Synopsis
Four characters. Two cars. One merdude.
Excerpt
"Ugh," she grunted. “The never-ending nightmare.”
A soft voice drifted into the room from the bathroom, and Lucy crawled from the massive bed. Her movements tugged at the covers, and Johnny's towel had dislodged during the night. Lucy rounded the bed and shook Johnny. He opened his eyes slightly. “You're naked again,” she said. He groaned and rolled over, pulling the sheets over him and ignoring her. Lucy shrugged and padded to the bathroom.
Miranda was in the jacuzzi, a towel wrapped around her tightly. They'd have to get swimsuits. Lucy forced the random thought back, surprised at it. She shouldn't be thinking long term. Miranda wouldn't force them to help her.
Ned rose above the surface, wet, dark hair slicked back from his face. For a brief moment, he appeared human from what Lucy could see. Then, he turned to her and she started. His eyes were black, with no hint of white around the edges like normal people. That must be why he wore sunglasses.
“He has a sensitivity to light, obviously,” Miranda said, seeing Lucy stare. The tips of her hair were soaked, but she hadn't completely submerged herself. It gave her hair the strange, matted appearance of dreadlocks. “The ocean filters light from the sun. He has exceptional night vision.”
“Obviously,” Lucy agreed, struggling to find words to comprehend the situation. Merman. There was a merman in the bathtub. “Does he speak?”
“He echo-locates,” Miranda said. “Which sounds like singing to us, but is effectively useless for communication. Translating it has proven almost impossible. Humans just can't make the same sounds. He gets frustrated listening to us try.” She turned to him. “Can you give Lucy your name?”
Ned glanced at Lucy and sank low in the water, till it covered his nose and mouth. He closed his horrible black eyes and a trilling rippled the surface of the water. Lucy took a step back, hitting the wall of the room in her shock.
“He understands a good deal, but I haven't had a chance to teach him how to communicate back,” Miranda said as Ned rose. “I'm not sure what the most effective way to do that is. His vocal chords aren't exactly set up like ours.”
