I ran into the living room of the apartment above the family museum and told Jude about what I saw when I was out swimming. "And you're saying that it was an actual mermaid," Jude said. "Yes. She wasn't like any other mermaids that Corporate that I've met. She had white hair. And white eyes with no irises or pupils," I said. "And sharp teeth if I remember right?" Jude asked. I nodded. "She's some sort of predator. She has to be. Nothing else could have teeth that sharp," I said. Jude sighed. "Maybe you've been a bit too deep too many times. You should stay on land for a bit of time then next time you go down she'll be gone. Never have existed at all," Jude said patting my head. "I know what I saw Jude. And don't pat me. I'm not a kid any more!" I exclaimed. "Have you heard anybody call you an adult?" Jude asked. "Shut up," I said. "Alright Vince. But seriously you should stay up on land for a few days and poof she'll never have existed," Jude said. He walked away. I grumbled.

I went to my room and plopped onto my bed. I screamed into my pillow.

A minute later I was out like a light.

The next morning I woke up with the scent of pancakes entering my nostrils. I got out of bed and stretched. But my yawn sounded a bit like a small roar. I quickly covered my mouth. "Did that come out of me?" I asked no one in particular. 

I went out to the kitchen to see not Jude making the pancakes. But Mrs. Mahoony. The woman who was fascinated by the mermaid exhibit. "Mrs. Mahoony. What're you doing in my house? And so early in the morning?" I said. "Jude gave me a call and told me he was going out for a few hours and asked me to come over and watch over you. Like a good neighbor," Mrs. Mahooy said "Also just call me Megan,". "Well Megan i'll have you know i'm 15 I can take care of myself. I don't know why Jude can't see that," I said. "He's just worried that's all. Pancakes are ready. How many do you want?" Mrs. Mahoony said. "Two," I said sitting down. Mrs. Mahoony put two pancakes on a plate and put it in front of me. I picked up my fork and started to eat. Mrs. Mahoony sat in the seat Jude would usually sit in and ate her own pancakes. After finishing I decided to go for a walk.

I walked looking around the town. Just your average coastal town. But we had a popular fascination with merpeople. Which is what made our town famous. Mermaid sightings. I kept walking until I saw a girl who I somehow knew was the mermaid I saw the previous day. Her hand grazed my arm and I fell into a nearby alley while watching something.

I was underwater and swimming with another mermaid. She had curly white hair, dark skin, and completely white eyes. Then I noticed that I was witnessing the memories of the mermaid who I saw. I was seeing her memories through her eyes.

The memory flashed to when the other mermaid she was swimming with was caught in a fisherman's net and dragged to the surface.

Then the memory flashed to the mermaid coming to land and transforming into a human. Very painfully.

Then I flashed back to reality and saw I was laying on top of trash bags. "What the hell," I said.