Chapter 35: What's going on?

At the Marine Park

Cleo's POV

When the water hit me, I didn't have enough time to run. Before I knew it, I was a mermaid surrounded by a bunch of people, and I could see the others on the floor, too. I then see Nate holding Nathan and running. Wow, Nate, way to leave us.

Suddenly, people are asking me questions. How is this possible? Is that why you are he marine park's mermaid in the dolphin show? When did this happen? Why didn't you tell people? And about ten thousand other questions.

Suddenly, I realize there is no way out of this. How are we supposed to get away from the crowds when we are nowhere water and are stuck as mermaids?

Then a police officer approaches me, and says, "We are going to get you out of here, don't fight. He's just going to take you through that door, away from the crowds."

"Okay."

Zane's POV

I see the girls getting approached by the police, and some men picking them up and taking them towards a building. What are they going to do to them?

The couple police that aren't getting the girls out of here. One of them is shouting through a bullhorn that all protesters must leave or they will be arrested. I decide to approach him and ask where they are taking the girls.

"Sir, my fiancée was one of the mermaids that was just taken into that building over there, why was she taken?" I ask starting off polite, but ending up nowhere near it.

"We thought that they could dry often peace, away from all the questions and away from any idiots who might get them wet again," the office explains.

"Alright, well, what's going to happen now?"

"We are going to take your petition to the town council and courts to get Melanie freed, and to protect any mermaids from getting harassed. We do request that you and anyone else who knew before now make statements about how you feel about them being mermaids and you're reaction to all of it," the officer says.

"Yes, of course, anything that will help, but how come no one ever said anything before! Melanie's been in that tank for almost a month," I say.

"She's not our citizen or at least we didn't know she was. The other girls, we've known since they were young, it wouldn't be fair to just let them be trapped."

"So just because you didn't know her, you didn't care?"

"I guess that came out wrong. Anyway, you need to leave. I'm sure they will come home soon enough. Goodbye," the office says and leaves to helo another officer.

I guess I need to go back to the café.

Nate's POV

As soon as the water hit me, I picked up Nathan and ran for it. I couldn't let him fall into the same trap as Melanie. It's just not fair. So, I left the others and ran.

I got back to my house safely. Barely anyone was on the streets, and those that were either didn't see or didn't care.

When I walked in, my mom was sitting on the couch watching the news, which ironically is about the protest at the marine park. It's replaying the water hitting the crowd and the girls and Nathan changing. You could see me running away and the journalist commenting on it. Then it finishes with the police making an announcement that no one is to hurt or haress the mermaids, and that a decision will be made at the town council meeting in regards to what can be done about Melanie and mermaids living amonst us in general.

My mom clicks off the t.v., "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" I ask.

"That you're dating that fish, and the boy in your arms is one, too."

"I couldn't tell you because I knew that you would react this way. I love Melanie and I love my son. They aren't fish to me," I say proudly.

"Your son?"

"Yes, when I was fifteen, I met Melanie, found out what she was, and used it against her. When she got pregnant, I ditched her, but she came back, and we are working things out. This boy is my son and you will not talk bad about him," I say.

Instead of answering, she gets up, walks over to Nathan and kneels in front of him.

"It's not your fault you're a fish. I'll love you as my grandson anyway," she says before giving him a hug.

"That's great, but Melanie is his mom, and I love her, you can't out cast her it's not fair," I say.

"Of course it is, she chose to be a mermaid," my mom says.

"No, she didn't."

"Then how did it happen?"

"Well, it all started with her dad…"

At the Marine Park

Melanie's POV

After I finally swam over to them, they helped me dry off and then forced me to walk with my hands tied behind my back for twenty minutes. We never left this building as for as I know, but I did end up in the place I first woke up in when Sophie captured me. I was untied and told to get in the pool.

I got in, and saw that Sophie was placed in a chair in the room with her arms tied. This caused me to raise questions, but I couldn't ask because of the owner being present.

"You'll be staying here until this "excitement" ends. Who knows you might end up with some new visitors," the owner says then laughs.

What could that mean?

She leaves with her men, leaving Sophie and I alone.

"What's going on? Why are you tied up?" I ask imeadately.

"The girls and I tried to get a position going to free you, but it turned into a riot and I got caught by the owner. Next thing I knew I was unconscious. I wake up in a weird room, and she's telling me that I have to help move you so that people won't break you out. I was afraid of what they might do to you, so I agreed."

"It's alright, but what are we going to do now?" I ask.

"I have no idea."

At the boatshed – hours later

Will's POV

After the concert thing, and petition stuff, I took Ashley home with me. Bella just told me she had to do something and that she would be back for Ashley later since I had Ashley last night. I've been waiting a long time with nothing.

Maybe she forgot or is just busy. She'll be here soon. If something had happened, I would know right?

If the others knew something, I'm sure they'd tell me.

I haven't heard anything from Sophie either. I wonder why? She did say that she had something that she wanted to do.

Maybe I should try calling.

I dial Sophie first. It rings and rings, but no answer. So, I try Bella, straight to voicemail….maybe something did go wrong.

It's time to call the other guys.

At the McCartney's

Lewis's POV

After the rally, I went home to take care of Catherine and began to wonder where Cleo could be. Just as I was starting to get worried, I get a phone call.

Will.

"Hi," I say as I answer.

"Hey Lewis, sorry to bother you, but you haven't heard anything from the girls have you?"

"No, and I was just starting to get worried about Cleo," I say.

"Well, I'm already worried, and I haven't heard anything so I thought that maybe you had?"

"No, nothing, but Zane might know," I say.

"You think?"

"Yeah, why don't we try to three-way him," I suggest.

"Sounds good."

Ash's POV

I went home after the café closed early. The rally thing seemed to go well, but I definitely needed to get the girls from Emma's sister. She was babysitting at our apartment, so it worked out well for us.

I went in, and called out to her.

"Jenna, I'm back."

"Hey, I was just changing them, but I though Emma was supposed to be back earlier than you," she says questioningly.

"She was, she hasn't come home or called?"

"No, I saw the news though and I'm wondering if maybe that's the problem," she says.

"What do you mean? What was on the news?"

"You didn't know that there was a riot at the marine park?"

"A riot?"

"Yes, the girls and people who were both with and against them were there arguing their side and protesting which side they were on. The police had to hose down the crowd," Jenna says.

"Hose? Like sprayed water on them?"

"Yes."

"And you say the girls were in the crowd?"

"Yes."

"Then that's what happened. Then got wet in front of people, obviously that caused problems. Come on, we need to get going," I say.

"Where are we going?"

"The café, I just know that Zane's involved in this."

At the café

Zane's POV

It's been hours since the problems at the marine park, and I went home to get my kids. When I got there Lizzie said that se had seen the news and thought that te girls might go to the café instead of their homes since some reporters were going to ask them questions.

I saw that as a possibility, so we went there.

Since we were closed, I was surprised to see Ash and Jenna sitting outside the café.

"What's going on, guys?"

"We thought you could tell us," Ash says.

"Tell you what?" I ask.

"What happened at the marine park? We saw you on the news," Ash says.

"Let's go inside. I'll explain everything, but maybe we should get the other guys to come over too," I say.

"why? Are they in trouble?"

"When I left, it didn't seem like it, but I haven't heard from Rikki, and Lizzie thought that maybe they came here," I say.

"Then open the door, maybe we are worried for nothing," Jenna says.

I turn to the door, and unlock it. As iit swings open, we all hold our breath and enter.

I turn on the lights. Nothing. No one is here. Lizzie goes in the office, and opens the door.

"They aren't here," she yells.

"Then I guess I better call the other guys. They need to know that something could have happened to them," I say.

Just as I finish my phone lights up. Will.

"Hello," I say as I answer.

"Zane?"

"Yes, it's Zane."

"Lewis is on the phone, too. We are worried about the girls, we haven't heard from them, and we don't know what's going on. Do you know anything?"

"Uhhh…well I haven't heard from them either, but you can come to the café, and I'll tell you what happened at the marine park," I say.

"Alright. We'll be there," both of them say together before hanging up.

Ash's POV

I was really impacient to hear what Zane had to say. The wait for the other gys never seemed to end. I feel like they are taking their time. Finally, they got here.

They came in and sat down, and then looked at Zane to start. I followed them and turned to look at Zane.

"Alright, well, Rikki accidentally got people all riled up, and they decided to protest at the marine park," he pauses.

Being impacient by now, I say ,"We know that. What happened to the girls?"

"I'm getting to that, give me a chance," Zane says looking angry.

"Just continue," Lewis says.

"Well, it turned into a fight between those who think mermaids should be treated as creatures and those who think they should be treated as humans," Zane says.

"And?" Will asks.

"It got out of hand. The police arrived and were shouting through a bullhorn for everyone to stop or they were going to spray down the crowd. Nobody could hear though, so the fighting continued," Zane says.

"And the police sprayed the crowd?" Lewis asks.

"Yes," Zane says.

"That can't be it, what happened?" I ask.

"The girls had nowhere to run. So, they turned in front of everyone."

"And?" Will asks.

"The owner had some guys take them into the building behind the police to dry off. The police made everyone leave. I went up to a police officer to make sure the girls were okay, and he told me that the owner was going to let them dry off and go out through the back. That way they could avoid all the people," Zane says.

"So, what are we going to do now?" I ask.

"Well, we find the girls, but a police officer is coming here tomorrow to talk to us," Zane says.

"About what?" Lewis asks.

"They are taking this situation to the town council and court. They want us to make statements about how we feel about it, and how things have changed. The goal is to make it seem like nothing is going to change if they just allow them to live normally. That this isn't as big as everyone is making it out to be," Zane says.

"But it is big. Especially for all of us," I say.

"I know, but we have to be convincing. We don't know what we might do if they don't side with us," Zane says.

"This is true, so what do we do about the girls?" I ask.

"I think that we should just wait at home for them. Maybe they are just waiting for things to calm down. So, we should go home and wait for them to show up. If they haven't by tomorrow morning then when the police get here for interviews, we will say something," Zane says.

"Alright, but nothing better have happened to them," I say.

"Trust me, I don't want anything to happen to them either," Zane says.

So, we get ready to go home. I just hope that they are safe wherever they are.

Melanie's POV

Sophie and I have been contemplating what we should do about this situation and what the owner could possibly mean when she said that we could end up with visitors.

"Who could those visitors be?" I ask.

"I don't know."

"She wouldn't hurt Nate or Nathan, would she?"

"Probably not," Sophie says.

"Then who?" I ask.

Just then the door opens and some men come in. Each of them holding a different mermaid.

I can't see their faces, but each of their tails are different colors.

"You know, as much as I expected it, it truly is surprising to see them as mermaids. I mean will told me that they were, but actually seeing it, is a totally different story," Sophie says.

Then I realize who these mermaids are. Cleo, Emma, Rikki, and Bella. Oh no.

A/N hey guys, I'm sorry this chapter was lame, and even more sorry that I only just started chapter 36. So, it'll be awhile before I can upload it. I'm not sure how long, but hopefully not much later after next Friday.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please read and review.

Guest- thanks, I will be continuing, and I hope to have finished this soon. I have it planned to chapter 45.

Zikki 3- thanks, and I wonder what is going to happen to them?

H2ORikki- Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I'm glad you liked it. Thanks again

Swimngym- thanks for offering to help me with OC's if you ever feel that you want to contribute without asking, I like your ideas. Thanks for everything!

Thanks for everything guys and girls, sorry it'll be awhile for the next update, but unless anything major happens the last chapter will be chapter 45. Something to look forward to.