"The Island by Amellie Part 4" by Amellie Forbes

                                            The Island by Amellie: Part 4 

The Last day:

Day 13.

I came to on the floor where I`d fallen asleep after playfully flexing and exercising my tail for an hour or so the previous night. It was early still. I had legs again, and the empty feeling in my heart which I now understood was a sense of loss over the temporary absence of my tail once more. I looked at my wristwatch on the bedside table as my stomach growled deeply and loudly. I slipped the dress I`d worn the night before over my naked body and picked up the wornout rucksack that had accompanied me through so much of my adventure. I unlocked the rooms door and quietly eased myself out to the landing gently closing the door behind me. I hastily made my way along the corridor to the stairs and down to the lobby. I saw nobody as I quickly passed through it and made a beeline for the tank containing the imprisoned lobsters.

I needed  to be quick about this, so after a quick look around I thrust my right arm into the tank almost up to my shoulder. I seized the first lobster by one of its legs, pulled it from the tank and dropped it into my rucksack. The remaining five followed quickly. Then wasting no time I rushed back through the lobby, up the stairs and back into my room. I collapsed on the floor against the bed and bit my lower lip as I fought the strong urge to begin to change. Lumps began to furrow my thighs as they pulled and began to tighten, then finally I began to wrestle back control of myself. Slowly things returned to as they were before, and feeling relieved I grasped my rucksack and grasped one of the lobsters. I bit hard through its brain and it died a quick painless death. I`d spared it the agony of being dropped into boiling water at least. I tore into its flesh as I fed for the first time since the night before I landed back on the sandy bay. I`d not caught lobsters before so this was my first time and they were delicious. An instinct within me helped me make a quick and satisfying feast of them. I left not much waste as usual, but by the third one I was begining to become overwhelmed by the desire to change again. I had scales around my hips and thighs before I`d barely noticed. I fought it again and the seemingly all knowing voice had become aware of my struggles again.

"Chloe...., you are almost out of time...., the urges are growing...., they will get ever more stronger now...., fight it for now...., but you will succumb to them soon...., you have but a little time left Chloe...,"

"I know...., but it`s hard." I thought.

"Yes it is Chloe...., it`s the hardest thing you will ever have to do...., but it must be done soon. Chloe you have no choice...., be ready soon....., soon Chloe....,"

"How did you hear me then?" I asked.

"You are empathic..., Chloe. A sign...., it`s a sign. That what`s within you now is growing stronger. Time Chloe..., don`t ignore it...,"

"I won`t." I thought.

My legs were okay again. But around my waist a ring of greeny blue scales remained and stubbornly refused to leave. "It must have started!" I gasped. Was this the beginning of my final descent into my new life? Were the scales now on me permanent , firmly embedded of my flesh forever more? I tried as hard as I could to make them disappear but to no avail. They were here to stay it seemed.

I ate the remaining lobsters quickly and stuffed the remains of their carcasses into my rucksack and pushed it under the bed. Later as the hotel came more to life, I slipped downstairs to the hotels gift shop and bought a notepad and pen. The assistant gave me a look that all girls understand. She thought I was a tramp because of the way I`d been forced to dress of late. Whatever! As I started to walk through the lobby back to my room I noticed my mom sat alone in the cafe. I walked over to her table and pulled up a chair. She smiled up at me and bid me good morning.

"Hey Mom," I returned. "I`m glad I caught you alone. Got time for a talk?"

"Sure Honey. What`s on your mind?"

"I don`t really know where to start," I replied.

"If it`s what I think it is, don`t worry. Chrissy told me last night."

"I thought as much."

She laughed. "Chrissy, huh! She loves you...., but she can`t keep nothin` to herself."

"Don`t I know it!" I smiled.

She took my hand. "Honey..., listen to your mom. You do what`s right for you. Don`t let anyone else ever tell you what`s right and what isn`t. If you want to do, whatever it is with your life, then you do it girl. Don`t make the mistakes I did. See..., I thought I`d made all the right moves in my life. Found the man I thought I`d be with for the rest of my life, married young, kids soon after. And well what have I got to show for it now? I wouldn`t trade you or Sara for nothin` Honey. But you two were the best things I ever did. Hey, look at you now. You`ve turned into a beautiful woman. Make the most of that..., have the fun I never got around to when I was your age. Okay, I know I don`t have a bad life now , I don`t have to work for a livin` or nothin`. But sometimes I feel like I let my life pass me by. Know what I mean?"

It was a rhetorical question and I let her continue in her own time. She reached for her cigarettes and offered the pack to me. The long all white menthols she smoked were visually very appealing to me, but I declined. She shrugged and placed the cigarette between her lips and greedily sucked the smoke into her throat. Her voice had a slight rasp, and around her mouth there were faint little wrinkles beginning to appear. Attractive in a way, but a testament to a near lifelong habit of cigarette smoking.

"What I`m sayin` Honey is that if you feel you wanna take time-out and see a bit of the world then go for it. Don`t let nobody stop you. Live your life and have fun. The rest of it`ll fall into place.You`ll know when the times right for you to settle. Don`t be pressured to keep up with other people. Just because so and so is doin` this and doin` that, gettin` married and havin` babies and stuff, don`t mean you gotta be doin` it. You understand what I`m sayin` Chloe. Live your life and be you. Whatever it takes."

I nodded. Her words meant a lot to me. But right then she didn`t realise just how deeply they resonated with me. They helped me justify what I had to do a little more to myself. I thanked and hugged her, before leaving her alone with her cigarettes and returning to my room. I threw off my dress and I pulled a chair over to the vanity table and began to think of what I wanted to say to those I loved. It was easier and less complicated than I thought it was going to be. It didn`t take me long. I simply wrote what was in my heart. I cried softly the whole time. My tears blurred parts of my messages, but they were still clear enough to be read, and hopefully understood. But that would take time, and I wouldn`t allow myself to concede that it might not ever happen.

I stared down at the scales adorning my waist. They were spreading and they became like a glass timer filled with sand. As long as I was naked and looked at them it was like watching sand grains dropping, constantly telling me that the countdown had begun and I was on borrowed time now.

I turned my attention back to my farewell notes. Before I finished however Chrissy was knocking at the door. I called out, "Just a minute. "I squeezed back into my dress, briefly thinking of slipping on some panties to maybe somehow disguise the possibility of anyone noticing that all was not as it should be below my thin dress. But in the end I couldn`t bear the thought of putting more itchy fabric on my skin. I gave myself a quick once over in the mirror and satisfied myself that in appearance at least, I looked normal for now.

We sat at the table my mom had vacated in the cafe and I stared at the lipstick stained collection of cigarette butts she`d left in the ashtray. She sure had returned to her old habit with a vengeance judging by the number of butts there. Chrissy lit a cigarette of her own and asked how I`d slept. I replied that I hadn`t had the best of sleeps but I was feeling okay. She then enquired if I could smell how strong the occean seemed to be today. I knew she was trying to subtly tell me that I still had an odour of the sea about me, but alas there was nothing I could do to change my bodies fragrance anymore. It was simply a part of me now.

She then asked me if I`d had any further thoughts on my immediate future. I saw no point in being less than honest with her anymore and replied, "My feelin`s haven`t changed any Chrissy. I tossed and turned last night, but I can`t change the way I`m feelin` about now. I need to be alone, and I`m not gonna change my mind. I`m not goin` home with you guys. I`ve made my mind up. I gotta` do this girl. I`m just not the same Chloe I was. That`s it..., that`s all I can tell you right now."

"But we`re a team girlfriend. We always have bin.`" She paused for effect, then added, "I thought we always would be."

I was not about to fall into a trap. I was determined not to make any promises to her I couldn`t keep. I took her hand, "I know Chrissy...., an` I`m sorry an` all. But you have to be strong, don`t make it harder for me than it needs to be. Promise me that Chrissy." I implored.

I could see the pain in her. The hurt I was causing her made me feel ashamed of myself. Under no other circumstances would I do this to her. But how could I tell her what was happening to me? I couldn`t even begin to find the words to make her understand that this was all beyond my control. Every single part of it had been since the fishing net had fouled the propellor of the boat. Who knew what may have happened if she`d been with me that day instead of being hung up on her jerk boyfriend? Maybe she would have been experiencing the same things as I was. Perhaps we could`ve gone through this whole process together. Maybe we would`ve been able to comfort and support one another, reassured one another things would be alright in the end. But that was never meant to be. I was in this on my own. It was me this was happening to. And right now..., well frankly she wasn`t making it any easier for me to deal with it. Her lovely  face looked at me with a total lack of comprehension. I could see she totally couldn`t begin to understand why I was being the way I was and why I was doing this to her. Why I was pushing her away after a whole lifetime of close friendship..., and yes, love. I was in a situation that I couldn`t possibly hope to make her see the sense in. I couldn`t win from here and I could only cause her more upset and pain. Thankfully she changed the subject. But knowing Chrissy I knew she was doing so now, so that later she could have another crack at it, and another after that, and so it would go on until she wore me down. She`d always been the leader in our friendship. My character was suited to having a dominant friend who`d look out for me, make sure I didn`t screw up more than was necessary. A fact that was now underlined by what had happened to me the last week. Today though, I guess for the first time ever, I was beginning to see just how much having me around meant to her. She needed me like I`d needed her. Her vulnerability was the last thing I wanted to see now of all times. But I couldn`t allow it to change the fact that things had to be different for me from now on. I couldn`t go on delaying that anymore. But in my heart I knew there was no chance of me ever being able to convince Chrissy that what I had to do was right for me.

She put out her cigarette, and sadly said, "I`m not gonna` make it harder for you Chloe. It`s just that...., last week I thought I`d lost you forever. Then thank God you came back...., but now...., it feels like I`m losin` you all over again. I`ve just never thought of a time in my life when you wouldn`t be in it is all. But if it`s really what you wanna` do then I understand. I`ll miss you like crazy though....,

I put my hand over my eyes and started to cry. "Hey girl...., c`mon, don`t get upset. " She said softly. "It`s not like we won`t see each other ever again!"

"Oh Chrissy!" I sobbed.

She put her hand on mine."Hey look...., c`mon cheer up. We can go shoppin` in a minute if you wanna` an` get you some new underwear. We don`t need you causin` any accidents with those things of yours do we?"

I giggled threw my tears. "I guess not." And then I remembered I couldn`t let anyone see me undressed now. Lingerie shopping was a definite non starter. Fortunately we were interrupted just then by my father who strode to the table and sat down.

"Hey Dad," I said, relieved to see him.

"Uhh, Honey. I got somethin` I need to talk to you about."

"What`s that?" I asked puzzled.

"He probably wants to talk some sense into that crazy brain of yours girlfriend!" Chrissy chimed in.

I ignored her and looked closely at my father. He cleared his throat and said, "It`s just some stuff that`s bin` said, an` that`s kinda` got back to me. Probably nothin`...., just the locals gossipin` I guess."

"What is it Daddy?" I asked nervously. I didn`t like the sound of this. And I was making a poor job of hiding the fact as well.

"Down at the bay, where you hired the boat. Its skippers bin` askin` questions aroun` the place."

"What sort of questions?" I asked.

"Yesterday afternoon him an` a couple of others went to recover the boat from where you left it. They couldn`t figure out how you were never located Sweetie. There`s a radio direction finder fitted to it, all boats have to have `em these days. The one on your boat was workin` when they found it. They couldn`t figure out yesterday morning where the signal they`d picked up was comin` from, `til somebody told them you`d turned up here alive. They`d given you up for drowned at sea Honey. They had a half dozen boats out there lookin` for you for nearly four days. They should have picked up your signal by the second day at least."

I felt my pulse quickening and an element of doubt I felt sure was starting to show on my face. I was an appalling liar, everybody knew that about me. I simply wasn`t quick witted enough to carry off a lie. I`m such an easy read.

"I guess they just missed it then," I shrugged. I felt my cheeks flush as I began the lie. I knew my father had seen it as well. He`d busted me many times before and he knew there was only ever going to be one winner here. I did to, and so probably did Chrissy.

"They`re not coastguards, I`ll give you that....., but their very capable seamen. I know that. They didn`t miss it. Those scanners`ll pick up anything for miles an` miles."

"Well it was really foggy a lot of the time, an`...."

"Sweety, I know you don`t care much for electronics an` stuff, but those things can see through fog, an`pretty much anythin` else you throw at `em."

"So why did they miss me?"

"It must have bin` switched off at some point."

"Daddy I didn`t even know the boat had one...., how could I switch it off?"

I had him there, but it didn`t stop him asking, "You sure about that Honey?"

"Why, if I did know about this thingy..., would I switch it off? The tone of my voice was becoming higher, another give away when I was becoming flustered.

"That`s what their all askin` an` talkin about down at the bay."

"Is that it? That`s all their sayin?` S**t Daddy, that wasn`t worth botherin` me for," I said as I fidgeted on my chair. Swearing and fidgeting, another tell. I might just as well confess already. Their faces told a story to and they were making no attempt to hide it. They didn`t believe a word of my story anymore.

"Don`t swear Chloe." I knew things were serious when he stopped referring to me as Honey or Sweetie. Being called Chloe by him meant trouble. "No that`s not all their sayin`. They`re askin` how a woman can disappear for eleven days at sea an` survive on jacks**t water! That`s what else they`re sayin missy."

"Don`t swear Jack!" Chrissy threw in.

"Shut up Chrissy!" My Father snapped.

Chrissy pulled a face, and I looked at the floor and begged my frozen brain to come up with an explanation. All I could offer was, "I told you! I took plenty with me!"

My father who`d begun pacing near the table shook his head and sat down opposite me again. He moved closer to my face and said, "Don`t lie to me Chloe. You got on that boat with one rucksack...., one small rucksack. You`d need at least ten of those to carry the amount of water you needed to survive as long as you did out there."

He sat back satisfied he`d nailed me. I looked to Chrissy for some support. She looked back at me and shrugged. The game was almost up. But still I tried anyway, "Maybe they were mistaken...., about the rucksack, maybe I took more than one...,"

"They have you on CCTV gettin` on the boat, setting off...., and you only ever had one rucksack. The guy you hired the boat from, he`s bein` questioned over the boats seaworthiness. It`s been impounded and he`s fighting to save his livelihood. And he`s being as helpful as he can be with the authorities so he can point the finger of blame at you. He`s gonna be in the clear `cos the only thing that went wrong on that boat was the radio. He never had a backup battery for it onboard. You see now..., Chloe....!!"

He made me feel five years old again and made me look stupid in front of my friend. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes and the burn of shame in my cheeks. He realised what he`d done to me and took hold of my hand and said, "I`m sorry Chloe..., I didn`t mean to go gettin` so..., uptight then." He sighed deeply, then he said, "D`you wanna tell me what really happened out there now?"

I shook my head. "I told you the truth already...., I`m not stayin` here to listen to more of this bulls***t!"

I started to push my chair back when he said, "Honey, whatever it was...., it can`t be bad enough to make you lie to you`re old man, can it?" He was right..., I`d never lied to him before. I did some dumb things growing up, but he always forgave me. I knew there wasn`t anything I could do that he wouldn`t forgive me for. But somethings..., well somethings you really do need to keep to yourself.

"I`m not lyin` Daddy." I got up and left them both sat at the table.

I rushed to my room and locked the door and pulled off the infuriating dress. I sat breathless on the bed. My stress levels had soared and had an immediate and unhelpful effect on me. My thighs tightened and shook. My legs slammed together forcefully and began to wrinkle and form bumps.

The voice came rapid and urgent. "No Chloe....., not now...., you don`t have time..., stop it..., now!"

"I`m trying to...," I said in my mind. "It`s too hard... I can`t take this much more....., I`m losing...."

My fins began to push out from my hips and the blue and green scales began to emerge further and further down my changing legs.

The voice came back more urgent still. "Stop it Chloe, stop it now....., your friend approaches, you must not be seen like this...., try harder.... fight it....., you must not give in to it yet."

I groaned out loud as I fought with every fibre of my being to stop my tail from progressing any further in its emergence. Finally, at long last the changes slowed then stopped. I heard a knocking at the door. Then someone tried the handle. Chrissy`s voice called, "Chloe..., Chloe let me in."

"Just a minute," I called back. The pitch of my voice was high with panic. I said a silent thankyou to myself for remembering to lock the door. Chrissy knocked twice more before I felt confident enough to put the dress back on to hide the remaining changes to myself. Finally I unlocked the door and let Chrissy enter.

"What were you doin` girl? For a while it sounded like you had a man in here!"

Briefly I wondered how long she`d been out there, then I said, "Nothin.`"

"Nothin?` Look at you all hot and flustered. Looks like you `bin caught with your fingers in the honey pot!"

"Very funny. I was uhh.., just workin` off a bit of anger actually..., my dad really p****d me off down there."

She said nothing, but she`d caught the lie. "You gonna` tell your best friend what`s goin` on now girl?"

"I don`t know what you`re talkin` about." I couldn`t make eye contact with her right then.

She smiled, then laughed a little as she walked further into the room. "Chloe..., Chloe, Chloe, Chloe."

"Well done Chrissy! You remember my name!" I retorted, annoyed with all the attitude she was giving me.

"Give it up girl! We know you`re lyin`. Everybody `round here knows you ain`t tellin` the truth. So what`s your big secret....? What were you up to, and where did you go? Did you fly off somewhere and get those big `ol boobies of yours done?"

Her cruel words hurt me. I wanted to lash out back at her. I felt so wound up and stressed right then, I was barely managing to keep control of myself. But deep inside I knew this was just Chrissy`s way of getting me back for the pain I was causing her with my talk of leaving her. She was hurting, and this was her way of dealing with it. But it wasn`t pretty, our fights rare though they had been, seldom were.

"Cheap shot Chrissy!" I fired back at her.

"Girl you could at least have had the decency to buy yourself a bra...., `an then turnin up here naked after frightenin` us all to death for over a week. An` all for a new set of titties. I mean.....? Where`s your head at right now girl.....?" She shook her head to emphasise her point more.

I paused to make sure she was finished. "Are you done?"

She shrugged.

"Good," I said. "This is how it`s goin` to be Chrissy..., so listen good. I`m leavin` soon.., I can`t explain why to you or anybody. If I could tell anyone in the whole world it`d be you...., and I know you know that. You`re mad at me right now..., I get it!...., I don`t blame you for that, but I`m not gonna stand here and fight with you. I love you too much for that girl. If you need to vent your anger..., and again I understand why you would..., then please go somewhere else to do it." My voice started to crack as tears filled my eyes, "But today...., today don`t let us fight no more....,"

I turned my back and looked out the window. After a long moment I heard the door shut quietly behind me. I closed my eyes and said a silent thankyou to her. I turned and looked around the empty room. I locked the door after her and then lay face down on the bed and cried, and cried.

I stared at myself as I sat on the bed. Scales had appeared along my inner thighs and had spread until they covered the whole of my buttocks. Time was passing quickly for me as I waited. Eventually I put on the nicest dress I could find. I thought of spraying some deodrant on, but the thought of it on my skin repelled me now. There was a knock at the door and my father stood waiting for me. I smiled and stepped out as he held the door for me.

"Honey..., about earlier. I`m sorry I got so annoyed an` all. I didn`t mean to...., it`s just this last weeks bin` real tough. An` I`m sorry..."

"Forget it Daddy," I said. "Let`s not speak of it anymore tonight, there`s no....."

"Listen Sweetie...., it`s best I tell you now I guess. The harbour master and the police wanna` talk with you about your story. Tomorrow mornin`."

I nodded. Then I looked at him and said, "Fine. I`ve nothin` to hide."

He sighed deeply, "You sure `bout that now, Honey? Cos` if there`s somethin` you`re not tellin` me, an` I think there is...., then you gotta` tell me now so I can help you."

I held his gaze and said confidently, "I`m sure Daddy. Now stop frettin` an` let`s try to enjoy tonight shall we?"

He shook his head and shrugged, "Okay," he sighed, "if that`s what you want."

We rode the elevator down to the lobby and walked out to the patio restaurant. Chrissy and mom were already there each holding cigarettes. I looked at Chrissy and forced a smile. She did the same back. This was not the way I wanted tonight to go for us. Unsurprisingly after earlier things were a little strained. So there we were. Two best friends who`d fallen out, and my divorced parents who could barely tolerate each others company at the best of times.

I feigned a stomach ache and never touch a morsel of food all night. I sat drinking glassfuls of water to assuage my appetite for things I could never have here. Fortunately the others were drinking, and after a while they loosened up a little. Conversation began to flow a little more freely among them. I was feeling down though. Nothing could possibly lift my spirits tonight, I knew that. But the later it became the more the other three began to enjoy themselves. Tonight there was some noticeable hostility from some of the guests and staff towards us, myself in particular. I guess they had heard the rumours of the fraudster and fake amongst them. The service we recieved was truly awful. The wait between courses for the others was becoming longer and longer, hence the heavier drinking tonight.

Finally my moment came. Shakily I pushed my chair back from the table and said I was feeling a little poorly still and would be going to bed. I went to each one of them and kissed their cheeks. I whispered quietly in their ears that I loved everyone of them. When I came to Chrissy I could barely get my voice to sound.

"Chrissy...., I love you girl...., I love you so much."

I turned quickly from the table and walked briskly so they wouldn`t here my sobs. I reached my room and locked the door and broke down. I cried for what must have been an hour. "Chloe...., Chloe...., I`m sorry...., I`m sorry for your pain...., be brave Chloe...., be brave...."

I sniffed and in my mind said, "I`m trying....., but this is too much. This is so hard for me to take. Please tell me there`s another way...., I don`t want to leave them....., I love them....,"

"Chloe...., there is no other way...., it can`t be changed now...., you`ve been so strong Chloe, be brave for a little longer...., be brave."

I moved to the window and watched the three of them sat together. It really looked like they were having a good time and I sobbed through the smallest of smiles.

"Chloe...., come away from the window...., it does you no good to make this harder...., don`t torture yourself Chloe."

I took one last look at them and turned away.

My legs cramped and I fell to the floor. I was surprised and caught unawares. But I was grateful for the distraction from my heartache. I groaned aloud as the surge of feelings within me from the change soothed me. The sensual, erotic feelings I felt each time seemed to grow stronger the more it occurred. My legs began to fuse, and the voice returned.

"Don`t fight it Chloe...., enjoy it...., you are safe tonight...., enjoy it...., for tomorrow you will be more changed. Chloe..., there`s is no going back now...., the changes you sustain from now on...., they are permanent...., you are already forever altered...., soon you will be done with changing...., your destiny is assured...., Chloe you will soon be...., forever a mermaid...., you are becoming..... and you are becoming...., ever faster... ever closer Chloe..."

My mind swam as the implications of what she`d just said was absorbed into my mind. I would become a mermaid forever. My whole life would be spent as half fish. My legs would be gone forever. In there place a big, cold, scale covered fishes tail would adorn me, making my time on land awkward, my time at sea magical and free of all such constraints. I felt my womanhood tighten and pulse with the erotic charge my thoughts wired to it from my brain. I wasn`t sure if it was an orgasm or not. So much of my body was different and strange to me now I didn`t know what to make of any of it anymore. But I knew that felt good, and I knew I felt a sense of pure uninhibited excitement as my body spasmed, twitched and cramped as it returned me to my mermaid form.

I panted heavily on the floor as once again I was engulfed by the energy sapping exertion and sexual charge I had no choice but to succumb to. I was totally covered by the scales as my fish half elongated ever more, and then my feet unfolded themselves to the magnificenty big flukes that I`d soon carry upon me forever. My gills started working, and helped my overexerted lungs cope more easily with the collecting of the extra oxygen I needed to undergo my truly amazing metamorphosis. The whole room filled with my scent as with a sense of relief and relaxation my tail continued with the final changes and adjustments to me, that left the floor of the hotel room largely covered by the mermaids tail that adorned its now proud and contented owner. I knew now that I simply felt one hundred percent better with my tail than I did with legs. Was it all a part of the process that had been changing me from the moment I became lost at sea. I didn`t know. Maybe the voice did and one day she would tell how it all came to pass. But until then I would just be happy and content in the knowlege that this magnificent tail was all me, and was all mine now.

I filtered out the noise of the chatter coming from outside and in the distance I heard the low rumble of the occean crashing upon the shore. My nipples stiffened and stood erect proudly atop their swollen mounds. They`d parted with my change and their tips were wide open like the petal of a flower, almost like small mouths with lips poised for a kiss. They stood out half an inch from the rest of my breasts, long and rubbery, achingly waiting to be suckled. I tried to express my surprise in words, but the sound that escaped my mouth was a high pitched screech, too high I quickly realised for human ears to detect. My heart jolted and a surge of panic seized me momentarily.

"Chloe...., don`t be afraid...., don`t be alarmed. You can no longer speak the language of humans...., you are too much changed now...., you can talk to me within your mind....,"

"What...., what`s happened to my voice...., why can`t I talk now....?"

She giggled, "You are almost ready to leave Chloe...., the noise you made..., it`s your new voice...., you no longer need to communicate with humans...., your new voice will help you detect what`s around you in the occean Chloe...., the occean is calling you is`nt it.....? it`s calling you stronger than ever Chloe....,"

"Yes it is...., I can`t ignore it anymore...., I want it...., I want it more than anything in the world...."

"Yes you do...., but you must sleep for a while now...., when you awaken...., you must leave immediately...., follow every instinct you feel, Chloe...., do as your body bids you...., follow your desires Chloe..., the time of denying them is almost past...., it`s your time Chloe....." She giggled softly and she faded from my mind.

Day 14.

I woke early, very early. Night still just held sway over day as I stood and stretched my legs for the last time ever at the beginning of a new day. Scales that would adorn my body forever had replaced the flesh below my belly button. My abdomen, groin and bottom were now that of a fish. I gently touched the fresh changes. The now familiar feeling of the smooth, soft scales, chilled my fingertips with there cold blooded surfaces. My scent pervaded the still air of the room, the smell of the deep that I would now carry with me forever. But what did it matter now I was leaving the world of humans? Shortly, fragrances and perfumes would all be a thing of the past. I was on my way to something better, such trivial things were now of no consequence to me.

I slipped on a flimsy, light green dress, then retrieved the four notes I`d written from the bedside drawer and placed them on the vanity table. There were one each for my parents, one for Sara and, of course, one for Chrissy. I hesitated as I wondered whether I`d adequately managed to convey how much they all meant to me. I wondered if I`d been able to put across how final my goodbyes really were. There was little I could do now. The urge to leave, the call of the occean was much too strong in me. The feelings of remorse and regret I`d felt last night had diminished greatly and I felt a small amount of shame in how much easier it felt for me to leave them all behind forever this morning.

I silently closed the door of my room behind me and made my way to the stairs. I tried to avoid the security cameras in the lobby as best I could, but I had little doubt they`d at least provide a brief glimpse of my exit. As I passed the dining area I caught sight of the still empty tank I`d pinched the lobsters from the day before. I looked around quickly and walked over to it. In a final gesture of my dislike of their method of killing the lobsters I filled my lungs and screeched as hard as I could. The silence of the room remained, but to my ears it sounded like an express train had come crashing through the walls into the hotel. The glass of the tank shattered immediately. The water within burst forth onto the floor as I moved deftly away from its path. The glasses placed on the table ready for the coming days business all shattered with the tank and the stormproof windows of the building all shook but held firm. I smiled. No fresh lobster here for a while at least. As for the glasses? Well they were what might be called a little collateral damage.

I turned and made my way through the patio dining area to find the world was enshrouded by a thick mist which had rolled in off the sea and coated all the tables and chairs in its heavy moisture. I reached the top of the stairs where I`d emerged two short days ago seemingly back from the dead, and without hesitating started my descent to the sands below. I swiftly made my way along the deserted beach, past where I`d moored the boat on my return and further along the shore until I was well out of sight of any buildings and prying eyes. I continued to walk and my now long, sun bleached blonde hair flowed behind me as I picked up the pace as I was pulled ever more strongly to the waiting depths. I pulled off my dress as I breathed the occean deeply into my lungs. I let it slip from my fingers to the sands, walking on without breaking my stride. I felt the change starting in my legs, scales slowly began to form where there were none before and on I walked. The mist lifted as I found where I wanted to be. The sun had begun to rise, and its soft yellow hues, began to caress my body with their warmth. I looked behind me, half hoping to catch one last glimpse of the hotel which slept on with my loved ones within, but it was too far back down the beach by now. I turned back to the sea as it emerged from the mist to greet me. I breathed deeply of it and sat down ready to bid my legs goodbye forever.

I sighed blissfully as my final descent into life as a mermaid simply engulfed me and carried me away. I savoured every treasured moment of my final change. I never wanted to forget the sensations and magical feelings that filled my transition. I wanted to lock them in my head and recall them for the years to come. I groaned, moaned, panted and sighed as my body was pulled, twisted and contorted, changed and reshaped for my new life in the occeans. My legs had fused for the final time, scales, permanent scales, rapidly consumed the bronzed flesh of my legs. Their greeny blue sheen soon became dominant on my changing lower body. My gills gently emerged straddling my human flesh and my scaled fish half, then started to function healthily and easily in what seemed like a heartbeat to me lost as I was in my reverie. My pretty waist fins unfolded and shone transparent and prettily in the early morning light. My feet and ankles parted as my flukes simply unfolded, and grew and grew, their powerful majesty taking my breath away with them. My tail thickened and fattened, elongating all the time until my forming flukes slapped within the shallow waters of the surf. Scales spread denser than ever before over me. I could feel the increasing density of the part of me that was now totally and unalterably fish. My brain seemed to buzz as it felt like it was hot wiring itself to the instincts and psyche I would need to survive and flourish in the new world that awaited me.

My body continued to spasm and shudder as my changes went about finishing their work, until finally a wave of euphoria engulfed me and I knew deep within my very soul that I had crossed over from my old life to the new one. I took in the enormity of what had just passed as I panted and came to terms with my new body. I smiled then giggled as I finally accepted that I liked what had happened to me and what I`d become. I was a gorgeous mermaid with the most spectacular, amazingly big and beautiful tail ever. I admired myself indulgently taking in my majesty, hoping that I`d always feel as happy as I did now.

The sun shone down on me and I knew my time had come at last. I sat up and eased myself on to my stomach. My breasts hung heavily from my chest as I began to arch my back and pull my heavy new body toward the sea. The joy as the waves greeted me was indescribable. They washed over me and caressed me until I was finally plucked from the shore by the heaving tide. I dived beneath the surf and turned sharply to my left and followed the shelf of the shoreline until I broke surface directly in front of the hotel. I looked over its walls and windows to the rooms that I sought. I silently said, "I love you....." and lifted my hand to my lips and kissed it. I blew the kiss, and slowly let myself slip below the waves.

I thrust hard, then harder until I knew I`d put some distance between myself and the view of the hotel. Then with a loud screech and a huge thrust from my tail, I launched myself several feet above the surface and then dived powerfully down to the waiting depths. I surged onwards as powerfully as I could taking deep breaths, the oxygen coursing quickly through and around my gills. Onward I went until I felt my energy levels finally begin to dip. As I slowed in the water I screeched loudly. The information I sought was quickly fed back to me. I broke to my left and followed my hunting instincts. I smiled broadly as I powered into the most amazingly large school of fat, ripe fish. I fed and fed until my scaled abdomen was bloated, then I broke away and I surged onwards. I passed the natural beauty of the occean bed which stunned me. And I passed the distorted, twisted, and decaying remains of centuries of warfare, which even after their long repose on the seabed were still truly haunting. I regarded it all briefly in passing. I didn`t stop or pause to try to form any understanding of how circumstances could have been so extreme as to force humanity to inflict such horrors on themselves or the underwater world in the name of right and wrong. It was all beyond me. I let it slip from my mind as I pursued my longed for goal.

I was finally heading for home. At last....

Bursts of adrenaline coursed my body and I alternated between cruising, a simple effortless flick of my tail which still propelled me forward several feet at a time. And other times sheer joy and excitement took over me and I dived, climbed, rolled and turned overwhelmed by the extraordinarily fantastic way it felt to be a memaid, alone and free to do as I bid with my time. I fed regularly. Numerous opportunities presented themselves to me, and I hungrily accepted them. Two days of near starvation were forgotten as I gorged myself on the seemingly plentiful offerings around me.

As nightime fell I rose to the surface for the first time in many hours. I lay floating on my back taking in the unspoiled and undimmed spectacle of the heavens as they are meant to be viewed, with no neon pollution to detract from their perfection. Nothing stirred aside the gentle wallowing sea whose currents carried my body further and further from land and mankind, taking me steadily on my journey to where my heart and happines lay. I dozed. It wasn`t deep sleep, but it served the same purpose, it rejuvenated and energised me again. It restored my alertness, and I was soon diving in the dark depths of the nights occean, sensing, exploring, learning and feeding as I wasted not one ounce of energy in futile chases. Instead I used  the experience I was now accumulating to plan and time my attacks to an efficient, energy conserving optimum.

Well fed and content I returned to the surface and let myself drift with the current. My heart skipped with happiness as I was gradually consumed by an early morning mist. Instinct told me it was the mist that had greeted me on my original journey on the boat. It was the mist that guarded, protected and concealed my beloved island. I was getting closer and closer to home.

Day 15.

For the whole of the day I was enshrouded by the thick, rolling and concealing mist. Beneath the surface it was darker and colder, made so by how effectively the mist blocked the sun. The plant and fish life were different as well, further convincing me the mist was not just a seldom occurence here, but a permanent screen, that effectively prevented anyone or anything from seeing beyond it. I smiled broadly at how well my new world would be hidden. My safety and security it seemed would be something I need not fear for.

I hunted and ate the different species of fish that I encountered and whom habitated this part of the occean. Each type had a unique taste, my mind storing the information of which kind I`d found tasty, and which kind I`d be avoiding in future. There was so much to learn in this new underwater world. I felt it would take me the rest of my days before I even accumulated a tenth of the information that I may have needed before I could call myself proficient in my knowledge of the sea.

Nightfall came almost unnoticed by me so thoroughly had the mist hidden the day. And once more I floated gently on the surface. Sleeping but not completely. Always wary, always alert for potential predators. My brain formed imaginary pictures of all that was around me. Nothing went unnoticed no matter how mundane. I had sensed, but not seen sharks several times. Undoubtedly they were going to pose the largest threat to me now I was free from the gaze of mankind. Possibly whales as well, though I`d not yet encountered anything approaching the size of them on the returning soundwaves that echoed back to me each time I screeched to form the radar like images in my senses.

                                                To Be Continued....