The thing about second chances is that true second chances don't come around too often. Marcus pulled the boat up onto Mako and tied it off to the stump. He slung his backpack over his shoulder, and set off for the cliffs as he had so many days ago. It was the same beautiful day that he remembered down to the gentle breeze that ran across the island. The familiar weight of his climbing gear in his backpack rustled slightly as Marcus began the climb up the cliffs. He used the route up the rock face that he had many times before, quickly ascending to the top. It was there that Marcus finally paused. He sat down at the top of the cliff and gazed down into the Moon Pool cave. He pulled off his backpack and pulled out a climbing axe and a length of rope, tossing it over the side of the cliff. He pulled on the rope until the axe caught against the stone of the cliff. But he didn't began to climb down into the cave. Marcus sat there with the rest of the rope coiled on his lap and a silent question in his mind. He had never truly wanted to be a merman, he had enjoyed it to be certain, but the thought of what the merman chamber was capable of gave him pause. He did not want to be the cause of something horrible happening to Mako, especially if it would end up harming Ondina.
The decision was gradual, but Marcus eventually gave up trying to fight the feeling in his gut. He dropped the coil of rope and began to climb back down the cliff face. When he reached the bottom he pulled out his cell phone and checked the time. He had an hour until he was supposed to be at Rita's house, and he did not have any intention of being there early. He was still uncertain as to whether or not she would remember him from the past. The whole traveling through time thing had happened so quickly he had no idea on the specifics of how it worked. Rather than heading straight back to the mainland, Marcus decided to take a nap on the beach. Using his backpack as a makeshift pillow, he stretched out like a cat on the warm sand and shut his eyes. Sleep fell quickly upon him.
Something never change, no matter how much time passes. "Hey!" An angry yet very familiar voice barked, arousing Marcus from his rest. He opened his eyes and saw Ondina staring down at him, a frown on her face. Behind her stood Mimi and Serena, both of them looking similarly irritated.
"Hiya." Marcus said, smiling at her despite her glare. "What's up?"
"What are you doing here?" Ondina demanded, putting a hand on her hip.
Marcus felt strangely sad when he realized that Ondina no longer knew him. He rolled over onto his stomach and pushed himself to his feet, wiping the sand off his clothes before he bothered answering here. "I was sleeping." He said, rolling his eyes. "You know, until you woke me up. Thanks for that by the way." Marcus suddenly frowned when he remembered something. When he first met Rita these three along with Zach and Evie had been already at her house. So why were they here now?
"You shouldn't be here." Ondina told him sternly. "This island-."
"This island is open to the public." Marcus said coolly. He now understood what Evie had meant when she told him that Ondina had been is a dark place before he had met her. He could tell just by the way that she was looking at him just how angry and sad she was. "I'm allowed to be here, Ondina."
She gave a start and her eyes widened. "How do you know my name?" She asked, raising her hand. Behind her, Mimi and Serena mimicked her motion.
Marcus smiled at them and shrugged. "I know a lot more than your name." He told her. He looked at the other two and winked at them. "How is Chris, Mimi? And Serena, is David still hiring?"
The looks of shock on their faces could not be overstated in the least. "Who are you?" Mimi asked in a low voice. "Are you a friend of Erik's?"
"No. I'm a friend of yours." Marcus gave a small laugh and then sighed. "Or, at least, I guess I was. You don't remember me because you only just met me. But I've known you three for a little while. You three, Zach, Rita, Evie, Cam, Carly, David, Chris, Nixie, Lyla. I knew all of you."
"Who are you?" Ondina asked.
"My name is Marcus." He answered. "Marcus White. It's a pleasure to meet all of you… again."
They didn't say anything, not unless their stunned expressions could be considered as saying something. Marcus pulled out his phone and glanced at the time. "I have to go meet Rita." He told them. "I'll see all of you there."
He walked away from them then, his mind racing with different scenarios that could be coming his way. He had told them everything because he could not stand the way they had looked at him. He pushed off the boat, his shoes immediately becoming waterlogged. He jumped into the boat when it was far enough into the water. He glanced back to the island and waved at the girls who were still standing where he had left them on the beach. Marcus gunned the motor and tore off towards the mainland. He considered anchoring the boat beside Rita's sea entrance, but he wasn't entirely sure that he would be able to make that swim as a human. Besides, he reflected, he would need to return the boat at the same time if he were to meet Evie at the docks.
As expected, Arthur met him on the docks and they repeated the same conversation they had had that fateful day. "What about Mako?" Evie asked, striding up to the two.
"Oh, nothing." Arthur laughed. "He was just asking what it was called."
Filled with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, Marcus laughed as well if only to keep from repeating the exact same conversation. "It was an amazing place." He told them. "If you excuse me, I have to go to Principal Santos's house. Thank you for letting me borrow your boat Arthur."
"Of course, of course." The old man smiled. "Feel free to take her out whenever you want."
"I'll be sure to do that." Marcus promised. He turned away and began to walk down the docks when he heard Evie's footsteps follow behind him. "Yes." Marcus said without looking at her.
"Yes?" She asked, surprised by his aloof manner. "Yes what?"
"You were about to ask if you could walk with me." Marcus told her. He glanced sideways and nearly laughed at the look she was giving him. "Come on, let's go to Rita's. I owe you and the others an explanation."
"The others?" Evie asked, now completely lost.
"The other mermaids and Zach." Marcus said casually. "Of course, you could swim if you'd like."
"Who are you?" Evie asked, clearly shocked. "How do you know…?"
"About your little secret?" Marcus finished for her. "Because I used to share the same secret."
Alright, so I thought I would give a quick explanation here so that I do not completely lose you. Time travel in itself is an idea shrouded in much controversy. There are three main theories regarding said matter, but the one I thought fit here best was this one. "The effects of the person going into the past are already being affected by the present." Long story short, Marcus going back both did and did not affect the past. Sorry if it is confusing. As always, thank you so much for your reviews. -Hallowed