The room was dark aside from a light above the small kitchen which mostly had a microwave and a coffee machine.
“What the fuck was that?” inquired Kim
“I don’t know.” Confirmed James as suddenly all their phones vibrated. It was a ship wide announcement ordering all passengers to return to their cabins and remain there. It said that there was a medical emergency and that everyone should remain calm.
“So I am not imagining it.” Confirmed Sarah as the sound of footsteps coming toward them caused all three to turn toward the door.
Coming out of their parent’s/in-laws bedroom came Sarah’s and James’s father, Robert.
Robert had always been a light sleeper and given the hour it was it was near the time he normally got up for work anyhow. He was a larger man, who had grown round with age with a rather thick beard and fading hairline but with warm kind eyes.
“You three must have had fun if you’re coming back at this hour.” Stated Robert as he walked toward the coffee machine and turned it on. He didn’t seam to notice that his son, daughter and daughter-in-law were looking at him wide eyed.
He had changed radically, the man who was in his late 50’s almost 60’s was now visibly more than a decade younger. His hairline had been totally restored however his brown hair had become a pure silver color. Even his eyes had become a silver as well and his normal round chest had thinned out a bit and he had become more muscular. There was still fat there but there were now much more muscles.
“What?” inquired Robert as he looked at the stunned expressions on their faces.
“Dad…we saw something very strange at the bar and whatever we saw may be happening to you.” Stated James
“Look.” Said Kim as she pulled out her cell phone to show a photo of a mermaid sitting on the floor of the bar. “That is what we saw?”
“That can’t be real.” stated Robert before he looked down and noticed that his arms seamed muscular, and his stomach wasn’t as big as it was before. “What the?”
“ROBERT!” came their mother’s voice from the bedroom as all four of them headed to the still darkened bedroom. Sarah turned on the bedroom light to see something that shouldn’t be possible.
Lying on the bed, sitting up looking down at herself was their mother. Her face had become noticeably younger, mid 40s compared to her late 50’s that was only a few hours ago. Her dirty blonde hair had become impossibly bright, almost golden in color. She was still in her night gown, but it was clear her chest which was already large, a gift she passed down to her daughter was now much larger.
The thing that really…really stood out was that she didn’t have any legs anymore.
Instead coming out of her white night gown as a long mermaid tail which went out to the end of the bed before hanging over the edge and spreading outwards into a fin that was at least four feet wide. It wasn’t even flesh color anymore, instead it was covered with pure white scales mixed in with felts of gold. It was actually a very beautiful color combination and would have been stunning to see if it wasn't so real.
“My god.” Said Sarah
“Robert…” said their mother scared “What is happening? What happened to me?”
“I don’t know…but it will be alright.” Reassured her husband, not sure if he was telling the truth or lying through his teeth.
“We saw other people turn into mermaids and merman at the bar.” Added Kim
“This has to be some kind of sick dream.” Added James
“I have a fucking fish tail; it doesn’t feel like a dream.” Snapped his mother as that got both his and his sister’s attention, they had never heard their mother saying a crush word before and it really got their attention now.
“Ok…what do we do now?” inquired Sarah