WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 50: There is a Secret

Chapter 50: There is a Secret

"Are there mermaids in this school? I thought they did not exist," Louie said.

Myles furrowed his brows. "You are a wizard. How can you think that way?"

"Because I am not even sure I am one. How come I don’t have any powers yet?" Louie asked.

"Maybe your time has not come. When it comes, you will manifest it."

Louie rolled his eyes. While growing up, he always felt he was a bit different from other children until he found out he was a wizard, but he manifested no power.

That made him doubt if he really was a wizard like the rest of his family.

The first time he found out their families were wizards and witches, he laughed so hard that his stomach hurt.

Louie had thought it was a joke, but the seriousness on his parents’ faces when they told him made him realize he could be one. He was thirteen when they told him, and he was supposed to manifest his power at thirteen, but now he is sixteen, to be seventeen tomorrow, and he has no power to prove he is a wizard.

Maybe he is different from his family members. He had thought so many times, though his parents assured him that it sometimes happens that way.

Myles flicked his finger across Louie’s face, and he blinked.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked.

Louie shrugged. He has a lot on his mind. The thought of mermaids attending the same school with him. And also the thought of him not being a wizard.

"So what are we supposed to do with him?" He asked, pointing at Alan. "And the weather, too. Look at the students. How long would they be like this?"

"I don’t know. We can only hope it ends quickly," Myles answered. "But our job is to make sure none of the students remember what happened."

"You mean your job. I do not have any wizard power to help out."

Myles smiled. "I think you can help out in other ways."

"How?" Louie furrowed his brows.

"How about you go find out where the light is coming from? I think the bluestone is somewhere close, and someone is using it. You need to find out who."

"And what am I supposed to do when I find out?"

Myles shrugged. "I don’t know. You have to find that out yourself."

Louie frowned. How is he supposed to do that? What if they try to hurt him for finding out their secret? What will happen to him?

"Don’t worry. They won’t hurt you. Mermaids don’t hurt. Some hurt, though, but..." Myles shrugged. "Well, I don’t know if the ones you are about to meet will hurt you. I..."

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Louie asked, almost in a yell. "You want me to go after the people that would hurt me?"

"That is not what I meant, Louie. I just think you will be the best person to go."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because the people I suspect are mermaids are people you know. Maybe your friends."

How is that possible? Louie wondered. The only friend he has is Rhea, and she is not a mermaid. She loves mermaid stories, though. Louie furrowed his brows. Could Rhea be one? He shook his head. He doesn’t believe that. Maybe it’s Maia or April. He did feel strange when he first met with them, but he thought it was nothing.

"I am not going," Louie answered. "I am not risking...."

"You are not risking anything, Louie. Don’t be a coward."

Louie frowned. "Why don’t you go do that yourself."

"I have to stay back here and..."

"I will stay back," Louie answered quickly.

"Louie, go." Myles waved. "We both know you can’t stay back. And you can never tell who you will meet."

Louie sighed. He can’t change Myles’ mind.

"Fine! I will go. But if anything happens to me. You..."

"Stop making assumptions. Nothing will happen to you."

Louie left the class and walked down the hallway. He had to put on his phone’s light because it was dark. There wasn’t any sign of the light from the bluestone, and Louie was beginning to doubt if the bluestone was actually in the school.

Maybe the stone is with Alan. Louie thought.

He was out of the school building soon, and he saw the light. It was coming from the clinic.

Could Leslie be the mermaid holding the bluestone? Louie wondered. He moved closer to the clinic door but stopped. What is he going to tell her? He has nothing to say. He turned. It is better to leave. Louie took a few steps and stopped. It is now or never.

He raised his hand to knock on the door but stopped. He needs to catch them red-handed. He opened the door instead and walked in. Louie stopped on his track. In front of him was seated, Leslie and Reece.

Louie furrowed his brows. What is going on?

He could see blue light coming out of Reece’s hand. Louie began to wonder what was going on.

Leslie opened her eyes. She could feel Louie’s presence. She stared at him and smiled. Louie became scared.

What if Leslie tries to hurt him for finding out her secret?

"I did not see anything," Louie muttered.

He turned quickly and made for the door. Leslie removed her fingers from Reece’s hand. The transmission process is completed.

"You don’t need to go, Louie. And you should not be afraid of me either," Leslie said.

Reece, who had been listening to their conversation but had kept his eyes closed because he did not want to alter the process, opened his eyes.

Leslie had taken her fingers off his wrist; he suspected the process was over. He turned to look at Louie, who remained on his spot.

"What do you want to do with him?" He whispered to Leslie.

"Nothing," Leslie answered. "He is a wizard, after all."

Louie was surprised Leslie knew he was a wizard.

"How... How did you know?" He asked.

Leslie smiled. "You do not have to know that. Do you? Are you here to see Rhea, or are you curious about what is going on?"

Louie sighed. He was indeed curious to know what was going on, but he couldn’t let Leslie know that.

What if she tries to hurt him after finding out?

"I came to see Rhea," he answered.

"That’s a lie," Reece answered. "You are curious to know what is going on."

Louie swallowed nothing down his throat. Since they know the truth, he shouldn’t lie to them.

He nodded. "Fine. I was curious. But I am no longer curious. I did not see..."

"Come sit," Leslie said. "It will take a while before the dark clouds clear off. You can ask all your questions."

Louie shook his head. He can’t trust any of them.

"No, thanks. I do not have any questions. Can I see Rhea?"

"Why do you want to see Rhea?" Reece asked.

"She is my friend," Louie answered.

He needs to make sure whatever they have done has not affected her.

"Do you think we will hurt her?" Reece asked.

Louie shrugged slightly. "I did not say that. Just let me see her."

Leslie nodded. "Go on."

Louie headed to the bed Rhea was lying on. He kept looking behind him for fear that they might try to hurt him.

Rhea, who had heard the conversation between Louie, Reece, and Leslie, lay down quickly.

She could tell Louie doesn’t know who she is yet. She doesn’t want him to know now. She doesn’t know what his reaction toward her would be when he found out.

Louie walked in. He saw Celia beside Rhea sleeping. Rhea seems to be sleeping, too. Louie noticed Celia wasn’t breathing, but Rhea was.

What is going on? He wondered. Why isn’t Rhea affected by the bluestone?

He moved closer to her. "Rhea?" He called, but she gave no reply.

Louie decided to sit beside her. He noticed Rhea had suddenly stopped breathing, and he was shocked.

He saw her breathing just a few minutes ago. What is going on?

"Rhea?" He called again, but there was no answer.

Louie became scared and stood up quickly, but after a few thoughts, he decided not to be.

Maybe he had seen it wrong in the first place; Rhea wasn’t breathing.

He sat down beside her and sighed. "Rhea, a lot is happening in school now. You will not believe the mermaids you love exist..." He bent slightly to whisper to her ear. "Leslie is one of them." He sat up again. "I am not sure yet, but I will find out." He sighed. "There is a lot I want to tell you, but I can’t say it here. You can’t hear me, either. I hope these clouds clear up quickly and..."

Louie blinked. Rhea just breathed again! He moved away from her.

Could he be seeing things? He stared at Celia, and she was indeed frozen. What is going on?

Louie moved closer to Celia to see if she was breathing at intervals, just like Rhea. He stood beside her for a while but saw no sign.

He decided to check her temperature. It was cold. Louie returned to check Rhea’s, and it was warm.

Is Rhea pretending to be affected?How is it possible to hold her breath for a long time and release it at intervals? Could she be a mermaid, too? But Maia is, too, yet she is affectedby the stone. Who is Rhea? He thought.

Louie begins to suspect that Rhea has a secret she is hiding from him.

But what is the secret?!