Hey, guys! Normally, I don't post like this, especially when I'm not sure that I got all the reviews for my last chapter, but seeing as it is Halloween, I'll make this an exception!
ENJOY and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Previously...
"Damon?"
...
"So, how exactly do you know Damon?" she asked as she followed me, making it look like she was just making conversation while looking at the clothes on the racks.
"I only know him through his sister. A friend invited me to join her and a group of girls on a little shopping trip and Damn happened to be chaperoning."
...
"And what if she doesn't want to be a model?" Charlotte asked teasingly.
"Well then, I guess the lucky guy she ends up with can do this..."
Before Charlotte knew it, she felt Damon's lips on hers and his hands cradling her face. The mermaid wasn't sure whether to kiss back or push him away.
...
"Oh, dear sister, but you already are. Honestly, despite how boring I find land dwellers, I find this little spectacle you're in highly amusing. You were always beautiful, you know."
...
"Well, good for you. Now that we got this whole thing situated, why don't you go back home to whatever dump you live in!" Rivera stated in the snottiest voice she had.
...
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Charlotte's POV
Have you ever done something horrible without realizing the intensity?
Have you ever realized how easy it was to lose your temper over little things?
Have you ever realized how easy it is to burn someone's skin off?
As blue and red lights flashed across my face as the EMTs loaded Rivera into the ambulance, I learned.
It took a scream to realize what I was doing, but it was hard not to stare as a medic wrapped Rivera's arm in multiple bandages.
I remembered, though.
I remembered and know that had I not been brought back, it would have been more serious. Much, much, much more serious.
I remembered covering my mouth as Rivera screamed in pain, falling to the ground in pain. I barely managed to look at Damon.
Unlike her, Damon just got away with just a 1st-2nd minor, small degree burn. He had been patched up already and watched as Rivera was getting loaded away.
Most of Rivera's arm was burned to a 2nd-3rd degree.
I just sat on the water fountain, staring at that ambulance and nothing else. Dread and guilt filled me to the core, so much that I wanted to cry for her. But, I couldn't.
What type of person am I if I couldn't cry?
I deliberately meant to hurt her, physically and emotionally. And add in the fact that I pretty much used my powers in public, it just broke me more.
It reminded me of when I used my powers on Nate after he pretty much judo-flipped Lewis on his back. I remembered being so angry at him that I decided to freak him out while he was out on his boat. But the girls intervened and stopped me.
I chuckled darkly. I remembered how furious Rikki was at me for the whole thing. But I understood it now.
I pretty much risked big-time exposure doing what I did. Hell, if Nate had any brain cells that worked, he could have easily looked around and seen me!
All the more reasons why I shouldn't have been a mermaid in the first place.
"She's gonna be okay, you know."
I looked up to see Damon looking at me worriedly. I couldn't help but stare as I noticed the ice pack he was holding on his arm.
"And how do you know that?" I asked.
"Well, one of the EMTs told me she would make a full recovery. She's lucky enough that she can just get her skin grafting. Next time you see her, it will look as if she'd never been burned!" he exclaimed happily, trying to make me feel better.
It wasn't working. It just made it worse.
"What are they saying burned you guys?" I asked. I wasn't stupid. It was just pure coincidence that not that many people noticed a pillar of water from out of the fountain. But that didn't mean it doesn't scream weird.
"There was a malfunction in the water fountain, causing it the overheat and send it splashing. I guess you were lucky enough not to get hit," Damon stated.
Luck, as if such a thing even exists.
"Yeah, luck," I said quietly.
I suddenly felt my phone ringing and pulled it out to see who was calling:
Karen Cove
Looking at the time, I realized that I was supposed to be at work. What a joke.
I declined the number and put my phone on mute before putting it away. I didn't want to face the Coves again, including Laguna and Karen. I already made a mess of my life and the last thing I wasn't to do is bring them in.
Looking up at Damon, I asked "How come you're not riding with Rivera?"
"I would, but you look liked you just killed a person," he said.
"Go with her."
"What?" He asked in confusion.
"I said go. She's about to be sent to the hospital alone and she needs a friend right now," I stated.
"But-" he started.
I slapped my hands against the fountain. "Damn it, Damon! Your crush just got burned badly and will need surgery to fix her skin. And odds are she might have to be awake for it! Also, I do have a problem with breaking up friends. She needs you.
So please...Go."
I stared right into his eyes as I said this. They were arguing over me when I took the plunge and hurt her. It only made sense he'd be there for her.
"And how are you going to get home? I highly doubt she'll let you off the hook for ditching school," Damon advised. He had a point.
"Don't worry. I live not too far from here," I quietly stated.
I knew he probably wanted to fight me on this, but after today's events, I just want to be alone for a while.
"Alright, but I'll see you later," he said before walking away from me.
I sighed as I watched Damon load the ambulance before it drove off. This whole nightmare shouldn't have happened.
Was I that unstable? One word and I was sent off my rockers like a lunatic?
I couldn't help but get worried about hearing Marana. That, whatever it was, is the first vocal contact between us. No dreams. No visions.
But, like the coward she was, there's no way she'd talk after that exploit.
I looked around at my surroundings. I wonder now how easy it was to ignore things beyond Science itself. Was ignorance truthfully bliss? Or was it like Lewis and I, knowing but accepting?
At the Watsford Residence...
The walk home was tiring and exhausting in their definitions. I couldn't ask any of Damon's friends for a ride, but in a way, I was glad to be alone.
With great power comes great responsibility, huh.
What a load of bullcrap!
I want to understand how ALL this had to happen to me of all people!? Haven't I suffered enough! Haven't I lost enough!?
I was cruel to the girls, so I lost my tail.
After I lost my tail, I regretted ever meeting the girls and trying to join them.
After my regrets, I moved to the other side of the world.
After I moved to the States, I was bullied mercilessly until I entered a depression.
After I entered my depression, I landed myself in the hospital.
After I got out of the hospital, I started packing up to move across the country during summer vacation.
And after I moved across the country, my life went to hell.
More and more, I'm finding my status a curse more than ever. I hate lying. I hate making a fool of myself. I hate my life. I hate that I can't keep friends. I hate that I have no control over my life whatsoever. I hate how easily I dig myself into holes of trouble. I hate my temper.
Oh Dear God, I just HATE everything about me!
By the time I got home, I swear, I just wanted to punch something.
"CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH WATSFORD! Where have you been!? Do you have ANY idea how worried I was? The school said you weren't in your classes. Ms. Anelies called, saying you missed choir and the Coves have been calling, asking where you are, saying you weren't answering your phone!" my mother yelled as I walked through the door.
Scratch that, I may need to drug myself to sleep after this.
"Yeah. Well, I didn't feel like going to either of them today. So I ditched," I stated. I didn't see the point of lying.
It would be one of the first moments I ever truly told the truth.
Mom couldn't help but look at me as if I suddenly grew a tail. Ha! A pun already made.
"Excuse me? You ditched?" she exclaimed, emphasizing on 'ditched'.
As I may have stated before, I wasn't the type of child to cause problems. But I now officially don't care!
"Yes mom, I ditched. As in, skipped school and left the building without being released. Everything in the whole sense. And you know what? It was boring. All I did was shop a little and hang out at the local mall. Nothing like how it's portrayed on TV," I sassed.
I heard mom groan and give me her strictest glare.
"That is no excuse to miss work, and school is no exception either! What were you thinking? Anyone could have come and snatched you up! Or killed! Or anything!" Mom exclaimed.
"Well, guess what: I'm still here! I still come home to you! And you know what? I don't need you to treat me like a child! I'm nearly 18 years! And after that, I'm off to college living my own like a normal person! You can't treat me like this!" I yelled.
Turning my head away, I marched right past her and started to head up the stairs hastily.
"Charlotte Watsford! Get back here this instant!" she yelled.
"Leave me alone!" I yelled back, my back to her.
"Dear God or whoever has the higher power, this attitude is the very same one you used when you slapped me in the hospital!" She exclaimed.
I stopped in my tracks. My eyes widened.
What?
Did I hear right? Do I need hearing aids? No, I'm pretty sure I didn't hear that right!
"What?" I asked, all anger leaving my system.
"You slapped me, Charlotte."
I turned to my mother. "Y-you can't be serious! I would never slap you! You're my MOTHER!"
"Well, you did. It was the night in the hospital. After the doctor left, I told you how out-of-my-mind worried about you I was. Then, I mentioned that the whole situation was just like Georgia and the next thing I know, you slapped me," my mom concluded.
I suddenly felt cold on the inside. At that very description of the event, I felt a tingle go up and down my spine as, for the first time, I could recall a memory I didn't know I had.
Flashback...
SLAP!
She almost didn't realize that she slapped her mom until she saw Annette step back, hold her right cheek that was beginning to form a red handprint.
But, at the moment, she could care less. Annette looked at her daughter shockingly. She had never known that Charlotte would react so violently.
She pointed her finger at her mother accusingly. ''Don't you EVER bring that up! This is NOTHING like what happened in Georgia! I didn't try to kill myself then and I certainly wasn't trying to kill myself now! I might remember something from, what? 2 or 3 days ago, but if you even THINK that I'm some innocent depressed little girl, oh so help me I'll-''
Flashback ends...
I came back, utterly, and completely gobsmacked right in the face.
I can't believe I did that.
I can't believe I did that to my mom.
Looking up at her, I asked "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Well, what was I supposed to say? You were unconscious for nearly 3 DAYS, Charlotte. What did you expect me to do? And then, you acted like you didn't even do it in the first and even asked me why my cheek was red," mom stated, "what did you expect me to do?"
That was the understatement of the century. Better yet, the harshest dilemma of my life.
Suddenly, I just ran up the stairs to my bedroom and locked the door. I didn't pay attention to my mother calling me nor Thomas's pawing to be let in. I threw my satchel to the floor and sat on my bed, rocking myself back and forth like a crazy person almost.
After everything that's happened over two days, I needed to be alone.
I needed peace and quietness.
I needed to focus and find my center again.
I needed-
"What you need is me."
I tensed and almost instantly, I headed towards my stereo and turned it on and up to max. Cascada's "Evacuate the Dancefloor" started to play almost immediately. I didn't particularly care what song was playing, but I just needed the noise to drown everything around me out.
"It's all in my head. It's all in my head. It's all in my head. It's all in my head..." I repeated to myself over and over again.
"But I've been told I'm hard to get rid of."
Panicking, I opened the door to my bathroom and immediately turned the knob, beginning to fill it with water.
The combination of music blaring and water running should be enough.
"No. Now, I think you're mocking my intelligence. I'm here, Ane'lie, always listening. Always caring."
I got up and stood in front of the mirror. No one could hear me scream anyways.
"What do you want from me? I don't have anything to give you. I have cried, suffered, been beaten beyond my wits, gave my all and it seems no matter what I do, it's never enough!" I exclaimed at my reflection.
"I want you, Little Sister! I want you by my side again. That's all I wanted. Really."
"Oh, so I'm guessing that possessing me and making me create terrible natural disasters, costing not only my life but thousands of others, is just your part-time hobby!" I scoffed.
"Considering what they've done to this world and our oceans, our home, you can't blame me. I can't name the number of our kind lost because of them!"
"Oh, tell it to all the eco-terrorists for all I care. I'm sure they'd enjoy your help!"
"Ane'lie, you have to understand. We could be powerful together. No mermaid, full or part-time, as you dubbed them, could stand in our way!"
"Is that what you offered the other girls? Power? Well, look at what happened! They died! All of them, most probably by the storms they created. Their families don't know what happened to them, nor their friends and anyone else that cared about them. You stripped them away before their time. How do you live with yourself?" I asked.
There was silence for a while. No snotty comeback or egotistical retorts. I walked back over to the bathtub and stopped the water just in time before it overflowed.
"Did you think it was easy? Asking my only family, cursed for centuries as a landgirl, to break her ties like that?"
"What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly. Marana's voice now sounded like she wanted to cry.
"When I found you, I swear, you looked just the same as you did in your very first life. The one I loved so much. That spirit inside of you, that curiosity about the world. All that talent you displayed in your powers. I swore I fell in love with you again. I wanted to cherish you as I once did before.
But then those, ugh, I can't even call them mermaids after what they did to you! They hurt you, broke your heart, and then continued to live their pitiful lives as if they didn't destroy a truly kind, and innocent girl. And then, along with that, they took your tail. The one thing that tied you to your beloved Gracie and me. It should have been them. They forgot their humanity, in which they are born with legs first! They had no right on Mako Island and it was only by convenience they found the moon pool.
But you're special. You knew, long before any of it happened, that Mako was special. You dreamed about it, drew it, painted it! You were pulled to that island for a reason. And those girls took away your birthright, not once, but TWICE! The very necklace you should have received was given to someone who would never know pain. No, Ane'lie, everything you've ever felt until now was true pain.
A land girl can easily heal her heart. But a mermaid will guard hers until they're willing to make it count.
But it seems as though you wanting to earn their forgiveness is what you want more than revenge. So, I make you an offer:
So what if I took away those nightmares and awful memories? You'd never have to live with such guilt and shame. It will be like you always wanted: A bad dream. Just let me in and I could erase them. All you'd ever had to do was trust me."
I never felt stiff in my life. Those nightmares. Those horrible memories. Gone in a blink. I could live as a new person again. As if I was touched by some higher being and cleansed of all my wrongdoings.
Hurting the girls.
Hurting Lewis.
Hurting Cleo.
Hurting my mom.
Every person that's ever been wronged by me gone, perhaps living as happily as I ever could and I can join them.
I could wake up for once.
But would it be worth it? Could I trust the mermaid responsible for so much? Could I even give in to the idea she could make me feel loved and safe as the old me before magic was introduced into my life?
Could I turn my back on the people who've accepted me? For me?
I tried to open my mouth, to at least voice my own opinion in this, but nothing came out.
But then, she spoke one last time.
"I'll know when you accepted my offer. For now, I leave you a little gift in your pocket."
After that, I was sure she was gone. Feeling into one of my pockets, I felt a piece of paper and pulled it out.
It looked old and folded, but I felt a tingly feeling as I unfolded it and looked to see what it was.
But when I did, I dropped it as if it was poisonous and it landed on the floor.
I destroyed that drawing. Just like all the others, I made sure it never revealed itself to the human eyes, much more, my own.
I couldn't help but shake in fear as I eyed the drawing I made once upon a time ago.
Taking off my clothes, I stepped into the tub and sank down. I didn't bother staring at my tail this time.
My eyes were now drawn to the cursed drawing I swore I threw into the ocean in what felt so long ago. And I remembered exactly where it came from.
Flashbacks...
In Queensland, a year ago...
Empty.
That was all I felt as I walked into my house.
My days since losing my tail has been, in a lack of better words, emotionless.
My day would starts, out like this: I wake up, use the bathroom, come out clean, put on clothes, look nice, go to school, learn, come home, eat and go to bed.
I did it all without feeling. Since that dreadful night, I try my best not to expect things. I try to live each day I can since losing my tail.
I try not to take a shower and expect to fall face-flat in the bathtub due to a tail forming where my legs should be.
I try not to go to school and interact with Lewis and the girls.
I try my best to not linger at the beach and stare at the ocean.
I try my best not to draw or paint anything mermaid-related.
I try my best to be as normal as I was before.
I kept thinking about the things I've done as I entered my bedroom. The place was normally cluttered with artwork, painting utensils, and clothes all over the place. But constantly since that night, my room has been unusually spotless... and barren.
I took down all my pictures and artwork and stashed them away in a semi-large trunk that was sitting in the corner. I haven't opened it in weeks. I could tell I was causing my mom to worry. She often asks me if I'm okay all the time and I could feel her staring at me during dinner.
I don't want her to worry about me constantly, but I can't talk to her either.
I couldn't tell her how I hated looking at pictures of myself. I hated who I was in those pictures.
I couldn't tell her about my drawings. They were just too personal to look at, especially in regards to the Secret.
So, I keep them all locked up. I eyed the trunk constantly the more time I spent in my room and by the end of the day, I almost opened it.
Almost.
Just as I would be about to open it, suddenly, I can't and leave it alone.
But maybe...
Maybe I could try again. Just for today, at least.
My day at school had been going uneventfully as it could be until I crossed paths with the girls. Well, more like I saw them coming and hid in the supply closet. Aside from talking to Lewis late, I never made contact with any of the girls- together or apart- and it wasn't because I was afraid of them.
It's because, no matter if I could apologize, I had no right to be in that presence.
As they walked past the closet, they stopped and I ended up hearing their conversation.
"Guys, have either of you two spoken to Charlotte lately?" I heard Emma asked.
I was surprised. I thought she hated me after the storage room incident.
"Why would we want anything to do with her?! She tried to take our tails, remember!?" I heard Rikki exclaim. I'm not surprised by her outburst.
"I know, but...it's just...In Algebra, I just...looked at her, you know? Despite everything that's happened, she still liked being a mermaid. But her eyes... Her eyes were lifeless almost. It was as if there was no emotion in them. They were dull."
I honestly had no idea Emma had noticed my robot-like state.
"Yeah, well, she brought that on herself! I'd she hadn't been so crazy and power-hungry in the first place, she would have taken it better! Besides, did she think we'd react well if we lost our tails!?" Rikki stated angrily.
"Honestly, I have been thinking about it, and maybe we would've. We did before Louise pulled that stunt on us. I told Lewis to keep an eye on her though. I just..." Emma trailed.
"You feel sorry for her," I heard Cleo say. It was the first time she'd spoken.
The whole time I listened in, I kept my hand over my already-shut mouth. I honestly knew they had nothing nice to say about me, but still. I didn't expect these words from Emma.
"... That, and I feel guilty. I mean, karma does exist and I'm not a mean person. So, when I helped take her tail away, it just felt so wrong. Like we did something horrible and it's just going to result in something bad," Emma revealed.
There was a moment of silence. Between me and my short breaths and the pause of conversation, I couldn't help but wish to die a little.
Then, Cleo spoke.
"Emma, if there's one thing I love about you, it's that you're honest with the things that are eating at you. But this was all Charlotte's fault from the very beginning. She chose to date Lewis. She chose to find out our secret. She chose to become a mermaid and wedge herself into our group. Everything that's happened, only happened because she chose to go through with it. You have no reason at all to be concerned about HER. Because, as she called me the day I lost my locket and hurt me, she's pathetic," Cleo concluded.
Pathetic.
Cleo had every right to say that about me and I knew it. I was pathetic enough to stoop that low in the first place, so I'm pathetic enough to think they'll be listening to my apology.
After they left, I hurriedly left the closet and resumed my day as best as I could. But now, I couldn't.
That trunk in the corner of my room was daring me to open it.
Dropping my satchel, I slowly walked over to the wooden trunk. It had a small, metal lock on it, easy to open. I could feel my hands twitching, anxious or nervous, or both. I fingered the small locks of the trunk as I sat down in front of it. I could feel the queasiness in my stomach and my heartbeats uneasy too.
I could do this. I can do this. All I had to do was flip the lock and open it. That's all.
That's all.
I took a deep breath, and as I got my nerves together, with shaking hands...
I flip the lock and lifted the top of the trunk.
Looking into the contents of the trunk, my heart swelled with so much happiness and an unbelievable amount of sadness and heartache.
I delicately reached in and took out a precious drawing I once lost sleep was drawing of me and Cleo in her room, doing homework.
I fingered it delicately before sitting it down beside me and reaching for another.
This drawing was of me and Emma at the JuiceNet Cafe. I was sitting at the counter and Emma, in her uniform, was smiling at me.
The next was with Rikki. Surprisingly, we were both messing with Nate, resulting in his drink exploding and dripping all over his face.
Another was of me and lewis sitting on the edge of the pier, holding hands.
I spent so much time, drawings and paintings, canvases and depictions and so much more. Over time I met the girls, drawings, and predictions on what my life with the girls would be like.
As mermaids.
I spent so much time depicting what life would be like to have friends, to be accepted. No matter the scenarios, land, or sea, it was just us against the world.
...
AND I SCREWED IT ALL UP!
RIP!
RRRRIIIPP!
POP!
POP!
BURST!
BURST!
SCRATCH!
SCRATCH!
One by one, piece by piece, I tore them up. I tore them all up.
I tore up the portraits of me and the girls.
I destroyed my drawings of me and lewis as a couple. Kisses and hugs, torn to shreds.
I busted holes into the canvases, taking pieces off the hours of work spent depicting my time underwater.
I tore up and ripped apart the photos of any of us together, especially the group photo of the fateful volleyball game.
I didn't care about the hours of effort destroyed in a matter of seconds. I didn't care about the only proof I was something special. I didn't care about the only proof of memories, that at one point, I was accepted. That I belonged somewhere. I didn't care that tears were running down my face like a waterfall. I just wanted the heartache to end.
I just didn't care.
By the time I got to the last drawing, I let out a whimper.
This last drawing looked more like a photo, far different from the rest. It took place at the moon pool.
It was me and the girls as mermaids. We were sitting at the edge of the pool, smiling ahead, as if there was a camera there catching the photo. Emma was on the left, her head sitting on Cleo's right shoulder. Rikki was on my right, smiling with her head in her hands. I and Cleo...we were in the middle, our hands intertwined with each other's, smiling.
I spent 3 days working on this pictures, observing the girls and trying to get their smiles right.
I stared at it for what must have been hours before I just shook my head and balled it up, crumbling it in the process.
Looking around, I realized that for the first time in a while, my floor was cluttered. Only, this time, in the destroyed artwork. Tiny pieces of paper scattered the floor. The canvases had holes busted in the middle of them, some torn out, making it hard to tell what it used to be.
Just like me.
Pathetic...
Pathetic...
Pathetic...
Pathetic...
Pathetic...
Pathetic...
Pathetic...
PATHETIC!
I brawled out in tears, crying out all my pain and sorrow until there was nothing left.
Flashback ends...
The tears in my eyes flowed through my seemingly stoic face.
That memory tore through me the most. Those paintings and drawings were ties that broke me and almost shattered my mind itself.
I wanted them to go away. I wanted the pain to go away. I wanted to wake up and everything I'd ever been through to be a bad dream.
I just wanted it all to end.
Just end it.
"Alright. Take away my nightmares," I whispered before closing my eyes and submerging underwater.
October 7th, 2009, Wednesday, Morning...
Valencia High...
3rd POV
Life was hectic in the building as the students were getting the decorations up for Halloween. All around, orange and black streamers hung along the walls. Paper pumpkin heads were being stapled along with the doors of different teachers. Even the adults were adding their special little Claire by adding little monsters into their classrooms. But the biggest event was taking place most of all:
The Big Halloween Dance and Showcase.
The Student Council had every able-bodied student they had working on the the the decorations in the gym and handing out flyers to anyone around them.
And one of those unlucky students who had that job was Riley Byrnes.
The guy didn't have a care in the world as he aimlessly gave out, or rather, thrown out, flyers to various students in the hallway.
Well, maybe he had one care in the world.
Charlotte.
He admitted that he had every right to get angry with her, but when he called her a freak, he'd been meaning to talk to her.
Maybe he sparked something in those words she hasn't told him before. That sliding down the locker thing with a terrified expression clearly said something wrong.
But it didn't seem likely. He hasn't seen her at all and she practically disappeared yesterday.
He sighed as he continued to throw out flyers until he started to hear a bunch of random whispering and catcalls.
"D-A-M-N! Who is that foxy thing over there?"
"She seems like such a slut!"
"I don't know. It's a clean look. Sexy actually."
"Go talk to her, man!"
"Dude! She is soooo out of your league!"
Now, he still thought Charlotte was beautiful (even if the said girl would slap him for it), but to catch this many student attention, he had to look up.
He dropped the flyers right where he was standing.
Coming his was a young girl-no, woman, who was the optimum of beauty as the students parted and formed the path. Making a pathway, the woman was dress in high-heeled sandals, giving her height that gave her legs a new meaning "Legs that go on and on". Leading up, she was wearing a black, sleeveless casual dress with gold embroidery at the top and a black belt in the middle of the dress. Over the dress, she wore a simple, black blazer. Around her neck, there was a black, lace choker, adding more into her alluring features. On her eyes, she wore dark eyeliner and red lipstick on what could be the most kissable lips he'd ever seen, brought out by her straight and slightly-curled brown hair.
But it wasn't what the woman looked like that got him. It was who it was. And he'd know those chocolate-brown eyes anywhere.
"Charlotte!?"