I am here to tell you a story

Of how I became to be

A tale so outrageous

That you may not believe me

But trust me that every word is true

Because I was once a skeptic like you.

Well it started like this

I was born just an average human

And over a series of crazy events

I became a hybrid.

The day was like any other

Just hanging out with my best friends

When they came up with this idea

(The catalyst)

To try a spell

That would change our lives

That would allow us to become

Mermaids.

We knew such a spell did not exist

But she persisted

So we gave in.

Under the full moon

In her pool

We chanted the words

Into the night, so cool.

Once we were done

We opened our eyes

And looked down

Without a surprise

Our legs were still legs

No scales or fins

We were just a few foolish girls

Who thought they could become fish.

Well little did I know

That was my first mistake

Not truly believing in the power of magic.

The days went by in a blur

Not noticing the change occur

The subtle desire for salt

Or the bathtub littered with scales.

It hadn’t even been one full moon cycle

When the next even took place

I was at the club

Dancing my worries away.

He came up with a devilish grin

And I let him take my hand

His dark eyes glistened mischievous

His crimson lips, smiling

As he pulled me off the dance floor

And into his arms

My heart racing,

An effect of his mysterious charm.

He kissed my neck

His tongue surveying my flesh

When I felt the lightest pinch

Tremble in my skin.

The strobe lights went black

I could feel myself falling

Not quite sure where I would land.

I awoke to someone calling

Out my name

My head felt heavy

As I awake from my daze

With a hand on my forehead

And my eyes squinted

I saw my friend kneeling

Before me.

She sighed in relief

When I opened my eyes

I still couldn’t remember a thing

So I asked her why.

She replied with a shrug

And gave me her hand

To help me up

We were in an ally

Next to the trash

I rubbed on my neck

Where I felt something resembling a rash.

I figured I could put ointment on it

And that I’d be OK

Little did I know

That was my second mistake.

The rash seemed to spread

Into my veins

Making them pulse red

In the light of the day.

The headaches began

Along with the stomach pains

The change was coming quick

And there was nothing I could do to stop it

I spent most of the following days inside

In the dark

Not daring to leave my room

Not for anyone.

Until my mother asked a favor of me

One I did not refuse

Because I didn’t want to be silly

Here I present to you

Mistake number three

The clincher if you will

To this ridiculous story.

Berry picking I went

With a hooded cape

And wooden basket.

Protected from the light

-Yet not-

I could feel the rays of sun

So hot.

Penetrating the thick fabric

I wore.

Ignoring the pain

I followed the path

Until I reached the right spot.

I bent on my knees

And picked as fast as I could

Anything to get back inside my room

Through the fabric of my hood

I could not hear

The danger a-foot.

They came from nowhere

With a mighty roar

Tearing through my clothes

With teeth like razors.

I screamed and kicked

But they got my skin

Revealing dark red blood that glistened.

At last I tore myself free

And it seemed at first

That they were looking confused at me.

I scooped up my basket

And ran away

Looking back

To see the wolf staring back at me.

I slammed the front door with a thud

Dropped the berries

And continued to run.

I cleaned my wounds

But did not expect

To find nothing but healthy skin

Under the bloody mess.

Now is when I began to see

Something was terribly wrong with me.

What girl is self-healing

And burns in the sun?

Who else craves salt water

So much?

The next full moon was fast approaching

And the change progressed

Everyday I felt different

Everyday I felt human a little bit less.

On that night

My body hurt so bad I couldn’t move

At least,

Not when I wanted to.

The moon overhead

Let off a deceitful glow

And the after-effects began to show.

My body was drenched in sweat

As I tried to transform

But it wasn’t sure what to do

With all the viruses that swarmed

Through my veins

Each turning into something else

Entirely.

Fur grew from my pores

And scales sprouted on my legs.

My teeth elongated into fangs

And I developed a strong desire

For flesh.

And the night carried on like that

In a state of in-between

Between beasts and humanity.

My body trembled uncontrollably

Until the night’s end

When I stayed in bed

Too exhausted to move

Too traumatized

To close my eyes.

From that night on

They symptoms were more intense

More immediate.

It took me a few moon cycles

To control them

The other sides of me

That lied within

Just under the surface

Ready to take over

At any given moment.

The mermaid

The vampire

The werewolf

All trapped inside this body

All apart of me.

So that is my story

Of how I became to be

Of how the magic

And venom

Mixed like toxic inside of me

To create a being

That should not exist

An abomination

A hybrid.