Chapter Four ★ Grounded

｡☆✼★━ Daniel ━★✼☆｡

Five right… four left… then twenty right and… dangit. Friggin locker. Okay, calm down Daniel. It’s your old sucky locker that doesn’t open on the first or second try, remember?

I blew out a breath and closed my eyes. My hand still rested on the locker dial. Breath in and out. Don’t let what my old man get to me. I clenched my teeth when last night’s conversation resurfaced.

***

“Daniel, can you tell me where you went?” He slurred his words.

I growled, “Out.”

He gestured to the paperbag in my hand with his beer bottle, “What’s that?”

“What’s it to you?” I replied.

He got up and strode over to where I stood then bent down to face me eye to eye. The stench of alcohol singed my nostrils. I pulled away and he snatched the bag from my hands.

“Don’t take that tone with me.” He said in a low voice and opened the bag to look in it.

***

Ugh. Stupid crowded hallways. People are always bumping into one another. I shook my hands out and grabbed the locker dial again. The bell for class to begin has to be close to ringing. Got to step up my game and get to class.

Five right… four left… and… twenty left… pull the metal latch… crud. No matter how times I try to open this stupid locker it refuses to budge. The metal latch between my fingers mocked me with its refusal to open.

I pounded on the locker with a fist and rattled the latch a few hundred times. I yelled at it, “C’mon you stupid thing! Open. Dang it!”

Frigging locker. I hit again and slumped down to the ground. The hallway was clearing up which meant the bell was close…

The first chime for class sounded. I saw the last bits of students scamper off to class. Here I was sitting on the floor like an idiot without his books and homework.

If I didn’t have my homework I’ll get detention. But if I didn’t show up to class on time then I’ll get detention. Dang it. I’ll have to chance it and get to class.

Hopefully Mrs. Lockehart will not ask for our homework to be turned in today. I can only hope.

With a heavy sigh I heaved myself back up and took a glance at the stubborn locker behind me. I wanted to punch it so hard my blood boiled at the idea. Whoa, where’d that come from?

Is it puberty? Its got to be since I’ve been flying off the handle a lot lately… especially at my old man.

***

Dad pulled out the remains of the camera lens. I could see in his eyes that he was not happy. He let the pieces fall back into the bag. I wasn’t prepared for his next move…

Suddenly, he had me pinned down on Pete’s bed. His big muscular arm across my throat. I could barely breath. I tried to pull his arm away but my fingers failed to gain purchase.

He breathed into my face with his teeth mere inches from my nose, “Who gave you permission to use that camera?”

I still tried to undo his hold on my neck and choked out, “No one.”

“Exactly.” He sneered. “No one. You had no right to take it.”

His arm pressed harder into my neck. The edges were turning black as blood pounded in my ears. Tiny breaths were all I could take in as he continued to press down.

“I’m sorry.” I said in a bare whisper.

“Dang right, you’d better be sorry.” He growled. When I looked into his eyes they were golden. What the heck?

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

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… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Chapter Three ★ Doc Cont’

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

No one answered. It took a bit of time before my night vision kicked in. Mermaids ain’t like no werewolves or vampires who can instantly see in the dark. Nope. It takes time for our dark seeing abilities kick in and all.

I asked out into the darkness, “Pearl? Uh, Doc?”

Not a single one answered. I grumbled, “Ha-ha, really funny guys. Jokes over and all. You can turn on the lights.”

My voice shook on the last part. I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them. The shapes in the room became clear and I scanned my surroundings.

Over in the corner was the microscope that Doc was using to check my blood. He wasn’t there. Something rustled over to my right. I looked but didn’t see it. I asked, “Pearl? Is that you? C’mon. It’s not funny.”

More scuffling on the tiles came from my left side. Eeek. Dang it Luna. Git yerself together. It t’ain’t no boogeyman. It has to be the Doc playing some sorta prank on me… again.

With a heavy breath I threw my covers off of me and jumped out of bed. A loud metallic pan connected with my foot then banged and tumbled across the floor. Crustaceans! That hurt. I hunched down and soothed my aching foot by rubbing it.

The hairs on the back of my neck rose as something brushed by behind me. Grabbing the nearest thing I whirled around and said, “Who’s there?”

The thing rushed past in a blur and shoved me to the floor. Its laugh erupted goosebumps along my arms. I demanded, “Answer me, dangit.”

A white blur knocked things off of the counters and continued its eerie cackles. What the heck happened to Pearl? Where’s the Doc?

“Your precious friends are gone.” It answered in a low hungry voice. “And your next.”

I swallowed hard and scuttled back towards the wall on my butt. Why can’t I see this creature? Sure it takes time for our night vision to kick in but I should be able to see this heinous trickster.

Mustering up enough courage I scoffed, “I’d like to see ya try ya sorry excuse of a haunt.”

“Ohhh,” It inhaled. “Fear. I love fear. You will taste oh so sweet.”

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Chapter Three ★ Doc Cont’

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

Pearl sliced her hand in the air and argued, “Doc don’t tell her that.”

“Don’t tell me, because?” I arched an eyebrow at Pearl. She frowned back at me and crossed her arms. Doc also shut his mouth and refused to utter another word.

“Can someone please tell me what in Triton’s sake is going on?” I asked and shot my hands in the air and waved them around.

She pressed her lips even harder making her mouth a thin line. And Doc? Well when I looked at him his lips were so pursed I thought he was about to start swallowing himself whole.

I balled both hands into fists and slammed them onto the cold hard metal railings of my bed. Ow. That hurt. Whew, that really really hurt. I sucked in a breath and then let it out.

“Will you stop that?” Pearl scolded me and was at the bedside in a flash. She pushed against my shoulder to make me lay back down. Of course I didn’t make it easy so she applied more pressure.

Doc’s eyes narrowed and motioned with his hands then hissed, “Pearl, go easy on her. We don’t want to do anything that might upset her.”

Okay that’s it. Enough’s enough. I rolled my shoulder and said, “Upset me? I think we’re beyond point upset at this time. Y’all need to come clean and tell me what the heck is going on.”

I eyed them both and continued, “Yeah, sure I got bit by some kid who supposedly was a ‘werewolf’ but that don me diddly.”

Doc shuffled back to the microscope that had a slide of my blood in it. He peered down into it. Yes, we mermaids do have the ability to detect curses and other supernatural stuff in our blood. We have the technology after all.

“Well?” I asked and absent mindedly rubbed my soar hand. It still twinged from the bite and the impact with the metal railing of the bed.

“Hmmm,” He said and continued peering through the microscope. “As of right now I do not see anything suspicious. Though that could change…”

“Doc,” I said and flopped back on the pillow, “If I ain’t got no wolfy weirdness going on in my blood right now then what makes you think it’ll show up later?”

Pearl swatted me on the arm. Rather hard. She scowled and answered before Doc did. “Dummy. You know that some things take time. Kind of like the stupid flu with humans. Some may never show symptoms but they’ll have it and pass it on to others.”

“What?” I asked. It was a pretty darn good question for what she just said meant that now certain curses could be contagious?

Doc cleared his throat. He said, “You’re half right Pearl. But,” he glanced at me, “curses are not contagious. What Pearl meant is that if you are cursed then the signs may show up at a later time.”

He pulled his spectacles off and cleaned them with the corner of his white doctor’s coat. Then put them back on. He added, “In essence some curses, like diseases, need to incubate before they rear their ugly heads.”

I draped my good arm over my head and hid my eyes. “Oh I am so confused right now. So, we don’t know if I’m cursed… and I don know if my curse is contagious.”

Doc chuckled, “Curses are not contagious. Unless it was meant to be contagious.”

I groaned out loud. “Doc, you ain’t making no sense. Am I cursed and is it contagious?”

Again he chuckled, placed his hand on the counter for support and shook his head, “We don’t know Luna. We don’t know. That’s why you’re staying here overnight so that we can keep an eye on you.”

Great. Just peachy. I so do look forward to a night in the spooky ole medical ward with Mr. Chuckles over there and my oh so obedient comrade. 

Regardless of what the commander, my father, said this place is haunted. Bad things have happened to soldiers. Even Doc hasn’t stayed here the entire night. The ole coot has been seen sneaking off to another section to get his midnight Z’s in.

My stomach gurgled. Pearl’s responded in kind. And as if on cue the Doc’s rumbled too. I said, “Well we all can’t face the boogeyman on an empty stomach. Doc, why don’t you go rustle up some grub for us all to munchie on while we wait?”

Pearl objected, “Um, Luna I’m supposed to go fetch supplies… not the Doc.”

“Uh, Pearl, the Doc don know squat when it comes to combat.” I said. “He’s the last person I want to be alone with in this spooky ole ward.”

“Will you give it a rest?” Pearl shouted. “This ward is not haunted.”

A loud crack sounded and the lights went out. Everything went dark.

“Not haunted, huh?” I remarked.

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Chapter Three ★ Doc Cont’

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

“Aw, pumpkin.” His muscular arm reached under the blanket and tousled my hair. “I just wanna make sure that my baby is alright.”

I rolled away from him and said, “I’m fine, Dad. Sheesh. It was only a bite. Nothing to be concerned about at all.”

“Ahem,” Doc said behind my father. He continued, “Commander, I suggest that Luna stays here for the night so that we may keep her under watch.”

“No!” I shouted. The three turned back to me. I said, “I do not want to stay here overnight.”

Doc shook his head and patted my knee. “Come now, Luna, you surely don’t believe those rumors do you?”

“I most certainly do.” I replied with a shudder and pulled the covers tighter around me. “You ain’t gonna get me staying here overnight.”

Dad pinched the bridge of his nose and gazed up at the ceiling. He wore a grimace on his face like he tasted something rather sour. When he spoke the warmth he held in his voice was gone. Instead was the commander that I knew and grew to fear. You don’t disobey the commander not even if he happens to be your dad.

He spoke in a low tone and said, “Luna, for Triton’s sake you are not five. You are one of my soldiers and I will not have you continue this nonsense of medical ward being haunted.”

I said nothing and waited. He was one of those that paused for emphasis before he continued talking. His deep storm blue eyes scanned the room. Doc held the clip board rather tight in his hands and Pearl stood at attention. As for me? I sat there in the bed and kept my mouth shut.

The commander finished, “This is an order for all of you. No more nonsense about this ward being haunted. It is an old wives tale and nothing more.”

Turning to Doc he motioned for the clipboard. Doc handed it to him and waited with his hands clasped behind his back. The commander flipped through the paperwork and signed a few things then handed it back to Doc with a nod.

My father’s eyes were cold when he glanced about the room. His gaze stopped on Pearl and said, “Soldier.”

Pearl saluted him, “Yes, sir.”

He pointed at me, “Make sure that Luna does not leave this bed.”

“Sir.” She said and waved another salute.

The commander glanced back at Doc who was looking at my blood cells on a slide under a microscope. He motioned back at the Doc and said, “Also get the Doc whatever he needs. I want Luna to be in tip top shape.”

Pearl replied, “Yes, sir.” She held her salute and stared forward. It was considered improper for any of soldiers to stand at ease unless the commander gave the order. I didn’t have to do it because I was injured.

He nodded his approval and then strode across the room to the door way. He turned around and added, “Keep me informed of her condition. Let me know if anything changes.”

Doc stood back up, readjusted his spectacles and replied, “Of course commander. If anything changes you will be the first to know.”

“Thank you, Doc.” The commander said with a smile and marched down the hallway. His heavy footsteps faded away on the slate tiles of the medical ward.

I let out a heavy breath and uncrossed my arms. They shook. Why is everyone so concerned about this dang bite? It’s not like mermaids could get cursed… could they?

As though Doc could read my mind he answered, “Of course mermaids can get cursed. Who gave you the silly idea that they can’t?”

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙