I had turned back from fish to mermaid while still inside the pelican’s body and had exploded the wretched beast in the process. I retched and vomited on the side, polluting my bloody water with bile.
I had to get out of here.
I turned around, towards my home. I needed a bath, if only to wash out the gore that stained my skin and scales. I started pulling myself forward, using my thumbs as anchors, the only part of me that still could when a now familiar burning ache made itself known in my throat. My gills were wheezing, obviously not well adapted to land. I had nostrils but still couldn’t breathe air? You had to be kidding me!
I gulped in air as much as I could, grimacing at the pain that flared in my neck as I went. My goal was still the same, although not for the same reason : hit the bathtub. I would have marvelled at the weight I could sustain with these two thumbs of mine had i not been suffocating: I was able to haul my body quickly enough, reaching the backdoor in a matter of minutes. I was breathing hard now, the burning having turned to a wildfire. It was like a thirst as well as a need for air. I forced down a scream as well as another pocket of air and reached for the door handle with difficulty, glad that I hadn’t locked myself out.