Sorry this is late but at least it's long?

Recap: Whisperer just appeared.

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Amarie's head shot up from where she was laughing with Isaac and Abigail on the side. Her eyes widened as she registered the Whisperer. She looked around wildly. "Chain me down and plug your ears."

"What are you talking about?" Deynan asked, eyebrows knitting together.

"Everything's going to be okay," I said smoothly, trying to calm her down. "We've dealt with this before."

"No," she said with rising panic, "you don't understand. This one is really bad."

"What do you mean?" Ravi asked, standing up slowly.

Amarie closed her eyes, wincing a bit. "I fall to this one really quickly. I'm bad at resisting."

"Which insecurity is this?" Isaac asked.

Amarie shook her head. I could feel my heartbeat speed up. What was she not telling us?

"Which one is it, Mari?" he demanded. I had never heard his voice so stern before.

Abigail placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Amarie. Tell us, we can help."

I glanced over my shoulder as the whisperer drifting closer. It had taken a vaguely humanoid form, still pulsing like a heart, dripping what looked like ink or blood into the dark sea below. My throat went dry.

Amarie flinched. "It's...beauty. The insecurity for beauty."

My heart wrenched. I knew the feeling.

"Oh," Sophie said quietly, and I knew she understood too.

"What do you mean?" Isaac asked, incredulous. "How could you be insecure about beauty? Amarie, you're gorgeous!"

"It doesn't work like that, Isaac," Sophie sighed.

"Well, whatever the plan is, make it quick," Audrey said. "That thing is almost here."

I reached out and grabbed Amarie's hand. "We'll go through this together."

She looked at me, stunned.

And then the Whisperer drifted up to the boat and we all froze.

It was frustrating, truly, to have an enemy you can't touch. A battle that's purely willpower. How else could we help other than moral support?

Then I heard the first whisper.

How disgusting. She's allowed outside with a face like that?

I noticed something. The Whisperer didn't have a distinct voice. It sounded like you were listening to someone just around the corner—gender and age indistinguishable. It made it so much worse. Anyone could be saying those things.

Her nose is too big, it takes up half her face.

I tightened my grip on her hand.

Her eyes are too small. And brown, what a boring color.

My heart ached. My eyes were brown. I couldn't pretend I hadn't had the same thought.

What a weird shaped face. What disgusting hair. Dark skin is ugly.

My stomach twisted. This was horrible. Who had told her dark skin was ugly? I wanted it to stop, I wanted to let go, but I didn't want to leave her to suffer alone.

Legs too skinny. No curves at all. Neck too long. Awkward. Gangly. Thin shoulders. Oversized feet.

The words overlapped each other, building until I could hardly distinguish one from the next.

"Amarie, it isn't true!" I shouted desperately. "Don't listen to it!"

But deep inside, I knew that no matter how much I told her, she would never believe me until she believed it for herself.

It didn't take long.

You are hideous.

"I know," she murmured quietly.

You are disgusting.

"I know." She sounded almost resigned.

"Amarie, no—"

You are worthless.

And then a wave of pain washed over me. My vision went dark, and I felt a scream rip out of me, mingling with Amarie's. Invisible pinchers pulled at my skin from every angle, stretching me in unnatural angles. A rope was tightening around my stomach, bolts of lightning shot up my feet. My lips sparked, and I could vaguely feel them begin to bleed.

Then Amarie tore her hand from mine and the vision abruptly stopped.

I collapsed on the deck, breathing heavily. I looked up and Amarie was gripping her hair, stumbling wildly. She groaned. Her skin seemed to shift, almost as if it were bubbling.

"Amarie..." Isaac said cautiously.

Then Amarie ran to the side of the boat and jumped into the water.

Abigail shrieked, and everyone rushed to the railing. Audrey helped me stand, and I leaned on her heavily.

There was silence but for the sound of our panicked breathing.

"What just happened?" Deynan whispered.

Then Amarie surfaced and we gasped.

At a passing glance, she might have looked the same. Dark skin, dark hair. But if you looked closer, you could see that her skin was a few shades lighter, her hair unbraided and styled into loose curls. Her nose was smaller, her cheekbones more defined. But what was perhaps most terrifying were her eyes. They were green, glowing slightly, slanted like a cat's eye, haunting and sharp.

She was dangerously beautiful, like a knife in the moonlight or a poisoned glass of wine.

"Hello, friends!" she called.

At the sound of her voice, I gasped. It was melodic and strong, so different from Amarie's usual quiet sweetness.

"Come join me in the water! It's beautiful and warm. You'll just love it." She smiled demurely. Her words dripped like honey.

Or blood.

"We're good, thanks!" Audrey shouted.

"Oh, surely you could be persuaded into joining me for just a little while," she said, frowning. "We could have such fun!"

"I don't think so," I muttered. But to my surprise, everyone except for me and Audrey slowly began to nod.

"It couldn't hurt," Isaac reasoned.

"I do like swimming," Deynan added.

"I'd love to join her," Abigail said dreamily.

"Wait, what?" I exclaimed. "Are you guys crazy?"

The strange honey-tongued creature smiled again, lips tightly closed as if she were keeping a secret. "Come on in!" Then she dove under the water, and to my surprise, flicked a shimmering purple tail.

"She's a mermaid?!" Audrey asked in astonishment.

"That can't be right," I said, confused. "Mermaids aren't monsters."

Amarie surfaced again. "I tire of treading water. Let us have somewhere to sit, no?"

She raised a delicate hand, and an obsidian black rock rose from the water. She placed her hands on the top and raised herself up, sitting on the side, her tail now in full display. "That's better."

"Wow," Sophie muttered.

"Gorgeous," Deynan agreed.

"What is wrong with you guys?" I asked, panic rising.

"It's like they've all been enchanted or something," Audrey said, sounding nervous.

Amarie cleared her throat. "It's so quiet. Shall I make some music?"

I didn't like the sound of that. "Um..."

"Yes, please!" Abigail said dreamily.

Then Amarie opened her mouth and began to sing.

Instantly, all of my worries dropped away. Her voice was all that mattered. It was strong and confident, yet gentle and sweet. It flawlessly moved along a hauntingly beautiful melody line, and my soul was enraptured.

My vision grew hazy. Suddenly, I could see something in the distance. It was...a park. A small island, with a park. And there were all my friends, sitting around a picnic blanket laughing with each other. And...there was my mother! My father! Patrick, Wyatt! I slowly began to smile. They all looked so happy.

Then Ravi saw me. His face lit up and I blushed. He waved me over, excited. Then he winked. I blushed harder.

Sophie laughed and leaned against Deynan. Isaac was laying on his back. Audrey was picking up Wyatt and swinging him around in the air...

But wait. Audrey couldn't be there. She was right next to me. I could feel her underneath my arm. She was helping me stand.

"Stop!" I shouted, slamming my hands over my ears.

The singing cut off abruptly, Amarie laughing. "Oh, aren't you all precious! To see your deepest desires...how quaint they are!"

"Siren," Sophie murmured.

I frowned. "Aren't those the half bird ladies?"

Sophie shook her head as if to clear it. "Sometimes. They can also be portrayed as mermaids. Evil mermaids."

The evil mermaid in question grinned, revealing her teeth to be pointed and sharp. I shivered.

"What do you mean, you saw our deepest desires?" Audrey demanded, though there was a panicked edge to her voice. She must have seen something too.

Siren-Amarie stretched languidly on her rock. "Oh, I saw all of your little scenes. It's funny, truly. Audrey, Audrey, you put on such a show, but all you really want—all you really care about—you can never have that, can you?"

"Shut up!" Audrey hissed. She balled her fists.

Siren-Amarie let her gaze drift over the assembled crowd. "So many more in the trance than I expected. Well, not really. The only true surprise was Sophie." She shrugged.

"The trance?" I asked, putting a calming hand on Audrey's shoulder.

Siren-Amarie raised an eyebrow. "Surely you've noticed your companions are being oddly silent."

I had.

"What did you do to them?" Audrey seethed.

Amarie grinned, baring those horrible teeth.

I shook Ravi's shoulder. "Ravi. Ravi!"

"You'll have better luck with Sophie," Siren-Amarie said lazily. "Or Abigail. Even Isaac, funnily enough."

"What is she talking about?" Audrey asked.

I shook my head. I didn't know.

"Let's have some fun, shall we?" Siren-Amarie said with vigor, sitting up. She looked at me and frowned. "Your vision was far too boring. I'll start with someone else." She looked around. "Perhaps your dearest Ravi?"

"Don't," I said, a swell of panic rising in me.

Siren-Amarie's grin grew. "I think I shall. Poor little Ravi. So much he wants to say, yet no courage to say it. He just wants to be able to figure everything out on his own. He's definitely got that save-the-world spirit, doesn't he? But he's a lone wolf at heart." She leaned in closer. "He wants to be successful all on his own, but he can't be. And that scares him." She laughed.

Ravi flinched, but otherwise didn't move. I wondered if he could hear her through the Trance.

Siren-Amarie shifted her gaze to Isaac. "And Isaac. Poor, poor Isaac. He helps everyone else, yet no one ever acknowledges how hard he tries, no one ever returns the favor. Once, just once, he wants gratitude. Recognition. Accolades." The side of her mouth curled up in a serpentine smile. "But, oh, how he hates this vision. Because he thinks it's selfish and arrogant. And what kind of person does that make him?" She sighed. "We can't control our hearts, Isaac. If you could control yours, I'm sure that constant wrestle would be a lot easier."

I wasn't entirely sure what she was talking about, but Isaac's eyes welled up with tears. His head twitched as if he was trying to turn away.

I didn't know he felt that way. My heart twisted as I realized, we never did really thank him for being so kind. We took him for granted.

Then Siren-Amarie turned to Abigail and stopped.

Audrey tensed next to me. I quietly put my arm in front of her with the silent message: don't. The Siren was clearly trying to bait us, lure us to her either in desire or anger, whichever worked. Audrey couldn't attack her.

"It's you who confuses me," Siren-Amarie said, frowning at Abigail. "Your vision is just as boring as Sierra's. But there's one thing I don't understand."

Abigail's chin lifted a fraction.

"You have a vision of everyone being happy. So many people. An extremely large number of people, unusually large. But that isn't it. They're all happy, and safe, and whatever else it is that you boring humans like to feel. But...you aren't a part of it."

I stopped breathing.

Siren-Amarie continued, her head tilted to the side in confusion. "No one is beckoning you towards them. No one is calling for you. You simply...aren't part of your own vision of happiness."

My throat clenched. Abigail was so selfless, even her deepest desire didn't include her own happiness, just as long as everyone else was happy.

Then Siren-Amarie froze.

Then she grinned.

"Oh, no. I was wrong, wasn't I? You have a weakness, little girl, just like everyone else. Two, in fact. Two people. There are two people that you feel selfishly attached to. Two people you want for yourself. One of those is the boy standing next to you, isn't it?"

Isaac. She did like him, after all.

"The other..." The Siren's eyebrows raised in amusement. "Oh, but this is precious!" She began to laugh. "You must have just realized, haven't you? Oh, how utterly adorable!" Her laughter grew. "My, my, have you even told her?"

Abigail tensed, and for a moment, I wasn't sure why.

Then I realized.

Her.

Her.

Her.

It echoed in my head like a drum. Perhaps it was platonic, but the way Abigail's jaw clenched revealed it was something so much more.

Then Abigail gritted her teeth, turned her head upwards, and gasped. She closed her eyes, breathing heavily. She flexed her hands experimentally. Then she glared at Siren-Amarie.

She had broken out of the trance.

"Okay," she said quietly, dangerously. "Maybe it's true. From the moment we met, I thought she was the most beautiful girls I had ever laid eyes on. And every time I saw her after that, every time we spoke, the feeling grew. Her kindness and bravery...her altruism and determination..." She closed her eyes, tears leaking out the corner. "But that's not the point. The point is, I'm not ashamed!" Her voice raised to a shout. "Yes, I like Isaac, okay?! It's impossible not to! And yes, I like her too! There's nothing wrong with that!"

Her tears flowed faster now. She was breathing heavily, her confessions tumbling out of her like a waterfall.

Siren-Amarie wrinkles a perfectly sculpted nose. "You think she's beautiful? She's hideous!"

"She's more beautiful than you!" Abigail shot back.

"But dear, who am I but the prettier version of her?"

Oh.

Oh.

Abigail had a crush on Amarie.

She wasn't done. "You may think you're prettier, but you're not more beautiful. Amarie isn't beautiful because her eyes are a good color or her hips are perfect or whatever it is you care about! She's beautiful because she has an inner light that shines through her any way you look! Her cheeks shine with kindness, her hands are soft and warm, her smile is as radiant and valuable as gold. And her eyes." Abigail's voice dropped to a softer tone. "She has the most incredible eyes. Eyes are the windows to the soul and her soul is full of light. Broken, and beaten, and told from the day it was born that it wasn't good enough, but still, it shines. And THAT'S what makes her more beautiful than you could ever hope to be."

Abigail narrowed her eyes. "You know what I see in your soul when I look in your eyes? Darkness. You're covering up her light with porcelain perfection, and you think that it's better. It's not. It's cold, and hard, and cruel. I see pettiness and shallowness and a void where your heart should be. What do you desire most, huh? If you listened to your own song, what would you see? People bowing down to your pretty face? That will never happen. And if it did, that never made anyone happy. Because at the end of the day, your soul doesn't care how many people think you're pretty. It cares how many people it has in its heart." Her voice turned bitter. "But like I said, you don't have one. So I guess you'll never understand."

Everything was silent.

Even Siren-Amarie was stunned speechless.

I hadn't thought Abigail was capable of such harsh words. I watched as she closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. She wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Bring Amarie back," she whispered. "I can't stand looking at your hideous face anymore."

I saw a tear leak out of the corner of Siren-Amarie's eye.

Then she collapsed on her rock, her tail melting back into the ocean and her face fading into the one we knew so well.

Everyone relaxed, the Trance gone. But no one spoke. We all looked at Abigail.

She sniffed and wiped away her tears again. "Please don't talk to me for a while," she whispered.

Then she went to the front of the boat, sat down, and sobbed.

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I'm sorry?

Not really but I'm gonna pretend I am so no one kills me.

I made a pull quote from this chapter!

Drop a comment! Tell me what you think!

~Margot