Diana's POV
I finish filing away the last of the documents. While Janice may have run this place efficiently, she wasn't very tidy. I step back and admire my work. The filing cabinets are now properly organized and the room looks a little more personal. A wave of satisfaction washes over me. I step out into the hall and survey the main area. Since the repairs, the center has been far more lively. We've been able to hire some extra staff to give tours and teach mini classes. It's really drawn the public in. Taking a pile of pamphlets, I head over and begin to sort them into the correct slots on the information board.
Despite what I told Janice, I actually enjoy smaller tasks and talking with the public. It's what I used to do whenever my job had a lull in it. Now that I've finished filling out and organizing the paperwork, I'm noticing that as a manager, I'm not working all day. Since Alisha doesn't seem to need any help in my old field, I've found myself with nothing to do and I was never one to put my feet up and relax on the job; that hasn't changed. A chime on the door rings as a teenaged boy strides purposefully inside. His black hair is unkept and his eyes are narrowed into a calculating scowl. I watch him survey the main foyer, clearly looking for something specific.
"Can I help you with anything?" I ask, walking over to him. "You seem set on something particular; maybe I can help you find it faster?" the boy shrugs then nods, fiddling with the corner of his blue T-shirt.
"Uh, yeah. I'm not really sure why I didn't come in sooner, I was a bit skeptical at first, but curiosity has won over. Two months ago this place apparently rescued a, um," he lowers his voice a bit, "mermaid, from under the jetty near my home. I was wondering if it was still here."
I take a deep breath, calming myself. Its clear Lyla wasn't the only one there that day. "No, I'm afraid not. When this place flooded, she managed to free herself. We aren't sure how, but she escaped back into the ocean. Sorry," I reply. Disappointment shadows the boy's gaze.
"Oh," he says. "I was hoping to see for myself. Guess I shoulda come in earlier," he attempts to joke.
"Well, I'm sorry I can't be much help in that matter, but is there anything else I can do? They're not mermaids, but we have plenty of other interesting marine organisms here."
"No thanks, I was really only interested in the mermaid thing. I don't suppose you think you'll ever find another one?"
"Who knows," I say. "I, personally, think it isn't likely. That one was the first on we've ever seen. As far as I know, there aren't any other reports of mermaids from any of the centers in the global network. They clearly keep to themselves and don't want to be found."
"Yeah, right, I reckon that makes sense."
"Tell you what, um…"
"Zac," the boy offers. "Zac Blakely."
"Tell you what, Zac; if I ever hear of another facility reporting one, I'll let you know."
"Alright, thanks. Well, I should be going," he admits.
"Well, tell your friends to come by," I request.
"Will do."
I watch as he hurries out, frowning at his squirrely behavior. I shrug. Oh well. I return to my desk and sit down. How many other people were on the docs that day? I wonder. And do any of them know who Nixie is? The thought worries me, especially if Janice were to find out. At the moment the board is willing to believe it was a hoax, but it won't stay that way if Janice keeps shouting out and finding things she can use in her defense.
I stare at the picture of Meggie, propped up on my desk, and try to imagine what she'd say about Nixie and the events of the last few months.
I smile at the thought of the way her head would tilt to look up at me with interest.
"Who's Nixie, mommy?" she'd ask me, and I'd tell her. I'd tell her anything. I know her eyes would widen with wonder at the thought of a mermaid, and a cute scowl would cross her face when I told her about Janice's actions. I'd even tell her about my worries; Meggie was like that; you could tell her anything. When I had finished, I know she'd ask. "Do you think I can meet her too?"
"Sure baby, I'll take you soon."
"Janice seems like a lost person," she'd comment quietly. "She probably got all excited and carried away, but that doesn't make her a bad person right?"
I wouldn't have an answer for her, but she'd probably keep talking about without noticing anyways.
"I think you should still be her friend. But maybe not tell her you know where the mermaids are, she might make a mistake again. But we can forgive people for making mistakes right as long as they learn from them?" She'd turn to me then, her brown eyes wide and expectant. It would break my heart and I'd tell her 'yes,' because what else do I say to my child? The one I was forced to give away, whose new parents stuck her in this institution, yet she forgave me.
Then a nurse would likely come in with pills that Meggie supposed to take to keep her calm and tell me I have to leave. The nurse would back out for a moment to let me say goodbye. Meggie would look sad and I'd kiss her forehead and tell her I love her. Before I leave I'd tuck those awful white pills into my purse and replace them with tic-tacs, so the nurse won't notice they're missing. It's not like Meggie needs them anyways; they only make her feel sick. Then I'd wink at her and walk out the door.
I pull myself out of the daydream and wipe at the stray tears on my face. I know Meggie would want me to keep Nixie safe, but also give Janice a second chance.
I sigh, "Alright sweetie," I decide, shaking my head. She always did manage to bring out the best in me and make me a better person.
Nixie's POV
I snap my textbook shut with a sigh of relief. "Finally," I groan.
Lyla nods in agreement, closing her own book. "I think it's time for a swim," she decides. Sirena and I nod eagerly. Putting our stuff back into our bags, we all head out the back door onto the sand. The beach house we've been staying in has the benefit of being secluded. Still, habit has me glancing around before racing to the water. I relish the feeling of the water as it envelops me.
Beside me, Sirena sighs happily and flips onto her back. Lyla spirals her fin and shoots ahead of us. Tensing my muscles against the challenge I put on a burst of speed and race past her. we race each other all the way to a large rocky outcropping we found a few days after our arrival. I tap the rock and surface with a laugh. Several seconds later Lyla surfaces too. "I think you've gotten slower," I tease.
Lyla huffs and crosses her arms. "I am not, I got blasted by a sideways current, it slowed me down."
"Yeah right," I say, twisting to lie out on the flat rocks, my tail flicking back and forth through the water.
Sirena surfaces, panting, beside us. "You guys need to slow down!" she protests. "You left me behind."
"Swim faster," Lyla suggests with a shrug. She grins teasingly and flicks water at Sirena, who retaliates by smacking her tail on the water and sending a mini tidal wave over Lyla. I laugh.
"Normally I'm the one stirring up trouble," I comment. "Stop stealing my thunder!"
"You never had thunder," Lyla retorts. I pout and place a hand over my heart.
"That hurts Lyla. That really hurts," I mock. Lyla returns my pout and Sirena giggles.
"You're both crazy," she states.
"Says you, school-lover," Lyla throws back.
"Do you guys ever wonder how things are going back home?" I ask suddenly. Both Lyla and Sirena fall silent.
"I miss it," Sirena says softly. "I miss mako, and the grotto, and the café."
"You sure it's the café you miss? Or the person who runs it," Lyla teases. Sirena blushes but doesn't answer. "I just hope Zac hasn't found the moonpool. That would be bad."
I nod. "I wonder how Diana's doing," I say.
"Why do you care? She's one of the people who held us captive," Lyla mutters.
"No she isn't. That was Janice. Diana was the one who freed us remember? The one who was concerned for us and fought for us. She was my friend," I admit. Sirena nods in agreement.
"She was nice. Besides, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her."
Lyla sighs. "I know, I'm not mad at her, I'm just upset. I hate it here. I want to go back to mako and I don't want to go to land people school."
"None of us are happy with how things played out, but we have to make the best of it," Sirena soothes. "Let's just head home. Rita will want us to be on time for dinner. You know how paranoid she's been lately."
"You're right," I sigh in agreement. "Let's go." I slid into the water. Sirena and Lyla follow.
We swim back in silence. A large boat passes over head and we pause, worry keeping us cautious. Once its shadow passes over me, I slowly start to swim again. Lyla follows.
Suddenly Sirena shouts out, her voice muffled by the water, but panic is heavy in her voice. I spin around. Sirena's tailfin is pinned down to the seafloor by a thick metal net. Lyla and I rush back. Lyla strains, but manages to lift up the net. I quickly yank Sirena out and the three of us take of full speed. I practically tow Sirena.
We're all panting by the time we pull ourselves onto the sand outside the cottage.
"You okay?" I ask. Sirena lifts her fin out of the water to examine it.
"I think its okay," she replies. She bends her fin and cries out. "Okay, not as alright as I thought," she whimpers.
"Let's dry off," Lyla says. "Rita can probably help."
As if on cue, the screen door slams shut as Rita comes hurrying out.
"Are you girls alright?" she demands when she reaches us. Lyla stands up.
"Sirena got caught under this weird metal net," she explains. "She hurt her fin."
"What?" Rita kneels by Sirena, careful to avoid the water.
"A boat passed over us. it dropped the net on me," Sirena says.
"Was it a fishing boat?" Rita inquires. I shake my head.
"No, it didn't have those weird arm things that are used to reel their nets in. besides, the net wasn't there before."
"It could have been whalers," Rita admits grimly. "Sometimes they go after dolphins too. Their sonar could have mistaken you three as dolphins."
Lyla shudders and wraps her arms around her shoulders. "I just have a bad feeling. The net must have fallen really fast; we didn't even hear it enter the water. And who uses metal nets anyways?"
"Maybe we should stay on land for a while," Sirena whispers. Rita nods.
"Just to be safe," she agrees. "No more swims for a while."
I dry off and Lyla and I help Sirena inside. I can't help but sigh. I feel skittish all the time. Jumping at every overhead shadow when I'm swimming and thinking I see Janice in the crowds at school or on the street. I'm practically scared of my own shadow.
When can things go back to the way they were?
So here's the next chapter. Sorry it took a while to update, but I hit some writers block. So, that kind of weird thing with Diana, I was testing it out, so let me know what you think. I want her to occasionally have mini episodes like that (She isn't crazy, don't worry) because I feel that Megan had an important effect on her yet I never developed the character much. Do you think it was okay? Should I do them in present tense and kind of like dreams? Or leave them the way they are? Maybe you guys don't want them at all? Let me know, I really appreciate the feedback. I also want to give a shout out to all the people who have read this. One chapter and I already have reviews, favorites and followers. You guys are all awesome and I appreciate the support. J
-Mermaid.
