Chapter 53: Kill The Beast

"Where the HELL have you been? Hey!"

Furiously, Jim plowed after Wendy. Pushing through a line of mermaids, he grabbed the sleeve of her hoodie.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

Wendy kept walking, pulling against Jim. "I can't talk, and I don't want to talk. I have to find – "

"—would you just turn around and listen to me!"

Furiously, Jim carted Wendy into the bleachers. The heat from the pool breathed chlorine fog into the air. Already in bikini's, the mermaids dove underwater. Captain Li Shang was barking instructions as students trudged in and out of the locker rooms.

Jim held Wendy by the shoulders. "Where have you been? Do you how stupid it is to disappear just because you have a temper tantrum?"

Wendy twisted away. "Let go."

"I'll let go when I'm through."

"Oh is that so?" Wendy pushed away Jim's hands. People started to stare. "So you can touch me but I can't touch you?"

Jim fumed. "Wen, I told you that was an accident! It was a knee jerk; a reaction. I didn't know what I was doing!"

"Clearly." Wendy huffed. She stood up from the bleachers.

Jim wrenched her back down. "Oh no you don't! Sit! Listen – this is what we are going to do – "

Fighting Wendy's incensed protests, Jim pointed to the pool door. "No more playing games. We are going straight to the Headmaster, showing him the paper airplane, and tell him all the shit Pan has put you throu –"

"No!" Wendy suddenly interrupted. "Jim I know you mean well but I've just been with the Headmaster. And – "

"—Did you tell him about the paper airplane?"

"…no."

"Well, did you tell him about Pan?"

Wendy crossed her arms. "You don't know if Peter was involved."

Incredulous, Jim sat back. "I'll take that risk. And even if he didn't send the note, I've seen enough to convict Pan for life."

"Jim – "

" – he stole my orb, which I still haven't gotten back, and he has harassed the crap out of you for the entire year! So," Jim said, talking Wendy's hands. "stop arguing, I'm taking you to report Pan to the Headmaster."

"No." Wendy pushed Jim's hands against his chest. "No, we are not and you're not going to say a word to the Headmaster about Peter!"

Jim could not believe his ears. "Excuse me? Wen, what the Hell?"

"Language!" Wendy spat. Popping up, she stepped off the bleachers. "For once in your life could you please stop swearing!"

"And for once in your life!" Jim seized the back of Wendy's hoodie. Almost slipping on the slick pool cement, he yank her around. "Could you stop pretending that everything is okay?"

"Everything is okay!" Wendy exclaimed, ripping back her hoodie. The needle flashed in the blue fabric. "And everything is going to be okay if you just leave me alone and let me find Peter!"

"Let you find Peter?!" Jim raked a hand through his hair. "What is this, a guilt trip for the shadow thing?"

"No," Wendy stammered. "Just trust me and leave Peter alone."

"Wendy!" Jim exclaimed, " Just turn the ass hole in! Have some guts! My God Wen, it's like you have a crush on him!"

Wendy flinched. Her mouth snapped shut. Suddenly, her cheeks turned bright red.

Jim's mouth dropped. "No …way."

Wendy's blue eyes were larger than headlights. Then, like a convict trapped in the spotlight, she turned.

Jim grabbed her before she took a step. "Are you kidding me? All this time? Are you fu – "

"Jim!" Wendy pulled. Students stopped, towels in hand. Nervously they eyed the needle darting toward Jim's fingers as he wrung Wendy's hoodie. "Jim! Stop! You being –"

"I'm being?" Jim said, ignoring the staring students. "I can't believe you! I mean – come on! Him? And I was trying to protect you but all this time—? Are you stupid? What the Hell is wrong with you, Wendy?"

"Jim!"

Wendy spun around. Angrily, she slid the needle from her hoodie. Tears mixed with the chlorine haze, she pointed the needle at Jim's chest. "Stop it! Just stop it! Leave me alone!"

Jim looked at the needle. Then, shaking with rage he wiped his hands in the air. "You know what? Fine! Why do I even care?"

"Jim." Wendy began. She faltered forward as Jim hunched up the bleachers. "Jim. Jim! Ohhh!"

Fisting her temples, Wendy stomped the wet cement.

Her foot landed on a bikini top.

"Oh my God! Can you get that?"

Wendy turned. Lana, hair slicked over her bare breasts, cowered at the edge of the pool. Pressing flat against the side, she lifted an arm, pointing to the bikini top.

"Can you get that?" Lana repeated, batting her eyelashes. Giggling, she wiggled her fingers. "I would, but my chest isn't as teeny as yours. Could you? Do you mind? Dearie?"

Flustered by Jim, Lana, and the mermaid's risqué situation Wendy nodded, smoothing a hand through her hair. Replacing her needle, she picked up the top by the bikini straps.

"Thanks." Lana smiled sweetly as Wendy bent down. "This is so, so, so embarrassing."

Wendy nodded. One eye on Jim, heading for the exit, she extended her arm over the pool.

"But not as embarrassing as this – BEAST!"

Suddenly, Lana lunged forward. Magical tail twitching like a viper, she seized Wendy's outstretched hand and yanked her into the pool.

Stunned, Wendy crashed into the water. For a second, she floundered, bubbles tickling up her spine. Then reaching for the pool edge, she kicked to the surface.

But she never made it. In a flash of aquamarine, Lana attacked. She pounced on Wendy's shoulders. Then, slapping her fin, she shoved down.

Wendy buckled. Her hand slipped off the pool edge. Her neck cracked as Lana thrust her down. Swallowing water, Wendy struggled, trying to fight her way to the surface. But with horrifying swiftness, her mind broke into static fragments. She felt like acid was burning through her chest and into her brain as her lungs screamed for air.

Lana was trying to drown her.

Ariel was the first to notice.

"What are you doing? Lana!"

Jim turned, alerted by Ariel's shriek.

"No!"

Heart exploding, he charged through the students, but a crowed had congealed at the edge of the pool. Sickened, Jim pushed through the war cries and death threats as cheers encouraged Lana to kill the Shadow Worker. Jim's heart thundered against his chest: he'd never make it in time.

"Lana!" Ariel knifed through the water. Frantically, she seized her cousin's arm. "Lana! Lana stop! Are you crazy!?"

"Kill the beast!" chanted the students as Lana smacked her powerful tail into Ariel's face. Viciously as a shark, Lana dug her finger's into Wendy's throat. "Kill the beast!"

Ariel slammed into the cement edge. Fighting Lana's current, she charged again. Instantly, Cordelia and Adella coiled her with their glistening tails and muscled her out of the pool.

Ariel flipped onto her stomach. Water dripped between her eyes. Lana was hysterical; she'd pulled the hoodie over Wendy's eyes. Wendy was choking, swallowing pool water for lack of air. Captain Li Shang was running through the crowd. Jim was insane with rage, fighting towards Wendy and leaving a trail of bloody noses.

And her trident….was leaning against the wall.

Slapping her hand on the wet cement, Ariel bolted. In one fluid movement she lunged, snatched the trident, and sprinted to the pool.

But Jim beat her to it. Punching anyone and everyone in the face, he stopped at the edge of the pool. He crouched. He plunged an arm underwater.

Wendy gasped as Jim hauled her from the pool. Water raining over her eyes, she looked up. Everywhere, students were laughing, spiting, chanting for her to die.

Peter was in the front row.

Shaking, Wendy made to run. Suddenly two hands clenched her ankle. Wendy fell as Lana propelled her tail and wrenched.

"Lana!" Ariel screamed, swinging the trident over her head. "Stop!"

Spash! The trident cut into the chlorine water. Electricity splintered through the pool and into the soggy air.

Lana screamed. Her tail convulsed and her fingers scratched across Wendy's ankle.

"Kill her!" Lana shrieked, pointing as Wendy ran. "Someone! Don't let that monster esca – "

Suddenly, Jim's hand dove into the pool. He lifted Lana by her shimmering red hair.

And soon the whole school knew that Jim Hawkins was not above hitting a girl.