Coco

Open Ocean

I swam for hours with Seryna. She knew the best places to swim. I didn't go with her when she left, even though she promised that I would never have to be afraid that the bad men would come again.

"I hope to see you again, Coco." Seryna said as she swam off.

I didn't go back to the harbor that night. Instead, I found an underwater cave made from stone. Kelp grew outside, and the fish swam by every few minutes.

"This is my new home, I guess." I said.

I carried sand in handfuls at a time, and poured the handfuls into a corner to act as a bed.

My name is not Megan Colette Heartwood. My name is Coco. My father left when he discovered me. Fury lied. My mother lied. My mother is dead. No Avenger or bad man can catch me. Even if that worried super soldier magically gains the power to breathe underwater like me, I won't let him come near me. I have allies under the sea, and I know that danger lurks in the darkest corners.

I woke up the next morning, confused. Then, I remembered where I was. I swam back the way I vaguely remembered from last night, and trudged onto a beach. I changed back into a human, and quickly noticed that my clothes were almost rags. I didn't have much time, and a few thrift stores were open. I fished $20 out of my pocket from a few days prior and ran into a thrift store.

When I walked in, three girls that I had never seen before were inside.

"Rikki, did you bring the money?" The first girl asked.

"Yes, Emma. I have it right here." The second girl, who I'm guessing was Rikki, answered.

"Cleo, you need to hurry." Rikki said.

"I know." A girl answered from inside a dressing room.

I walked up to the cashier.

"Hello, does this place help mutants by any chance?" I asked him.

"No, but I can still sell you clothes." He answered, "I can't give you any discounts if you are a mutant."

I went over and grabbed a pair of leggings. They were black, and the top I grabbed was grey and long sleeved. I checked the price tags too, and then I grabbed a pair of black boots in my size. Altogether, they probably cost about $12.17. Then, I saw a small music box on a shelf. It was only $2, so I bought it too.

When I left, I pulled the tags off of everything except the music box. I changed in an alleyway, and took a small crate to the sidewalk area right outside the alley. I shuffled the music box behind my feet, and placed the plastic bag in the crate as a way to catch any coins. I knew begging would get me nothing, so I started singing. (The song she sings is "How Does a Moment Last Forever?" By Celine Dion)

"How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die?" I sang, "it is love, we must hold onto. Never easy, but we try."

Already, a crowd was forming.

"Sometimes our happiness is captured, sometimes our time and place stand still. Love lives on inside our hearts, and always will."

Money was already filling the crate.

"Minutes turn to hours, days to years then gone. But when all else has been forgotten, still our song lives on."

A crowd had formed.

"Maybe some memories weren't so perfect. Maybe some memories not so sweet. But we have to know some bad times, or our lives are incomplete."

More money was landing in the crate.

"Then when the shadows overtake us, just when we feel all hope is gone. We'll hear our song and know once more, a love lives on."

I didn't have to finish, because the crate was full. When I stopped singing, the people clapped. I saw a few familiar faces among the crowd. The girls from the store, a few unwanted Avengers, and Seryna. She had legs.

"You did great, Coco." She said as the crowd dispersed.

"Thanks." I said as I picked up the bag.

After everyone left, I counted my money, putting it in the music box. I had about $1000 thanks to a gracious donor (Tony Stark) and I ran to find some place to stay. I found a hotel nearby, and ran inside. I had asked the guy for any rooms under $1000, and he said yes.

I went up to my room and unlocked the door. I then flopped onto the bed and took a well deserved nap after a long morning.