Chapter Five: Mermaid On The Island.

*:･°✧* 𓆝 𓇼 ⋆｡˚ 𓆝 ˚｡⋆ 𓇼𓆟 *✧*:･°

The sun had long gone down, and with it went most of the money in his account. Wayne stared at his bank balance. Two hundred and fifty dollars. He let out a dry laugh. He had never seen his bank account look so…empty. So, this was how poverty felt.

“Wayne…” A hand landed on his shoulder. He turned to see Butter grinning at him, cheeks flushed.

“Thank God you are back alive. We were all so worried about you.” Butter swayed slightly, even after having just one drink and that’s when he saw it as an opportunity to butter him up.

“Thank you so much for worrying about me. I really appreciate it. And about how I acted to you three days ago, I’m really sorry. I hope we can get along from now on.”

Butter squinted at him. “You were a bit rude. But at the same time I understood where you were coming from. It can be a little hard to settle in an unfamiliar place. But don’t worry.” He waved a hand, “I’ve moved past it.”

Wayne stared at him. Before he could say anything else, Butter hopped onto a chair. “Everyone, a toast to Wayne for coming back alive.”

The crowd cheered. “To Wayne…” Their glasses clicked around the bar. Wayne raised his own and smiled until his cheeks ached. As the others took a sip, he could barely drink. He was internally weeping about his bank balance.

At least he had settled one person. Two more to go.

He turned to Cupcake. Her face had cycled through all shades of red. “Your hair color really suits you. I mean it.”

She looked at him, her eyes barely open. “You’re being nice to me? That’s new.”

“I’m always nice.” Wayne’s smile twitched. “Within reason.”

“Hmmmm.” She held his gaze for a while, before talking. “I have a question.”

“Go on, Cupcake. We’re listening,” Nessa said.

“Don’t you think it’s weird that we couldn’t find you for three days. Then suddenly you turned up on the other side of the island.”

Wayne lifted his shoulder. “I guess we have the storm to thank for that.”

Cupckae leaned closer. “And the lady who saved you, said she found you shielded by rocks close to a cave. What are the odds?”

Nessa’s gaze narrowed. “What are you suggesting? That Wayne is some kind of alien freak?”

Cupcake shook her head. “Not really. I think he was rescued by a mermaid.”

Something prickled at the back of his neck. He ignored it. “Okay,”

“Okay?” Cupcake asked offended. “Think about it. You have no memory of the accident because the mermaid erased it. That’s the only explanation.”

Nessa chuckled. “Not going to lie, you kinda had me for a sec.”

“I’m being serious. Haven’t you read the history of this island?” She continued. “Mermaids used to roam the seas, spreading misfortune to those who crossed their paths.”

Wayne swallowed. “So are you saying I’m cursed?”

“You might be.”

He fell silent. He didn’t believe in any of her mumbo jumbo, but then he thought about it. He had been gone for three days, and he couldn’t remember a single thing after the fall. The next thing he remembered was waking up to a lady and her son.

How did he survive all that time? He didn’t want to admit it, but it bothered him more than he expected. And the look in Cupcake’s eyes sent a chill down his spine.

“Alright, enough with the folklore stuff.” Nessa stood. “It’s late. Time to go.”

Butter, who had been silently dozing off, lifted up his head. “I’ll drive.”

“No, lightweight.” Wayne shook his head. “All of you had a drink or two, so I’ll drive. Nessa can take the wheel after I get home.”

After dropping everyone else off, Wayne pulled over and switched places with Nessa. They exchanged numbers, before he headed toward the cabin.

He had barely taken a few steps when the breeze began to change. The air felt cooler against his skin as he looked at the darkening sky, wondering if it was because the island was in the middle of the ocean or if it simply rained often at Davenport.

Either way, he didn’t care. He was just glad he was finally home. He pushed the door open, and his eyes widened at the mess in front of him.

His things were all over the place. His grandma had sent someone to clean up, so why the mess?

Then, it clicked. He had been robbed. He searched through his things, checking the drawers first. His watches. His headphones, and even his clothes. They were all there.

Nothing seemed to be missing. Then he noticed his kitchen. Food smeared all over the floors and empty sachets scattered all around.

Were the theives hungry?

He grabbed a broomstick to clean his messy kitchen, when he heard a loud thud. His body stiffened, as he dropped the broom and frantically searched through the kitchen for something better. His hands closed in on a frying pan, then he approached the closet from whence the sound came. He paused then swung the door open, raising the pan above his head. Before he could react, a leg shot out from inside the closet, landing a kick squarely against his chest.

Wayne flew backward. His head slammed against the wall as everything went black. The next time he opened his eyes, he heard chewing from a figure which sat a few feet away, completely absorbed in whatever it was eating.

The figure stopped when it noticed he was awake. It turned and he froze. It was a girl. Her long dark blonde blue-tipped hair fell around her shoulders. Her face was smeared with food as traces of it clung to her fingers. She licked them clean, like she had never tasted anything like it.

Wayne’s gaze dropped and saw she was wearing his expensive Louis Vuitton sweater, which was now stained with the food on her hand. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He scoffed in disbelief.

The girl moved closer and Wayne pressed his back against the wall. His phone sat on the kitchen counter, just within his reach. He ran and grabbed it, holding it out.

“Haha. Stay back or I’m calling the police.”

The girl didn’t move. Instead, her gaze was fixed on the phone. She slowly stepped closer then reached for it.

“Hey…that’s mine.” He yelled, trying to get it back, but she caught his wrist, gripping it tightly as pain shot up his arm. “Oww!!! Let go of me.”

She was strong. Really strong. He hadn’t even realised when he had gotten on his knees. “Okay, Okay! You can have the phone. Just let me go.”

She released him, as he rubbed his wrist. The girl moved to the sofa, examining the phone from every angle, like she had never seen one before.

She pressed the screen with one finger, then pulled back like it might attack. She tried to bite it and Wayne moved to stop her. That’s when the phone rang. She jumped, dropped it and dove behind the sofa.

Wayne’s brows lifted. Did she just run because the phone rang?

He rushed to pick it up, while she peered from behind the sofa. It was Nessa.

“Nessa. Call the police now.” He didn’t even wait for her to speak.

“What do you mean? Are you o—”

“Just call the police to the cabin right now…”

“Okay. On it.”

The call ended but not his ring tone. He had noticed how she feared the sound. Wayne played it again and again to keep the strange girl behind the sofa. But something in his chest twinged anytime she flinched. It didn’t take long for Nessa and two officers to arrive. The chief of police, a broad man named Drew, gestured Wayne outside for questioning.

“Did she steal or damage anything?”

“Well just my food.” He glanced at her. “Then my sweater, I don’t think there is anything else.”

The other police handcuffed the girl, as Nessa walked over. “Poor girl. She looks homeless.”

Wayne’s expression dropped. Poor girl? He was the one assaulted in his own home.

“She doesn’t look like she’s from the island, but we’ll do everything to find out who she is.” He turned to Wayne. “About your sweater, you’ll have to lend it to her for a while. Apparently she isn’t wearing anything underneath.”

“Thanks, Drew. And sorry for bothering you,” Nessa said.

“Don’t worry about it. Duncan’s done a lot for everyone around here.” He leaned closer to Nessa. “Just make sure to put in a good word for me.”

“Sure, future Town’s head.” She smiled.

The officer led the girl toward the car. Wayne watched her pass, then their eyes met. Crystal blue. He froze. Something about those eyes felt familiar. Where has he seen them? The girl stared at him, her lips pressed into a thin line.

He took a step toward the cabin, then he heard a faint voice.

[After saving his life, this is how he treats me?]

Wayne paused. “What did you say?”