Chapter Fifteen: Car Chase

Meria run towards the opposite direction where people are running from. Nudging every body on her way, she pushed through the mass of people in panic. Joseph is behind her.

When they heard the alarms started blasting every corner, they run faster. Reaching the scene before her eyes, Susan was just pulling a pen from a man's body on the floor. Dead.

Susan's eyes met hers. She was about to say something when they heard loud footsteps to their direction. It becomes louder every second.

Joseph, who is shocked on seeing dead people before his eyes was the last to realize that there's people coming for them.

"Quick!" Susan said as she motion them to run after her. "We need to get out of here. Run and don't look back."

Following Susan's words, Meria and Joseph run. When they were turning to the next corner, they were face to face by a surprised Daniel.

"What the fuck is happening? Where are you going?" he asked

Susan didn't paid him attention and continued running. Meria followed while Joseph looked at Daniel.

"Look, it's a long story and we don't have time to talk about it now." he explained and look back to check if there is someone behind them. He can't see anyone but he can hear footsteps and far voices which he think are the securities.

"We have to run. I'll explain if we get out of here alive." he said in a hurry

"What? Why?--"

"Run!" he shouted as he drag Daniel to the direction which Susan and Meria disappeared.

"Who are we running from, Joseph?"

Joseph didn't answer. There's no time for questions. They're in the most compromising situation that involve their lives.

"Joseph! Why the fuck are we running? I need to go back to--"

Daniel didn't even finished his words when they turn to another corner leading to one of the safe exit at the back of the building.

A car pulled in front of them, "Lides?" Daniel was surprised to see his wife

"Get in! Quick!" Lides shouted that they immediately followed without hesitation.

Inside the car sat Susan, Meria who's holding Kyla and Lides behind the wheel.

"Step on it!" Susan yelled looking back where police cars are visible

The car accelerated down the road.

Everyone is on the edge of their seats aside from the little girl who's seem to enjoy the fast ride and her dad who's still confuse to the sudden turn of events.

"Care to explain what the hell is happening here?"

Joseph sigh. He was about to talk when Susan beat him to it.

"Can't you just shut up?" Susan asked, annoyed

Daniel's eyes narrowed at the teenage girl. Before he can retort back, Joseph spoke.

"I don't exactly know, but we need to run."

"How can you not know? Are you kidding me? If we're gonna die here, should I at least know what am I dying for?" he said bitterly trying to control his temper.

"For goodness sake! No one is dying!" Lides shouted trying to maneuver the car out of the congested road.

"I stole the sword." Susan said not looking at him.

"You what?!" he couldn't believe what he heard. He couldn't understand how a teenage girl could do such thing.

Susan didn't said it again. "It's my mother's."

"What the hell?!" he burst out

"Watch your words, people." Lides said darkly, "Sweetheart, your daughter can hear you."

Daniel look at Kyla and took her from Meria before muttering 'sorry'. He don't know if he'll be happy for he's not the only one clueless. His daughter seems to enjoy every second of the ride, not knowing that they're chased by the police.

Running along side with the people who stole something from the museum is something that a laywer shouldn't do, but he's doing so nonetheless. He doesn't seems to care anymore.

The thing is, he doesn't want to be clueless. It seems that even his wife knows what's happening.

He sigh, trying to put things together in his head but it's still not enough.

"So we're chased now by the police because you stole something from the museum? Is that right?" he concluded

"It's not stealing if it's yours to begin with." Susan said

Daniel look at Joseph and waited for his answer. "Basically, yes." Joseph answered.

"Why would you steal it in the first place? Are you guys nuts?"

"Meria needs the sword."

"Why?" Daniel asked

Lides interrupted, "She's a mermaid, sweetheart."

"What do you mean 'a mermaid' ?" once again he's lost. "Okay, well that doesn't makes any sense right now, sweetheart." he said to his wife

"Okay," Joseph started, "Meria needs the sword for a great purpose. The sword happens to be, Susan's mother's sword and she's helping us."

"Helping by stealing?"

"I said it's not stealing!" Susan interjected her previous point

"Yeah right." Daniel shrug her off nonchalantly.

"So Meria need the sword and the only way you can get it is to take it."

"Well, yes. It's not like a book we can borrow. So yeah..."

"And the police are chasing us because we have it."

Joseph nodded. "Exactly. And also, Susan killed two of the guards there."

Daniel's face drained blood. When he turn to Susan, a teenage girl wasn't there anymore. He saw another face, dark skinned girl with curly hair, almost opposite from the baby faced teenager he saw.

"Who are you?" shocked, he questioned.

Joseph was also surprised to the new face he's seeing. The girl was more like their age now.

"Don't freak out. I'm Susan." the dark skinned girl said in a low voice. Every open eyes look at her. Lides glaced through the mirror, can't even understand what's happening.

Meria look at the girl and nodded. She know it's Susan. The men seems to be puzzled. Well, that's not a normal thing that happens everyday in the human world.

"I think we lost them." Lides said

Susan nodded and look at Joseph. "You need to fly somewhere safe now."

Without questions, Joseph nodded. "I will inform my pilot." he said and took out his phone and started tapping it

"I will take care of the rest here." Susan said taking a quick glance at Daniel. It's a big trouble if he remembers everything that will just confuse him. But he can also be a way of help since he's one of the well known lawyers in the country.

Either way, she should not risk the chance of being caught. Lides knows what's happening and Susan knows that.

She's amused on how far did Joseph went just to help Meria. Though they don't seem to be the best of friends at the moment, he stayed. He doesn't even know everything but he's willing to help.

Daniel on the other hand is the clueless human. Maybe Lides haven't told him anything yet, or maybe Lides wasn't planning to tell him anything at all. He doesn't know that Lides was a mermaid before.

"The plane is waiting at the airport." Joseph said to Meria which she nodded.

"Where are we going?" Meria asked

"We're flying to Japan."

Susan look at Meria, "Your mother and Cora will be waiting for you there."

"Really?" Meria got excited hearing Susan

Lides who's still behind the wheel spoke, "You mean, Cora the witch of deep waters?"

"Yes." Meria answered. "She's with my mother all along."

"Good for her."

"You cannot go with them Lides." Susan said, "Not now."

"I know." Lides said, "But I'll see them soon. Send them my regards." she said to Meria

Meria smiled, "I will."

Then the car pulled to a halt. They reached the airport. "We're here." Susan announced

Susan gave Meria the sword that's placed inside a long box. "No one can tell that its a sword as long as its in the box. Keep it safe."

Meria nodded. Susan turn to Joseph. "Don't worry too much about getting caught. What happened here remains here. I will take care of the rest. Take care of her."

"Thank you, Susan." Joseph said, "and I will." Susan smiled

Meria hugged them one by one before bidding goodbye and getting off the car.

They reached the private plane safe and sound without questions from the securities. She didn't know if that's normal or is it because of Joseph.

Meria plopped down in the first couch she saw inside the plane and closed her eyes. Exhaustion sinking in. Trying yo supress all the emotions that build up inside her.

Joseph ordered one of the stewardess for food for Meria. The plane took off in less than 20 minutes and he decided to take a shower.

When he went back to where Meria is, she wasn't there anymore, but he smiled to see the empty plate on the table.

At least she already ate, he thought.

When they'll land in Tokyo, he's planning to ask Meria out. He can't take the awkward silence and stares anymore. He knows that Meria had trusted him and he's willing to build himself up again to her.

Walking to the plane cabin, his smile was wiped off his face the moment he saw Meria sprawled on the floor. Blood dripping out of her nose. Her eyes barely open.

Joseph's breath hitched.