Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC Clowance and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence provides to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.

Secret Of Bristol Cove Chapter 5

During her shift at the antique store, Clowance receives a text from her brother mentioning that a mysterious young woman had shown up at the Bristol Cove Marine Research Center.

Clowance chooses not to inform Helen about this development given how peculiar she was acting earlier when the subject was brought up.

No, Clowance would keep this to herself for now. Rather for this mystery to unravel without interference from outside sources.

Clowance's intention was to go there to speak to her brother and assist the girl Ryn, as he told her the girls name is, however she can.

There's an incident at the Marine Research Center and Ben ends up coming to her just when she's in the middle of closing up for Helen in a torrential downpour.

Upon finding the door locked Ben bangs on the door until Clowance comes to investigate and she's greatly alarmed by what she sees.

Ben's visage is ruffled and disheveled as if he'd just emerged from a fistfight and lost.

"Ben, what happened," exclaimed Clowance, opening the door to grant him admittance.

Drawn by the commotion Helen steps out from the backroom.

Ignoring his sister, focusing entirely on Helen, Ben said "Mrs. Hawkins, that girl this morning, I know you saw her. You said you didn't, but I know you did. You know something about her?"

"Ben, what are you talking about? What happened at the Center," demands Clowance.

Resigned, Helen said "What is it that you think I know?"

Accusingly, Ben said "That she's one of them. I saw it, tonight."

"What did you see," sighed Helen.

"She changed in the water," declared Ben, taking a nearby book and showing the cover with a depicted image of a mermaid on it that is familiar to him. "Just like this. When we were kids, we'd come in here, and you'd tell us stories about the mermaids. We were always told that they were just tales, not to believe you. But they weren't made up, were they? They were true. I don't get it. You want people to know the truth. Well, it's here! It's happening! What are you so afraid of all of a sudden?!"

Pointing at the distinct scratches on his neck, Helen asked "She do that to you?"

Ben traces his fingers over the clawed skin. Clowance gasps, inspecting them herself.

"In their natural state in the water, they see you are prey. Their instinct is to kill. Humans never understood that. It caused a lot of misery," explained Helen, solemnly.

"What do you mean," asked Clowance.

"Your family's history in this town is bloodier than you know," said Helen, ominously. "Your ancestor lost his mind, obsessed. He and his shipmates slaughtered those beautiful creatures in cold blood. Genocide. That's your legacy. Why don't you ask your family about that?"

Unable to listen to anymore Ben storms out of the shop leaving a shell-shocked Clowance behind. Respectfully asking if she can take the book home with her Clowance leaves for home. Since Ben had driven off of his own accord Clowance is left to walk home on her own. Ben isn't there more than likely back at the Marine Research Center to stew over this new information some more.

Safe and dry in her bed Clowance stays up late into the night reading the book she was given.

The book is entitled, The Mermaids of Bristol Cove.

It's literally the true account of the bitter and broken heart of a fisherman and the retribution that was exacted by men of the land upon maidens of the sea.

The further and further Clowance reads and looks at the detailed pictures the more taken aback and ashamed she becomes, deeply troubled by these numerous revelations.

Clowance can practically hear the echoing shrieks, ringing blades, men grunting, and death. She'll never forget those sounds and as she drifts off into an uneasy slumber they haunt her for the remainder of the night.

Authors Note:

Heads up everyone there's someone on fanfiction you need to seriously watch out for. Early a couple of days ago after I woke up I was checking my email and I saw I had a new guest review on my A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic 2 sequel. I took a look at it and got a very big shock. Some random person I've never spoken to before on here or anywhere else in my life was basically threatening me. Intimidating and practically ordering me to write a threatening letter to someone on their behalf, telling to stay off of for life or else they and everyone else close to them would be killed, disgustingly telling them to kill themselves. And at the bottom of the message this crazy person wasn't done. Warning me that if I don't send the letter then they would kill me and for confirmation to email them to make absolutely sure I complied with their demands. Of course I did nothing of the sort. Instead of doing what they wanted I reported them to the website, sent copies of this deplorable guest review message to police officer cousins of mine so they could have it on file, and I went to a nearby police station and reported it.

When I spoke to the police officers and they checked everything on the message they saw, that while the address and names of business were accurate the people and their names were not. They agree it was more than likely a scam because of the email address on the bottom in order to perhaps get access to personal information or potentially hack my computer. Despite that I'm still very happy they took it seriously as I showed and told them everything. All the same I'm still very happy that I brought this to the attention of law enforcement. Even though the entire thing might be fake I'm still very happy to have brought this to the attention of those who can do something about it if it was legit in someway. This may have been a scam, but it's obvious these people are beyond irresponsible if they try to goad people into sending death threats to random strangers just to get access to info.

Be that as it may if this does unfortunately happen to you do not send any messages to the email addresses they put down and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you bring the message to the authorities immediately whether it is legit or not.

Because it's a guest review it might not be visible for a couple of days as it loads if it is sent to you. But when it does you should definitely pressing the report abuse button and send it to the email that leads to the support staff that is available.

Just a heads up to those of you who aren't aware of this yet, Email alerts for this website are now only active if Email opts is enabled in account settings.

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.

So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.

I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.