f o r t y - e i g h t

    I watch Asada swim away, my body numb from what had just happened. Were we fighting? Was this a trap? Maybe she was going to poison my food instead of killing me in a brutal way, that way no one would know it was her. Maybe she really did want to help me figure out what was going on?

I turn the water, not a fish in sight. They must have run away with all the commotion. I decided to head back to Sammy, to make sure she got out of the water okay. Her transformation back to human would take longer than normal.

I swam as fast as I could towards the surface searching for my best friend. She must have gotten herself out of the water as she ocean was empty. Once I surfaced I was able to see her on the beach crying. I swim across the top of the water the best I could rushing towards her. Where had Gage gone?

Once I was there I rush up to the sand flopping my way up the  beach. Once I was fully out of the water I turn to Sammy, her fin had already transformed back into legs, her toes covered with sand.

“Are you okay?” I wait a second before my fin too has returned to feet. I jump up walking over to her wrapping my arms around her. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, i’m so sorry you are crying on the beach once again. We will get this all figured out,” I whisper into her hair pulling her close to me. I rock back and forth as I try to comfort her the best I can.

“Gage went into the sea, I don’t know what happened but he had a bunch of cuts all over himself,” Sammy whimpers, her voice hoarse. I pull away from her too look at her, the tears strolling down her face like a river.

“What do you mean?” I question, wiping away as many of the tears as I could.

“He had gills, he had a fin, he somehow turned, he is too a mermaid,” My heart sank in my chest, how had Asada transformed Gage as well. I turn to look up the beach the blue crystals disappeared.

“I’m going to go find him,” I pat her shoulder, rushing back towards the water. Before I even hit the waves Gage returns, and she was right, his legs were replaced with a spectacular fin of golden and orange hues. A sharp gasp escapes my lips, my eyes not believing what I’m seeing.

“Gage!” I shout, He shakes his head as she tries to pull himself up on the shore. None of us can go save him without transforming.

“I don’t know what happened,” Gage seemed panicked, his voice stuck in his throat as he pulls himself further up the sand.

“How...what, your legs?” I question. My eyes still starstruck by the fin covering the lower half of his body. First Sammy now Gage. Maybe that’s why Asada was being so nice?

Gage finally gets himself up out of the water as he turns to roll onto his back. His arms are covered in blue lines, cuts lining his skin like he’s been at battle for a hundred years.

“Where did those come from?” Another gasp escapes my lips as I bend down next to Gage. My fingers lining all of his marks.

“Those crystals of yours, I was messing around with them when you entered the seat, they are filled with liquid,” He was gasping as he spoke, “It shattered, the glass exterior. I cut myself, but when the first one shattered they all did, next thing I knew I was running for the water to get rid of the burn of the liquid in all my wounds…”

“...and when you ran into the water you transformed?” I finished his sentence for him. Did my tears hold the power of transformation? Was I able to change people into mermaids?

Gage nodded, his breathing still heavy as he lays staring up at the night sky. It was easier to see everything now, the moon high in the sky.

“We have bigger problems,” Sammy whispers, staring at her feet.

Gage and I both turn towards her direction waiting for her to continue speaking.

“The meeting with Asada, tomorrow, is it a trap?” Sammy questions. I shoot her a quizzical look, how did she know about the meeting with Asada tomorrow, we were under water when that was mentioned.

“How did you know about that?” I look over her eyes, they were red and puffy from crying and I’m sure mine were the same way. I just wanted to hold her and tell her it was okay, I just wanted Gage to hold me and tell me it was okay. I felt like I had caused all this pain for my friends. I had ruined their lives. There was a pit in my stomach forming as my body began to crumble from the pain. I couldn’t take this anymore.

I glance out over the ocean. Waiting for Sammy to answer. My mind was racing, my heart going twice as fast.

“You are in my head…” Sammy mumbled, her hands now on the edge of her head. She was clutching at her skull. My eyes shot towards her.

“In your head?”

“Yes, stop asking so many questions I can hear everything you are thinking, and you too Gage, stop feeling sorry for us and yourself,”

Gage and I shot each other knowing looks. Like I could control water, Sammy must be able to read minds. I turn to Sammy once more. If she could read minds then why didn’t she know if Asada was going to hurt us tomorrow?

“Her mind is on a total block!” Sammy shouts, her hands pressing even harder on her head.

Sammy jumps up from the beach before running towards the house. I attempt to run after her but Gage grabs my hand holding me back.

“She needs the space…”