Herera - Stories of The Purple Pearl

12. No shell gets left behind

Twelve hours.

Only twelve hours ago, half of these people were bound in a dark, cold space. Enslaved for weeks, either working until their body gave in, or hanging shackled at bars, with only a dim torch light and the sounds of their grumbling stomachs or distant exclaims of someone being hurt. Tortured, just for the sake of it.

Twelve hours ago, we pulled our friends out of hell, and none of them showed any signs of ever having been there.

Some were still quieter than normal. Most of them just sat down drinking or talking instead of dancing and singing as was usually the case during a party on The Pearl. But they all seemed... happy.

I couldn't wrap my mind around it. Were they hiding their true feelings? Would they cry in their cabins when they were alone? Would some of them wake up tonight soaked in sweat from a nightmare of being back on Hachi's ship?

I knew I would.

My crew were the most extraordinary people I had ever known, and although I'd saved them, I didn't think I'd ever be able to forgive myself for how they had suffered for weeks.

No shell gets left behind.

Captain Bell's words shivered through my mind. I had left no shell behind. My crew was back, and I would no longer endanger their freedom. The next day at dawn, we would leave. Hungover probably, but I would not deprive them any longer of the cleansing sea air.

I sipped from the wine bottle Elias had thrown at me. I finally had some time for reminiscing.

I slowly emptied the bottle on my own, enjoying every sip washing down my guilt. Only when the bottle was empty, I realized it had made room for another gap in my conscience.

Further into the night, the torches started dimming, leaving the fireflies the only light source on The Purple Pearl.

I saw some people still talking, drinking and laughing. Eryk and Quinn cuddled around each other. Lana in a cute pink blouse, already making friends with Rhea. Bolin fiddling and spinning with his old and new guns.

Catharina and Idir were nowhere to be seen, which said enough.

I lied down on my back and put my head on a pile of leaves, watching the stars blur as I started to shut my eyes and let myself peacefully fall asleep.

But for every joyous sound, a hurtful scream rushed through my mind.

Hurt is relative.

For every light, a darkness crept into sight.

Have you ever chosen the worst of two evils?

Captain Bell's body, still warm, his blood wetting my fingers, soaking my clothes. And Yui was just standing there, watching me. I hated him. I didn't even know I was capable of feeling so much hate for one single person.

I'd rather you hate me then see you dead.

I couldn't fall asleep and I knew damn well why.

The Seas would suffer a great loss if you'd die, Captain Herera.

When the torches were fully burned out and even the fireflies had started their night, the last of my crew had gone to sleep as well. I should have too. Gone to sleep. The wine was entrancing me, playing tricks with my mind. I knew it. I should have gone to my cabin and gone to sleep.

So I took the rental ship and left.

***

Hachi's ship was darker than a shadow with no sun. No fires, no music, not even the sounds of grumpy pirates enjoying a cool summer night.