The Other Tide

Chapter XIX

The trees rustled, the sun coming up over them. Just then, Alya arrived with her men. Detaining them all. Kyro grabbed Sariah's arm pulling her away. Sariah struggled, her eyes narrowing. "You thought you could get far?" Alya scoffed, seeming amused. "How sad." She stepped closer to Sariah, lifting her chin up with her hand. "Where's the locket?" Alya said, seeming firm. Alya's eyes looked over at the rock, seeing the locket. "You didn't..." She stepped back, seeming shocked. Alya grabbed the locket, seeing the surface shattered. "What have you done?" She turned to the group, looking terrified. The trees swayed, the ground shaking. Cracking noises sounded around them. Sariah gasped as Kyro pulled her to the side as the ground cracked under them. "We must hurry back to the ship. Now!" Alya commanded, taking the lead. Her men let the Hornwood crew go. Expecting them to follow. Cassian grabbed his sword, putting it back on his belt. "What's going on?" Mohan asked, keeping up with the group as they ran through the jungle. Trees started to fall behind them, the ground shaking. "The world is destroying itself." Sariah said, noting the things around them. The ground cracked, splitting open in front of them. Sariah stumbled back, squealing. "We need to hurry!" Alya shouted. They were separated from the rest. The ground shook, causing a tree to fall closer to the group. Cassian grabbed Sariah, moving her away. The others quickly moved as the tree thudded to the ground. Sariah looked up. "That's our way across." She said, the tree perfectly fell across the now ridge. Their feet carried them across, getting safely away. They passed by the now crumbling pyramid. Rushing towards the Crimson ship, they noticed another ship. Cassian's eyes widened. "It's our ship!" He exclaimed, running towards it. They climbed aboard, everything perfectly the same as it was. Sariah stepped aboard, looking around. "It must've come back once the locket was broken." She said, seeming fascinated. "But, we don't have enough people to operate this ship." Mohan said, resting a hand on his hip. "I wouldn't say that." A voice interrupted them. Sariah looked up, seeing as a figure swung down from the crow's nest. She squinted due to the sun. They descended down, making everyone gasp. "I managed to gather the rest of our crew back." They said, their boots booming as they landed. "Louie?" Sariah spoke. Her heart thudded, making her gut tighten. "Ho-..how?" She stepped forward, looking confused. So many emotions between them all. "Shocking I know." He said with a chuckle. Her eyes teared up seeing Oxi standing in front of her, alive and well. She quickly hugged him. Oxi hugged her back. Arien, Akira, Mohan, and Cassian stood there in shock. They all stepped forward, turning the hug into a group hug. Oxi looked at everybody being uncomfortable. "Okay okay, can you let me go now? You're squishing me." He squirmed. They all released him, awkwardly laughing. "It's good to have you back." Cassian patted him on the back with a smile. Oxi smiled looking at his friends. "I couldn't ask for any better friends." He said, his eyes finding his way to Sariah. They smiled at each other, finding that understanding again. Mohan ruffled his hair, teasing him a bit. "You scared us to death back there." Arien nudged his arm. "Yeah, well I guess that curse of ours came in handy." He said, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's right, you all were cursed to be immortal and your souls were tied to the ship." Sariah said, putting pieces together. "My body regenerated, somehow I ended up on the ship when I regained my life. I remember seeing a golden glow surrounding me once I woke up." Oxi said, looking away. "It was your curse breaking." Sariah said. Oxi furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "You mean to tell me, our curse is broken?!" He looked up, a brightness returning in his eyes. She nodded. He felt relieved, finally feeling that alive feeling. A loud boom and cracking noise disrupted them. "Right, we need to leave this island." Sariah said, turning towards Cassian. The crew appeared from below, getting the sails started. Akira was at the wheel, ready for departure. "Hoist the sails!" Mohan commanded. The ship parted away from the shore, heading for the sea once again. The crew was back together.

Clouds formed in the sky, sending a shiver down Sariah's spine. They needed to leave before this world trapped their own souls. The wind picked up, carrying them out. The clouds started to darken. Just up ahead was the whirlpool again, their way out! The ship sailed straight for it. It was unsettling to think they hadn't seen the Crimson ship. Sariah braced herself this time as the ship went under.

Gasping for air, they made it back to their own world. As they sailed out, the whirlpool disappeared behind them. The legend of the curse treasure was now a legend. "It's good to smell that salty air again." Said Cassian, standing beside Sariah. They stood at the back of the ship, leaning against the ledge. "I suppose." Sariah softly chuckled. Cassian smiled looking out at the ocean. "I guess our new destination would be to bring me home?" Sariah asked, the thought crossing her mind. Cassian looked over at her, their eyes met. "I-..." He started but paused. He hadn't thought about that, considering their circumstances. "I guess it would be the right thing to do." He said, looking away.