Chapter 97 Deceived
1056words
"I'll get it," Ember shouted from somewhere inside. Footsteps steadily drew closer, and a yawn sounded before the door flung open to reveal an annoyed-looking Ember.
"We have a problem."
"Clearly," she scowled. "If you're here for Kayn, I'm not letting you see him. He's still recovering from whatever dumb thing you did to cause him pain."
"I had to go for—"
"Yeah, I don't care," she cut short. "Look, whatever the issue is, you can sort it out with Kayn when he's in a state well enough to deal with your crap."
Ember stepped back to close the door, and I stuck my arm out, blocking it. "Ember, this concerns all of us."
She sighed. "Let me guess. Your mom is on a mission again and you need my grandpa to—" I held out my hand, revealing the scales on it. Ember's eyes widened, and she stared up at me.
"Holy shit."
"Yeah, I know."
"Come in." She stepped back so I could move through the doorway. "How did that happen?"
"I don't know." My voice shook as I spoke. "I was about to take a bath then this showed up. It hurts when I touch water. Badly."
Ember stared at me for a moment as if she was at a loss for words. When, finally, "I'll get everyone. I honestly don't know what to make of this."
As she twisted around, Kayn appeared from the hallway, looking like he'd had a bad night of no sleep. His hair was dishevelled and clothes wrinkled, and he gaped in surprise at me.
"You're back already?" he asked, his voice shakier than mine.
"Yes, doofus. It's almost dinner time," Ember scowled, but there was an undertone of concern in her voice. "You've been sleeping since this morning."
"It's nighttime?" he echoed before glancing back at me. "Are you okay?"
I couldn't contain it any longer. Sobs bubbled out from me, and as much as I tried to voice my distress, I began ugly crying instead.
"I'll go get Mom and Grandpa," was all Ember said before she darted out of the room.
Kayn was by my side in seconds, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against him. "What happened?"
"There's s...something wrong with me," I stammered. "Something very wrong."
"I figured that much since I've been feeling like death twice over since you went for that thing at the AOUB's. What did they do to you?"
"I don't know." I pressed my forehead to his shoulder as his hand gently grazed my back. "They took me for that scan thing and I passed out right after you called me."
"You're feeling sick too?" he asked, pulling me tighter to him. "Do you need me to get you anything?"
"I doubt any medicine is going to fix what's wrong with me, Kayn."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
I sighed, wiping my face with my sleeve before stepping back from him. "Is this normal?"
"Is what normal?" he asked, frowning.
"This." I held out my hand to show him the pearly scales on my hand, to discover they were starting to fade. "What's happening to me?"
Kayn appeared as he'd just been hit over the head. He opened his mouth, closed it, and repeated the notion a few times before he managed to speak. "This just happened?"
"Yes."
"Wow," was all he got out. "No, that's not normal at all."
"Well, that's just great," I bit out. "Here I was hoping it's some temporary dumb side effect from this supposed connection thing we have."
He rubbed his face. "I wish it was the case but it's not. Whatever they did to you over there, I think it might have something to do with that."
"But why would they do this?" I held up my hand, then gasped. "Kayn, they're much worse than we thought!"
His brows knitted together. "Clearly, if they're trying to turn you into one of us."
"No, not just that." I dropped my arm. "They're holding a living mermaid hostage inside the facility. Janice showed me the pictures."
"Wait, what?" Kayn's eyes bulged. "If they do, why would she show you that?"
"She claims since my mom now works for them now she didn't see why she can't show me."
"That's insane," he said. "Does the mermaid have a name? Maybe I might know who it is?"
I shook my head. "Her tank—the tank they're keeping her in is labeled number 611."
"I can't believe this is happening," he said. "They're actually keeping one of us in there?"
"It's not the worst of it," I said. "Kayn, Janice has notes that said that I had the same reaction to the test as subject 611."
"The mermaid in the tank?"
"Yes," I nodded.
"Why would she…" he frowned at me. "What if that machine does something to turn you into one of us?"
"You think?" I asked. "Is that possible?"
"Nothing can turn you into one of us unless you're born as one of us," Hector's voice made us jump. He stepped past Kayn, grabbing my hand to peer down at the fading scales. "Are you sure your mother isn't hiding anything from you?"
I ripped my hand away, scowling up at him. "My mom would never lie to me. Janice did something."
He snorted. "Believe what you want. No man made machine can do that."
"Then what do you suggest did this to me?" I asked. "Because I know for a fact my parents are normal people."
"I won't argue that," Hector shrugged. "But are you sure they're your real parents?"
"What are you implying?" I snapped. "That my parents adopted me from some random merfolk couple and lied to me my whole life, making me believe I'm a normal human girl?"
"It's not unlikely," he said.
I tutted. "Why haven't I turned before then? Why all of the sudden after they did that scan. Why—"
"I'm more curious why you were getting a scan from the AOUB," Ember appeared beside us. "You said you were getting an EEG."
Hector's eyes narrowed. "What did you do?"
I felt the color drain from my face as I peered pleadingly at Kayn for help.
He offered Hector a stiff grin. "We have something to tell you."
