Echos of the deep

Consequences

The morning sun streamed through the cracked blinds of Layla's bedroom, painting the walls in streaks of soft gold. She stirred awake, a strange itch creeping over her legs. Groaning, she swung them over the edge of her bed, but froze when she noticed her skin. It was cracked and flaking like dry, brittle paint.

Panic set in as she scratched at the surface, only for thin scales to glint beneath the peeling skin. She gasped, her breath catching in her throat.

"Hey!" The voice startled her. It was the mysterious guy—last night—who had shown up on the beach when everything went sideways. He was already up, his pale skin glistening unnaturally in the morning light.

He stumbled toward the bathroom, clutching his arms. "Salt! We need salt, hurry!"

"What?" Layla's voice cracked. She shook herself and ran to the kitchen, yanking open cabinets until she found a large container of sea salt. Heart pounding, she rushed it back to him.

He grabbed it without hesitation and dumped a generous portion into the bathtub. "Help me fill it up. We don't have much time!"

Layla turned on the faucet, the hiss of water echoing loudly as steam curled into the air. "What's happening to us?" she asked, her voice trembling.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he climbed into the tub, letting the salted water rise around him. As he settled in, a chilling transformation began—his legs shimmered, twisted, and fused, forming a long, sleek tail covered in blue-green scales.

Layla stumbled back, her mouth agape. "W-what..."

"You need to get in too," He urged. "Before it gets worse."

"But—"

"Now!"

Swallowing her fear, Layla climbed in. The moment the salted water touched her skin, a strange tingling sensation spread through her legs. She watched in horror as they melded together, the same sleek tail replacing them.

Tears filled her eyes as she leaned back against the tub. "I-is this going to be the rest of my life?"

He sighed, his expression unreadable. "Maybe. Maybe not. I didn't know this would happen to you too." He paused, his gaze softening. "I was only human for a few years of my life anyway. Guess I forgot how fragile it is."

Layla choked on a sob. "I can't do this. I don't even know you, and now I'm stuck like this!"

"Hey," he said, his voice low but firm. "You're not alone in this. We're in it together, okay? At least I knew what to do."

Layla sniffled. "Yeah, thanks for the heads-up."

He gave her a half-smile. "You're welcome."

Her mind raced as she tried to process what had happened over the last twenty-four hours. The beach, the storm, the kiss that had somehow saved her life. "If we kiss again, what will happen?" she blurted.

He leaned closer, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "Only one way to find out."

Before she could protest, his lips brushed against hers. For a moment, everything stilled. Then... nothing. Layla pulled back, disappointed and relieved at the same time.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," she muttered, sinking deeper into the water.

He chuckled. "See? It's not all bad. We just have to soak in salt water for a while every day. Could be worse."

"Could it?" she snapped. "How am I supposed to explain this to my grandparents?"

"Just tell them I saved you from drowning or something. That's technically true," he said, dragging himself out of the tub. His tail shimmered, shrinking back into legs as he dried off with a towel.

Layla followed, her own transformation reversing as she stepped out. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself. "This is the worst," she muttered.

He smirked. "You're welcome, by the way."

She rolled her eyes and headed downstairs, the smell of pancakes wafting from the kitchen. Breakfast felt surreal, the clink of silverware grounding her as her grandparents chatted obliviously. But Layla couldn't stop glancing at Him, a mix of curiosity and frustration swirling within her.

Their lives had changed forever, and she had a sinking feeling this was just the beginning.