Angel of the Sea

Chapter V

I woke up on my comfortable bed in my own bedroom. I used my arms to pull myself up since my face was facing the pillow. I looked around to see if there was anything different.

There wasn't.

This was my bedroom. So, how did I get here?

It was morning already, so I decided to swim down to the main floor. I looked around, and saw that nobody was around.

"Hey, Angel!"

"AHH!!" I yelled, and, following my reflexes, swung my arm around.

"Whoa," I saw Brook dodge my arm attack.

"You're pretty quick, sis," she complimented.

"Come on, Brook. You know you can't sneak up on me like that," I said, hugging my little sister.

"Sorry, I just wanted to tell you happy birthday," my sister replied.

"Oh, yes... That," I said under my breath.

"By the way, where did you go last night?" my sister asked in worry. "I didn't see you come in last night, and I was wondering if you were okay."

"Everything's fine. Don't worry about it," I assured her.

"Okay! Well, I brought you a birthday gift!" Brook said excitedly.

"What'd you get me?" I asked with curiosity.

"Turn around," my sister said, and as I did, I saw a necklace float over me, and reach my chest.

I looked down, and saw the most beautiful hand painted glass that was lined with antiqued brass stone shaped in a circle. The aqua blue color of the glass gave it the sight of the clearest of oceans.

"I found it in dad's office," said Brook, and I instantly turned to her, thinking it was a gift from our father.

"This is from dad?" I asked, but Brook shook her head.

"No. He told me Clyde was going to give it to you on your 16th birthday," she explained, and I stared at the glass.

"He called it the 'Mermaid's Tale'."

"Why?" I asked, finally looking up at her.

My voice was barely a whisper, but I knew she could hear me. It almost seemed as if I had lost my ability to speak. There were tears in my eyes, but they quickly vanished by the sea water. I was out of words by this gift from Clyde. It made me feel serenity of having something to remember him by, and I knew that I no longer hated being reminded of him. If anything, I want to think more of him. I want to remember every little thing about him, and what we did.

I waited for Brook's answer to my question, but all she gave me was a shrug, telling me that she didn't want to say it remained a mystery out loud. She was on her way to leave as she swam past me, but I turned around, and called for her. She turned to face me.

"What would you do if I wasn't around?" I asked.

"What do you mean, Angel?"

"I mean, how would you feel if I couldn't stay here anymore? If I had to leave for the rest of your life?"

Brook suddenly swam so fast towards me that I almost didn't see it coming. She wrapped her small arms tightly around my waist.

"No!" she started. "You can't leave!"

She looked up at me, and I noticed she was crying. It didn't look like it, but I could tell. See, under the sea, you can't really tell when a person is crying silently. As soon as they let a tear fall, you wouldn't be able to see it because of all the water around you. Some of us thought of it as a weakness, because of how you couldn't show your feelings, but I found it as a strength. I found it as a strength, because you couldn't show your negative feelings.

"I don't know what I would do without you!" Brook said. "You're not leaving are you? Please, tell me you won't."

"I'm not going anywhere, kiddo," I assured her, placing my hands over her brown hair. "I'm all yours."

It's clear now. The decision was made. I will stay in the ocean for my family and friends.

"I have to go, Brook. I'll come back soon," I said, letting go.

Brook nodded. "Okay. I'll see you."

I smiled, and swam outside. I had to see Ariel. I had to tell her-

"Angel! We need your help!" yelled two girls swimming after me.

I looked at their faces, and recognized them as Ariel's older sisters, Adella and Arista.

"What's wrong? Where's Ariel?" I asked.

"The Lost boys caught her in a net," explained the blonde one, Arista.

As soon as she said it, I was dashing through the water. I swam as fast as I could towards the island.

Towards Neverland.

As I finally reached the surface, I could see Mermaid Lagoon. To my horror, I found Ariel struggling in a net, while a few of the younger Lost boys poked her with their handmade weapons and sticks. I swam after her just as the boys began to pull her closer to land.

"Ariel!" I called out.

Ariel looked in my direction instantly. As I swam closer to her, I noticed a few mermaids were pulling her towards the water at the same time hissing at the boys. As soon as I reached her, I did the mistake of not thinking, and didn't realize what I had done to save my best friend.

I could feel air blowing at my body as I jumped out of the water, and pounced on the blond boy who was pulling on the net. Once we fell down, I was too busy focusing on the boy's face, that I didn't notice my tail was now replaced by two human legs.

I crawled off the boy, and looked back at the lagoon. Ariel's face contorted in confusion, surprise, shock. I knew she was wondering why two legs occupied the space in which my red tail used to be.

"Angel!" she called out, trying to reach for me.

"Leave! Get out of here!" I said, waving my arms towards the ocean.

Her sisters got the message, and knew they had to leave me. I couldn't be helped. I was in the grasps of the Lost Boys way beyond their reach. They started to pull on Ariel's arms. They pulled her under, and her yells were engulfed in water.

I pushed back the tears, and let in the anger.

I tried to stand up, but failed since I wasn't used to having legs. I looked up at the boy I attacked earlier. The boy with blond hair and a scar on his face.

"Did you see that?"

"How did she do that?"

"Can all mermaids do that now?"

I ignored the questions, and kept my eyes on the blond one who stood in front of me.

"I will kill you for what you have caused me to do," I threatened, looking around, "each and every one of you."

I looked back at the boy in front of me.

"You're dead meat, Blondie!"

As soon as I went for him, I felt a sudden pain on my head, and blacked out.