Heart of Glass

Chapter 6

The rain started to fall in a light drizzle as Ariel continued to stare.

Emily turned her head away, hair falling over her eyes. Her tail continued to kick and move against the ground, the golden scales becoming encrusted with dirt and wildflowers. Images of fish flopping around on the floor of a boat entered Ariel's mind and she tried to resist the urge to smile at such a comparison.

A sniffle erased any humorous, cruel thoughts and she crouched down, trying to remain normal. "What the hell happened?"

"It's my curse," Emily spoke to the ground, refusing to look back at Ariel. "When water touches my skin I turn into...well a mermaid."

"Oh." Ariel didn't know what to say. "I guess that explains why everyone keeps looking at you and me whenever I mention my name. Because of that movie and everything."

Emily laughed weakly. "Yeah, they all thought it was a bit ironic."

The air started to cool and Ariel shivered. Clouds had rolled in fast and the rain showed no sign of letting up. "Should I go and get help...?"

"No! No," she spoke quietly, trying to sound calm. "This happens sometimes. It's my fault for not checking the weather today. I won't be able to move until my body is dry." She looked up at Ariel, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "You should head back before you get a cold."

It was clear this wasn't something that happened sometimes and having people fuss over her was not something she wanted. Ariel knew if it was her, she wouldn't want everyone knowing it had happened either. "What about you? Won't you get sick waiting for the rain to let up?"

"I'll be fine. The temperature doesn't affect me so much when I'm like this. It must be a...mermaid thing." She spoke the last words softly and Ariel only just caught them. "Go back to the house. I'll come back when I can."

"Okay." Ariel stood up and grabbing her chest, she started heading back to the house. Glancing back just before she returned to the path, she saw Emily sitting with her head bent, her tail still twinkling in the daylight.

Just keep walking, she told herself. She told you to go back. This probably happens all the time. A little voice in the back of her head whispered that she knew that was crap and it was her fault Emily had been out there in the first place.

She chose to follow me though, I didn't force her. She may have guilt tripped her a little bit, but it was Emily's fault for falling for that ploy. Her feet faltered and she looked back. The clearing was no longer visible and the rain still showed no signs of stopping. She bit her lip.

The rain began to fall harder and Ariel immediately turned towards the house. She was already feeling the chill of the air and her clothes were soaked through. Her jumper was clinging to her frame, heavy with water. She took three more steps before her feet failed her again and she stamped her feet, spraying muddy water over her boots.

"Bloody hell!"

Turning back, she ran back up the path and through the trees, hating her stupid brain.

Emily was exactly where she had left her, her hair stuck to her head like a tangle of yellow seaweed. She started as Ariel stomped up to her and promptly sat on the ground beside her, crossing her arms and legs. The water on the ground immediately started to seep through her pants but she was too annoyed at herself to care.

"W-what are you doing?" she asked. "You should go back to the house!"

"Why? You're not the boss of me. I happen to like the rain and what if some perv comes out here and sees you all defenseless and stuff? Or a neighbor walks by and freaks out at the half fish just sitting in the forest?"