//Paranormal Paradox\\

chapter 3

Zac POV:

I was setting in the cafe with Cam, eagerly awaiting for Mimmi to show up. "So let me get this straight...A few months ago you were just a normal boy, going to a normal highschool with a normal principal...Now you're a merman, have a sister, two moms, and an ex mermaid principal?" Ca,m questioned, shuddering at the thought of Trumble becoming principle.

"Crazy isn't it?" I muttered, turning to check the clock. Mimmi was running late...however that was nor unusal. She had to no everything...and with our mother with her, theres no telling what kind of trouble she'd find her way into.

Cam and I continued to make small talk and I felt my attention span fading, my hands tingling a bit. A vision hit me like a wave, sudden and undeniable as it crashed into my thoughts. The images came in short bursts and I struggled to fit them all together and process them.

Mimmi was running across the sand towards Rita who appeared very shaken up. Mimmi struggled to help her up, Rita was shaking...

Just like that the vision ended, And I was sure something had happened. "um Zac?" Cam questioned. I stood up from the table sighing. "I have to go Cam. Merman stuff." I walked off, and Cam didn't follow or ask questions. By now he had learned to just let me go when I needed to, which I was thankful for. It made our friendship much easier. "Zac?" Evie asked as she saw me walking out.

"What's wrong? Why are you leaving now? David is still fixing you and Cam's order..." She looked a bit concerned, uneasiness visible in her dark brown eyes. "I got a vision...somethings wrong with Rita." I responded.

Evie's hands tensed on the garment of clothing she had been hanging in her shop. The white dress fell off the hanger a to the floor and she looked at me slightly panicked "With Rita?" She asked, her voice struggling to stay low. I knew Evie cared for Rita deeply and she was panicking now. I would have let her come with me any day, but since she had lost her tail there wasn't enough time, and it just wasn't practical. "I'm not sure what's going on Evie...I promise I'll get back with you as soon as I know something...I'll catch up with you later." I said as I ran out of the café and down to the beach.

My eyes scanned the beach for them to no avail and I began to run down onto the sand. The sun was at it's highpoint now and the sand was heated by it's light, causing it to burn when I unintentionally kicked it up onto my calves. The sea appeared vast from my viewpoint, it would be practically useless to try to find them by water.

I looked around to see the two of them running off towards the cliff area, Mimmi helping Rita across some rocks. They were out of view of lifeguards, so no one noticed as Rita dove into the water. The blue fabric of her sundress melted into the ocean waves, and Mimmi was soon to follow. The two of them dissapeared under the water undetected, and I didn't see them resurface. I ran over towards the rocks they were on and dove off after them.

I looked around, the water was clear before me, taking on a darker hint as the waves carried out. I could vaguely see the two of them swimming off, their shadows practically nonexistent in the dark water.

I swam closer as fast as I could manage. Mimmi turned to look at me and nodded, causing Rita to look back as well. It was odd to me, I had grown up knowing Rita as a teacher and a principal. She was mysterious and stern, but had a soft spot for us. She was lonely and constantly seemed to be absorbed in her work. Since falling into the moonpool I had known such a different side of her.

She was fun. She smiled and laughed, and she was adventerous. She had knowledge of mermaids and merman that was beyond my knowning. And she was powerful, so powerful I was scared to mess with her. I knew without the trident in my hands I was powerless agaist her, she could stop me within seconds.

And now to see her under the wate, appearing so relaxed and free it was astounding. She nodded her head and swam off, gone within seconds. The bubbles in the water from where she had taken off began to fade, only to reappear as Mimmi took off, and I followed suit. Rita and Mimmi were faster than I was, but they had much more time and practice than I did.

The two of them were waiting just outside the moonpool for me, before they swam inside. All three of us seemed to resurface at the same time, sharing slightly awkward glances with each other.

"Well...Zac, Mimmi. Let's talk"