Chapter 3The Train to Farewell

I was awakened by my phone ringing.

By the time I opened my eyes, the ringing had stopped. I was in a crude medical facility with an IV drip of saline hooked to my hand.

I picked up my phone to find seven or eight missed calls from Terry.

I stared at the screen for a moment before calling back.

He answered almost instantly. "Neri, why didn't you answer? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

My eyes welled with tears, my throat raw as sand. "I passed out from dehydration..."

"Amara isn't doing well right now. She needs a blood transfusion," Terry interrupted, his voice frantic. "Your blood type is rare and matches hers. I already booked your flight back. Get to the airport immediately."

My limbs went numb.

The phone slipped from my fingers, clattering onto the bed.

Not hearing a response, Terry's voice grew stern. "Nerissa, did you hear me? Don't waste time, Amara can't wait."

I licked my dry, cracked lips and finally managed a raspy whisper. "Okay."

The screen went black, reflecting a haggard face I barely recognized as my own.

When I walked into the hospital, my steps were unsteady. The nurse took one look at my damaged skin and frowned. "Your veins are too collapsed from severe dehydration. You aren't fit to donate blood."

Before I could speak, Terry walked in, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Do it anyway."

As the needle pierced my skin, I closed my eyes.

The blood flowed through the plastic tube, carrying my remaining life with it.

The first time I met Terry on land, he had been lying in a pool of his own blood. I had sliced open my wrist to let my mermaid blood flow into his mouth to save him.

When he woke up, he held my hand and swore, "My life belongs to you now. I will cherish you forever."

He had promised to keep my secret. Now, he was draining my life to save his adoptive sister.

"Mr. Drake, Miss Amara's condition has stabilized. We can stop the transfusion now."

The voice sounded like it was coming from a great distance. I couldn't hear clearly.

I only saw Terry look at me, a sudden look of shock freezing his features. But he quickly looked away, his voice still tense. "Keep drawing. Just in case."

The moonlight seeped through the blinds. It wasn't the full moon yet, but I could hear the sea drying up inside my veins.

When it was finally over, I pushed myself up from the chair. My legs buckled.

The skin on the back of my hand peeled away, exposing grey, dead tissue underneath. But no one noticed.

Terry let out a sigh of relief, his gaze softening as he looked at me. I didn't look back. I forced myself to walk out, concentrating every ounce of my energy just to keep from collapsing.

Near the exit, I ran into Amara. She gave me a weak smile. "Thank you, Nerissa. Terry told me your blood is special and could save me. He'd do anything to keep me safe. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble."

Terry held her up, murmuring, "Why aren't you resting in bed?"

I bit my tongue to keep myself conscious. Ignoring them, I dragged myself back to the villa alone.

I turned on every faucet in the bathroom and tumbled into the tub.

Only then did the rapid drain on my life slow down.

Looking at my reflection in the water, I saw cracks running across my skin like a dry riverbed. My eyes were sunken, my skin grey and dull.

I tried to cover it with my hair, but clumps of it broke off from the roots, floating away in the water.

A wave of panic seized me.

I scrambled out of the tub and threw on every layer of clothing I could find, wrapping myself completely to hide my decaying body.

Hours later, Terry returned with Amara and a few of his friends.

Seeing the heavy curtains drawn, blocking out all light, one of his friends joked, "Is your girl putting on a surprise for you, Terry?"

"Or maybe she's playing hide-and-seek. The wedding is tomorrow, after all!"

Terry’s face darkened as he threw open the doors. Finally, in the last room, they found me curled into a tight ball in the corner.

"What are you doing now?" he snapped, walking over to tear the heavy layers of clothing away.

When my body was exposed to the light, Terry froze.

The room fell into a dead silence.