The Deep Blue Ocean:

Call of the Moon

by Rondabunny

Emma's House:

Emma came into the room and suddenly her scream filled the house. Father, mother and Elliot hurried to her room to see what's happened. Emma stood in the middle of the room starring at her bed. The big fat lizard was resting on her precious pillow.

Mr. Gilbert: "Emma, what's happened?"

Emma: "Take this out of here."

Emma pointed at the lizard with shaking hand. Elliot took the poor creature from her pillow.

Elliot: "You scared this poor guy."

Emma: "What on earth is it doing on my bed? How did it get here?"

Elliot: "I think, he somehow managed to get out of his cage."

Emma: "So, it is your lizard."

Elliot: "It's a present."

Emma: "You got to be kidding. A present? To whom?"

Elliot: "I wanna give it to Andy as an apology for my later behavior."

Emma: "She is a girl. This creature would freak her out. Why don't you give her, I don't know? A kitten would be nice."

Elliot: "She's allergic to hair. Andy will like it. I'm sure."

Emma: "Ok, do as you wish but please, take it out of my room."

Elliot: "Fine."

Rikki's Place:

Rikki got dressed in the room. She put her t-shirt and jeans on, laced up her shoes but when she wanted to wear her locket it was nowhere to be found. She searched the room but couldn't find it anywhere. Rikki went to the kitchen where Andrea was preparing breakfast.

Rikki: "Have you seen my locket?"

Andrea frying something on an open fire: "Nope."

Rikki: "Don't lie. It was on the table and now it is gone."

Andrea: "I didn't touch it. I don't know where it is now. You have to watch where you put your things. They are everywhere."

Rikki: "Yeah, thanks to you – "vacuum-cleaner". I can't find anything!"

Andrea: "I didn't take your stupid locket. You, Cleo and Emma wear them like the stupid triplet. Wear something else."

Rikki was deeply hurt by this remark. She clenched her fist and flames licked the frying pan. Andrea jumped aside from the gas-stove in a shock. Rikki went to the room.

School Yard:

Girls sat on the grass talking.

Emma: Rikki, you won't believe what Elliot wants to give Andy as a present.

Rikki: A present? I thought they wouldn't talk to each other for the rest of their lives.

Emma: He wants to apologize.

Cleo: At least one smart boy.

Emma: I wouldn't call him that. He bought a lizard. He said Andy will like it very much.

Cleo: Don't understand. Are flowers and chocolate out of date?

Rikki: Tell him to buy a snake. A viper will be nice. Lizards are antiquity nowadays.

Cleo: Rikki, where is your locket?

Rikki: My beloved sister placed it somewhere when she was cleaning the house. I cannot find it anywhere.

Emma: Maybe it's your fault.

Rikki: Yeah, everything is my fault. I won't wear it again. Andy's right. We look like a clan. Thanks that we don't wear the same clothes.

Cleo: Don't worry you'll find it.

Rikki stood up and headed towards the school. Cleo and Emma followed her.

Juice-Net Café:

Andrea sat at the computer searching the internet.

Lewis came to her and asked: "What are you doing, curly head."

Andrea: "What do you know about poltergeist, straw head?"

Lewis: "It is a spirit known by his bad behavior. Why do you need this information?"

Andrea: "I make a research."

Lewis: "Oh, interesting. I didn't know that you study at Hogwards. Maybe you're our future witch?"

Andrea: "Ha, ha, ha. You're funny. I've got a theory and I prove it!"

Lewis: "Enlighten me. Maybe I can help."

Andrea: "Believe it or not but we've got the poltergeist at our cabin."

Lewis: "The poltergeist. You're kidding, right?"

Andrea: "No I'm not. He likes to play with fire and to heat things."

Lewis: "Nonsense. Poltergeist's habitat is a bid, old mansion not little new cabin. You're a fantasy fan, aren't you?"

Andrea: "It is not a fantasy. It's real. If you're a scientist you have to admit that there are great number of scientists who are interested in spirits and ghosts."

Lewis: "You're right. But I've never seen the evidence of their beliefs. Sorry, I like pure science when I can explain the basics of reality."

Andrea: "I'll prove its existence I swear."

Lewis: "Good luck."

He understood very well what did Andrea meant when she told him about poltergeist in their cabin. Girls were in danger.

Zane came into the café to drink something. Linda was already there. She approached Zane.

Linda: "Where have you been, Zane? I haven't seen you in weeks."

Zane: "I was busy."

Linda: "With that blonde bimbo."

Zane: "Her name is Rikki."

Linda: "Whatever. You may go to that slum's girl. She makes all your wishes come true, isn't she, Zane? I'm not like her. I don't need a purse to make me happy."

Zane leaned closer to whisper in her ear: "Thanks for doing me a favor, bitch. I didn't know how to tell you that I break up with you."

He went to the bartender and ordered a shake. Linda stood there stunned.

Cleo's Place:

Rikki, Emma and Cleo were in Cleo's room.

Cleo: "Full moon will be in two days. We should decide whose place to choose to stay."

Emma: "My parents will be at home as well as Elliot."

Cleo: "Dad wants to spend this weekend in peace. He said no friends. He wants to rest."

Cleo sighed.

Rikki: "I'll have to stay home too."

Emma: "What did you do? I thought your father had not punished you ever."

Rikki: "I'm not punished. My dad spends this weekend with his comrades. They go fishing. I have to stay with Andy."

Emma: "I'll talk to mom. Rikki, you can stay at my place."

Rikki: "Yeah, and what about Andy."

Emma: "You always say that she's a self-reliant girl."

Rikki: "Except the times when it is absolutely dark outside. She turns into a small shivering rabbit."

Emma: "You mean she is afraid of darkness."

Rikki: "Hysterically."

Lewis knocked at the door and then entered the room.

Lewis: "Rikki, you've got a big problem."

Rikki: "What did Andrea do?"

Lewis: "How do you know Andrea is involved?"

Rikki: "Why do we blame rain for water, 'cause it's always responsible. What's happened, Lewis? Spit it out."

Lewis: "Have you used your power at home, Rikki."

Rikki made an innocent face. Her friends starred in her face.

She grimaced and said: "Yeah, maybe once or twice."

Lewis: "That was enough for her. She thinks you have a poltergeist at home."

Rikki smiled: "What?! Great, nobody called me that."

Emma: "Rikki, it is serious! If she knows…."

Cleo: "Hey. We need Andy to change her mind. We've done that already when Kim found my diary."

Emma: "Andy is not Kim or Elliot. She is as stubborn as… as…"

Rikki: "Me. Ok. I won't use my power at home. No power no poltergeist."

Cleo: "So, what should we do about full moon?"

Emma: "I'll sleep as always in the sealed bedroom."

Cleo: "I'll be fine too with my curtains closed."

Rikki: "Don't worry about me. I cover all the windows so that no light could sneak into my room."

Lewis: "You share your room with Andy. What if she opens the window?"

Rikki: "I tell her that if she opens the window the poltergeist will burn her alive."

Cleo: "Rikki. It's not a joke!"

Rikki: "What do you want me to do to bind her to the bed?"

Emma: "Don't know sleep in sun glasses."

Rikki: "I'll deal with it somehow, don't worry."

Zane's Place:

The whole week Mr. Bennett was happy. He made the proposal to Ronda and waited for her answer. When Zane came home he was surprised to see his father drunk. He sat in an arm-chair with the glass in his hand the empty bottle of whiskey laid on the floor.

Mr. Bennett: "Oh, my son. Come, come here."

Zane: "What do you want?"

Mr. Bennett: "How's Linda?"

Zane: "She dumped me."

Mr. Bennett started laughing: "You too. Come here."

Zane approached his father.

Mr. Bennett: "You know, Zane, love stinks. All women are lame."

Zane: "What's happened?"

Mr. Bennett: "She said "No""

Zane: "Who said to whom?"

Mr. Bennett: "Ronda. She dumped me. Do you understand she dumped ME, Mr. Harrison Bennett!"

Zane: "Maybe she's right."

Mr. Bennett: "What?!"

Zane: "Dad, sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. You have to get used to it."

Rikki's Place:

Andrea was not just a simple-minded child who doesn't know anything about the universe and is disoriented on the planet named the Earth. She was the child prodigy and this was her strong side. If she had an aim she was sure to achieve it whatever it would cost for her. Andy started the research and she analyzed all that had happened to her while she was living with Rikki and Mr. Chadwick. The girl read the diary and found out that the poltergeist appearance always coincided with her arguments with Rikki. So, she made the plan to prove her theory.

The girl cut off the electricity supply and went to outside to Mr. Chadwick.

Andrea: "Dad, do you want a cup of tea or coffee?"

Mr. Chadwick: "Oh, a cup of tea will be nice."

Andrea: "When I'll make one."

Mr. Chadwick: "Thanks."

The girl returned to the room.

Andrea: "Rikki, dad asked you to make him some tea."

Rikki: "Don't you see I'm doing my homework. Can't you make it?"

Andrea: "Sorry, I promised Mrs. Horst to help her in the garden. I have to go."

Rikki: "Ok, right."

Andrea went outside watched everything through the kitchen window. Rikki didn't notice her sister staying outside. Rikki came into the kitchen, pour the water into the kettle and plugged in. She waited for awhile but the water was cold. She turned around to make sure that nobody could see her and used her power to boil the water.

Andy saw everything: "Got you!" The girl was satisfied with herself but as a smart child now she had the hugest problem ever. She couldn't tell anyone about it.

Somewhere on the Beach:

Elliot sat on the sand waiting for Andrea. When he saw the girl, he stood up. The cage with the lizard was behind him on the sand.

Andrea: "Hi."

Elliot: "Hi."

Andrea: "Why did you call, want some help with Maths?"

Elliot: "No, Andy… I'm…. I'm sorry for being such a stupid man. You're my friend and it doesn't matter where you live. I'm really sorry."

Andrea: "Your apology's accepted."

She silenced and the boy didn't know what to do next. Suddenly he remembered about the reptile.

Elliot: "Uh, here." He took the lizard off the cage and handed it to the girl.

Andrea: "Wow! Is it for me? He's so cute!" She took the lizard and stroked him.

Elliot smiled: "Yeah."

Andrea: "He's great but you'd better take him back to the shop."

Elliot: "Why? You said you've liked it."

Andrea: "I do. But I don't like wild animals being caged. He is not a pet. He belongs to the wild. He won't feel happy in prison."

Elliot: "Then let's free him."

Lewis and Cleo strode along the beach. When they went by Elliot and Andrea, Lewis saw the lizard. Cleo shuddered.

Lewis: "Hey, nice specimen."

Andrea: "Thanks. By the way, can you do me a favor?"

Lewis: "If you want information about poltergeist don't count on me."

Andrea: "No, can you take him to the woods. He'll be thankful to you. He doesn't seem well in the cage."

Lewis: "Yes, sure."

Cleo suggested: "Maybe you'll do it later?"

Lewis: "Right. I'll take him later, ok?"

Andrea: "Yes, thanks."

Andrea to Elliot: "We have to feed him."

Cleo and Lewis went further.

Cleo: "How can she hold it like that? It is so ugly."

Lewis: "You don't like reptiles like Emma, do you?"

Cleo: "I like dolphins more."

Lewis: "Tastes differ."

He kissed her in the cheek.

Same time; on the Pier:

Zane got out off the café and saw Rikki standing on the pier.

Zane: "Hi."

Rikki: "Hi, I hadn't time to thank you for saving my sister."

Zane: "It's nothing."

He smiled and looked at Rikki.

Rikki smiled too: "What?"

Zane: "I behaved like an idiot. We've parted because of Andy."

Rikki: "Do you regret that you saved her?"

Zane: "No, of course not. She's a great kid. I was a little bit jealous. I've never had brothers or sisters."

Rikki: "Believe me it is not that bad. I can lend you mine for a week. If you don't go crazy then you will be the winner."

Zane: "Deal."

Rikki: "It's a joke."

Zane: "Can we be friends? Rikki, I'm serious."

Rikki: "Why not? At least I'll know to whom I can send Andy. Sometimes she is unbearable."

They laughed.

Later this evening; Cleo's House:

Lewis checked all the windows in Cleo's room. All of them were curtained. No light could sneak into the room. When everything was done properly he wished he "good night" and left the house.

Emma's House:

Emma was in her pajamas. The windows were sealed. She put on the sun glasses and covered herself with the blanket.

Rikki's Place:

Rikki closed the window and curtained it. She curtained all the windows in the cabin and closed the doors. She came into the room and sat on the side of her bed.

Rikki: "Don't you dare open that window tonight or the evil poltergeist will take your soul."

Andrea: "It's not smart of you to frighten me. The poltergeist is a myth."

Rikki: "Sorry, but you're the one afraid of darkness not me."

Andrea: "That's why you've closed all the windows to scary me."

Rikki: "There is nothing to be afraid of."

Andrea: "Have you read "The End of the Party" by Graham Green."

Rikki: "Maybe. I don't remember."

Andrea: "The boy died because they played hide and seek in the dark at the party."

Rikki: "Andy, you have a great imagination use it properly. Imagine something good instead of evil and you'll be fine."

Andrea: "I'll try. Good night."

Rikki: "Night."

The girls turned off the lights.

In the middle of the night:

The air in the room became too hot. Andy woke up because she couldn't breathe. She took her inhaler, stood up and opened the door. The girl went outside. She closed neither the entrance door nor the door to the bedroom. The moon was shining brightly. Andrea sat down on the bench and took two sips of the inhaler. A few minutes later Rikki woke up too. She switched on the night lamp and took the wrist watch from the table to see the time. The moonlight sneaked into the house. It jumped from one glass object to the other and it reflected in the wrist watch. Rikki stared blankly at it for several minutes. She went outside too, came to Andrea and stopped in front of her.

Andrea: "I'm Ok. Don't worry."

Rikki: "I told you not to open anything but you don't listen now. Wanna see the monster? I'll show you."

Andrea: "I'm not scared. I know that you have the power to boil water."

Rikki raised her hand and started the fire just in front of her sister. Andrea didn't scream she lifted the legs on the bench. Rikki smiled wickedly but stopped the fire.

Rikki: "Want some more? Move."

Andrea: "Rikki, I understand I won't tell anyone. Let's go inside and go to bed."

Rikki pushed her sister: "I said: move!"

They headed to the beach.

Rikki took the girl by the hand. Andrea tried to loosen the grip but couldn't. She felt that Rikki's palm was too hot. She burned her.

"Please, let me go! It hurts! Stop it, please!" – The girl nearly cried. The came to the water and Rikki jumped into the ocean: "Watch!" But all Andrea could see was the blistering skin of her arm. Rikki turned into the mermaid and used her power to make the lightening which nearly struck Andrea. The girl looked at her elder sister with eyes full of tears: "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I'm a monster", - was the answer and the mermaid dived into the ocean.

30 minutes later, Lewis House:

The shaking girl came to the house. She didn't want to wake everyone. So, she took small stones and threw them one by one into the window. Andrea knew where Lewis's room was.

Lewis opened the window: "Andy, what do you do here?"

Andrea could say nothing but: "Please, help me."

Lewis went outside in a hurry: "What's happened?"

Andrea wanted to say something: "I… I…"

Lewis: "It's Ok. Calm down."

He took her by the hand and she whined and jerked her arm away. Lewis looked at her arm. The skin was blistered. It was a severe burn.

"Rikki's not at home. I've been making tea and burned myself", - she lied.

Lewis understood everything.

"Rikki did this to you right?"

The girl shook her head in approval. "How long do you know about Rikki?" - she asked Lewis.

"Come on. We have to take care of your hand first", - he invited Andrea inside.

Morning. The Next Day:

Emma woke up to find herself lying in her bed with the sun glasses on her eyes and all the windows curtained. She was happy to be "an ordinary girl" as usual.

Cleo woke up very proud of herself. This night was as many nights have been before. She went into the bathroom. But suddenly her phone rang.

Cleo: "Hello, Lewis."

Lewis: "Hi, Cleo. How are you?"

Cleo: "Everything is fine."

Lewis: "Don't be too excited. Problems with Rikki. Andrea knows everything."

Cleo: "What?!"

Morning. Rikki's Place:

Friends came to the cabin. Rikki woke up. All her body was aching. This was a bad sign. She called Andrea but nobody answered. She put on her jeans and T-Shirt and went outside to see where her sister was. She found there her friends together with her sister staring at her.

Rikki: "What's up? Did I do anything last night?"

Emma: "Yes, you did."

Rikki looked at her sister's bandaged wrist: "What happened to your hand?"

Andrea: "You've burned me, don't you remember it?"

Rikki sat on the step of the stair and grasped her head.

Emma: "Rikki, she'll survive. It's nothing to worry about."

Andrea: "Yes, we can tell dad that I accidentally poured hot tea on my wrist."

Rikki looked at her friends: "I'm sorry guys."

Lewis: "You shouldn't be, she knew already about your power. She didn't just know that you, Emma and Cleo were mermaids."

Rikki: "How did you find out about my power? I was careful."

Andrea: "Do you remember doing tea yesterday?"

Rikki: "Yes, you've seen everything but you said you're going to help Mrs. Horst."

Andrea: "I cut off the electricity supply. It was simple."

Emma: "Lewis told you to be careful."

Rikki: "So what are we going to do now?"

Andrea: "I'll keep quiet if you don't use your power against me."

Rikki: "Deal. But if you tell anyone you'll be sorry for it."

Andrea: "Agreed. May I come with you to watch you swim?"

Cleo: "I think you may."

Later on the Beach:

Rikki, Emma and Cleo in bathing suits ran into the water splashing it around. Lewis and Andrea stood on the beach watching three tails vanishing in the deep of the ocean.

The End