Chapter Fifteen

I stretched across my bed as I opened my eyes in the morning son that shone brightly through my window. I smiled, jumping out of bed and getting dressed. I pulled my long red hair into a ponytail as I walked out of my room to the kitchen. It was surprisingly empty. My aunt was usually messing with things in the morning, but the whole house seemed empty.

"Hello?" I called, looking around. No one was home besides me. When I turned to the fridge to look for food, I saw a note. ~GO TO THE BEACH -Aunt Mary~ I smiled, running out of the house. I didn't see anyone on the beach as I approached, but I still went. On a 'No Lifeguards On Duty' sign, I saw another note. ~GO TO THE STORE -Uncle~

"Really?" I huffed. I turned around, running into town. I jumped across the road, narrowly dodging a passing car. I looked around. "Which store?" I looked at the closest one then to the left where I saw another. The last one was up on a tall hill where there was a tall cliff. I went to the closest store, which was a small convenience store.

"Hi! Were you given any notes?" I panted, my face hot from the heat. The man behind the register smiled and handed me a ripped piece of paper. ~WRONG STORE -Jason~ "Of course he is a part of this." I scowled. I ran to the next store a few blocks from this one. I received a similar note and frowned. I walked out, looking up at the large hill to the last store. It was a jewelry store. I hissed to myself then started up the hill. By the time I made it up the hill, ten minutes had passed.

"Hello." I gulped. My throat was dry. The store manager smiled at me. "Do... do you have any notes?" I put my hands on my knees, breathing heavily. He pulled a piece of paper out. ~FIND THE BOTTLE OF WATER IN THE STORE -Aunt~ I turned around, looking at all the shelves. On the opposite side of the store was a bottle of water on a glass counter. I could see the water droplets sliding down the plastic sides. I walked over, seeing a paper next to it. The ink on the paper was smudged from the condensation that slid down the bottle and onto the glass it sat on. ~DRINK THEN FIND THE BLUE TITANIUM BOX -Jason~ I gulped down the water then threw the bottle away. I looked at each shelf and in each glass case carefully. I didn't find any blue boxes. Frustrated, I looked up. Above me was a thick, rope, net hanging from the ceiling. In the spaces between the rope, I could see a shiny, blue, box. I climbed onto the nearest shelf, reaching into the net and grabbing the little box. There was another note taped to it. ~I HAVE A FLOOR, BUT I'M NOT A ROOM. I WAVE, BUT I HAVE NO HAND. I'M WET, BUT I AM NOT A TOWEL. WHAT AM I? -Uncle~

"A riddle?" I studied the words, confused. "I have a floor... but I'm not a room." I sighed, walking outside.

"I wave, but I have no hand? I'm wet, but I am not a towel...." I looked around, seeing the miles of blue ocean behind The Jewelry Store. "The ocean!" I laughed, shoving the note in the outside trash. I went to the edge of the cliff, seeing a sign. The sign originally said 'Jump at your own risk.' Now there was a paper on it. ~JUMP IN!~

"Oh, great." I looked down the cliff to the waves that crashed against the tall rock wall. That was at least a four story drop. I exhaled deeply, stepping back. I had to make sure I wouldn't hit the wall. I grasped the little blue box tighter. With all my strength, I lunged from the cliff's edge. The wind rushed past me, my heart dropping with my body. I let out a panicked scream. Shifting in the air, I dived towards the water. I pulled my hand past me, the water lifting towards me and incasing me gently. The water was cold against my hot skin. It felt refreshing, like I had sipped fresh lemonade after doing yard work. When my eyes adjusted, I saw small jellyfish that lite up a path in all different colors. They made an arch on the sea floor like a pathway with ivy above it in smooth domes. A sea otter swam in front of me, snapping me out of my awe. The lights were so beautiful.

"Please follow me." The otter chirped. He was large and brown with a white mark on his chest that looked like a bow. I swam after him, looking at the jellyfish as we passed. Two miles later, we came to a small field of large clams. There were small ones and large ones and the huge ones were in the back. It looked like they had lips.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" They sang in all ranges. I smiled happily, moving my tail as the otter lead me behind the field field of seaweed and kelp that stood tall and very green. It was the most seaweed I had seen in one place. The green was so vibrant in the water. We stopped and I looked around. Suddenly, I saw Jason in the field. He swam to me, wearing a nice blue shirt and matching dress pants. His black hair was loose in the current and I noticed he had one hand behind his back.

"Happy birthday." He kissed me then handed me a bouquet of sea flowers. They changed colors like a color changing light.

"Wow." I gasped, touching them lightly with my fingertips. He took my hand and lead me to the surface. My uncle's boat raced over, stopping near us. It was decorated with balloons and birthday things like shiny ribbons.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" My aunt and uncle cheered. I smiled and Jason lifted me out of the water. I changed so I had legs and stepped onto the boat's platform then hugged them as he climbed on.

"This is awesome. Thank you."