Diary of a Mermaid

Steven is a dead man

Steven just left the bunker, armed with a rifle and an eight-inch steak knife. The soldiers are probably gone.

Right?

They better be, or Steven is a dead man.

The last time there was such a loud silence in one room was when we were all gathered at Paradise Cove Hospital, waiting for Nemmy to be born.

This is a very different situation.

I hear footsteps. Oh, my gosh. I'm so scared. Jaclyn slides something into my hand and I absentmindedly put the object into my sweatpants pocket. Two big legs swing down into the bunker. We all gasp. I cringe and bury my head in Jaclyn's chest and she wraps her arms around me.

The legs are followed by a waist. The waist is followed by a torso. The torso is followed by a pair of arms and two shoulders. Finally, a head. I look up at Jaclyn and we both breathe a sigh of relief.

"All clear." Steven says, dropping onto the floor. "But the house is in pretty bad shape."

We climb out of the bunker one after the other until we're all in the basement.

As I walk up the stairs, I realize that Steven wasn't kidding. The house is in really bad shape. The couches have knife slits in the cushions, making the stuffing ooze out. The beautiful antique dining room chairs have been hacked apart and are lying in splinters. The light bulbs are all blown out; glass is everywhere. The beautiful hardwood floors have been chopped up. The stainless steel refrigerator has dents the size of cantaloupes in it. Basically, everything is a mess.

After hearing Steven call the ALWASS, I wander up to my room and see that there is hardly any actual damage. There are only clothes and books strewn around.

I drop to my knees and search the ground for the hourglass. Finally I see a glimmer of gold. I reach for it and cradle the tiny charm in my hands. I start crying and my tears hit the cracked glass.

"Please," I say quietly. "Please let them be okay. I'm so scared. I don't wanna be an orphan. What will happen to Angel and Nemmy? And Finn and Ray? And me? Please don't give us that life. Please don't let the kids grow up without a mom and dad. Please. I'll do anything. You brought back Ray. You brought back Nemmy. Please bring them back to us. I'm begging you. Take me. An older sister isn't necessary. A mom and a dad are. Take me instead."

I put the charm into my pocket and flop down on my messed up bed. Then I remember something: Jaclyn slid me something down in the bunker. I reach into my pocket.

And pull out a knife.

I run down stairs and stop right in front of Jaclyn. She slings her arm around my shoulder and sits me down on the tattered family room couch. "Topaz, I think you are old enough to handle the responsibility of having a weapon." She pulls a pouch out of her pocket and hands it to me. It is an black belt with a sheath attached. "Wear this at all times. Who knows when you'll need it.

I nod, stand up, and fasten it around my waist.

I walk over to Steven, who just hung up the phone. "I have a plan."