A/N: :grins: I am so evil. Oh and sorry for the slow updation, I have tons of homework… again. That's why I made this chapter longer for my slow updation. Alas! I have come to my tenth chapter!

10

A week later

They couldn't find her, they've tried for the last week, but no sign of my mother's body. It was horrible when you thinked about it, a funeral with a coffin, but no body in it. Only my mother's favorite things, a golden watch, some necklace with stars decorated around it, which dad had given to mom. A photo of my dad and my mother, the one mom always had wherever she went. A hairpin, and a cross. There weren't many things my mom favored dearly, only a couple of items like the ones in the coffin.

But I couldn't accept what they had placed in the coffin, I needed my mother their, not her possessions! I couldn't relax, what if my mother didn't rest in peace? I just couldn't take it, my mother's body was out in the ocean to who knows where.

I heard Mina's soft cries beside me, I felt tears flow freely down my cheek. Not only was my mother not there, but we were orphans. No one to take care of us, maybe a few family members we had, but I don't think they wanted to adopt us.

I closed my eyes and began to picture what had happened at the beach where I last saw my mother. I remembered her last words, why did she say those things? And why did she kill herself? I began to see that mom did really love dad, perhaps that is why she killed herself.

Mina sobbed and clutched my arm tightly weeping on it. I saw my cousins from California walk over to me. I recognized Calvin, Mary, Joel, and my aunt Laura.

"Oh Coral, I'm so sorry." Cried Laura, I looked up at her sadly. She was my mom's sister, and I knew mom hated her just as she did. They had fights together ever since they were little, and I don't think Laura held a little sympathy for my mom at all. Well, maybe a little since she was her sister. As for my cousins, they didn't even recognize my mother, so they didn't cry.

I tried to smile back at her; she sat down right next to me. Aunt Laura wiped the tears from her eyes and spoke, "Now, I know I wasn't a good sister to your mom, but I still do love her. She was the only sister I had, and I care deeply for her." She said.

I stared at her quietly and believed her. I know how she felt, even if you did hate your own sister, you would still love her no matter what.

I sighed and stared back at the coffin, a sob escaped my throat as I realized once more that my mother wasn't there. It's like a stab through your heart to realize your own mother is out somewhere in the sea.

I heard Sara behind my shoulder and looked up. She smiled at me just to reassure everything would be okay. Aunt Laura also looked up and saw Sara. She greeted her with a smile.

"Can I talk to Coral for a moment?" Sara asked to Aunt Laura. She nodded and scooted a little down the bench so Sara could sit next to me.

"Hey I know you've got no mother or father Coral," Sara explained as she sat next to me. "My mom and dad were thinking if you could come live with us." She whispered.

Mina heard though and stared back at Sara happily. "Really? You would? Can we Coral? Please?" Mina begged.

I glared back at Mina to see how happy she was while I was eating my heart out. "I don't know." I answered.

I guess Aunt Laura heard what Sara had said and glared at her. I think she wanted to adopt Mina and me first, but I couldn't. I just can't move away from where I lived all my life.

"Come on Coral, at least you wouldn't move to another city." Sara suggested.

I looked back at her and made a small smile, "Let me think about it."

Sara seemed satisfied and leaned back against the bench to see the priest walk in front of the coffin and began to pray. It was awkward for me since there was no one in that coffin only some items.

I listened carefully to what the priest said. He didn't know my mother well, so the only thing he said was what a nice and loving person she was.

I sighed and stared at my hands. I realized I had been clenching them so hard this whole time for that it was deep red.

I saw four people come and close the coffin. Everyone stood up and as the coffin passed the isle, people walked behind the coffin.

As the coffin was brought outside, I stared as they put it in the hoarse. I tried not to cry, really, but sob after sob escaped my throat.

Next Day

They buried the coffin. And they still hadn't found my mother's body. I don't think they ever would, but now I stood outside staring out of a window seeing kids run around the playground. I was at a orphanage, and I hated the place. The nuns here were kind and gentle, but the place was too noisy. I wanted peace and quiet to think through things over.

I sighed and sat down on a chair. I watched as some kids played a puzzle game on the floor with Mina along with them. I guess Mina forgot about the funeral too quickly, and I hated it. She smiled and laughed as a little boy about Mina's age cracked up a joke.

I went to pick up a book from a shelf. It read Sirena, and on the front cover was a mermaid. She looked pretty sad however. I looked at the back cover and read that it was about a mermaid who was looking for love. And some other stuff like that, I thought it was interesting and sat back down on the couch to read the story.

After what seemed like two hours I finished the story and thought it was very good. It was sad however how in the end the mermaid's love had to leave her. I sighed and sat back in the soft chair, I glanced outside and saw that it was dark. I looked to see if Mina was still playing the puzzle game, she wasn't. As a matter of fact no one was around. I looked at the clock and saw it was nine thirty. Did everyone go to bed during this hour?

I saw a light approach me and looked up to see a nun walk over to me with a smile. "It's time for bed dear." She said.

My eyebrows furrowed, she called me 'dear' as if I was a small little girl.

"Can I stay longer?" I asked politely.

She shook her head and smiled, "No dear, everyone is off to bed, now your turn."

I sighed and stood up to put the book back where I got it. I left the room and started walking down a hallway. The nun followed close behind and I frowned, I could find my own room. I reached the second story and came upon my room. I opened it to find kids my age sleeping peacefully. There were three bunks and mine was out in the far corner. I quietly went over to my bunk and slipped inside its covers. I glanced up to see the nun smile at me then close the door locking it. Mina didn't share a room with me; she shared a room with some kids her own age.

I closed my eyes making a silly imagination in my head about the book I had just finished reading. Every time I finished a book, I would start making wild imaginations of what could've happened in the book if I was the character.

After about a minute of imagining about the book I heard people climb out of their beds. My eyes shot wide open as I saw the kids walk over to me. There were two girls about fifteen who were twins with dark brown hair, another girl about my age with blond curls, and a boy about thirteen with shaggy black hair.

"Hey look! It's the new stupid girl!" I heard on of the girls with blond curls say.

I sat up and wondered what was their problem. I thought they were sleeping, but I guess they did it on purpose so when the nun appeared she won't order them not to fool around.

The boy snickered at me and I frowned. Why couldn't they leave me alone?

The girl with blond curls made another remark, "So did your parents just die? Or maybe your dad went to prison? Or your mom cheated on dad and got killed from her boyfriend? Maybe even your father—"

"Shut up." I interrupted.

I saw the two twins giggle and the girl with blond curls stared at me angrily. "No one tells me what to do." She snarled, "Especially not some stupid girl like you."

I glared at her and clenched my fists. Where they going to bother me the whole night? If they were, then I had to do something about it. I remembered my grandma saying if you ever showed your weakness, the enemy wouldn't ever stop coming after you. And I knew I couldn't do that, or they might not stop bothering me.

I stood up and stared face to face at the girl. She was a little taller than I was.

"I could tell you to shut up as much as I want to, or I'll make you." I scowled.

I saw the twins gasp as they heard this and looked over at the girl with blond curls wondering what she would do. I saw her glare at me and then grin. "Know what I'm going to do?"

I wasn't afraid, honestly. But I wondered what she had in mind as she pulled out a spray paint can. As the others saw this they went and pulled there's out too. I began to think that whatever the blond curled girl did everyone else would do. Just like a captain and its soldiers.

"How about a little makeover?" The girl said.

I frowned and saw her shake the bottle of spray paint and aimed it at me. They were going to spray me? I started to laugh, I don't know why, but I thought the girl would've done something much more awful.

"What are you laughing at?" She said.

I stopped laughing and looked at her, my mouth twitched, but I managed to stop laughing. "You're going to spray me? That's it?"

I saw the girl stare at me confused. I guess that every time another newcomer came they would get scared of her and scream from fright. I found it hilarious however.

But the girl just shook her head and sprayed at me right in the eye. I shrieked as I felt it sting, and I clutched it crying out. It hurt so much!

I reopened my eyes to see everyone laugh and start spraying all over me. They sprayed my hair, my mouth (luckily it was closed) all over my face, clothes, everything.

I screamed the whole time until I grabbed the girl with blond curls by the hair. She shrieked and I tugged hard on her hair. She screamed and kept on yelling 'let go!'

I pulled harder as I felt the others grab my arms so I could let go. One of the twins sprayed my eyes so I could stop. But my eyes were closed.

I tugged so hard the girl was screaming her lungs out. I soon saw the door fly open with nuns run into the room. They made me let go of the girl and I looked to see that I had grabbed a fistful of hair.

I saw a large piece of hair dangling from the side of the girls face. I gasped as I realized she was wearing a wig, but I guess she had it glued on her head or taped real well because I saw a little blood on her forehead.

"What in the name is going on here?" One nun cried out. They looked at me and saw I was painted all black.

"It's her fault! She attacked me and they tried stopping her!" The girl yelled accusing me.

I gasped, "No I didn't! They were spray painting me in the eye!" I yelled. I think that sounded weird when I said that.

"No, she attacked me! I told you they were trying to stop her! Right guys?" She said looking at the others. They nodded their heads agreeing with her.

"Well, I think this is highly unexceptable Coral. I'm afraid you're going to have to come with me." Said one of the nuns.

I clenched my jaws and stood up angrily. "It's not my fault!" I burst out, "Who do you think you are, huh? Some nun who believes innocent children who aren't what they seem? Hell! I hate this place!"

I saw the nuns gasps when I said hell. I was just angry, they knew my parents had just died and they were treating me this way!

I shoved the girl and a nun out of the way and took off running down the hall. I heard yells behind me but I ignored them. I ran down the stairs and out the front door.

Outside it was dark and appeared that it would rain soon, but I didn't care. I headed towards the docks since it was only a block away. As I arrived, row after row of boats loomed in front of me. I spotted my dad's and ran to it. I climbed on and turned on the engine as it made an angry roar. I took hold of the boats wheel and headed out to sea.

It's all mom's fault! I screamed in my head, If she hadn't killed herself none of this would have happened!

I was blind from tears flowing freely. I missed my dad so much, I wanted him to sit right next to me telling what a awful boat driver I was. I wanted him to tell me how I was a good fisher, like he used to when we went fishing.

I cried harder as I thought about this. And then I remembered my mom, how mean she was. But now I realized she had a dark past, a past she had hidden from everyone so long.

"Why did you die!" I suddenly screamed out. "Why did she do it." I whispered to myself.

I wanted to get away from everything, away from people, civilization, everything. I think I was losing my mind because I kept on repeating things.

"Why did she die! Why did she die…" I kept on saying through clenched teeth.

Soon it started to rain, and a storm started. I heard thunder in the distance and waves rocked hard on the boat. But I kept on going, heading deeper out into the sea.

Wind blew against my face causing my hair to fly freely. I looked down at my hands to see that they weren't black anymore. Probably the rain and wind caused the paint to melt away since it was still fresh.

Suddenly the boats engine died away. I looked behind me and ran towards the engine. I checked to see if it was broken, it wasn't. I checked the fuel, there was none. I panicked as I realized I could be stranded out here.

I went to look for a paddle but couldn't find any. "Where is it!" I screamed to myself. Indeed, I was probably losing my mind.

"Where is it." I repeated. I threw fishing items all over the place just to find the paddles. I still couldn't find it.

I was about to scream out in defeat when I saw something glow in the water. I walked at the edge of the boat and stared down. I couldn't see too well and had to squint. Waves rocked harder on the boat, and I nearly lost my balance, but I couldn't take my eyes off the glow in the water.

A form soon appeared and I gasped. I stared wide-eyed at my father. I nearly screamed in delight.

"Daddy! Daddy it's me, Coral!" I reached my hands towards him, I was just so happy I never felt happier in my life.

Suddenly the boat was rocking harder and I lost my balance once more, but this time I fell into the water.

I struggled underneath trying to find my way to the surface, but wave after wave hit me. I was sent deeper into the sea.

I opened my mouth to scream, but only bubbles escaped my mouth. Soon the water turned warm, and warmer, until it felt as if it was boiling. My insides were screaming out, my lungs were losing air fast, and my heart felt as if it was going to stop any moment.

Come, a voice said, come to where you belong.

I struggled frantically until I remembered something. "He's going to get you too." My mother had said. And my dream, it was turning out to be like my dream.

I grew more frantic, but I was pulled deeper. My lungs were screaming for air, my vision dimming and I saw red dots before my eyes. But I couldn't give up, I couldn't! I began to swim faster up to the surface, but I knew I was getting tired out. And no matter how hard I tried, I was still pulled deeper.

Come.

The pressure of the water was squeezing me tight and I tried screaming again, but bubbles escaped my mouth once more.

I closed my eyes as I realized what my end would be. You're right mom, I told myself, he got me too.

I let the darkness overcome me, but not until I saw the delight as a pair of cold black eyes watched me die.

It's not the end! But you better review like last time if you want to know what happens! I would really appreciate if I got a lot of reviews like last time. :smiles: