A Choice

Chapter Eleven

​"Hello," she said quietly in a strange accent.
​"Hello," I said nervously. In my head I was repeating over and over again that this was the end.
​"I would love to help," she said with a smile that could make any heart melt.
​"What?" I asked, confused as to why this mermaid was not hurting us. The mermaid walked over silently and sat beside me looking at me in the eyes. Her eyes her bright blue and full of kindness but also sadness.
​"I want to help you with your quest. No one ever comes near the lake without going on a quest. I'm so fascinated by humans and I would love to help you at least cross without anyone else hurting you," she said, "and my name is Mila."
​"Okay," I said, hesitant, but also wanting the help of Mila.
​We got up quietly from the bush and went to the start of the bridge. Mila went first and would warn me about what places I didn't want to step in. It seemed like she had helped a lot of people through this. As we slowly made progress I had a feeling we were being watched. I looked around but could see no one behind us on the bridge or the water. It was probably Vladmire, I quickly thought. I looked at Fiona, who was flying right beside me. She looked very nervous and it looked like she couldn't wait to get off of this bridge and continue on the path.
​The lake was very long by the looks of it, but when we were halfway, Mila turned and around and gave us a huge grin. This time the smile wasn't happy, but evil looking.
​"Before we continue," she said, her voice sounded sickening, "Shouldn't I use my manners and at least invite you for dinner," She came closer to me and I backed up. I smashed into something and turned around, behind me was another mermaid, who had turned human. This one had the same dress, but with blonde hair. I looked in the water and saw more mermaids swimming under us, all so beautiful, even with the evil grin they all wore.
​"No that's okay," I squeaked, "We aren't hungry."
​"Oh but please, we insist," as Mila said that all the other mermaids were on top of us. They scratched at me and pulled me this way and that. I could see now their sharp teeth. I fell off the bridge and into the water. It was an icy blast and I saw the water slowly turning red. I looked around and saw Jasper clawing at a mermaid that was next to him. Her beauty was gone and now she looked like a monster. Her tail was a dark black, and she was more like a skeleton that had come alive than a living mermaid. Her hair was gross and looked like it was falling out in places. Her face was like a skull and her hands had nails like claws. I was studying the once beautiful creature when another one bumped into me.
​When I awoke, I had a horrible headache. It was morning and the sun was high above my head. I saw I was on a beach. There was sand, but instead of being its usual color red was all around it. I touched my head and could feel something hot and wet on it. My hand was all red when I took it away. My mouth tasted the strong taste of iron. I wanted to have a mirror to see what I looked like, to see the injuries. I turned around and saw the lake. In the middle I could see things fighting. Suddenly, everything raced back and I stood to start running to save my friends when I heard a voice.
​"I wouldn't go back," said a deep, female voice. I looked around and couldn't see what who was talking.
​"I need to save my friends!" I cried out to whoever was talking to me, desperate to get back in there and help.
​"No need to, I already helped. The mermaids may have had a good plan to eat you, but other than that they aren't that smart," the girl then laughed like that was the funniest thing she had ever heard.
​"Wh-wh-who are you?" I stammered.
I saw rustles in a nearby bush. There were footsteps coming closer and my heart started pounding hard. I grabbed my knife, ready to cut anything that would hurt me. Suddenly, the footsteps and the rustling stopped. Out of the bush came a cat.
​"Another talking cat," I said, laughing and rolling my eyes at the thought of me being scared.
The cat then melted away revealing a girl. She was about 13 or 14 and had raven black hair. She had dark brown eyes and wore all black. She was tall for her age it looked like and very skinny.
​"What are you?" I asked her, not knowing of a magical creature like her at the moment.
​"A talking cat," she answered with a smirk, "Well, more specifically, a shape shifting cat. We can become two forms, human and cat, whenever we want."
​"Oh wow," I said, staring at her.
​"The names Nia," she said, "What's yours?"
​"Where's my friends?" I asked. I wasn't just about to trust a random cat-girl.
​"I rescued them before I got to you. My tribe brought them to the doctors. You were really hard to get. The mermaids were all on top of you, even when you were unconscious. The tribe told me to give up on you, but I'm not a quitter," she said this with a look of pride.
​"Take me to them, Nia."