Internet 24

Through Marcy’s Eyes

Lou stands there, but nothing happens. By now, she is wondering why her lips aren’t warm, why she doesn’t feel the magic. Then she looks at her empty hand. The same one she uses to catch my fist.

MARCY

I knew I couldn’t beat you in a fight. But I wasn’t trying to beat you.

My lips burn, and my tongue tingles as I speak.

MARCY

Lou, don’t kill that man and free Manny.

I feel the golden flames spark as I stand back up, holding the paper. Lou follows the order and drops Adam, and the bubble around his head turns into a puddle on the ground. He gasps for air but then gags as the water in his lungs flows out of his mouth. The coral retreats to the ground, and Manny rushes to Adam’s side.

Kate walks toward me. Her smile was warm, and the rage in her eyes was fading.

KATE

I know this is bad, but you must see this is for the best.

All I wanted was for Lou not to hurt you. We can keep being together.

Side by side, and I’ll help you find someone new.

We can get what we want. No broken contracts, no one loses.

We got each other’s back.

MARCY

Do you even know what I want?

Kate is silent. As I thought. I rip the paper, and it bursts into a golden ball of fire. It floats up into the air, spinning at high speeds. That question hurt more than any of her punches. Golden fire erupts out of Lou’s eyes and mouth as he screams in pain.

The fireflies toward the ball. The golden light glows brighter as the flames enter its rotation. In a sudden flash, the ball is gone. Lou’s body relaxes as he lowers. I can hear him breathing from here.

KATE

YOU IDIOTS! If you did what I said. You could have been happy.

MARCY

If you wanted that, you should have listened to how I felt. Not forced yourself on me.

A light fog fills the café. The longer she speaks, the denser it becomes. The storm raging outside quiets. It’s not that it’s no longer raining, but as if the fog is separating the cafe from the rest of the world. The cracking of boons and flesh stretching egos in the fog. A groan became a growl. Kate notices none of this. She is in her own world, yelling at me.

KATE

I’m the only one who knows what’s right.

You kept making stupid decisions one after one. You sold him a piece of you.

No matter the reason, that’s stupid.

You never knew what was best for you.

I know what’s best. I only wanted to protect you.

An arm as thick as a log adorned in teal fish scales with speckles of gold. Coral nails as black as tar grabs onto Kate’s shoulder. Breaching the fog is a form I have rarely seen. A sight Lou only takes when he is in his homeland with his family. The monster of the deep. Standing behind Kate, towering at eight feet, is Lou’s true form.

His body is thick with muscles and filled with scales. His upper body is decorated in scars from those foolish enough to think they can hunt him down or break a contract. He wears them with honor, remembering every face that gave him the wound.

He has two patches on his neck made of pearls that hide his gills. Three horns made of Coral growing out of his forehead. His eyes burn bright red, and his face looks nothing like the Lou we knew. The rows of shark teeth fill the enlarged mouth.

There is a reason he doesn’t show humans this form, as it tends to be their last sight.

Kate turns and sees what she provoked. She tries to take a step back, but Lou tightens his grip. A flurry of bubbles hit Lou’s face, spreading their toxin into his body. Kate goes pale as the bubbles have no effect.

The fog develops them, and the room goes pitch black. Echoing in the darkness is a sound I will never forget.

Kate’s final screams.