Going Back to Serdania

Chapter 3: An Awkward Situation

I swam to our front door. I take deep breaths before knocking. Knock. Knock. Knock.

Our old servant, Shelby, opened the door. She was dumbfounded.

"Ann... Annika? Is that really you? It can't be."

"Yes, I know. Can I see my parents and siblings?

"There is something you should know... Your mother is deathly ill. She might not live much longer."

"I NEED TO SEE HER!" I shouted. "LET ME IN."

I swam recklessly through the wide corridors. I opened doors and slammed them. I was furious. I needed to find Mother.

I swim into the sitting area and found my two sisters, Scarlet and Serena. I forgot how red Scarlet's long wavy hair was. And I realized how much Serena has changed. Her hair became a lighter shade of blonde. Usually, mermaids' hair turns lighter if they are depressed. I remember she had beautiful fawn hair, a lot like my own. Their bright blue eyes were shocked as they studied me.

"Annika? How?... I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!" Scarlet bursted and screamed.

Serena was always more quiet and reserved. She is calm and tried to process the moment.

"Annika, what happened?" Serena asked softly.

"It's a long story. Remember when I wanted to swim inland a little last winter?" They both nodded. "That was the last time I was in the ocean, until yesterday. I was kidnapped by a scientist and driven to New York. I was kept in a small tank and was fed very little. The scientists wanted to study my behavior. They always watched me. But most of all, they believed if I was dry, then my tail would turn into legs. The scientists never tested this because they needed to know if I was safe to be around. They wanted to wait three months to test my ability to grow legs. I escaped just in time for them to not discover me."

Scarlet asked, "How did you escape that place."

"It was the hardest thing I've ever done. A stupid intern human opened my tank to feed me and I crawled out. Luckily that little bitch fainted. I dried off and my tail separated and turned into legs. It was so difficult to walk. Being a human must suck. I also had no clothes, so I had to hide everywhere. Humans have some social rule about always wearing clothes. It makes no sense. I eventually found a disgusting canal that led to the ocean. I slept on the ocean floor that night. The next morning, or earlier today, I swam from New York all the way here. And now I am in Serdania."

They both were stunned. Scarlet and Serena were both older than me, so they never thought I was capable of doing something like that.

Serena muttered "I think it is time you see Mom and Dad."

I agreed and followed them. I was in for a surprise.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Thank you for reading <3