The Unbelievable Life of Patrick Uilliam Carter (Book 1)

Chapter fifteen

   After they had been swimming for a while, Calli tugged on his arm. "So, any idea where we're going?"

   "I'm honestly not sure. Maybe we should try to find another island. Preferably one in the opposite direction of anywhere you have ever been."

   "Hmmm. Well, we could try that way." She pointed westward. "We've never been in that direction before. In fact, this is the farthest we have ever traversed. Normally, we stay close to the rocky shores that way." She gestured toward the east. "There are caverns and tunnels that lead to the ocean. Similar to the one I took you to. Only a lot larger. Great for hiding." She smiled slyly.

   "Okay. Westward it is then." He sighed.

   She came up beside him and asked hesitantly, "Are you sure that you're okay with leaving behind your father's things?"

   He continued to look ahead. "It's not like I had much of a choice. I didn't want to, but that's just the way it is. No point in thinking about it now."

   A silence fell between them. The moonlight shone brightly through the water. "This must be difficult for you. Leaving everything behind. I don't think your mother"

   "Can we not talk about my mother?" He cut her off then swam faster. Leaving her behind.

   As she caught up with him, she pulled him to a stop. "Look, I can see how upset you are." He looked away as she continued. "At least you were able to keep your necklace. Otherwise, there would be no way to conceal our whereabouts. And you still have me. Not that I count for much. But I like being around you." He looked up at her and she smiled. "And who knows, maybe someday we'll be able to go back to that island."

   He wore a slightly melancholic expression. "You're right. And I'm glad that I have both you and this stupid necklace. I just wish I hadn't caused so much trouble."

   "You didn't! They came after me. They didn't even know about you until they arrived at that island." She gripped her arm and chewed her bottom lip. Guilt apparent on her features. "I'm so sorry Patrick. All of this is my fault. If I hadn't left home"

   "No!" He took her face in his hands and lowered his voice. "They would have killed you if you had stayed. And I don't even want to think about what would have happened if I had gone to that island without you. Nothing good came from going there. I truly would have been alone if you hadn't gone with me." He looked deep into her eyes as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "And because of you, I learned more about myself; like how I can breathe underwater and that I can create storms." He slowly slid his hands down her arms.

   "Alright. Alright. I get it." She waved him off as she closed her eyes. "You'd rather be alone with me than with anybody else." She flipped her hair. Then put her hands on her hips and smirked with a twinkle in her eyes.

   Patrick laughed. "How did this become about you?"

   She smiled as she placed her hands behind her back. "Feel better?"

   He backed up a bit and gave her a half smile. "Actually, yeah. I do. Thanks, Calli."

   Satisfied with his response, she linked her arms around his and pulled him along as she began to swim again. "Good. Then let's find our own place. Shall we?"

   Morning's light glimmered through the waves above. Casting shadows in the water below. Schools of tropical fish passed by Patrick and Calliope, as they stopped to rest in the early hours of the day. They took turns keeping watch for danger. Neither one could get good sleep with danger looming over them.

   They pressed forward, and by mid-afternoon, their stamina was starting to decline as exhaustion started to creep in. Several ships passed by overhead. The water was shallower here. So they had to swim closer to the sandy surface in order to avoid being exposed. A few fishermen sat in boats. Their fishing nets were cast into the water. The fish swimming around were few and far between; as many were trying frantically to escape from the nets that pulled them from their watery homes. Patrick and Calliope continued on their way.

   When they reached a small group of islands, Patrick wondered if it would be a good idea to take Calliope to port with him. She was not accustomed to being around people. He had no idea how she would react. But, he was really hungry and he needed some things he could only get in a place like this.

   "Maybe we should stop at a port town. Get some food and supplies." He watched her reaction carefully.

   She twisted her hair around her fingers and chewed her lip nervously. "I've never been to a human place before. Other than your ship." She paused then asked, "Are they all like that?"

   "So long as you act human and don't sing, there shouldn't be any trouble. Besides, I'll be with you the whole time." He gave her a reassuring smile.

   "I guess it's okay. As long as you stay with me."

   The sun was beginning to set, as they reached the docks of the closest small island. Painting the sky a vibrant orange and pink.

  Patrick looked around. "We should find a good place to hide until the sun sets. It will give us a chance to dry off."

   As they sat on the sandy beach, the tide was rolling in. Bringing with it small shells trapped in the surf. Waves etched grooves into the sand, as hermit crabs dug deeper, trying to hide their freshly exposed whereabouts.

   Something Calli had pulled out from her tattered short skirt caught the last bit of light from the sun. It glistened brightly and shone in Patrick's direction as she turned it over in her hands. She had his grandfather's pocket watch!

   "Why do you have that?!" Exasperated, he reached for it and grabbed it away from her. Clutching it in his fists. He rubbed his thumbs over the watch. Brows knit.

   "I wanted to look at it." She replied innocently.

   "You know, if you wanted to look at it, you could have just asked. I would have let you see it." He pushed the watch into his pocket. "So, when did you take it?" Patrick thought over the last few weeks as he looked at her.

   She was playing with a little spiraled shell. "It was lying next to you." She looked into his eyes. "The night of the storm."

   His face lit up as he hit his fist to his palm when he realized exactly when she was talking about. "You mean when you kidnapped me?" He smirked.

   She nodded.

   He dug his fingers into the sand. Allowing them to sink deeper as he moved them. "But, why didn't you give it back until now?"

   She shrugged nonchalantly. "I forgot about it."

   He slowly lifted his hands. Watching as the sand slid off and settled into the empty space where his fingers had once been. "I guess we have had a lot happen since then." He dusted off his hands on his pants. Then, turned to face her. "I should probably thank you. If you hadn't been so fascinated with it, I wouldn't have it now. So once again, thank you Calli." He smiled softly at her.

   She turned her head towards the setting sun. A soft pink glow touched her cheeks.

   Patrick wasn't sure if it was from what he said, or if it was the sunset, but he thought in that moment, that she looked beautiful.

   "We should get going. Don't want to be in town too late." He stood up and dusted himself off. Reached out and took hold of her hand. He helped her to her feet and they walked towards the town.