Finding Kingsley

Chapter 1

I stood at the edge of the small cruise ship looking out at the sun rise over the deep blue water. The warm breeze blew my auburn hair away from my face. We weren't that far of the Floridian coast; I could still see palm trees and the white shores in the early morning light. My family and I just boarded the S.S. Winwood yesterday evening. Every year we go on a family trip, whether it be a month in southern Italy or a couple weeks in New Zealand. This year it was a cruise along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico with the company of a few other wealthy families.

"Beautiful isn't it."

I turned to see my mother holding the rail beside me. Soft tendrils of her gray streaked blonde hair framed her aging face. But her dark brown eyes held the fire of a young soul seeking adventure.

"Yeah, it is." I gave her a smile.

"Come on," she took my hand. "Breakfast is ready."

I hadn't realized how hungry I was until she mentioned food. I had been out on the front deck since early this morning. The rock of the boat was something I was not yet used to and last night I had a terrible time sleeping.

My mom left her spot on the railing and walked down the short staircase then through the cabin door. With one last look at the rising sun I followed my mother into the dining hall. I was immediately greeted with the sounds of fifteen different people trying to have a conversation at the same time. My father was in the center of the room, already in a grey pressed suit, talking with a group of older gentlemen. Mason, my recent college graduate older brother, was sitting at a table with some other teens including my other brother Logan. I found an empty chair beside Logan and sat down.

"Mornin' Pey Tay." Logan smirked then grabbed my neck and rubbed his knuckles in my hair.

"Logan!" I pushed myself free the tried my best to straighten my now messy hair. Not that I cared considering we were on a boat where the wind was constantly blowing, but still.

"Oh, sorry sis, did I mess up your precious locks?" He laughed lightly.

"Logan stop antagonizing your sister." My mothers voice traveled over the noise.

Logan just rolled his ocean colored eyes. They were almost the exact same color as mine and were the only thing that made us look like siblings. I resembled my oldest brother more than I did Logan.

Mason and I both had brown hair, mine more auburn, and looked just like our father. Logan had shaggy golden hair, like moms, and tanned skin. Tall and toned he fit his life guard role perfectly. But our eyes linked us together.

My stomach growled and my eyes wandered over to the table of food. My nose sniffed out the overwhelming scents of breakfast meat and pancakes and cheesy eggs.. I stood up and made my way through the people to the table.

"Hey Peyton, get me some orange juice." Logan called from his seat. Waving my hand I kept walking. I grabbed a plate and filled it with my favorites, pancakes and eggs. On the side I added some mango and other fruits.

"Peyton, my juice."

You lazy pig. I put down my plate and reached across the table for a cup, accidentally spilling the contents of a jug of a milk. The liquid went all over the food, plates, the floor. Quickly I grabbed as many napkins as I could and knelt down to wipe up my mess.

As I bent down the only sound I heard was the shattering of glass. Quickly following were the screams as the security sirens echoed through the air. A table collapsed, frantic people ran around the room.

No, out of the room. I looked up slowly to see a body.. laying across a table. Graying blonde hair covered the lifeless bodies face.. My father was hunched over the body.

"Mom..?" My voice cracked as I got off my knees and stumbled a couple steps. Before I could get very far another soundless bullet entered through the window and my father fell. "Dad.." It came out as merely a whimper. I could hear people abandoning the boat. Dark figures burst through the doors, machine guns in hand.

"Peyton!" I heard Mason's voice from somewhere across the room. Some of the figures turned in his direction. One walked over to him and forced him to his knees. Out of the corner of my eye I caught I glimpse of Logan rushing over to him.

"Don't hurt them!" I yelled with as much courage as I could muster. One of the men, who seemed to be in charge, looked at me for a few moments before motioning to some others.

The last thing I saw was a face..and then darkness.

*~*~*~*

Beep. Beep. Beep.

A soft pillow was placed underneath my head and a thin blanket covered me from my waist down. I lazily opened my eyes to a bright shining light. Ugh.. Wrinkling my nose I tried my best to sit up. Immediately an excruciating pain seared through my head. My hand rubbed my forehead as I gently laid back down. I looked to the right and saw a hospital monitor. Slowly I began to realize the situation. Looking down I saw the IV's in my arm and vaguely felt a bandage around my left ankle.

Suddenly a lady with red curly hair came through the door across the room. She wore a Winnie the Pooh nurse shirt and blue scrubs.

"Oh sugar, you're awake!" A thick but sweet southern accent came from her perky smile.

I smiled gently, "Um, where am I?"

"Peyton!" My two brothers ran through the door and over to my bedside. Logan's arm was in a sling and Mason had a black eye, but other than that they seemed to have no injuries.

"Easy boys, she just woke up."

Mason brushed the hair out of my face and smiled. "How you feeling..?"

"My head kills and I can't really feel my ankle. But um where are we? Where's mom and dad?" I squinted my eyes still getting used to the harsh light.

My brothers looked at each other hesitantly.

"Pey, do you remember anything..?" Logan's eyes bared into mine.

Remember..? I tried to think back before waking up a couple minuets ago. My head throbbed but I kept trying. The sound a shattering glass came like a recording in my mind. Then the figures and the face. I inhaled sharply at the thought of that face. Those dark brown almost black eyes and that scar..

My breath began to quicken.

"Hey.. Easy." Masons voice was calm and reassuring. I took a deep breath.

"They're gone... Aren't they?" Tears filling up the creases of my eyes.

Mason looked out the window and Logan bowed his head. The nurse came over to me and gently took my hand.

"I just need to do a few things, dear." Her voice was kind but I barely heard a word. They were gone.. Gone.

"She'll be okay to head home in a few days. We would like to keep her a few more nights just to be safe."

Mason gave her a nod then stood up as she walked out of the room. "I'll go get her something to eat."

He quietly shut the door behind him as he followed the nurse out. Logan ran his fingers through his sandy hair and sighed.

"We thought we were going to loose you too." He said softly.

I gave him a confused look.

"Peyton, you were in a coma for two weeks."