Freak Show by J Richards Read Free Book Online Page A

something.”
                  “Yeah, it was super cool. Until that giant crocodile tried to crash the party.” I rub my belly as we begin walking toward the zoo again. I peek out over the lake just in case the crocodile heard me speak ill of him and wants to run up on the shore to eat me.
                  “We’ll get to see him!” Anne skips ahead of us. “They have this under water viewing a bit further down. I know he’s super scary, but honestly, have you ever seen anything more beautiful? The way the sun sparkled off his scales! Awh! He’s so beautiful.” I couldn’t argue with her. He was stunning as he jumped over the floating skate park. Although, if he had snatched up that skater for lunch I don’t think I would have seen the beauty in the beast.
                  Speaking of lunch, my belly growls and I groan with it. “Anne, is there a food court up ahead or something? I’m starving.”
                  “Yup.” Becca chirps. “Just after the griffin’s enclosure.”
                  “Griffin’s?” Kelly yells. “Like the half eagle, half lion things from Greek mythology?” Becca nods so quickly I’m afraid her head will shake right off. With new motivation we hurry down the path until a tunnel comes into view. Each of our feet slow, except for Anne who carries on.
                  The tunnel looks long and dark with red bricks stacked to create an archway that could easily have been around for centuries. Painted in curly white letters over the tunnel are the words ‘To things unknown.’
                  “Come on!” Anne’s voice echoes back at us from within the tunnel and Kelly, Becca and I all look at each other with uncertainty written all over our features. “I’m getting awful tired of having to drag you three along! Embrace it!” her voice ricochets off the walls of the tunnel as we enter slowly. Darkness swallows us up. My hands fly out in front of me to keep me from bumping into anything. A few more feet in front of us a green light filters through the tunnel.
                  We walk slowly toward the reflections of light dancing along the floor and wall of the tunnel until the left side of the wall turns to glass. “Wow,” Becca coos and I press closer to the glass. The window allows us to see what’s happening within the lake. A dark shadow flutters above and I look up to see the pale crocodile from earlier. He’s even more massive now that I am this close and it takes four minutes for his shadow to pass over us.
                  I touch the palm of my hands to the glass and watch as condensation builds from my heavy breathing. I can see creatures swimming back and forth in the world that was hidden from us until now. Small fish, large fish and fish I have never seen before, all kinds of aquatic animals are abuzz down here. A flash of neon pink catches my eye and I squint to get a better look. The color is translucent as the fin sways through the water easily.
                  “It’s a mermaid!” My nose presses to the glass in my excitement and Kelly squishes her face against the glass, too.
                  “No. Way.” The half fish half woman slowly glides over to where our faces are mushed to the clear panel in excitement and she smiles seductively.
                  “Remember your walls.” Anne whispers and immediately I start to think of the Great Wall of China.
    The mermaid’s features are sharp and remind me of Persians I have met in the past. Her hair is long and dark and sways in the current behind her. Jewel like stones sparkle from her skin like beauty marks and her nipples are bare, also darker in color against her tan skin. I don’t know why I expected clam shells but her nudity takes me by surprise.
    Her hand reaches out and touches the glass on the other side of my hand. Her fingers spread out to mirror mine