The clamshell started intensifying its glowing. The interior was white, pink and glowing gold. You could breathe. Well, more precisely, you could STILL breathe. But screaming, banging, and kicking the damn mollusc did not help anything. Alas, the invertebrate remained sealed shut. Then, exhausted and panicked, you sat down, wondering what the hell had happened. How did things get crazy so fast? One minute you're having a hell of a time with a super nice guy at the beach, the next he tells you he's a merman and you end up in a magical clam waiting to be transformed. It would be crazy if that clam was not there, and if it did not look so real too. You sigh and lie down. You can only wish that this "being your true soul" will not be too painful and bear bad surprises. And who knows? Maybe your new life will be pleasant... You'll be a merman and be carefree and with a hot guy. Your new body might be super hot too! But then you remember Alex said that you might become a mermaid. A woman? Ugh! No thanks! You really hope it won't happen!
But then, the clam fills up with water halfway through and wallowing in a strange warm water with a spicy strange smell, your head feels dizzy and you fall in the water. Your head starts spinning, you faint halfway through and you are only dimly aware of the changes rocking through you. You skin becomes tougher. Your legs longer. Your toes and fingers seem to become longer, more delicate, more... flat. Your groin constricts and a dull pain shoots through it again and again, making you groan in discomfort. Your face flattens and scrunches up. Then your neck seems to split and suddenly you can breathe underwater!
Satisfied, the clam spits you out. Still extremely very dizzy, you float, at ease and happy to just let the currents hold you up. You feel weird. Not in pain, just a bit strange. But... You seem to have tow legs still... Which is very odd. Why don't you have a tail?
"Oh no..." says Alex. "It's super rare but it can happen... You're a... a..."
"A what...?" you ask.
"A gillwoman," he said with much worry.