A/N Hey readers I know it's been a LONG time since I updated and I am truly sorry, I hope this chapter can make up for it. Now that summer is here I hope to update hopefully more frequently. Thank you to all my patient readers and especially to those who reviewed my last chapter including: Mermaid Lover, .3551, and enchantedforest33. Now enjoy and please review and tell me what you think! :)

Chapter 6: Revelations

Emma's P.O.V.

It was all dark in my room, and when I awoke I was gasping for air. There was someone right next to my bed.

"Mom?" I asked the figure, it was only after that I realized I had been mad at her. Oh well, she seemed to have stayed up all night with me, I should give her some credit.

"Oh thank goodness you're okay," she replied, sounding truly relieved, "You just feinted in the kitchen. You're dad caught you before you hit the floor. We would have taken you to the hospital, but your breathing was even as if you were just sleeping so we thought it would be best to wait out the night. What happened?"

"I don't know, memories? Flashbacks? Something like that I think. Or it was all just some kind of weird dream," I replied sleepily, "What time is it?"

She looked to the clock right next to my bed on the side she was sitting and replied, "Almost three in the morning."

"You didn't have to stay up so late with me," I said already feeling myself falling back into the world of dreams.

"I really didn't mind. Are you sure you're okay, do you need anything," She replied, being as caring as ever.

"No thanks, just some sleep, and you should get some too," I replied, "I promise I will be fine."

"Okay, but I'm going to stay here until you fall asleep, and if you need anything now or later, you know where you can find me," She replied, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I tried a little smile and then let myself fall back into a restless sleep.

Cleo's P.O.V.

It was five o'clock in the morning. Really early for me, but it was worth it. Where Lewis is it is getting late and we set up this time to have our weekly Skype sessions. Of course, every day we text at least once, but this is the time when we can talk semi-face to face. I usually just went to sleep early and set my clock for 4:30 AM and it really isn't hard for me to wake myself up since I know what is coming.

For now I was sitting on my bed with my laptop in my lap, waiting for him to come on, I was always first. I pretty much just surfed the internet while waiting until, finally, it showed he was on the internet.

"Hey Lewis!" I said excitedly.

"Hey Cleo, I'm so glad to see you," Lewis replied, "How have you and the girls been?"

"So good, I can't wait for you to return! This is our last Skype together," I reminded him.

'Wow, really? The time really sped - " He started but under my glare continued, "I mean … every second away from you, was pure agony." When he said the last part he completely changed his manner, deepened his voice, and put his hand in a fist over his heart. I couldn't help but laugh; he was the same old comical Lewis that I first fell in love with.

"You bet it was," I replied in my fit of laughter before calming down, "So how are you."

"Could be better," he said sighing, I couldn't believe him.

"Lewis! You are in another country and not enjoying yourself! What could be so displeasing?" I jested.

"You're not here," He said unconvincingly. I mean come on, if I got to go to Europe I would be happy, even if Lewis wasn't there. It would be better if he was, but I would still have fun if he wasn't.

"Oh come on, we chat every day, what is the real reason?" I asked.

He didn't answer. He just stared straight into my eyes dreamily, well through the computer screen, but still.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful your eyes are?" He said romantically, but I wasn't falling for it.

"Seriously, answer my question," I replied.

"I told you," He said getting really close to the camera, "it's because I can't really be with you. I miss our hugs, our kisses, your soft coconut-scented hair, your beautiful brown eyes, your cute laugh, your dazzling smile, your fresh scent. I miss you. It just isn't the same through a web cam."

When I looked into his eyes I could tell he was telling the truth. I could feel my cheeks burning up, I'm still not used to him being so romantic.

"You're so cute when you blush," He said, continuing to stare into my eyes dreamily. All I could do was giggle stupidly as I tried to figure out what to say, all I wanted to do was kiss him, which was currently impossible. However, then I noticed something, a bag was floating up behind him, then a chair, and then practically everything around him was floating in the air!

"Lewis!" I cried alarmed, He looked confused at my change in mood and then turned around, finally noticing the craziness going on behind him.

"Oh! My goodness! That is … so weird. I don't know what's happening," He said suspiciously, "I'm gonna have to talk to you later Cleo. Bye!"

Then the screen went black, leaving me confused with too many questions and no answers.

Emma's P.O.V.

When I woke up for the second time, I couldn't help but wonder if that whole flashback or whatever was just a dream. However, I could still remember every single detail of it. I know I have seen that boy before, and not just in the past, he was older, but for the life of me I couldn't connect them.

Either way this whole mystery was really getting to me. I definitely had to get to that ship or whatever today. I could easily just swim there and be back within an hour, I probably wouldn't find much there anyway. Anything valuable would just be wrecked from water damage, sitting there for all these years. However, I promised Ash I wouldn't go alone, so I had to call the girls

"Cleo! Want to go for a swim with me?" I asked once she picked up on the other end.

She yawned before replying, "Sorry Em, I have work in half an hour."

"Okay thanks anyway," I replied a bit sadly. Then I called Rikki, my only hope.

"Rikki! Want to go for a swim with me?" I asked desperately.

"Emma it's the middle of the summer and 8AM I was sleeping," She complained groggily.

"Oh come on! Pretty please?" I pleaded.

"Can't it wait until later?" She asked.

"No," I replied sourly.

"Fine, if you really want to go," she gave in.

"Okay, meet me at the beach, you know where," I said hanging up before she could change her mind.

Then I quickly got dressed in my bathing suit and headed out to the secret spot on the beach where we always met up before a swim. I was so anxious I practically ran all the way there.

I had to wait like fifteen minutes for Rikki though. It took all I had not to just jump into the water and start the search on my own. Instead I bided my time by looking out into the ocean and planning how we should search. Obviously I hadn't noticed anything like a ship in the ocean before, so we have to search farther out, on the other side of the island, and deeper.

"Rikki! Finally you're here, I've been waiting forever! Let's go!" I said excitedly, ready to run into the water, but I was stopped by a hand on my shoulder.

"Chill Em, I've never seen you like this, what has you all worked up?" She asked, actually looking worried.

"There's a chance that the plane or whatever that bought me to Mako is sunk on the far side. Ash told me a UFO was reported crashing there, but it was too deep for humans to go. We could probably find it though!" I said excitedly.

"Okay, I get it, but you really need to calm down," Rikki said slowly taking her hands off my shoulders, "You're freezing."

"Really? I don't feel anything," I said touching my skin, it all felt normal to me, "Can we go now?"

Rikki laughed before replying, "Okay fine, lead the way."

I jumped right in before she could even finish her sentence, and sped towards Mako island not even looking back to make sure she was following. Now that I think about it, I was acting a lot stranger than usual. It's just this whole thing with Garry Hennings, my parents, these flashbacks, and supposedly being a princess. Usually I am able to figure things out pretty easily, but this has proved to be a real challenge. I really hoped this ship would answer some questions at least. If I am unable to solve this mystery I may never be able to return to normal again. But at this point really, what is normal?

When I reached the Island I slowed down and turned to see Rikki not too far behind. I made a motion to tell her to follow me as I headed left around the Island and deeper into the ocean. When I reached the ocean floor I just began tracing around the island making sure to look all around for anything that slightly resembled the ship I had seen in the photo.

I had many close calls and had to go up for air three times so far. Eventually I came to a gorge and looking down I could just make out something that resembled a wing of like an airplane or something. I turned to Rikki who had been patiently following me for the whole time, not really sure what to look for. I pointed down into the gorge, but she vehemently shook her head and pointed up. That was a sign that she wanted to talk, so we both swam to the surface.

"It's down there, I just know it," I said intrigued, we're so close!

"Are you crazy? We've never swum that deep before," Rikki stated, "It could be dangerous."

"Are you, Rikki Chadwick, seriously scared of venturing a few meters deeper than usual? I thought you of all people were more adventurous than that," I stated, "Plus, if we feel weird we can always just swim back up."

"Hey, I just don't want to die, someone here has to be the cautious one," Rikki retorted, "But anyway, I guess you're right, let's try it."

We dove into the water, straight down. When we got past the gorge the pressure did feel a bit weird, but nothing too bad. Plus, it wasn't long before the ship came into view. It was pretty dark, so I couldn't really see the details, but from what I could see it was pretty banged up, the front had been crushed between two rocks. It wasn't long before I was able to find an open door. We both entered very cautiously. The ship, or whatever it was, had a very spacious interior. It was set up sort of like a plane, with two seats in the front for a pilot but only a few seats in the back. All that was there was a small duffel bag and two bags that looked like they could be parachutes.

While Rikki headed to the back of the ship I decided to look in the front, where the driver would be, thinking maybe there would be some clues. I swam up between the two seats as slowly and cautiously as I could manage, when the ship had crashed most of the front was crushed and torn by giant rock. However, in that moment I swear I could have been traumatized for life, because in the driver's seat, practically sliced in half by a giant rock, laid the corpse of the man from my childhood nightmares.

I immediately, on instinct, closed my eyes and screamed as loud as I could, which was not very loud underwater. And as I did random memories started popping up in my head. The man glaring at me, grabbing me by the collar, and screaming at me; the ship was falling and he was blaming me, telling me to fix it. I was scared, I couldn't do it, so he went back to the controls but the plane continued to spiral down into the oceans, crashing into the rocks, killing the man instantly. I escaped and swam up, ending up on the island.

...

I awoke and immediately coughed up the saltwater that had entered my lungs until I could breathe again. I then realized that I was lying on the beach of Mako Island in human form, and Rikki helped me sit up straight. I slowly pulled my knees into my chest, closing my eyes and trying to clear my mind which was currently filled with images of that man, both alive and dead.

"I called Cleo, she should be here soon," Rikki said reassuringly, but I couldn't find the words to reply.

I couldn't let myself cry, it showed weakness and I couldn't let Rikki or anyone else see me like that. So I just sat in silence as I tried to sort out my thoughts. It was hard to get the image out of my mind. When I was little, I remember having nightmares about this guy. He was like six feet tall, or even taller in my scarier dreams, and really big and strong. He had dark black hair along with a full beard and mustache with deep, black, soulless eyes. It was him I always feared was in the closet or under the bed, like most kids would fear any monster. I guess I was able to block him from my memory over time, I haven't even thought about him for years now. I always thought he was my mind's own image of the boogeyman, which I guess he kinda is, or some creeper I caught a glimpse of on a scary movie. But just seeing him like that, body almost cut in half and face with eyes open and a permanent scowl, along with the flashback and the resurfacing memories of childhood terror, I don't even know how to describe how it felt. I was overwhelmed to say the least, but ... I guess I was also sort of relieved. There was no more need for fear.

"Thanks," I replied pathetically after ten minutes of silence between us.

"No problem, you would've done the same for me," She said shrugging it off, "So who's the dead dude?"

I replied with a glare, she never has been the most sensitive of people. Plus, I wanted to wait until Cleo was here before I talked, I don't want to have to repeat myself.

"Okay, okay, I get it, you'll tell me when you're ready," She said, "Besides, there really was nothing down there; we don't have to go back."

"Good," I replied curtly, not trying to be rude but not really up for discussion.

"Finally I found you guys, I don't think we've ever been on this side of Mako before," Cleo said coming up from the water. Rikki helped her dry off. I pretty much just stayed where I was, staring off into the sea.

Cleo came and sat down next to me, putting a reassuring hand around my shoulder.

"Rikki told me what happened, are you alright?" She asked, though I think she knew the answer.

"I guess I just couldn't handle seeing a person like that, I recognized him too," I said shifting my gaze to the sand by my feet, "He was in my nightmares when I was a kid. I think he was my captor."

"Do you know who he was?" Cleo asked gently.

"No, I don't know his name," I replied, and then it hit me, "but he looked a lot like Garry, like they could be related."

"Maybe, but if they are do you really think you can trust this guy?" Cleo said reasonably.

"No, definitely not," I decided.

"Okay then there you have your decision, you decline his offer." Rikki stated. It sounded easy enough.

"But then what?" I asked.

"Then together we figure out what to do next," Cleo reasoned, "One step at a time."

"That sounds simple enough," I conceded, "Hey, I thought you had work today."

"I did, I was there, but when Rikki called and said you were in trouble I took the rest of the day off, got another worker to take my shift," Cleo explained, "Friends come first."

"Now I always thought that was family," Rikki joked, recalling the old saying, to which Cleo responded with a playful but earnest punch, earning a short, pointed glare from Rikki.

"You guys are the best," I replied giggling, looking from Cleo to Rikki. Then, surprising both them and myself, I gathered them into a group hug which lasted a good ten seconds.

"You do know we are not going anywhere, right?" Rikki said with a smirk, she obviously was not the touchy feely type.

"I know," I replied, "It's just with all that's been happening in my life right now, I'm really glad I have friends like you two to rely on for support."

"We will always be here for you," Cleo reassured, and I really wanted to believe her. It was getting harder to fight back the tears.

"We still have the whole day left, we should do something, just the three of us," Rikki suggested surprisingly.

"Yeah, we could go to the mall!" Cleo said excited, "I really want to get Lewis a gift for when he gets back."

"And there is that new store that just opened, I've been wanting to go there," I said, happy that there was something to take my mind off my current situation.

...

I had a lot of fun just shopping with my friends, it felt good to worry about normal teenage girl things like what clothes look cute or what's in style. No need to worry about anything supernatural. Yet the whole time I couldn't help but fear this was the last slice of normal life I was gonna get for a long time ...