I lay in my hammock long since used to the rocking, swishing, and crashing of the sea on the ship's walls. I had tried to sleep but I found tonight only sleeplessness. The ship was deathly silent as only a few men remained awake. But I perked up a little as I heard the creek of boards as if someone was walking. I didn't think much of it, perhaps the wind, or water, or who knows on a ship. Lots to come loose and make a noise. But I began to hear... a voice.
Not the firm voice of an officer, not the gruff sound of a sailor, I could have sworn...
I heard the soft sweetness of a woman.
I sat up a little putting my ear close to the ceiling of my room listening, I could hear footsteps, not boots, and a voice.
That's not possible? everyone in bed but the crows.
We were days from the nearest coast, and months since any of us last saw a woman.
I tried to think it was merely my dreams, my cabin fever, sea sickness, or fantasy of being alone for so long.
But I knew I couldn't sleep, curiosity too much to bear.
I forced myself up and slipped my feet into my boots, I grabbed my jacket putting it over my shoulders to keep out the cold as I pushed open my door with a creek.
I tiptoed across the corridors until I pushed open the door to the deck.
The wind almost pushed me over. But I closed it behind me and looked across the deck.
nothing.
Not a soul.
Nothing but darkness for miles.
the ocean still.
wind whistling through the clear sky.
the only light was the grey moon that hung low, and the flickering stars in the sky.
I went to go back inside satisfied but I stopped short.
A voice.
A female voice as if she was... signing.
For a moment I convinced myself it was merely the wind, but the wind was not even enough to move the bell on the mast, the ocean so still the ship barely even rocked.
But her voice was as clear as day.
She was singing, wherever this woman was.
Her voice was ... captivating, Mesmerizing, almost like a spell.
"Someone there?" I spoke up my voice echoed across the open ocean but the song carried on "Hello? Anyone there?" I called out slowly walking to the edge of the ship to look and see if ships where close, but nothing, and even so it felt like... she was on board with me.
I froze up as I saw this movement in the corner of my eye, the sound continued and the sound of footsteps.
I quickly turned and saw... her
She was... She was... More beautiful than any woman I had ever seen.
She stood holding onto one of the ropes, her bare feet up on a barrel, she wore a long thin dress of white that almost seemed blue in the moonlight, what little wind there was blowing it back leaving little of her body below concealed, her hair long halfway down her back in those tight waves and ringlets that showed it was clearly wet, as if she had been swimming, her lips deathly blue as she sang her song.
"Miss? Miss what are you doing here!" I rushed over
which made her stop her song for a moment we merely looked at one another, her pricing sea blue eyes felt like... they burnt into my soul,
"Miss. You can't be here. this is a British naval vessel you can't be here, how did you even get aboard?" I asked
She didn't answer, only silence between us
"Well, you are going to have to come down miss. Give me your hand, and I'll help you down." I offered her my hand
She looked at me, then at my hand, She giggled.
She moved slipping her hand into my own softly and gently, her hands also felt wet, her fingers wrinkled, but even so I hadn't felt the touch of a woman in months.
Her hand slid past mine sliding down my arm until it reached my shoulder she then jumped off the barrel and by the grace of god I caught her in my arms like a princess.
"Whoa- Careful now. We wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."
She only giggled rubbing her nose on mine,
"uhhhhhhhhh" Was all that arrived to my mouth
she smiled and pulled my neck until our lips met, I felt so strange like I was so under her spell I would just go along with her, perhaps its the not seeing anyone, or she really is that beautiful, as we kissed my mind quickly began making plans to carry her back to my cabin and have her on my floor the rest of tonight. She pulled back giggling,
"Come on then, lets get you to my room and I'll take care of you," I cooed fixing her hair and stroking down her cheek
But suddenly I heard the door open, the sound seemed to spook her and she jumped out of my arms and over the side of the ship into the sea.
"Nooooo! Miss! Miss!" I called out but nothing, not even a splash.
"Dawkins!" I heard so I quickly turned and saw Captain Grimm had come on deck "What are you doing up here so late?"
"I uhh I'm sorry sir I could have sworn I-" I began
"What is it lad?" he asks coming over resting a hand on my shoulder
"A girl, A girl sir. I swear she was just here."
"A what?"
"A girl! she was here sir, singing, she just jumped and I-"
"Jack. Listen to me." he said turning me to face him "You swear on your life you saw a girl?"
"I did sir I did."
"Did she kiss you?"
"What-"
"Did she kiss you!"
"no sir." I lied
"Good." he relaxed standing himself straight "Bad things on these waters Jack... very bad things." he said "I never used to believe the tales my mother would tell me, of sea monsters, ghost ships and mermaids-"
"Mermaids?" I muttered
"But I know now as a man of the sea..."
"That they're not real sir?"
"No. They're out there. All of them. Somewhere in the dark..." he said "Forget this night Dawkins and everything you saw. That's an order."
"yes sir" I nodded
"Get yourself to bed."
"Yes sir" I nodded
Heading back to my cabin trying not to think about her, trying not to remember her but... I have a feeling she will linger in my mind long after this night.
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Jack Dawkins One Shots
FanfictionThe Artful Dodger (2023) [Disney Plus] Jack Dawkins (The Artful Dodger / Dodger) Thomas Brodie Sangster If you have not seen this show... WATCH IT! I can't explain but just do it