should have prevented it, I mean, even though I was never there. Were there any theories as to what happened the night of the accident?"

"Even though there was no evidence to suggest this." She began. "They think that maybe we were attacked by pirates. Since neither mine, nor Holly's bodies were found in the wreckage, they think were were taken prisoner. They think we were kept as sex slaves, and in all likelihood raped multiple times. It has been suggested that the reason I can't remember anything, is because I can't handle the trauma of what had happened. I guess it's believed that in all likelihood that Holly was murdered. But there is one thing no one can explain."

"What's that?" He asked.

"After the US navy examined the lifeboat that I was found in." She continued. "It turned out to be a missing lifeboat to the USS Indianapolis. That ship was torpedoed in the Pacific Ocean in 1945. So how the hell did I end up in one of its lifeboats, in the middle of the Atlantic well over half a century later?'"

"There are many things in this world that can't be explained." He told her. "Parts of this world, this universe that mankind has no idea even exists. Even highly cognitive, maybe even superior beings that man himself cannot possibly comprehend. I'm going to tell you a secret. I believe that there was once highly intelligent civilizations that existed within our oceans."

"Are you talking about the lost city of Atlantis?" She asked.

"Not just Atlantis." he replied. "Humanity had only found trace evidence of that civilization. But I believe that there was also another lost civilization. It was called, Cacaelia. The reason it is believed that both no longer exist, is because of a Great War. One that brought cataclysmic destruction down upon both great civilizations. For years I have been studying the possibilities that these two societies have indeed existed. I also believe that these societies had a couple of survivors. It is very likely, that one society was much more barbaric in their ideologies than the other. If I am correct, I believe it was the barbaric survivors that abducted you and your stepdaughter."

Alicia couldn't believe what he had just said, was this man insane? Maybe that's why he never married?

"Listen." He told her. "I know what I'm saying sound crazy. But I was wondering if you could do me a favor. I would like to try hypnosis, maybe I could unlock the trauma that your subconscious is hiding."

"I don't know." She replied. "I mean Dr. Bowman tried, but my mind just wouldn't let him in. And no offense, but what your saying sounds a bit—."

"Crazy." He said as he finished her sentence.

"Well." She responded. "Yes."

"I know it does." He replied. "But whether or not you believe my theories, you know my credentials. I have graduated form some of the best universities, and worked at some of the best hospitals all over the world. You hired me for that reason. So I'll make a deal with you, let me hypnotize you. We'll see where it goes. Let me try and unlock what your mind is trying to hide from you. And if I can't reach you? You can have me hauled away within a giant butterfly net."

He then smiled, and extends his hand, "Deal?" She took his hand, and smiled.

"Deal." She chuckled.

"Okay Alicia." He began. "Close your eyes, and only concentrate on my voice. Let everything go, my voice is the only thing that exists at this moment. It is all you can hear, it is all that you can understand. Think back to that night. No matter how painful it may be. Relax, and think back to the night you were abducted. Tell me what you see."

The horrific images of that night started flashing before her eyes. Alicia felt frighten, as her body began to tremble. Through fear and uncertainty, she was unable to hold back he tears.

"We've hit something!" She cried. "It's, oh my god! it's a giant octopus! It's eating the crew! I-I can't!"

"Alicia listen to me." He said in a gentle whisper. "I'm right here, you are safe. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. What you are seeing is not happening to you, you are just watching a movie. As long as you keep hearing my voice, you are safe with me. Tell me what is happening."

"The monster has Roger, and me!" She cried. "But it's being controlled by a man. He's laughing at our fear. He says that he, and his brother have come for Holly and me! Roger! No!"

"What happened?" Asked Alan.

"That halfbreed bastard killed Roger!" She screamed.

"Halfbreed?" He asked. "How is he a half breed?"

"He's only human from the waist up!" She cried. "They took us! They're raping me! Now he's trying to rape Holly, but I can't let him. GET OFF OF HER YOU FUCKING HALFBREED SUSHI FREAK!"

All of a sudden she screamed so loud, it brought her right out of the trance. Alan began to to put his arms around her in a caring embrace.

"No!" She cried. "Let me go!" He kept fighting him, and pounding o his chest.

"Alicia, Alicia!" Alan cried. "It's okay, it's me! I'm not going to hurt you!" She continued to struggle, but he just continued to hold her. Finally she gave up fighting him when she realized who he actually was."

"Alan?" She inquired as she looked at him. He gave her a caring smile, as he gently held her face.

"I'm here." He whispered.

Alicia then burst into tears, as she nestled into his broad chest. He then place her head in the crook of his neck, and gently began to rock her.

"You're okay!" He whispered. "You'd okay, I'm hear! I'm going to take care of you!"

"Now you're the one who probably thinks I'm crazy." She whispered as he still held her in his strong arms. Alicia closed her eyes, as her tears started to subside. For the first time in a long while, she felt safe and protected.

"Not at all." He told her in a soothing tone. "I promise that I will never let anyone hurt you again."

She then slowly backed away from his embrace, and looked up at him. Alicia scared into his powerful enigmatic eyes, as he gave her what looked like a loving smile. He then gently brushed some of her hair out of her face with his hand.

"You are so beautiful." He whispered. "I know this is wrong, but I don't care." They both closed their eyes, and slowly leaned in towards one another. With that they were soon locked a passionate kiss. As they slowly broke the kiss, they soon stared again into one another's eyes.

"I remember everything now." She whispered. "They were mermen."

"I know." he whispered. "I've known about these foul creatures for years. They are evil, and they stole you and your stepdaughter from those you truly belonged to. But don't worry, I'm going to take very good care of you. And we will find your stepdaughter, and she will soon be back with us where she belongs. And the three of us are going to be good friends. We are going to be so happy together. I promise you, my Alicia. The three of us are going to be a very special family."

He smiled at her, and she couldn't help but return his smile.

"Are you hungry" she asked.

"Starving." He replied. "I sort of feel like I haven't eaten in almost a year."

"Come." She said as she stood up, and extend her. "I'll ask Ophelia to make us something special for dinner."

He took her hand, as he eagerly stood up from the chair. They smiled, and looked at one another as they headed towards the kitchen.

"Well, I must admit" she said. "I am very impressed Dr. umm—oh wait! I remember now. It's Dr Gar."

"As I said before, my dear." He responded with a soothing smile. "There are no need for any formalities. My name is Alan. But only my very special friends call me Al."

"Well in that case." she replied with a flirtatious smile. "Thank you Dr. Al Gar."

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