Hello everyone! I just wanted to thank everyone who read my last chapter and thank you for the support from that nasty comment I had received.

Now...ENJOY!

Previously...

Karen gave the oyster back to Charlotte and continued "I think you're in a special predicament now. You see, my mother has this scale that goes from 1 to 10 that she uses-or rather-used to see what type of visions she had. If it was a level 1, then the vision is usually seen is a blurry shot or a level 2, a TV show on a television screen. Now a level 10...well, you just had one. That particular level usually acts as a messenger and usually means that danger is coming. It's so life-like that it sometimes means that you were actually there.' "

...

"Hey mom," she said.

Annette turned around and smiled at her. "Hey sweetie, how was your first day of work?"

Charlotte shrugged. "It was good. I took a few orders, got familiar with the staff, and for some unknown reason, all the teenage guys who came during lunch seemed to be flirting with me."

Annette laughed. "Well, that doesn't surprise me. You've always been a beautiful girl, but since that Lewis boy broke up with you and your time in Atlanta, you haven't been so sure anymore. But lately, you've changed...for the better. I mean, look at you. You're helpful around the house, doing all these activities at school, you have friends, you have a job, and though I never saw you as a dog lover, I must say...I am proud to call you my little girl."

...

"I didn't want to tell you, but I just did. Since the anniversary could happen any day, it just so happened that after a while of trying to find one of the days the anniversary occurred, I landed in the Dustbowl Days. I went through some American history records and found out that just a few matters of months before dust storms started, the causes of the storm - which you know as to how the dirt turned into sand - a Mexican girl who came with her families to the Americas was just about our age, or maybe younger, came to the plains to help get money from farming. However, the first few days after she came, the effects of the drought started to set in and I found out this:

The anniversary of the storm/ blue moon happened the night before the first dust storm. Then the next day, the girl went missing after the storm hit and was never to be seen again. Her name was Carmenta Hortense and I believe that she was one of your past lives who sadly got controlled by Marana and lost her life while starting the beginning of the dust storms."

...

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Outside of Charlotte's house...

Karen and Laguna didn't really leave after they dropped off Charlotte. Instead, they just swapped cars and sat outside her house.

"Mother, do we really have to do this? What if somebody sees us or something happens? Do you want us to appear as stalkers?!" Karen exclaimed.

"Yes, we do. After Charlotte had that vision, I couldn't just drop her off and be done with it! That vision had to be a warning and I even went through my own memories and still can't find the creäture that Charlotte saw.

Plus, while I'm sitting here, I need to think of the next lesson I plan to teach her tomorrow anyways. After all, how could Charlotte or any of those girls not know about the other ones yet? I mean, for Charlotte, it still would have been possible for her to inherited invisibility, but the fact that none of them know makes me surprisingly happy," Laguna said.

And Karen couldn't agree more. Though most land-transformed mermaids don't know this, they have more powers than just the ones that the moon pools gave them.

Flashback...

(Karen's POV)

After getting over the big shock that Charlotte had received a level 10 vision, I had known to how powerful she was - mermaid wise, I must say.

I gave the oyster back to Charlotte and continued "I think you're in a special predicament now. You see, my mother has this scale that goes from 1 to 10 that she uses-or rather-used to see what type of visions she had. If it was a level 1, then the vision is usually seen is a blurry shot or a level 2, a TV show on a television screen. Now a level 10...well, you just had one. That particular level usually acts as a messenger and usually means that danger is coming. It's so life-like that it sometimes means that you were actually there.

Now, this leads me to my next hunch. If I'm right about the artificial moon pool, then maybe I'm right about my next theory."

I heard my mother groan behind me."Karen, as much as I love you, your 'hunches' are going to be the death of me."

I rolled my eyes and laughed. Until this afternoon, she wasn't having the greatest day. I chuckled a bit at the thought and looked at Charlotte.

"Sweetie, if you don't mind me asking this, but aside from the initial powers, did any of those girls from Australia show any other particular powers?" I asked her hesitantly.

From what Mother told me, Charlotte's past is such a touchy subject. And I could understand if she didn't want to talk about it. I mean, to tell people who you were once evil- no, I can't call her that- mean and then nice isn't the best way to gain someone's trust, but honesty has to start somewhere.

But Charlotte didn't look phased at all. She shook her head and said "No. Though if you're talking about the weather powers, then yes."

Now, this surprised me. Even for a year old land-transformed mermaid, some of the powers from a natural-born mermaid should have settled in by now. But if those girls haven't figured them out yet, then that means that Charlotte is one step ahead of them.

I looked into my mother's eyes and saw that she was thinking the same thing. And judging by her facial expressions, she was a happy camper knowing this. And then I looked at Charlotte, who was confused as ever.

Looks like mermaid training is going to be fun.

(POV ends)

Flashback ends...

Must have felt good for Charlotte to finally tell someone about the things she did, but Karen knew that there was someone she really wanted to tell her secrets to.

"Maybe your right, but I just wish things could be different between her and I. We used to be so close and honest with each other, and now all I do is lie to her, and I've done that for the past year or two! I just wish that things were different and maybe...maybe I could tell her everything one day like we use to..."

Karen heard the sorrow in Charlotte's voice when she said that and it really bugged her.

"Mother, would it be possible if... if Charlotte was able to tell her mother the truth?" she asked Laguna. The tone of Charlotte's voice rang in her head and it continued to sadden her.

A mother is supposed to be the one you're supposed to have a special bond with, the one you can tell anything to and always be by your side. And the idea of not telling your own mother the truth and constantly telling lies to her had to hurt, especially if the truth was as big as Charlotte's.

Laguna shook her head. "I know what you're thinking Karen and the answer is no. Trust me, if I had it my way, she could have told her on the spot, or at least let her know that she lives in a world where everything is not what it seems to be. Either way, Charlotte can't allow anyone close to her, or else she's going to give Marana new puppets to play with. It's just safer for both."

Karen looked at her mother. "For them or for you?"

"Karen, I-"

"No, listen to me. You agreed to train Charlotte and teach her how to defend herself against Marana, but did you agree to her personal feelings? No, and it was obvious that she's sad. She doesn't show it because she wants to be strong, but she is terrified and so sad. Hell, did you even ask her about how she felt about being a mermaid? Because I can tell that she's against it, but she's working through it.

No one needs to tell lies anymore. Sooner or later, there will be a day when Charlotte will want to find out all the things about her past, things you didn't tell her, and when that happens, she won't be able to trust you as she does now," Karen said to her mother.

Laguna looked at her and knew she was right. Things happened in the past that can greatly affect Charlotte's progress as, not only a mermaid but as a human being. And she knew that one day, the girl will want to know her past, or rather her past lives and then she'll ask questions. And she knows Charlotte will. Curiosity has killed her more than she knows.

"Karen, it's not like I'm afraid of her. I'm afraid for her. In this life, she's seen and been through so much that it would be overwhelming if I told her about her past," Laguna reasoned.

"So, it's better to hurt her than to tell her the truth? Believe me, Mother, I know the truth can hurt, but it's better to know than to not know at all. She's not Ane'lie, Mother. She may be one of her many lives, but she's not her," Karen concluded.

"I know, but there are times when she acts so much like her at times, you wouldn't believe it," Laguna said, "However, I-"

She was interrupted by a high-pitched scream and a loud, anomalistic roar...and it came from Charlotte's house.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

A few minutes earlier, in Charlotte's bedroom...

After Charlotte turned off the lights and went to bed, something murky was happening in the bathroom.

...

Thomas opened his eyes and perked his ears up in alarm. Something wasn't right.

...

At the bottom of the bathtub, a large stream of murky water started to rise from the drain. It grew and expanded into until it was as huge as the bathtub and as wide as the door. Then, it started to take shape.

...

Thomas quietly jumped off of the bed and walked around the room, carefully listening for any sudden movements.

...

The water started to turn into thick, rough, scaly skin; its skin turned to form a one of a snake, long and slithery; its head was of a cottonmouth snake, black and with fangs that are full of venom; it grew a long, narrow horn on its forehead and its eyes were glowing yellow...

with a hint of red.

...

Thomas found himself staring at Charlotte's bathroom door. something was definitely wrong.

...

The creäture assumed a complete form and watched as another stream of murky water came up from the drain. It trailed beside the creäture and covered the doorknob that led to Charlotte's room. It started to add pressure and finally, the knob turned.

...

Thomas watched as the knob turned and got ready to bark. He had a bad feeling about this.

...

After hearing a 'click' sound from the knob, the water pulled the door send a little before going back down the drain again. The creäture used it's nose the open the door.

...

Thomas nearly bit on his growl when he saw what was behind the door. It looked like a snake, only mega-sized to open a door. He took notice to the horn on its forehead and when he saw the eyes, he knew it was a monster that came into Charlotte's room many long nights ago. Only it was bigger, menacing, and this time...real.

GRRRRRRR...

...

The creäture recognized the dog from before and had to get rid of it before he gave it away. It bared its fangs at the dog only to receive a deep grow from him.

"Thomas, go to bed. You just ate," said a low, feminine voice.

...

Thomas quickly turned to his sleeping owner. Charlotte must have heard him growling and started to wake up. He knew she would be a goner if she even woke up at all.

So, he stopped growling until he heard her start to snooze off again. And as soon as he heard the snores, he turned his head back to the creäture.

...

The creäture started to come out of the bathroom. It had to work fast or else the master would be angry at it. It knew that the mutt didn't want it nor the target to see each other. And it had an idea.

...

Thomas watched as the creäture slithered out of the bathroom and move towards Charlotte's sleeping form. He gave the creäture a low growl, but it looked at him in an almost a...mocking matter.

First, it tilted its head against Charlotte's body and gave her a gentle nudge. All she did was turn her body.

If Thomas could sigh in relief, he would.

Next, it came to the side she turned to and pushed. This time, her reaction was raising her hand and pushed its snout to the side lightly. The creäture gave him a look...almost a mocking look.

It thought Charlotte was playing with it, like a child playing with their food.

It kept nudging her and pushing her that she was close to waking up and he had to do something about it.

Suddenly, he noticed the end of the creature's tail and had an idea of his own.

...

The target was right in front of it. She was asleep and in peaceful form. It had to end her before it was too late.

Then, Charlotte turned her body up, with her face going upwards towards the creäture. The creäture opened it's mouth and got ready to strike...

But then came the most unbearable, agonizing pain came from the end of its tail and the creature's eyes widened with anger as he saw what was causing it.

The dog was biting on its tail.

...

Thomas made sure he had a firm grip on the tail. He wanted to be sure that if someone was going to die at the mercy of this creäture, it was going to be him.

And by the looks of it, that just might happen.

...

With a fit of unreadable anger, the creäture rose away from Charlotte and tackled the dog head-on, practically sending both of them through the door, breaking off the hinges off.

But the moment the crash happened, the unfortunate event happened.

Charlotte's eyes popped wide open.

Charlotte's POV

You know, there are many reasons why someone would wake up in the middle of the night. And one of them, for instance, are nightmares.

So, when I woke up, I originally planned to just get up and kick Thomas out of my room. But when I saw that my bedroom door was broken off and my dog was at the mercy of the monster from my visions, I did the most logical yet illogical thing to do.

I screamed.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

The monster looked up from Thomas and glared at me. In some way, it was still the same monster from before but only without the spikes and talons. I was willing to conclude that this version of the monster was when it was in its defensive form.

The monster let out a roar that could have rivaled a T-rex and charged right at me!

I quickly fell to the side of the bed and crawled under my bed. I heard a "BANG" and realized that it must have missed me and hit the wall.

There was another roar and suddenly, the bed was lifted above my head and I barely dodged the horn on the monster's forehead. I rolled away and my bed came crashing down to the floor. I got up and made a run for my door... or what was left of it.

Suddenly, I felt something pull me down and the moment I fell, I felt something move past me and hit the wall. I looked up and saw 3 spikes embedded in the wall.

I realized that if I had kept running, those spikes would have been in me. I looked back and saw the tip of the horn on the monster's forehead grow back.

The thing shot freaking retractable spikes from its horn!

I entered the hallway and was really thankful to hear Thomas right next to me. I started running as fast as I could and I could hear the monster chasing after us, its body constantly hitting the walls from side to side.

But I wasn't looking and if it wasn't for Thomas, I would have fallen down the stairs. I looked down the stairs and then looked behind me to see the monster charging at me with an intent to kill.

Then, I saw the handlebars by the stairs and realized that I had two options: face my death by a serpent or slide down the railing and most likely break my arm?

Obviously, I chose the one where I would get to live.

I hopped onto the railing and started to slide down while Thomas took the stairs. I had only a few seconds to admit that this was kind of fun, but the moment I ducked my head to avoid razor-sharp fangs from biting me, I knew I was in trouble.

I jumped off when I was halfway to the ground and landed on my two feet. I ran for the front door and started to turn the knob, but it was locked. I tried twisting and turning the lock but it was jammed.

"Come on! Come on!" I said as I tried to open the door.

Then, I felt something sharp swiftly scratch my back, and soon came an unbearable pain. I put my hand back and felt something wet. I pulled my hand back and even in the dimmest light, I could see the blood on my hand.

The bloody thing scratched me!

I slowly turned around and saw the monster glaring at me with hungry eyes. I almost looked down and saw that the monster was growing legs and sharp talons. Now it was beginning to look like the monster from my vision.

It didn't attack me, but I had a feeling that it thought it had me. My back was hurting so bad and I tried my best not to feel defenseless. I put my hands behind my back ad tried to think.

I wasn't going to die tonight, but there's no way I can get past something so big. Unless...

What the heck, I have powers! I might have not wanted to be a mermaid again, but at least I can use what was useful!

While looking at the monster in the eye, I slowly opened my hands towards the doorknob. And I don't know how, but I could tell it was frozen.

Then, with one push of my hands, I heard a big 'CLANG!', signaling my departure.

"Bye, bye..." I said as I turned around and, as hard as I could, kicked the door open. I ran out of the house and heard a big roar, and it was telling me to get help or I was done for.

Officially.

3rd POV

Charlotte ran across the lawn and ran down the street as fast as she could. She didn't have to turn around to see the monster gaining on her, but almost like life support, she was thankful to hear that Thomas made it out unharmed.

WOOF!

WOOF!

Charlotte turned to her side and saw her dog running alongside her, barking his head off.

WOOF!

WOOF!

WOOF!

WOOF!

She saw what seemed to be a phone booth not far ahead and was determined to get to it.

BANG!

Charlotte almost fell as the monster was practically running beside them, forcing her and Thomas to get off the street and onto the neighbors' lawns.

The monster was no longer a serpent. It was now running on legs and spikes were coming from all over its body.

This was definitely the monster from her visions.

She and the dog kept running and running, jumping over gnomes and flowers. The monster had to have some type of plan figured out.

It wasn't helping that Charlotte was bleeding and in intense pain or Thomas's effortless barking. But some supernatural force must have hated her for what was about to happen next.

One of her neighbor's sprinklers came on.

Oh god, the disadvantage of being a mermaid...20 seconds of physical contact with water before she sprouted a tail.

Charlotte tried to go the other way, or at least find some exit that would help keep her from going into her mermaid form while she was on the brink of death, but the monster started shooting spikes at her to keep her from entering someone's backyard and from entering the streets.

Which means that she had only one thing to do.

Charlotte heard her heart beating fast and her feet pounding into the ground as the water hit her head-on.

20...

The monster roared almost in anticipation.

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1...

"NO!" Charlotte yelled as she slipped and fell onto the wet grass. She saw the bubbles and water encase her until it was gone and left her in her mermaid form.

The water was falling down on her like rain and Thomas knelt beside her as he tried to get her to hold onto his collar so that he could manage to pull her away. But the pain in her back increased ten times more and she couldn't move.

Whatever was in that monster's talons was something that could practically kill her in mermaid form.

Suddenly, she felt her eyes about to drop and knew that she was about to meet her end.

She watched as the monster started to change as it came running up to her. Its skin change from scaly, lizard-like skin to murky water. The talons dissolved into heaps of boiling water. Its eyes were no longer yellow but now a full-scale red.

Wait? The monster was made out of water?

Charlotte had quietly concluded that the monster must have risen from her bathtub drain and formed in her bathroom. But if it was in its true form now...

Using the last ounce of her energy, she raised her hand as the monster zeroed in on her.

She felt her eyes drop one last time at the site of the monster before she heard a shriek and someone yells...

"CHARLOTTE!"

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