Mako Legends: Chapter 3 – Unseen Currents

The days following Alex's return to Mako Island passed in a blur. He spent his evenings training with Luna, who reluctantly taught him the basics of controlling his newfound abilities. Days were harder. Balancing school, his friendships, and this strange new part of his life felt like walking a tightrope—especially when he had to hide everything from Kari.

Kari had been asking questions lately. She noticed Alex disappearing more often, his mood shifting like tides. He'd brush her off with excuses, but she wasn't convinced. Still, she didn't push. She figured he'd tell her when he was ready.

--

It was a quiet Saturday afternoon when everything changed. Kari had been wandering along the beach, her camera in hand, looking for inspiration for her photography project. The waves shimmered under the sun, inviting her closer. She spotted Alex in the distance, near the rocks by the tide pools.

"Alex?" she called, waving.

He didn't hear her.

Curious, she approached quietly, her footsteps muffled by the sand. What she saw stopped her in her tracks.

Alex was perched on a rock, his back to her. The water lapped at his feet, and as the tide rolled in, she saw his legs shift. Scales glistened in the sunlight, spreading down his legs as they fused into a tail. It was mesmerizing, otherworldly—and unmistakably real.

Her gasp escaped before she could stop it.

Alex whipped around, his eyes wide with panic. "Kari!"

She froze, torn between shock and concern. "Alex... what is going on?"

--

Alex tried to stammer out an explanation, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he slipped into the water, his tail moving gracefully beneath him. He swam to the edge of the rock, keeping his distance.

"I... I didn't want you to find out like this," he admitted, his voice shaky.

Kari stepped closer, her heart racing. "Find out what? That you're... that you're part fish now?"

"It's not like that!" Alex snapped, then sighed. "Okay, maybe a little like that. Look, it's complicated."

She crouched by the rock, her gaze locked on his. "Then explain it to me. Please, Alex."

Her calmness threw him off guard. He expected fear, maybe even anger, but instead, she looked... worried.

"I fell into this pool on Mako Island," he began, his voice low. "It was a full moon, and... something happened. The water changed me. Now, whenever I touch water, this happens." He gestured to his tail.

Kari's eyes softened. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Alex hesitated. "Because I didn't know how. This isn't exactly easy to talk about, Kari. I didn't want you to think I was some kind of freak."

She reached out, her hand brushing against his. "You're not a freak, Alex. You're still you. This doesn't change that."

His chest tightened at her words. "You're not scared?"

"Of course I'm scared," she admitted. "But not of you. I'm scared of what this means for you. Does anyone else know?"

He shook his head. "Just Evan. And Luna—she's a mermaid. She's been helping me figure this out."

Kari leaned back, processing everything. "So... what now? What happens to you?"

"I don't know," Alex said honestly. "But I'm trying to figure it out. I just... I don't want you to get dragged into this."

She frowned. "Alex, I'm already in this. I saw you. I know. And I'm not going to just walk away from you because of some scales."

Her words hit him like a wave. For the first time since this all began, he felt a sliver of relief.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Kari smiled, but her expression turned serious. "But you need to promise me something. If this ever gets too dangerous, you'll tell me. Don't shut me out again."

Alex nodded, determination in his eyes. "I promise."

--

That night, as the moon rose over the ocean, Alex sat on the beach, his feet buried in the sand. Kari was beside him, her presence grounding him in a way he hadn't felt in weeks.

"I don't know what's ahead," Alex admitted. "But as long as you're with me, I think I'll be okay."

Kari leaned her head against his shoulder. "You will be, Alex. You're not alone in this."

As the waves whispered their secrets to the shore, Alex felt a new sense of hope. For the first time, he wasn't carrying the weight of his secret alone.