Pearl and I went down to the tavern for breakfast, taking a seat at the Captains’ table. Dr. Wén was present this time, sitting beside Mateo.

Pearl and I took our seats and the captains shot us a congratulatory look.

Dear lord, did they think…

“So Pearl” said Wén “I’ve been meaning to ask about your curse.”

Pearl looked to the side avoidantly “To be honest, I don’t really remember all that much.”

Pearl was weary of the doctor, he meant well, but in his curiosity, he had asked to examine her when she first arrived to learn more about her kind. I had been the one to ask him to back off.

“I’m very curious as to how these sorts of things could happen. You must have some idea of how you were cursed in the first place.”

“It’s really very fuzzy.” said Pearl “can we talk about something else?”

“Certainly.” said Wén, smiling “My apologies.”

“So,” asked Mateo “what’s on the agenda for today?”

“Just shopping and r and r, same as yesterday.” said Rose. “Feel free to explore the town as you like.” she said, turning back to Pearl.

“Anfang, did you have any specific plans?” asked Mateo

“Well I do have my go set.” Wén said

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said “for some reason I was sure your name was Wén.”

“It is.” he said “It’s my family name.”

‘Oh.’ I thought, “Should I call you Anfang as well?”

“No.” he said firmly with a cheery smile

Mateo looked about as confused as I was before turning back to him. “You know I’m no good at go.”

“I’ve got dominoes.” Wén said.

“I’ll challenge you to pai gow.” said Mateo.

“I’d like to explore the beach.” said Pearl. “You’ll come with me, won’t you, Abigail?”

Another date? “Of course.” I said.

The beaches on this island were beautiful as ever.

But when we first arrived on the sandy shore, she almost seemed to be steeling her nerves, psyching herself up.

It passed quickly though and again, I watched Pearl flit around with delight, chasing after crabs and gulls trying to catch them and “make friends.”

“There’s so much wildlife here!” she cried.

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I couldn’t help but laugh along with her at the antics of the greedy seagulls and brawling crabs.

“I think I’m going to go for a swim.” she said standing and stretching. “I’ve never been out of water for this long, I’m starting to feel somewhat dry and I think I need to be in my regular form again.”

“Don’t stop on my account.” I said

Before knew it Pearl was taking off her borrowed clothes.

I blushed and looked away as she stripped down to nothing. Of course she would need to do this to transform without ruining her clothes.

I heard a splash and turned back to see Pearl, covered up by the water and waving at me.

“The water feels great! Wanna join in?”

“No thank you!” I called. I had always loved the beach and the ocean, but I was never a very strong swimmer. Perhaps that was why I liked sailing so much.

As I watched her, I realized I had never seen her swim. Just like the octopi she resembled so much, she would propel herself using jets of water from the tubelike holes at her waist. I couldn’t help but wonder if she could shoot ink as well, but that train of thought was…odd, so I stopped.

Suddenly I heard voices.

“Keep searching. Comb the whole island if you have to!”

“Pearl, hide.” I said

She dove into the water.

There was something about that voice, something familiar that sent a chill down my spine.

A group of men emerged from the jungle farther down the beach. The leader of the group was turning his head, looking around.

He stopped when he saw me.

I froze. That wasn’t him. It couldn’t be him.

The man ran towards me. “Abigail?! Egads, where have you been?!”

By the time my good sense returned to me and I thought to run, he was already upon me.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, darling.” he said brushing a hand through my hair.

I wanted to vomit.

“Dearl lord, what on earth did they do to you?”

I smacked his hand away and quickly his other was clamped on my wrist.

“How DARE you? And after I’ve come all this way to come find you?”

“I’m not going back, Alexander.”

His eyes widened before going cold. “You little bitch, you weren’t taken, you ran away! I suspected as much, this is just like you, but I never thought you’d take things this far.”

The other men around me began closing in.

“This little game of yours ends now, whether you like it or not.”

Suddenly the water erupted with tentacles, seafoam green and the size of tree trunks. A bulbous mantel rose above the water, covered in monstrous eyes.

Oh no.

“What on earth-“

Alexander was grabbed and promptly hurled into a nearby tree with a sickening crack.

“Get her!” he choked out.

I quickly shook off my shock and grabbed my sword.

Before I could do anything the monster? Pearl? Grabbed Alexander’s men and flung them into the sea.

Cautiously I glanced back to the thing in the water that may or may not still be my girlfriend, but all I saw was a bright flash of light. Then there was Pearl, back in her human form about to faint.

I caught her, grabbing her clothes as well.

“We need to go. Now.”

She nodded weakly.

I ran into the woods as far and as fast as I could with her leaning on me.

We stopped so she could dress and headed back to town as fast as we could.