"Sorry," I apologize to the man I bump. I look up at him and was shocked because the man is not totally a normal man- he has only one eye. I was stunned for a moment and when he grunted in response I shakily step back. Then he dismisses me and walk, blending in with the crowd. I only look, wide-eyed on its back until it disappears in my sight.

I am always like this. I always see things- more like monsters- only depicted in books that I read. Ever since then I try my best to stay away from those monsters because it scares me to death. Who would have wanted to see them if they can give you nightmares?

I still remember my first monsters encounter. It only started when I reach the age of twelve, my mother take me to an underwater museum in Atlanta, Georgia as a birthday gift. I never expected that the seals and walruses to be... well they look like dogs with black snouts, pointy ears and brown eyes. They have a sleek and black body which I've given credit because it's the only thing about them that looks like sea mammals, stubby legs with half flipper, half foot and human like hands plus sharp claws for a... I don't know maybe for a deathly finish to their preys. At first I never complained to my mother and to our tour guide about those "seals" because no one notices other than me. So I just continue walking alongside my mother.

Then we enter another tunnel, it is filled with normal fishes and sharks and other normal sea creatures that I am thanked of. After that tunnel we enter the next one. And yes, it's not a normal tunnel for another normal creature living in the sea. Our guide says it's a sea cow or mana... manatees, something like that. I really don't believe the stuff she's saying for all I see is a thin woman with a mermaid costume or so I assume it's a costume but when her image flicker I think I saw a beautiful woman then an ugly sea woman with sharp clawed hands and pointy teeth. When I say pointy teeth, I mean that it don't have lips, just teeth sticking out like fangs where her lips should be.

"Mom, I think we should go," I grabbed her hand and pull it lightly.

"Let's just finish the tour Daeia," my Mom says aimlessly.

"But..." I trailed off when I look at her; she has sleepy eyes and limply walks like a trying hard zombie. Then I look in the front line, like my mother the other visitors seem like drugged or something. And I on the other hand kept pulling my mother away from the line but wouldn't budge at all. I think her strength had increased. I don't know what to do. I ran in the front where the guide is.

"These are the flesh eating sirens. They are so hard to capture, you know when they sang. Oh well you know guys one or two of you can meet them face-to-face but that's the main event later," she said not knowing that I heard it clearly. I quickly run back to my Mom and pull her while listening alertly in the guide.

We are nearing to another tunnel which turns right when an idea came to mind. I pull my Mom gently aside so that those on our back will continue on their tracks. When we came to the tunnel I cover my Moms mouth and with all my might I bite her arm. She squeaked a little and jerks because of pain. I try my best covering her mouth to muffle the scream.

She removes my hand and look at me questioningly, "What are you doing Daiea? You bit me."

"Thank God. Mom, I'll explain it later but we really need to get out of here," I pull her to where we came.

"Where are the others? It's not funny you know. You're doing it again, what's happening?" she asked me.

"Mom. Please trust me," I pressed on her looking seriously in her eyes.

"Fine. Let's go. But if you are doing it again I'll cut your allowance, understand?"

"Yeah. You can also ground me for a whole month, but please we have to get out of here immediately," I managed to dragged her out of the third tunnel with the flesh eating mermaid. I remember now the story about the Sirens Island and the thought of it creeps me out.

Luckily, we've managed to escape the Ocean Park which is not a good birthday memory ever. Plus when we got back in our house in New York my Mom really cuts my allowance and she seriously take my word, I am grounded for a month. It's all because she doesn't believe in everything I say. I told her about those monsters, the crazy guide and her spacing out. She said that I'm doing it again- telling foolish stories about monsters which are not true. After that I can only just shut my mouth and face the truth that my birthday gift is a package deal of limited money access and grounded life for a month. I'm so happy, very happy, sarcastically speaking. I really hate that park ever and yet the last thing I remember about that place was shouting, terrified shouts.