Honestly, I didn't know what was going on any more. I had a strange feeling of having a false awakening, as I went to sleep within a dream. However, unlike anything I have experienced before, I was sure that I wasn't really snoozing when that happen. Because of all my senses being tuned up as I was in reality, I started to doubt whenever I was awake or not. In any case, last thing I remembered was trying to rescue my friend who was strapped to a hospital bed. Despite my best endeavour, I was interrupted by someone unknown from behind and packed like a sardine by him or her. Afterwards, the person fixed me to a chair, and I must have had dozed off as I entered this part of the slumber. I was in some empty hospital room, lying on one of the beds. There was also a door and a window with a nice view outside. Without explanation why I was here, I had a feeling that I was a patient there, since I had some kind of a gown on me. As I wanted to stand up, I felt pain in my entire body which prevented me from moving. It was really bizarre that I found myself paralysed in a clinic, but this was a dream after all. Sooner or later, someone opened the door and entered into my room. I turned my head towards that girl, which was much younger than me. She welcomed me and came in as she knew me, even though I don't think I have seen her anywhere. I decided to play her game, and act as I was a fellow of hers. I greeted her back and asked if she could sit beside me to chat. She complied politely, while giving me a present. It was some pretty looking flowers that she placed inside the vase next to my bed. I thanked her for the gift, and didn't really know what to say after that. My plan was that instead of me talking, I would let her ask me something and work my way from there. With that in effect, there was an awkward silence between us two for a moment. Then, she asked if I'm looking forward to leaving this place any time soon, but she did that in a strange sad mood. I didn't knew what she meant by that, but I answered that I will decamp from this bed tomorrow. She leaned her over me and started crying, asking me to stay with her for longer. I had to reconsider my situation now. Wouldn't she be looking forward to having her friend to leave the treatment, I assumed. Thinking to myself, I realised something that might have been the reason for her gloomy face. Because I was sick with some incurable, death sentence disease, she understood that leaving would be equal to my body giving up on living. If that was the case, I had to apologize or at least tend to the crying child. I managed to move my stiff hands enough to embrace her partially and said that she didn't have to be sad or worry. Calming down a little, she communicated that she would rather not lose me, as I was her dearest friend. I didn't know what to say, and being a slightly moved myself, I started weeping a little. Then, she told me something absolutely unsettling. She said that she would rather die herself than to see me dead, which was apparently unavoidable. Her face, hands, sturdy standing feet, all of her body appeared as she was certain of that choice, ready to commit suicide at any time. I feared that whatever I would declare, she would do it anyway, but in my mind it wasn't something that I wanted my friend to do. With courage and confidence, I insisted that she must stay alive, no matter what my condition change to. Surprising me again, she smiled faithfully, and thanked me from her heart. Afterwards, we both enjoyed each other's company, till the nightfall that made her leave to her house. I was alone again, being stuck on this bed, having my mood filled up a little. As I closed my eyes, my heart slowly silenced its pulse.
I noticed that I have awoken in a different place again, but I already got used to switching places in this dream. It looked like I was inside of a zoo, and inside one of the enclosures for animals. The high walls were too far for me to reach, and I wasn't feeling especially cheerful to know that. Since there might be some wild beast lurking in the grass, I started to look for a place to hid myself. Scouting my surroundings there was little background to this place. The footing consisted of stone and the only other thing that caught my eye was the pound near the wall, used presumably for playful swimming or washing your own fur. Regardless, I wasn't looking forward to be skinned alive, so I took a refuge behind a large rock. It was a beautiful night, as the moon reflection glimmered on the still water. Strangely, that appeared to be the only light source, since the lamps outside the cage were unlit. Starring into the darkness, I felt relief that nothing ate me so far. Because there was still no sight of anything dangerous, I showed myself and looked around in the place I was in. Its smell was of the wild, something that wasn't pleasant to my nose. I noticed as well that my clothes, that have changed again, were giving up a slight clue to what sort of exhibit I got trapped in. My feet wore scuba fins, while my body from ankles to neck was warped in a wetsuit. Were seals living here, I thought, as that seemed the most usual deduction in this situation. Suddenly, lights appeared and through the gate away from me came out the animals. I awaited them without fear, as I pondered if they materialized due the influence of my mind's imagination. The moment they met me, they started to squeak around me happily. They gave the impression that they wanted to greet me, so I lowered my head to their level. They started licking my cheeks, tickling with their tongues and making me chuckle slightly. They would also jump on me with their flippers for legs, as they were really glad to see me. That nearly threw me off the balance to the ground, but I resisted, and kept stroking their tiny heads. I looked around to find a bucket full of fish, so I decided to feed them to the seals. One by one, and one on top of another, they jumped as I threw their meals into the air. There were some observers gathering around the fence outside, cheering for the animals as I gave them food. I was glad they enjoyed the show as well, since it was also entertaining for me. However, not being a professional animal caretaker, or a working an employee in a zoo, I got worried that something that I have been doing was unwise. Still, taking the advantage of hops, balls and other toys, I invited the seals to do some tricks for the fishes. They followed my play friskily, clapping their flippers and competing against each other about who was most acrobatic. However, the bucket soon emptied out and the poor fellows came with their sadness on their faces. I stroked their whiskers, and apologized that the feeding time was over. However, they still wanted to stretch their fishy bodies, pushing their noses onto my chest. Quickly, I was forced inside the pound, and was submerged along with them. I tried staying on the surface, but they were inviting me to dive with them, picking on my thighs and feet. I didn't mind taking a swim, but I couldn't know for sure how I was supposed to go under the water. I was a terrible swimmer, so it was amazing that I still managed not to sink. Somehow, I felt that my desperately flapping legs joined, as the seals toyed with them. I felt a strange feeling, as my bottom half changed into a fish part, namely a tail with fins to swim with. Have I became a human fish, I thought to myself, as I tested my new limb. The new addition allowed me to soar through the tank at ease, my experience was indeed merriment filling. I had never felt so free underwater, swimming along with the seals. Even breathing was not a problem for me, since I could circulate the air while being submerged. Joyfully, I danced and twisted along with them, as they were squealing happily along with me. Although I found myself enjoying this scene, something has happen that changed it. A fish net found its way into the water, and caught me from below. I started to flap my tail, as it pulled me up. With my hands trying to unmade the knots, I was forcefully emerged from the pound.
Those scene changes started to tick me off, always happening despite my will or notice. I was also getting tired of this prolonged dream without end. Tomorrow is also a day, and I don't want really mess up my sleep cycle. I thought, maybe pinching my cheeks will wake me up. But, that didn't work. Disappointed, I resigned and was forced to live through this. In any case I found myself in some lonely walkway with unlit lanterns at night-time. I wanted this thing to end quickly, so I did whatever, just ran through the place. It was a nice jog, but I couldn't really see where I was going in the darkness. Then, I heard some commotion far ahead, so I decided to check it out. There were a few people there, gathered and looking at something. It was like a theatre and I couldn't see through the crowd. As I squeezed my way through to a better viewpoint, I was a little surprised to see that this was actually not a play, but some entertainer feeding animals. That girl made them do tricks for food, which the viewers approved with applause. I decided to wait, and see if something is going to happen. But I guess I was a little late, since the lady already ran out of food. Soon, people went their way, while I decided to wait. It was strange, but this place was the only one illuminated, so I thought it must have carried some significance in the dream. The animals, looking for affection or food, decided to pick on the performer. It wasn't fair, all of them against just one person. Hence, she soon yielded to them, suffering a dump into the water. I hoped she was okay, as it seems her outfit was fitted for diving. I looked through the surface of water, but somehow it started to get dimmer. The murky pound soon clouded any attempts of me looking at their submerged tricks. It worried me really, to why it changed. My mind was against doing anything about it, since I felt that I was only going to end up drowned myself, but my legs made a jump over the fence on their own. I quickly found myself in need of to take decisive action, as there were no longer any sings coming from under the water. What I found was a fish net, which I cast inside the tank. Promptly, it pulled me towards it, giving me the indication that I caught something big. With as much strength I had, I wrested against the force with my own. Somehow, the net in my hand changed into a convenient fishing rod that I fought with the beast. Will I be the one to survive this wild lifeline struggle, I reeled the handle in excitement. Fortunately I did not die, as it was my victory. I pulled my prize onto the floor, full of self-adoration. What I caught, wasn't just a simple snapper, but a glorious lady fish with a tail for legs. I heard ghost stories about fishermen catching mermaids, but I wasn't really looking forward to eating one. Was this really the person previously feeding the seals, because it would be really strange for someone to grow different limbs all of the sudden.
Both girls met in a strange event of dream and reality. Renko looked at her friend's face, checking if she was breathing and conscious. She didn't yet realise that the girl she was looking at was Marry, but as soon as she awake, it was clear for both girls. She asked her partner in a jokingly manner if she was really hiding her ability to turn into half-fish all this time. However, as funny as it appeared to her, the mermaid girl started choking instead of laughing. She just got out of the water, and was still getting used to breathing air. Lying on the ground wet, she flopped her tail, trying to stand up. Sadly, she only managed to soak Renko, as that limb wasn't designed to walk. Looking at her friend's exertion, the girl felt sorry for her partner becoming like that. Seeing that mermaid girl was covered in scales all over her body, expect the head, it was indeed a pity filling sight. The fisherman girl keeled down, trying to discover a way to undone Marry's fish parts. She attempted to scrub them off or remove them in any way, but Renko only caused pain to her friend. As she scored a tail slap on her face, it was clear that she was in no position to fiddle with the fish skin any more. So instead, she proclaimed that she would find another way to break the curse and return her to the previous form. She picked up the mermaid girl, and took for a walk into the sun. Marry was sad, at the perspective of forever becoming a monster, but also felt a great tender felling as she was in Renko's arms. Both girls feeling to each other took closer and while embracing each other, they smooched.
Members of the Sealing Club awoke after that incident. Marry was still positioned on the bed, while her friend rested on the ground. In the room there were in, footsteps were heard. They got up with mind to investigate the racket. However, they both stared at each other stunned instead. Supposedly, the dreams they were having sprung up rapidly inside their brains, confusing them substantially. Renko got up first, stood up abruptly and hasted towards her friend. She flipped off her covers from the bed, revealing her friend's petite body in sleepwear. That reality was a great relief for her, as the nightmare turned out just a hallucination. Marry gazed at the terrified and surprised expression Renko was wearing. It somehow filled her with joy, as she beamed fully. She might have been also a little embarrassed or aroused from the dream, but she hid those emotions. Despite that, both girls being glad that they are okay cuddled tenderly. However, their embracing was interrupted by another person. She was known only to one of the girls, so she politely introduced herself to the other. Both of the girls turned their face towards that person, and it was indeed someone that only Marry knew. She was the psychologist girl that she was meeting in her dreams. After the initial contact, explanations followed, as both partners sat down on the bed. It appears there was some kind of misidentification concerning the sickness that both of the girls were suffering. However, it was really hard to explain the mistake, as neither of the present understood fully what the problem was. Knowing that, Renko recalled something and swiftly took her friend's arm. She apologized, and took immediately for the exit, only to find it locked. She was regretfully disappointed at the services provided for her friend, and wanted to depart as soon as possible. However, the psychologist girl explained that it's neither permitted nor recommenced, since it would only worsen the patients' mental health. Renko got quickly agitated at that proclamation and with her fist, she visualised her disapproval for that treatment. However, the recipient moved hastily, as if she almost vanished and twisted her hand. She brought that violent behaviour to a stop, and the loser being in pain had to surrender her desire to leave. Marry walked in between the two fighting, as she told them to stop and suggested a more peaceful compromise. Soon, all three of the girls came to certain understanding, as both sides of discussion shared information that changed their opinions.
It was just another day in the life of both members of the Sealing Club. Lately, much was happening that both girls weren't able to explain. However, it didn't mean that they wouldn't be able to understand the merits coming from it. For Renko, it was now easier to converse with her friend. She experienced the dreams and the visions on her own skin, which for a normal person was impossible. Marry, who was their only recipient for a long time, had different problems on her mind. She was suffering from the rare syndrome called DRD in short. It caused her brain to mix both facts from reality and dreams, having a very thin barrier between them. Although she was already seeing someone to help with that, she was not able to tell if that was good medicine for her suffering. Even if her dreams appeared more pleasant that the nightmares she used to have before the therapy, there were still many things unsolved.