The next weeks were hell for Jen. After three days of preparing the exhibit, Mr. Nichols opened it it the public. Many people were came everyday, wanting to see the worlds only "mermaid". Jen swam around and tried her best to give off a show for fear that Mr. Nichols would force her to leave the tank and die. During the first day, she could see many classmates and friends watching her and both amazed and fearful of what had happened to her.
The only few hours that were any better than others were the ones that her parents were there. Mr. Nichols allowed Jen and her parents a few hours everyday, which were mostly out of fear of what they would do. At first, it was difficult for them to communicate with each other, Jen couldn't speak in the water and her parents didn't know that she could hear them. Finally, after one week in the tank, a third person Jen didn't recognize came with them, using a white board the parents used to communicate, they told her that she was a sign language instructor, they told her that sense she couldn't speak this was they only way for them to communicate with each other.
Overjoyed at the prospect of "talking" with her parents, she began studying in every moment that she and the sign language instructor, who she figured out was named Katherine, had together. She was even given a special book that could be keep underwater so she could study when no customers were around.
It was, however, little joy in a hellish place. Mr. Nichols gave her food that suited he new environment. Sea weed and fish were her daily breakfast, lunch and dinner. When opening hours were over Mr. Nichols spent a few minutes with her, mainly to view his prize. Jen hated these moments but was, like with visitors, forced to act nice to be allowed to stay in the tank. When he left the lights were dimmed to a near pitch black darkness. Jen would then lay down against a wall and "cry" herself to sleep, wondering why this had happened to her.
Then, after about a month in the tank, during her parents time, they came running in, clearly out of breath.
"Whats wrong?" asked Jen in sign language. They both took a minute to catch their breath and then held up a newspaper for her to see. The front cover headline was what was shown. Jen was shocked by it. It read...