At the Bottom of Bermuda

Magisterra

Critters buzzed and croaked from within the brush as the pair worked their way up the dirt path. Emmeline silently collected her thoughts, trying to wrap her head around the recent bizarre occurrences. It had been days since she was in the unconcealed company of another person, let alone heard her own voice. For the first time since closing the front door of Wilmington estate behind her, she felt present. The entirety of her voyage, from stowing away amongst the hay bales to almost drowning in a hellish sea storm, felt out of body. As if she had been merely a spectator floating beside her physical empty vessel.

The path was shaded by a thick canopy of various flora species. Low to the ground sprouted lush shrubs displaying brightly-colored blossoms, followed by thorny bushes with long protruding spikes, then came large-leafed trees bountiful with assorted fruits, then finally topped off by a sea of towering birch and oak trees. The perplexing combination of tropical and deciduous vegetation gave no clear indication as to their current whereabouts.

Kona shifted the sling of rabbits to his other shoulder with a grunt. He glanced over at Emmeline and could tell she was still deep in thought. Not wanting to interrupt yet growing bored of the silence, he began humming to himself.

Minutes went by before a twig snapped underfoot, suddenly pulling Emmeline back to the present. She looked up at Kona, watching as he bobbed his head in rhythm to the humming. She wondered why he had been so unphased by her presence, and found it rather peculiar he had not questioned her even once on their walk, considering he had found her in the middle of the brush, soaking wet.

"Excuse me, Kona?"

"Yes madam," he looked down at her with a friendly smirk.

"Do you know where we are?"

He chuckled, "well of course I do, we're on our way to town."

"No, no. I understand what we are walking to, but where are we." She waved her hands around gesturing to their surroundings, "what is this place?"

He slowly looked off beyond the trees, rubbing his chin as if considering his response. "Where do you think we are?"

The response caught her completely by surprise. She was obviously lost, confused, and in search of answers, so what could possibly prompt him to respond to her question with yet another question? Was he mocking her? Was there something he was hiding?

"Well, as I have already asked you that, I am quite sure I haven't the slightest idea," she said, her frustration evident. "Initially, I thought I had died...but then you appeared."

"I see," he looked amused. "So, having met me confirms you are still alive?" He was undeniably mocking her.

Emmeline stopped dead in her tracks. She clenched her fists, pivoted around, and began stomping back in the opposite direction. After all she had experienced in the past few days, she would not stand to be made a fool of. Kona followed at her heels.

"Wait, Emmeline! Don't go, I understand—"

"How dare you!" She threw her head back, letting out a choked laugh. She stopped to look at him, meeting his eyes, then continued stocking off. "You cannot even begin to understand what I have been through. I left my home in hopes of starting a new life. I stowed away on a cargo ship, sleeping among livestock and keeping to the shadows. I was then almost dragged to the bottom of the ocean floor, but somehow miraculously ended up here. Then, I ask you, my first contact with life, where the hell I am, and you have the audacity to ridicule me? No Kona, you sincerely do not understand."

Kona sputtered out apologies and made multiple attempts at slowing her down, but she repeatedly shrugged him off. She would not acknowledge his pitiful attempts to reconcile as she was not in the mood. Before she could turn around and tell him to carry on the trip to town on his own, nearby movement could be heard approaching.