Mermaid Resort

~==+ C h a p t e r T h r e e +==~

Aphmau's Pov

"Merfolk" the strange man whispered quickly before leaning back,

I found myself frozen in place as that word rung in my ears, sending chills down my spine, "Merfolk?!? They d-don't exist" I replied letting my nerves get the better of me causing me to stutter,

"But aye they do las" the strange man rebutted suddenly changing to a pirates accent,

Looking down at the 'guidebook' in my hands, my arms begun to tire as the weight of my secret came crashing down faster and faster with each passing second,

"Look, thank you but-" looking up to try to return the 'guidebook' I fond the spot in front of me empty no sign of the strange man or any of is dropped goods, he had somehow disappeared again without me realising,

~==++==~

"Aphmau?" Aaron familiar voice cut through my thoughts as I sat on our bed cross-legged with the 'guidebooks' contents splayed out around me,

Looking towards the door I was meet by a worried Aaron standing by the door frame, giving him a smile he simply replied by shaking his head, he made his way through the room and towards the bed,

"Aye yai you, you miss out on the fun for one day and I find you studying...what is this?" He questions picking up one of the love~love paradise pamphlets,

"Just some activity researching, you know trying to figure out which rides would be best to go on while we are here" I replied nervously as he reached for another page,

"And you need old news reports to do that?" He questions holding a page up for me to read, in response I chuckled nervously,

Gently moving some papers out of the way making sure not to mess them up Aaron takes a seat next to me on the bed "Look Aph, I won't question what you're doing or why you need all these" he says motioning to the papers "You know as long as it's not dangerous I'll support you in anything you do" Aaron says taking my hand gingerly to reassure me, I feel a hot blush come to my face as I return the sentiment with a kind smile, reassuring him that everything is okay,

"Good, now how about we join the others downstairs so when can go have some lunch," Aaron says getting up, giving me a kiss on my forehead before making his way over to the door and giving a smile before leaving and closing the door behind him,

Letting out a breath, my heart pangs with guilt for having to lie to him, why must I be the one cursed to become this...'thing',

Shuffling the papers off my lap I maneuver a path and scooted off the bed, grabbing my small thin cream cardigan I pull in on, grabbing one of the journals from the 'guidebook' I make my way through the bedroom door locking it behind me,

~==++==~

We had a picnic lunch on the beach, making sure I sat the furthest from the shore I was sat with Aaron on my right and Katelyn on my left,

I was stuffing one of Kawaii~chan's delicious strawberry cheesecake tart's in my mouth when Dante decides to speak up,

"So Aph what were you doing in your room that had you so focused?" Dante questioned,

Nearly choking on my tart I regained my composure "Just doing so research about the resort",

"Yeah but what about" Dante questioned again,

"Stuff" I replied sassily before shoving the last of my tart in my mouth and getting up and walking back towards the hotel,

I must have been getting the weirdest looks from my friends and I couldn't blame them, this summer is going to be hectic and I just hope I can make it through without them finding out,

~==++==~

Sitting on the bed researching again my head grew sore, deciding to take a break to rest maybe get a snack, I shuffled my way off the bed before quietly making my way down the stairs towards the kitchen,

"Is Aph really okay though, she's been held up in her room even longer than Kawaai~chan and Lucinda in the morning" I heard Katelyn speak, catching my attention I stopped halfway down the stairs,

"She says she doing research," Dante said,

"But why would she need to do research on a vacation" Lucinda questioned, sitting down on the cold marble steps I continued to listen to their conversation,"

"Look, guys, I'm worried about her too, probably the most but if Aphmau needs to do this than let her" I hear Aaron say,

"You're right Aaron, but it's a vacation she should be having some fun not staying up in her room 'researching'" Lucinda argued back,

Getting up again I silently made my way back to our room and stared glumly at the stacks of paper on the bed, maybe Lucinda was right, what was I even doing, what point does it change, I'll continue to be this monster no matter what, no amount of researching or wishing will change that,

A warm tear fell but before I could wipe it away it fell upon one of the printed out news reports,

"Brand new island lounge closes down"

"after multiple disappearances at famous Love~Love Paradise's private island lounge, the business has finally agreed to shut down the attraction,"

"Experts claim that now missing friends and family members were experiencing cases of mass hysteria, such as hearing voices and claiming to see things even saying things were promised to them like in this chilling quote from a victim recounted by their husband, "we were there on our honeymoon, she was fine until one night she just started acting...she said that Irene had spoken to her she said 'they promised all our wishes would come true if we just go, they promised they could bring Lucy back as long as we stay with them, stay with them and never leave' Lucy was her daughter that had died three years ago, just a little bit after we started dating""

"for a long, while the cause was unknown, that was until it was recently discovered that there was a serious problem of hazardous alge in the island lounges surrounding water contaminating the small islands flora and fauna"

This is it, maybe the rest could be written off as paranoia...but this, this is probably the best chance she had at finding people that had also been cursed like her, perhaps if they really did give you everything you wished for then she could wish away this curse, she could be normal again,

Tossing the sheet of paper on the bed I ran straight through the door not even bothering to close it, skidding down the corner I began thundering down the steps, only to in classic aphmau fashion miss a step and come tumbling down to the bottom,

"Aph, are you okay? What's wrong?" Aaron said as my friends came rushing towards me,

No time for blushing now, I have to get somewhere, smiling a big toothy grin I hoisted myself up "sorry got to talk, can't go" I said stumbling over my words,

Pushing out the doors I doubled back to get my purse before dashing out again, perfect, I mentally congratulated myself as I skidded my way down the gravel, coming to the fork in the road I made a left this time heading straight towards the mini-tour boats,

"I would like to hire a boat" I huffed, resting my hands on my knees as I spoke to the rather worried looking salesman,

"Well, I'm sorry to say miss but all the boats have been booked out for today and day hire won't be possible for a few weeks",

"Day hire? Is there any way I could hire a boat for tonight" I questioned,

"Yes but that requires you to travel in a group of at least three"

"Deal" I piped up,

"What? Um...okay, I just need your name" the salesman said pulling a small wooden clipboard from a bag previously hidden behind the man,

"My name is Aphmau, and I would like to hire a boat, first thing tonight",