Chapter Three ★ Doc Cont’

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

 

I still was trying to get a handle of where the heck that creature was in the room. My back secured against the cupboard boosted my confidence. I replied in my most strong voice, “Bite me.”

Yeah, totally original… I know. Give me a break, will ya? Sheesh.

It purred, “Ohhh, yes my sweet I will. You can count on that.”

“Ewww.” I said and stuck my tongue out. “Can we tone it back to PG-13? I don think my father would approve.”

Cold air rushed past to the counter above me. Crap. I bolted from the cupboards and hustled to the doorway. Almost there. My heart pounded in my chest and with each heavy breath.

Just a few more feet. Behind the creatures footsteps clattered on the tiles like a spider eager to catch its prey. And I was its prey. Eeep. Come on feet move. Golly it would be so much easier in my mermaid form.

Why the heck is our headquarters siphoned off from the ocean waters? The creature emitted a out loud shriek and picked up its pace.

Oh my Triton I’m going to die. So, like the big girl I was I let out a frazzled scream as I ran to the open door. It was my only escape.

Within mere inches my foot connected with something metallic and I fell forward and landed with a splat. When your life is in danger you don’t have the luxuries to stop and complain about injuries.

Nope. Instead you keep moving and forget that you’re hurt. However, even though your brain might not get the info that something is busted you keep on trying to use it like normal.

I scrambled on the floor like a turtle on sand and crawled towards the exit. Tears in my eyes blurred my vision. My hand slick from sweat could not pull me any further. I was trapped.

The creature was almost on me. Its footsteps slowed mere inches from where I was sprawled out on the floor and stopped. I cringed and closed my eyes.

An enormous amount of weight was on my back. It breathed its hot breath on my neck. I cried, “I don’t want to die. Triton, please, please, please, don’t let me die.”

The creature crooned in a voice like Pearl’s, “Got’cha.”

Wait. I blinked my eyes open. Turned my head to one side and glanced at the creature sitting on my back.

I rolled to knocked it off to one side. It rolled and tumbled then laid on the floor laughing its guts out. With a frown I said, “Pearl. Not funny.”

She pointed at me, “You should have seen your face, Luna.” Tears streamed down her face as she gathered her breath, “Priceless.”

“Ha-ha.” I replied. “Who put you up to this? Doc?”

“I swore you were about to pee your pants.” Pearl laughed.

I asked again but slower and through gritted teeth, “Did. Doc. Put. You. Up. To. This?”

The lights flipped back on. Doc jumped out of the coat closet. Dang it. Of course he would hide in the coat closet. Why didn’t I look in there or hide in there myself?

Doc joined the laughter and said, “Yes. Your father and I wanted to teach you a lesson Luna.”

“Oh goodie.” I remarked and tried to cross my arms. “What lesson would that be, hmmm?”

The commander strode back into the room to where I lay on the floor. He answered, “That the medical ward is not haunted. That you need to stop believing in such nonsense.”

“Whatever.” I said.

He narrowed his brow and said, “It’s ‘yes sir’ young lady. Not ‘whatever’.”

I rolled my eyes, “Yes, sir.”

“That’s better.” He replied. With a nod to Doc he said, “Thank you for helping out on this exercise Doc. I’m sure Luna will be less eager to spread rumors about your ward being haunted from now on.”

“I didn’t spread those ru–” I tried to explain but the commander cut me off and said, “Enough. You are dismissed for the rest of the night.”

“So, I don’t have to stay here?” I asked.

Doc shook his head, “No, Luna. You don’t have to stay here.”

Pearl helped me back up but ruffled my hair in the process. I swatted her hand away, “Stop.”

“What about the curse? The bite and all?” I added and rubbed my sore right elbow. Since everything was dying down the pain was kicking in and letting me know stuff got all banged up.

“You’re not cursed.” Doc answered. “Mermaids can’t get cursed. Sorry we told you otherwise but we needed to throw you off the path for tonight’s prank.”

“Ugh.” I smacked my forehead. “I feel like an idiot for falling for y’alls joke.”

Pearl wrapped her arm around my neck and pulled me in close. She kissed my cheek and added, “Well you know that all mermaids like to play games with each other. How’s the arm? I saw you go down pretty hard.”

I ducked out from under her arm and answered with a scowl, “It hurts like heck. It probably would not have been hurt if y’all didn’t play a prank on me.”

Doc rattled a bottle and toddled over to where we stood. His foot kicked the metallic pan across the room. We all winced as it banged a few times before it became silenced once more. He handed them to Pearl.

“Make sure that Luna takes these every four hours.” Doc said as he placed them into her hands.

“Hey,” I waved my hand in front of him. “I’m right here. Why aren’t you giving those pills to me?”

Like I was invisible Pearl replied, “Of course.”

I punched her in the arm and regretted it for the pain shot through like a lightening bolt. I let out a small yelp, “Ow.”

Pearl rolled her eyes, undid the bottle and placed a pill in my hand, “Here. Take this you big baby.”

“Thanks.” I said and swallowed the pill.

With a salute to the commander we both left the medical ward and headed back to our quarters for a good nights rest.

I settled on my bed and the moment my head hit the pillow I was out for the count.

Here’s to hoping no more boogeymen decide to play another prank on yours truly.

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – Chapter 3 :: Doc Done – Stay tuned for Chapter 4… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙