Waves of Ruin

Chapter 6

I almost forgot she had over heard this problem at dinner. My face must reveal how surprised I am that she brought it up, because she looks at me before speaking again. "I only say this because I saw how desperate you looked at dinner and I know how much your life on the water means. If you dont want to hear about it that's fine, we can pretend this never happened."

"No, I need to know." I say, knowing this is the last chance I have, the clock slowly ticking down on my future.

"Ok, but not here." She says, still whispering.

We walk to the back and up a flight of stairs to her room. The floor in the hallway is scraped and filthy. The door to her room matches. We enter and I almost stumble, its smaller than the room on my ship. I've never seen any room on land this small and cramped.

She must notice, "I'm sorry, it's not great..."

"Don't apologize." I stay sternly. "Its fine, lets talk about why we are."

We sit on her cot, it's so hard I wonder if the floor might be softer. I ignore the pity I feel, knowing that will just make her mad to show it. I just wish I had known how bad it was for her here.

"I was working downstairs a couple nights ago," She starts. "And these men were talking about a package that needs transported from one place to another, by ship."

A package? That's oddly vague. "Do you know what it is, drugs? alcohol? Maybe something not illegal?" I say.

"Im sorry, but all I know is that a package needs to be picked up and delivered somewhere. He seemed very secretive for a reason though, so I'm not sure its safe." She says playing with her hands.

I know the unspoken words on her lips, "It's not safe, but it might be worth it". "Do you know where I can find these men?" I erge her, I have no time to waste.

"Listen Lily... these men, they don't have the best reputation." She doesn't meet my eyes.

"Trust me, I have delt with worse." Thinking back to last night, I shutter.

She puts her hands on mine, "I can tell him where to meet you tomorrow, do you have a specific location in mind?"

I think, where is somewhere that is safe, but also from prying eyes? Then it hits me, I know exactly where to meet them.

"Yes, I have a place in mind." I tell her my plan and where and what time I want to meet. She nods along. I think she is worried, but doesn't say anything knowing that it won't change what I am about to do.

I'm up early, the sun still waking up after a long night. It seems just as excited as I am to find out about this job. I quicken my pace, running through my morning routine and decide its better to skip breakfast. When I leave out the back no one seems to notice. I creep around the house, feeling like I'm a criminal, not a resident of this house. But I guess I'm not that either, not anymore, not after this job.

I'm on the coble stone streets and I weave through the buildings, the ease like a cat hoping from one house to the next in search of it's prey. It takes no thought, I know this route in my sleep. I stop by the wharf before heading to the meeting place. I need to see why I am doing this, why I am risking my life for curated pieces of wood floating on water.

I see the boat, the water, my crew. I won't let my father tell me what I am made for, what life I can live. The necklace at my chest burns against my hand, a reminder that my Papa knew my dreams, that I was made for this life.

I turn back into the city, my next stop the deciding factor of the rest of my life. I reach the rolling hills, backdropped by bright blue sky. Clouds sparse, sun gleaming. If I weren't on my way to certain danger, this might take my breath away. But I guess life can do that, take pretty things and ruin them.