Undertow - A Modern Gender Bender of The Little Mermaid

Chapter 8

Carter

I woke up earlier than usual, wanting to get a head start. Sebastian was not up as early as I was as he had had a long night arranging some things for choir practice. With Flounder being left with instructions to distract him if need be, I slipped out the back door of the castle and began the swim to Erika's beach.

I arrived just after the sun came up. I knew I was far too early but when it came to getting out of the palace unnoticed, it was worth sitting about and waiting.

I swam around, just off the beach for a while, trying to pass the time and before I knew it, I heard someone walking down the hill. As a wave came up, I went with it and saw Erika, with the dog she had had with her last time and the lady that had run by the day I rescued her. The waves were loud as they crashed on the shore but I could make out Erika faintly saying something like

"Really, I'm alright. I'll be ok."

It seemed I was the only one who had been able to slip out undetected.

A little while later, it became clear the lady wasn't going anywhere. I swam behind a rock that jutted out, farther off shore and called out to a not-so-tactful friend of mine.

"Psst! Scuttle!"

The gull flew down.

"Woah! Someone's far from home!" He called, too loud.

"Scuttle shut it!"

"How you doin' kid?"

"I'm down' just fine, Scuttle, how about yourself? Find anything interesting lately?"

"Aw yeah! Nothin' as good as the dinglehopper I found last week but I've got a few new trinkets! So what brings ya all the way out here?"

"Listen, Scuttle, I can't really tell you-"

He looked around and saw Erika and grinned in a way only a bird could.

"Hmmm, I see. The little Prince has found himself a lady!"

"Scuttle! Shhhh! We can't let anyone hear you!" I clamped my hand down on his beak, as he perched on the rock.

"If my father gets wind of this, I'll never leave the palace again! I need your help!"

Carefully, I removed my hand.

"Well, what were you thinking?"

I thought for a moment and told him my plan.

Erika

Hannah had been at the beach too long. I had tried to hint that I wanted to be alone but she wouldn't pick up. She simply sat in a beach chair, on her phone, Facebooking her grand kids. What if Carter had already come? If he had seen what was happening, what if he thought I was trying to trick him into meeting another human that might tell of his existence?

"Hey, Hannah?"

"Yes, dear?"

"I really am alright. Could I maybe... never mind," That was going to come out impolite, I just knew it.

What if he never came back? What if this was the most boring summer ever? What if-

SQUAAAAAAAAWK

Thud!

Hannah and I jumped as a gull took an impressive nose dive into the sand. I screamed, out of surprise. Hannah yelped.

"Oh, my word! The poor creature!" She yelled as the seagull began to cough, "He must be sick!"