C5 Chapter 5

Water, I was surrounded by water. It flowed around me, it flowed with me. Milky white arms push forward in front of me moving in a sweeping motion as a figure in the distance came into view.

White milky arms? Am I dreaming?

A bright light illuminated the water making the figure brighter. It stood bold and strong behind it was a limitless amount of water. My tail hit the water faster, as I swam through the water. The figure grew larger and larger.

Wait, wait my what?

Then I realized that I was dreaming. I had to be cause this was insane.

As the figure grew closer a trail of red substance not entirely diffused into the water engulfed me.

Blood

Pushing forward I swam towards the figure. I slowed and observe it. It was a silver clay like statue, two men or one man and a merman stood side by side holding tridents which intersected each other creating an arch. The man had scales on his arms, legs and chest almost like armor, his scales gleamed. The merman obviously had scales. I bowed my head with respect and swam through the arch and stopped short at the sight before me.

Bodies floated motionless through the sea. Claw marks slashed through their necks and chest. I looked around and realized that they all were woman, mermaids. My eyes narrowed at a specific mermaid.

“That is enough,” a voice said as darkness consumed my consciousness.

I looked around confused and shocked. Who was that I tried to say but my lips were sealed shut and my body paralyzed.

“You must wake up, my son,” the voice said soothingly.

My eyes blink as a light came into view.

“Charles,” the voice said getting louder.

“Charles!”

My eyes flew open , soap water stings my eyes and I gasp stupidly swallowing a mouthful trying to gasp for air. Strong arms grip my shoulders pull me up and wrap around my squashing me towards a familiar body. Lavender caressed my nose. My eyes burned but I missed my mother regardless of all my mean thoughts.

Seconds passed and I was convinced that I was going to lose my sight because of a woman who didn’t care about me anymore.

“Mom,” I croaked “my eyes are burning.”

She quickly pulled me out of the bathtub and towards the sink. I washed my eyes, relief flowing through me when I blinked them open. They were foggy at first but they eventually cleared. My mother walked out of the bathroom when she realized I could see again.

I stared at my self in the mirror. Water dripped from my hair and down my body. I was still dressed in my jeans. I must have been really tired last night.

Last night.

What was wrong with me? Why do I keep having these weird dreams? Why do I keep threatening my mother like the bad guy? And how did soap get into the tube, cause I didn’t put it in there.

I glanced at the bathtub. I am never going back into that thing.

My mother walked back into the room with a drained yet determine look on her face. She had a towel and some clothes in her hands.

“Put this on we are going to the doctor,” she said as she walked in, she glanced at me then looked away with a pained expression on her face. She handed my the clothes looking everywhere except at me. Why can’t you look at me mother? Are you seeing what your absence has caused? Do you see what your betrayal has caused? Oh God, I really need to go to that doctor but why does she want me to go.

“Why, mom,” I asked accepting the clothes staring at her confused and partly hurt. She probably thinks I’m crazy. She’s not supposed to think that way. I can since I know I’m crazy.

She glanced at the mirror and froze. Her face morphed into one of distraught and horror, a strangled sound came from her lips and she fell to her knees. Dramatic much. What am I thinking I should comfort my mom but why she didn’t comfort me when I heard that my father died.

I rushed forward my jeans shuffling uncomfortably on my skin, I clung to my mother and she clung to me.

“Mommy what’s wrong,” I asked terrified. Tears rolling down her cheek. Fake tears, great acting mom.

“I…..I…..I thought you were dead,” she croaked her voiced muffled by my chest. Why am I hugging her? She doesn’t deserve it. I should stop thinking.

“Yo….yo….you e….e….even have a tattoo and I didn’t get the chance to scold you or ground you when you got it. How did you even get a tattoo your barely sixteen?” she ranted. “I thought you were going to leave me like your father did. I missed 5 years of your life and I just got you back. Don’t you ever scare me like that ever again,” she said sobbing.

My chest ached.

“I would never leave you, mom,” I promise holder her closer to me. What, push her away? Keep talking cause I’m not listening.

“If it makes you feel any better we could go to get ice cream after we visit the doctor,” I said cheekily trying to lighten her mood and also to get ice cream, I definitely missed that. She laughed lightly and I mentally slapped myself. Don’t make her happy, she’s all I have left.

I rose from the ground taking her with me. The bad thoughts stopped.

“Oops,” I said staring at the dark spot at the side of my mother’s skirt. She smiled and shook her head at my silliness. My mother was really beautiful even when she had black tears running down her face which I believe if I remember correctly was mascara. She had dark straight hair and creamy skin. Her hazel eyes seemed to sparkle with happiness. She was a couple inches shorter than me but I was really tall so. She was 41 years old and still looked younger than her age, no wonder she remarried.