Lost boy || Prince Caspian

15

Otto woke with a gasping breath. The hammock was still underneath him, the water peaceful outside. Soft snores from the rest of the crew, now a familiar sound, echoed around the room. At his side Caspian was still curled up in sleep. His breaths even and deep, hair messy around his head. Edmund was snoring in the next hammock over and Otto sighed. The hammock swaying as he swung his legs over the side and stood up. His boots were where he had left them and he had to fumble in the dark for a second before he managed to pull them on. When he rose, he paused for a second. Caspian's face was illuminated by the soft moonlight. He looked so peaceful there. Long dark eyelashes fanning his cheeks, lips slightly pursed in sleep and hair spread out over his half of the pillow. One of his hands had fallen into the empty space Otto had left and it clutched the blanket gently.

He sighed fondly and turned towards the door. For some reason he wanted to go outside, get a breath of fresh air. The wooden boards creaked as he slouched up them. A yawn stifling him but there was something tugging at him not to go to sleep. Whispered voices tugging him up and onto the deck. The moon hung brightly above him. Too big, too round and too bright. There was a yellow tinge to it, like a street lamp. Otto took a few steps forward and stopped. His boots were wet. Confusion rose in him. Why were they wet?

Above him the moon went dark. He straightened, the back of his neck prickling with apprehension. The deck seemed empty. Too empty. No one there, not even the men on night shift. It was just him and the silent moon. The light now gone and everything plunged into gloom. But still, Otto didn't feel alone. There was something there. Something behind him. He froze as the snap of step broke the silence. He turned.

His father had never been a gentle looking man. His bones were sharp and prominent under the lightly wrinkled skin of his face. The familiar navy business suit he wore was black in the gloom, sharp and pristine. Despite his lean build, which Otto had inherited, he emanated a aura of strength that was almost as terrifying as the sharpness of his eyes. His Sandy hair, which now held more grey than blonde, was slicked back. The gaze, peering own the pointed nose, hardened and settled on Otto as he took a step forward. "Otto", the name was a command.

Otto instinctively hunched over, making himself smaller as his father took another step forwards. Above them, the moon relit and the silver light illuminated the man in painful shadows. Otto could feel the fear cutting at his throat as he forced himself to remain still. Trembling only made it worse. "Otto Octavius Birch". The sound of his name made him flinch like he ha Debden struck with a whip. The man snarled and took another step forwards. Feet hitting carpet. The maroon walls of his father's study rose up around them. The ship and the sea gone. Otto was trapped in the box again, the light now coming from the electric light above them.

"Otto", his father repeated. His hand moving to pick up the silver and black wood cane that was leaning against the desk. The Wolf head handle seemed to snarl at him as black gloved fingers tapped the top. "Otto. What is this I've been hearing about you hanging around those Pevensie children?"

Otto hung his head, fixing his gaze on the polished leather of his father's oxfords. "They're my friends".

"Silence!" Otto flinched as a sharp crack echoed around the room. The cane hitting the desk.

"They are a stain on your name. No son of mine will be hanging around with lower class rabble". The distaste in his father's voice made Otto wince. "You will leave them and Caspian alone". It was a order. Around them, green mist curled. Whispered voices growing louder.

"Caspian?" Otto glanced up and instantly cowered under the weight of his father's glare. He bit his tongue and forced himself not to glance away. "Did you say Caspian?" That was not right. His father did not know a Caspian. Caspian was in narnia. Narnia.

His father smiled. A show of teeth and the smug humour of one arrogant with power. "You thought I didn't know? That my own son was a abomination? That he is sick in the head. It's disgusting". Otto whimpered as the cane struck the carpet next to his feet. "The shame you bring to your family. The shame you bring to your mother. Narnia would be a better place without you".

Otto stumbled back to avoid another swipe of the cane. Narnia. Narnia. He was in narnia. This wasn't real. "Go away! Go away!" He threw his arms out, voice cracking as the came came back again. His eyes shut and something hit him. It held him tight, wrapping around him as he struggled.

"No! No! Go away! Go away!" He was screaming. Thrashing. Voice heavy with fear. "Go away!" Arms tightened their hold and he fell backwards. Back colliding with solid wood. There was the taste of salt and cold water heavy in his clothes.

"Otto! Otto! It's me! Otto!" A voice was calling him. Legs pressing to his stomach and hands pinning his wrists down as he struggled. "Otto! Darling, it's me. You're safe. It's Caspian". Otto relaxed at the name. He sagged, eyes blinking as the world rapidly swam into focus. The ship lurched underneath them and his gasping breath was smothered by a wave hitting the hull and washing over them. Otto coughed, water dripping from his face as he finally focused. Caspian was leaning over him, body holding him down and face frantic with worry. His hair and clothes were as sodden as the sea. The length handing darkly around his black eyes and his skin pale with cold. Upon seeing Otto looking back, he sighed softly.

"Otto. It's me. It's okay". Otto shuddered and beneath them the ship gave another sickening lurch. Around them the crew shouted and hurried to keep the ship upright in the tempest. Caspian let go and caught him up in his arms. Otto was trembling as he pulled upright and onto his feet. He was barely aware of being bundled up and towed down below deck.

"Is he okay?" Edmund and Lucy were hurrying over. Otto leaned against Caspian as the king settled him down into a wooden chair.

"He was just standing there. In the storm. He couldn't see me".

Lucy pressed her fingertips to his cheek. "Goodness, he freezing. We need to get him warmed up".

Otto was dimly aware of Caspian and Edmund pulling his wet clothes away. A clean nightshirt was pulled over his head and Lucy reappeared with a thick blanket which was settled over his shoulders. "Was it a bad dream?" Edmund muttered in the still. Above them, they could still hear the crew and the creaking of the ship.

Otto swallowed and nodded. "I was back there. With my father. He had his cane". He shivered. Caspian bent towards him and guided his head to rest on his shoulder.

"You need to stop scaring me". His voice was angry, but Otto could tell that it wasn't at him. There was another note in there too. Something tired and vulnerable.

"Sorry". Otto sighed and pressed his fingers into the bridge of his nose. "It just felt so real. Are you okay?" He looked around at them. All their faces were worn and tired. "Did you have bad dreams too?" Lucy and Edmund nodded. He could feel the answer in the tense way Caspian was holding him. The man's brow furrowed and his eyes dark. Otto took his hand and rubbed his thumb across his knuckles until the fingers relaxed.

Edmund scowled. "So either we're all going mad, or something's playing with our minds". Outside, thunder crackled.

Unedited