A PIRATE'S TREASURE

Chapter 22

Ella's POV

The days felt long after her mother passed away. Her aunt was called and took her into her home. Nothing felt right anymore and her will to move was slowly fading. She promised her mom she'd be strong but her family was gone and she was utterly alone.

She would go to the cliffs every day waiting for her father to return. Her mother promised he'd come back and so did he. Ella told her mom she'd have faith he was on his way but each ship that came in that wasn't his made Ella slowly lose that hope.

She would come and walk along the beachside where the water barely came up wetting her feet. The best of both worlds she told herself. In between her mother and father where her mother was the sand and her father was the water. She finally smiled thinking that there was always some part of them here.

Walking back to her home, she watched her aunt conduct people to tear it down.

    "What's going on?"

    "Oh sweetie, this home is covered in germs with your mother's sickness. We need it gone."

    "No! This is still my home!"

Madonna smiled.

    "No sweetie, it's mine since your mother died. We had an agreement that if your father wasn't back then the land and home are mine to do as I wish."

Ella watched in horror as men were hacking down her home piece by piece.

     "But my stuff-"

     "Essentials were packed and at my house. You had quite an infestation too with wild critters-"

    "My friends!"

She ran to the house as Madonna yanked her back.

    "You're going to take a bath when you get home. Touching such filthy things. Do not DARE bring them to my home."

A bigger chunk of the house fell and Ella could only stare and watch. It was all too much and eventually, she ran into the forest where she and her mother would take their walks. Her emotions were all over from anger to sadness. She screamed at her mother and father for leaving but then would call out for them for just a hug.

But then a small squeak came beside her.

A small brown mouse was on her foot sprawled out as if it was hugging her.

    "Jack-Jack?"

Then another pudgy one came out.

   "Oh, Gus! You guys are okay."

She cradled the mice and it brought out a small bit of joy inside. Her aunt said no animals but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt. So she ripped some fabric from her dress to carry the mice back home. She rushed to her room to set up a small area for her friends.

    "You guys mustn't be seen or else she'll send her cat after you. Oh and yeah, beware the cat. I'll leave my window open for you to come and go but be careful because it's a new place."

She smiled when the mice just tilted their little head. Her mother would laugh in delight when she saw Ella talk to her animal friends. She believed they understood her.

The next couple of days were getting better after Ella would visit her mother's grave telling her she was okay. Besides her controlling aunt.

     "Oh sweet Ella, you must earn your keep here in my house. You will be part of my kitchen staff and you can prepare your meals there. When guests are over, you will stay in your room and not make a sound. You will get a small allowance if you follow my rules for the essentials of clothes or anything else. Break my rules and I'll take some precious items and throw them in the fire"