Rikki's POV

I can't believe how long Ryan is spending his time out there! I have better things I could do. Like... go swimming or... go to my house or... just forget it! Anyways I think I see a boat docking to the harbor. That definitely looks like Ryan.

I ran up to Ryan a little out of breath and start walking beside him. "Hey." I said.

"Hello?" I could tell he doesn't know me. I don't think we ever met.

"I'm Rikki!" I just said to him.

"Ryan."

"Cool! So what were you doing over at Mako?"

Ryan gave me a strange glance, "Were you spying on me?" he asked.

"No! no. I just was... fishing."

"All the way out there?"

"I guess."

He kind of gave me another glance that said to me, 'that is not the truth' he just smiled and continued.

"Would you like to come with me to my office for a bit. I have to run over there and drop off a few things, and it gets pretty lonely there sometimes."

Is this good? Will I find out anything if I go? Why not. It's worth a shot!, "Sure I'd love to!" I smiled at him.

"Great."

It was pretty silent until we got to his office, I started to ask him what he was doing out there but he didn't really answer. "Why do you care so much?"

"I just, am a curious person that's all."

Ryan thought for a moment. "If I tell you. Then you have to tell me."

Oh no! I'm not sure if I should agree. Maybe I could lie to him and then he would tell the truth to me!, "Ok." I nodded, "You first."

"I am helping a fellow co-worker of mine with a project. It's on a rock she found, I've seen it before too! On a full moon the rock glows. We are doing a few more tests and seeing what else it can do."

"Oh." I nodded.

"Now you go."

"Ok." I gave myself a little pause trying to think of something..."I-" I was about to continue but some lady dropped off his mail in person. It made me lose my thoughts and I slipped something out I think.

"Go on." he smiled.

"I swam to Mako and hung out there for a while. I saw your boat and was wondering what you were doing, not many people go there you know."

After that I was just staring at his mail, trying to see who it was. Everything he asked me, I was distracted so I answered almost honestly.

"Did you have scuba gear on?"

"No, I can hold my breath for a very long time." I said still looking at his envelope.

"Amazing! Only a fish could hold its breath for that long."

"You could say I'm related to a fish."

"What?"

"Mako Island is a place where magic can happen. A full moon is very special there, but only in a cave." I zapped out of my trans and totally forgot our conversation just now.

"Thanks for the information, I will have to take a look at that."

I nodded and smiled, but I really didn't know what I just said. 'I hope it's not too bad!'

I went home after that and called the girls.

"Meet me at the Moon Pool."

Ryan's POV

I really hope I will see that girl again. I feel like she knows something, something that no one else knows. I dialed Dr. Denman's number and told her the piece of information I have received.

"Dr. Denman. Do you know anything about the full moon at Mako Island."

At the Moon Pool...

Bella asked immediately, "What did he tell you?"

"He didn't exactly tell me. I agreed we would tell each other what we were doing."

"WHAT!" Cleo flipped.

"Don't worry about it, I think I just lied to him."

Bella was slightly befuddled, "What do you mean, you think?"

"Well... I think I zoned out at one point but don't worry! I did that after he told me what he was doing. He said that he is helping a co-worker with a project and the project is a rock. I think it's a Moon Pool rock! He said they saw it glowing? Now they are testing on it to see if it does anything else."

"Cleo you got your wish." Bella almost mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember the when you first met Ryan? You showed him the Mako Moon Rock and tried to find out more information about it. Well here it is!"

Cleo stopped the conversation about her and switched it to a question of hers. "Wait a minute Rikki, did you say co-worker?"

"Ya, why?"

"We need to find out who it is."

Ryan's POV

"No. I know their is a cave there. It is almost volcanic like. The inside is a true beauty! That is all I know, why?"

"I think I am closer to finding out more with our rock information. Contact your student and have her call me."

"Sure thing."

"Thanks, bye."

"Bye."

Beep

I am not sure how long it is going to be until 's student calls, but I do know that I need to go back to Mako Island!

Rikki's POV

A while later, Bella and Cleo went home. I wasn't quite ready to leave just yet. I got out of the Moon Pool and dried myself off. I stayed in the cave for a while and just looked up at the walls and the sky. After a while I took a walk through the forest, the long way to Mako's beach.

When I was about half way there I got pushed. Pushed? I turned around thinking Cleo forgot her bag or something, but instead... it was Ryan! I was very shocked and surprise. He seemed almost joyful to see me.

"Rikki, glad to see you again!"

"Same to you too... just a question here... what are you doing back here?"

"Just thought I'd take a stroll."

"Out in an island?"

"What brought you back here."

"I like to be here."

"So do I."

"Ok." I nodded, slightly rolling my eyes.

"Where were you coming from?"

"Oh just the Moo-" I stopped quickly! Realizing who I was talking to. "Oh nowhere." I checked my watch and saw it was already six-thirty! I should be getting home, I tried to tell Ryan but he didn't really let me in a way.

"I packed some food!" he said.

"You could eat here."

I was about to tell him, 'Thanks but no thanks' when he caught me with something.

"It's the least I can do." he said. "You have been so kind to me and I can never thank you enough. I got us some pizza and 7UP."

HA! Wait until he sees how I'm not as nice as he thinks I am-WAIT! Did he just say pizza and pop? I am so in! "Let's eat!"

I wonder how he knows my tasty weakness. I think while we were eating he said a few things to me, I think I answered. I'm not sure I'm devouring my pizza.

"So about my rock research. Do you think you might know why it glows?"

"It doesn't." I continued right before he protested me. "It's activated by powers." I shrugged. Gobbling down my pizza.

"What kind of powers."

"The full moon or mermaid powers."

Ryan's POV

She knows more than we think. I need to keep getting these pieces of information from her. Now if I can get her to tell me how she knows about mermaids.

Ryan might be more devious and evil than we thought! He is on to something, and it might cause their secret to slip out. How will Rikki get out of these 'zones' Only one way to find out.