Sarah was on her second drink, and she was maybe going to call it a night after one last call. She stood at a table watching her brother and his wife enjoy a dance together on the dance floor while she tapped her toe to the beat.
It was nice to come out here and be an adult and not have to think about the kids and answer to Sarah instead of Mom none stop.
“Hello there.” Said a voice as Sarah was brought out of her thoughts, as a man maybe a year or two her senior was standing beside the table. He was good looking; he wasn’t drop dead handsome or the like but there was an attraction on that level. His short red hair was bright even in these darkened lights and the short well-trimmed beard did not hide the multiple freckles on his face.
“Can I join you?” inquired the man as Sarah eyes widened, she hadn’t been expecting anyone to try to make a move on her, she had agreed to come out more to prepare to start dating once she got back home.
“Sure, I am Sarah.” Said Sarah as she offered his hand.
“Pat.” Answered the man “And if you hadn’t guessed, yes I am Irish.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed that at all.” Laughed Sarah as the two of them began to talk, it was normal stuff at first. How are you enjoying the cruise? Where are you from and the like.
“Really your from there? I am only about 90 minutes away from there.” Said Sarah after Pat explained where he lived.
“Really small world.” Laughed Pat as they kept talking.
Sarah had just finished her fourth drink and now Kim and James had joined them, making it feel almost like a double date. They had even ordered a plate of shrimp to snack on and it seamed to be hitting the spot with all four of them even though Sarah normally disliked shellfish.
“Any kids?” inquired Kim as she pressed for information on Pat.
“Sadly no, wanted them but never found the right person.” explained Pat “How about you all?”
“Not yet.” Said Kim placing a hand on James’ arm.
“Four.” Answered Sarah as she waited to see how Pat would react, dating a woman was one thing, dating a single mother was another.
“Four…you must be an amazing woman to handle all that.” Said Pat with what Sarah though was a true smile on his face.
Maybe there was a spark here after all, thought Sarah she wasn’t about to go back to the guy’s cabin on the 1st night but arrange to meet up again was almost a guarantee as suddenly from the dance floor a scream could be heard.
All four of them turned to see something that shouldn’t be possible.
A woman, dressed in a red cocktail dress was sitting on the floor, however instead of a pair of legs she had a long blood red fish tail. She was clearly stunned as she looked at her tail, then before everyone’s eyes her brown hair began to rapidly turn blood red as well as her face became smoother and more elegant as well.
“What the?” inquired James as all of them looked at the mermaid who was no lying only a couple of feet away from them.
Then more screams, as this time a man was on the ground, his pants ripping apart as they fused into a mermaid tail, only his tail wasn’t the classic one but more shark like.
Another scream, this one behind them as coming from the table a women sat down as her pants ripped as a thin membrane came shooting out as her legs began to split apart into multiple smaller limbs as they got thinner and longer. Her skin became almost translucent in some spots and her hair became a rainbow of different colors as her husband maybe stepped on one only to shake before falling down himself.
“A jellyfish?” inquired Sarah then she noticed that the woman’s husband was changing as well, only his changes where not just limited to getting a tail. His facial hair quickly fell out as a pair of breasts began to grow from his body as his pants ripped apart as his skin around his legs turned black and white taking on the pattern of a killer whale.
“Sarah…we need to get out of here.” Ordered James as the four of them ran out of the bar, by now they weren’t the only ones and when Sarah looked back there had to be almost a dozen mermaids and merman lying/sitting in the bar. As they ran they saw members of the crew heading to the bar, some with medical kits in their hands.
At some point the three of them split off from Pat who went toward his own cabin while the three of you headed back to yours. You enter to find the cabin dark and everyone asleep.