AN: Please do NOT try to recreate the mixtures created by Cam, Zac or Dr. Denman in the chapter, there were created for the purpose of the story and I have no idea what they do.
Cam's P.O.V.
"Cameron, I don't know how you could pass up an opportunity like this!" My mother complained, "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"
"Mom, I hate biology! You know that. I'll be miserable, and I won't do it." I replied forcefully.
Mom lowered her eyes, "You need to do this, Cameron. Look at where we are." That shut me up. She stood up and gestured to our 50 square meter apartment, that was crammed to the maximum with paper work for my mom's job.
I can honestly say I've never truly known what her job was, I think it's something about sorting files for a law firm or sending out letters or writing articles for a magazine that nobody's ever even heard of before. She is always reassuring me that we're fine and comfortable where we are but I know that she has always struggled with money and bills. My mom's been struggling ever since my dad drowned when I was seven. I don't have any siblings and I'm all that she has left.
She was the real reason that I stole the trident. I figured that if I had that kind of power then I could have supported her and she'd never have to work to support me again. But now looking back at it, I know that it was a stupid idea. It was just the night before the full moon I had seen the mail that was lying on the counter telling us we had 30 days to evacuate our apartment or pay the rent. My mother had to dig into my college fund in order to keep us from moving, but it a huge setback from where we were before.
"Cammy, I don't want you to have this kind of life forever. I want you to go somewhere and do something with your life. This could be your chance to get into a good college or start a career for yourself." My mom said.
Suddenly my shoes became very interesting and I couldn't bring myself to look up at her face, I knew if I did then I'd cave in. I couldn't cave, I wouldn't. This marine biologist already had evidence of mermaids and she didn't need two working in your office. I'd have to come up with a good enough lie to convince her, but then I looked up at her and all the hope of forming a lie flew out the window.
Her eyes were filled with water and there was a single tear that ran down her cheek. "Mom, please don't cry!" I said embracing her. But that only made her sob harder into my shoulder.
I sucked in a deep breath, "Ok, mom. I'll .. uh, if you really want me to, I'll go."
"You will?" She sniffed, lifting her head off my chest.
"Yeah, I will, Mom." I reassured her. I'll just have to be extra careful, I added silently.
My mom dropped me off in the front of Sea World Australia were Dr. Denman told us to meet her. Zac was already waiting outside the gates and ticket booths. The clock on the wall read 7 o'clock on the dot, it was WAY to early to be awake on a day off from school.
Zac gave a half hearted wave to me as I approached him, "So your parents made you do this, too?"
"Yeah, my mom kind of gave a convincing argument." I replied looking down at the pavement.
"How are we going to get through this?" He asked looking through the gates. In between the metal bars there was a tall man walking toward us.
"Just take it little by little. It's the only way." I told him, but I wasn't as confident as I sounded.
The man towered over Zac and I and his muscles bulged from his arms and legs. Even though we were separated by the metal gate I still felt unsafe in his presence.
"My name is Shane," he said in a gruff voice that matched his demeanor perfectly, "Are you two boys here to see Dr. Denman?"
We both nodded.
He grunted, "Come with me." Then Shane produced a key and unlocked the gates and opened them with a loud creak. He lead us past all the rides and attractions, I kept wishing that he would stop and give us a free ride on one of them. But I'm pretty sure this guy wouldn't give a penny to a beggar if his life depended on it. Then we came to another gate but this one had a sign on it that read: Authorized Personnel Only.
After the gate we walked past some large tanks so contained dolphins, or smalls whales, but a few were empty. I shuddered just thinking what the empty ones could potentially hold. Finally we arrived at I giant warehouse and entered through the metal door.
The smell of chlorine hit me like a train as soon I walked in the doors. It made me want to double over and retch my breakfast, I looked over at Zac and I knew he was feeling the same way as I was. It must have had something to do with the merman thing.
Inside the warehouse, one half was a fifty meter lap pool and the other was a full working laboratory with metal tables, test tubes filled with strange liquids, and water samples everywhere! This was going to be a little harder than I expected.
The blonde marine biologist came up to greet us as we entered the warehouse, "Cam," She shook my hand, "Zac," Then Zac's, "I'm so glad that you guys could make it today. I'm looking forward to it!"
"Thank you for having us Ms. Denman." I said, like my mother told me.
"It's Dr. Denman if you please." She said sharply, but just as quickly as it disappeared the smile returned to her face.
I caught Zac's gaze and he gave me a confused expression.
"Shane, can you get these two young men the proper equipment for today?" She asked the man.
Shane grunted in reply and walked off to follow his orders.
"Well, today I'm going to have you two mixing some chemicals into water samples then when you're done with those, I'll take you out and we're going to take care of some of the animals in the tanks outside." Dr. Denman explained. I gulped, this wasn't going to be easy.
The door behind us opened and Shane reappeared with two lab coats slung over his arm. He silently handed them to the to of us, mine had Cam stitch into the pocket on top, and Zac's had his name as well. I guess she was expecting us to stay longer than a day.
"Thank you Shane," she said dismissing the man, "Follow me boys." She led us to the lab side of the warehouse.
"Alright you two are going to be mixing these powders," She put a tray of powders on the table, "And these liquid solutions." She brought over another smaller tray filled with test tubes of crystal clear liquid. "After you are finished we are going to be placing them in the tanks outside and see if the animals react positively or negatively towards the chemicals."
"That's inhuman!" Zac exclaimed, "These could hurt them!"
"Not true Mr. Blakely, these are going to help the water get cleared and let their habitat grow. I can assure you that there is nothing inhuman going on here." She said calmly. "Now I suggest you two get to work."
I threw a worried glance at Zac, "Do you have any rubber gloves were could use?"
Dr. Denman crinkled her eyebrows together in confusion, "If you must." She walked a few steps and opened a cabinet that produced a few pairs of yellow gloves. After giving them to us she left the lab through a door that I'm guessing led to a private office.
Zac let out a deep breath, "Do you think she knows anything?"
"Shh." I nodded my head to the security camera with it's blinking red light hidden in the corner of the warehouse. I turned my back to it and began to mix together the chemicals.
"No, but she seems suspicious. Don't do anything that draw much attention." I murmured, hoping that she couldn't hear me.
Zac nodded. As soon as we got started with the mixtures, the work was easy and mindless. We were done with it in about an hour according to the clock on the wall. As soon as put the last test tube on the rack Dr. Denman emerged from her office and picked up the test tubes, "Excellent job! I knew I made a good decision in choosing you two. Now, follow me and we'll out these samples to good use."
We followed her out the back entrance, on the opposite side of where we entered from, and she led us to the empty pools of water.
I was about to ask what we put doing, but someone clamped my arms together behind my back, keeping them together with a strong grip. I looked behind me and Shane had me held up, and apparently Shane's identical twin brother had Zac as well.
Dr. Denman smirked and arched an eyebrow at us, "You honestly thought I'd have two mermen working for me, and I wouldn't know it." She laughed like she was just now imagining it, I didn't find it all amusing.
"Shane, Sean you know the drill." Dr. Denman ordered the two men.
I was picked up by my arms and thrown into the pool. My tail formed at my naval, this time the transformation didn't hurt as much but it still caused me to cringe. Dr. Denman stared in amusement, not at all shocked or stunned my what see was seeing. I surfaced right next to Zac in the pool, where he was staring at the marine biologist with pure hatred.
"What do you want with us?" I spat.
"Oh, you'll see." Dr. Denman cackled.
Okay, don't kill me. I know it's been a really long time since I've uploaded. I was in a car accident in the summer and I've spent most of my time at therapy (Physical) and I haven't had much time to write since the start of the school year. There is more to come, stay tuned!
Swim Safely
~SammieNel
