That voice was not his. It wasn’t courage. It was pure fear, real fear.
I took my daughter in my arms and started walking towards the exit. My heart was pounding so hard that I felt like everyone could hear it. What happened next was terrifying.
My husband’s voice no longer sounded like him.
She was tense. Forcibly controlled. Terrified.
“Where are you exactly?” he asked.
I looked around my sister Mariana’s living room. Pink balloons floated near the ceiling. My niece Lucía was opening presents sitting on the floor, while the uncles laughed and recorded with their cell phones, saying that this video went directly to the family group.
“At my sister’s house,” I repeated. It’s Lucía’s birthday. The whole family is there.
Silence.
Too long.
“Listen to me carefully,” he said at last. Take Emma and get out of that house. Right now.
I felt a knot in my stomach that left me breathless.
“What’s going on, Daniel?”
“Listen to me,” he ordered. Don’t ask. Get out now.
Daniel never raised his voice. He never panicked. We had been married for eight years and it was the first time I had heard real terror from him, a terror that cannot be faked.
—Daniel…
“Sara!” he shouted. I don’t have time. Grab our daughter and leave immediately.
I didn’t argue.
I couldn’t.
I walked quickly around the room, forced a smile that hurt my face, and picked up Emma, who was six years old.
“Let’s go to the bathroom,” I said to Mariana, trying to sound normal.
She nodded, distracted, busy arranging disposable plates.
But instead of going into the hallway, I went straight to the front door.
“Mom?” Emma whispered, pressing her little face to my neck. What’s going on?
“Nothing, my love,” I said, my hands trembling as I opened the door. Let’s go for a walk.
As soon as we crossed the threshold, I heard him.
Mermaids.
Not one or two.
Many.
Too many.
They sounded in the distance, but every second they were closer. I froze on the porch, feeling fear rise from my feet.
continued on next page
For complete cooking times, go to the next page or click the Open button (>), and don't forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
