The sound of thunder cracks in the distance, pulling me from a dreamless sleep. I sit up and fix my eyes on the window, watching as hundreds of raindrops scatter across the pane of the glass.

Good. Rain means the enclosure will be closed and the girls and I confined to our rooms, away from the eyes of the guests. It will no doubt clear up in an hour or two, but for now, I enjoy it.

There is another rolling growl of thunder. Lightening flashes, flooding the night enclosure in bright, glaring white. I move my hand to shield my eyes, but I'm too slow. The room is already dark again.

I pull my knees to my chest and stare out of the window. The clouds look heavy in the sky, dark, and ominous, but the pitter patter of rain against the window sounds somewhat soothing. I lean my head against the crumbling wall, relishing in my solitude.

When breakfast is finally delivered, I devour it. Afterward, I shower and brush my teeth before lowering myself into the night enclosure pool. I swim my morning laps as usual, trying my best to clear my mind for the day ahead. If I want any chance of making it through these next few days, I can't afford to let my emotions get the best of me–certainly not in front of an audience.

I kick my legs wildly, creating perfect little waves across the water's surface. It is not at all like how I am supposed to swim, but I am safe inside of the walls of my enclosure–free to be as messy and chaotic and as unsynchronized as I want.

It's not long before my thoughts gravitate toward Crystal. It's been a long time since the two of us have been separated from one another, and without anyone to talk to, I fear she'll only spiral further into darkness. I only hope she's been left with something to do, a book of some sort or even a notebook. Crystal loves to draw.

After breakfast, Rob arrives to take me for another experiment. It seems we are doing them more often than not these days, and I can't help but wonder if Crystal's breakdown is the reason for our change in routine.

After leading me through various tunnels, we arrive at one of the many doors lining the hallway. I take a slight breath as I study the door, never quite knowing what will be lurking behind it.

Rob turns and pulls a blindfold from his pocket before slipping it over my head. I feel him wave a hand over my face, though I can't see a thing through the material. Once satisfied my vision is obscured, he carefully takes me by the arm and ushers me through the door.

I only make it a few steps before Rob lowers me onto a cushioned stool. My heart rate slows a fraction, the knots in my stomach beginning to untwist. I'd been afraid I was going back into the submersion tank or maybe the cube, but as far as experiments go, this one is easy.

The door clicks shut again. A minute or two later, a familiar voice sounds over the intercom, one that causes me to hold my breath.

"Hello, Aura. This is Dr. Wells. Can you hear me okay?"

"Yes," I say.

There is a slight shuffling sound. "Good. We're going to be having another look at your echolocation skills. I'd like you to try and describe your surroundings to me, remembering not to touch anything."

I get to my feet before taking a breath. Slowly, I maneuver my way around the room, making short clicking sounds with my tongue. I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I've learned that when I make brief, loud sounds, the sound bounces off other things in the room, creating an echo that allows me to visualize what's inside.

"I'm nearing something long and solid in the corner," I say, giving my tongue another click. "Maybe a wooden desk."

I know from the last time we did this experiment not to bother to wait for confirmation, so I continue on. An earthy smell suddenly tickles my nostrils, forcing me to pause.

"There's a plant a few feet away from it," I say, though I don't know this just through echoing. Plants always have a slightly different scent to other things, one I am easily able to pick up on. "That yellow one you've showed me before. The sunflower." I turn, careful not to touch the walls, though I can feel I am close to them. "There is something on the wall," I say, tilting my head. "Some kind of ledge or shelf."

On the top shelf is a row of books. I can smell them; earthy, and musty, like the ones currently stacked on my bedside table. Reece had said books weren't used much anymore, but I am certain I'm right. For some reason, I'm overcome with the urge to reach out and run my fingers along the binders. "There are books on it," I say, "and also something small and electrical. I can hear a slight humming noise."

A brief silence follows. I am beginning to wonder if I have somehow messed up, when Dr. Wells suddenly says, "Well done, Aura. Sit back down please."

Relieved, I lower myself back onto the stool. The door creaks open, and Rob's heavy footsteps get closer. "I'm going to guide you into the next room," he says, "where you'll complete another brief obstacle course. On each course, there will be a star for you to collect. Once you've got it, put it around your neck and continue on."

I nod to show him I understand. He takes my arm, guiding me into the next room.After the door closes shut and the room falls silent, I click my tongue.

The noise that echoes back sounds hollower than usual, but only directly in front of me. I turn in a full circle, trying to gage my surroundings. The course must start with a narrow, roofed structure–some kind of pavilion. I'm already halfway through it when something sharp prods at the middle of my forehead. I blindly reach up, pulling the star from the hook before wrapping it around my neck. One down–probably countless others to go.

Once I'm back into the open, I tilt my head slightly, clicking my tongue again. The ground in front of me is raised and solid-sounding, like some kind of narrow walkway or plank. Something less solid sits either side of it–water, I think, or maybe even sand. It's hard to tell. I put one foot in front of the other anyway, inching my way across before making it to the other side. Another star dangles from somewhere above me, and I reach up and loop it around my neck.

A little further ahead, something creaks and hums periodically, like a slow, rotating piece of technology. With each rotation, a quick gust of wind brushes my cheeks. Whatever is in front of me appears to be moving and I wait for a moment, listening intently for the quiet hum to pass. When it does, I quickly dart through it, collecting another star at my feet.

I go on in the same vein for a little while longer, clicking my tongue and dodging or darting through various obstacles. In a bid to impress Rob and Dr. Wells, I start to move a little faster. I get to some sort of metal barrier and attempt to jump over, but I misjudge how high it is. My knee scrapes the top of it and I go tumbling over, landing on the floor in a heap.

For a moment, I am still. My cheeks burn red, and I can just imagine Dr. Wells' pinched face on the other side of the glass. I get up again despite the pain in my knee, ready to continue.

"Stop," Dr. Wells suddenly barks.

I immediately freeze. From the tone of her voice, I can tell she isn't happy with my performance. Embarrassment begins to crawl through my body. Failure is not an option with Dr. Wells. When I rip off my blindfold, she is standing in the doorway, her eyes laced with disappointment.

She orders Rob to escort me to the medical room to clean up my knee. I am quiet as we walk, my cheeks still burning with what feels like rejection. Dr. Wells' praises have always been few and far between, but when I receive them, it is like the air is thinner somehow, easier to inhale. Her disappointment is how I imagine drowning to feel.

"Don't look so glum," Rob says. "You passed your final experiment."

Relief floods through me. "I did? But I tripped."

He smiles a little. "It doesn't matter, you complete the course in record time. Wells might not show it, but she's happy with your performance."

"Thank you," I say, and for once, I mean it.

Rob continues to lead me down the corridor toward the medical room. On the way, one of the doors lining the hallway suddenly flies open, and for a fleeting moment, I am able to catch a glimpse of what lurks beyond it.

My heart all but stops in my chest. The doctor swiftly closes the door behind her, giving Rob a quick smile before wandering off, but my mind has already captured a perfect image of everything inside.

The room was small, white, with shiny metal counters and all sorts of medical tools carefully displayed on top. Laying in the center of the room, on what looked like a medical bed, was the body of a lifeless, unmoving girl. A white sheet covered her chest and half of her face, revealing only a pair of cold blue eyes and the rest of her lower body.

From the waist down, she was mutilated. Her legs were missing, replaced by a long, scaly tail that poked out from beneath the sheet. Long, jagged incisions adorned the circumfernece of her waist, attaching the tail at her hips.

Even in a brief glance, it was clear her tail was different to ours. It wasn't shiny or perfect or made to be eye-pleasing. It was somewhat grotesque, with dull, flaky scales the color of moss.

A real mermaid tail.

Hey guys, this is a new chapter that wasn't in the old version. What do you think?? 🧜🏽‍♀️