Pirates Of The Caribbean /// Keys Of Hell

Chapter LXXXIV

《At the Hell of the Caribbean》
As usual, Ruby was dressed in black, sitting by the river of lava, watching Hell Harbor from a distance.

As Ruby watched the other souls wandering around the area, at one point she felt someone approaching her from behind.

Dylan: Hello Shadow.
Ruby: I thought I told you my name.
Dylan: You did. But you're again dressed completely in black.
Ruby: I like black clothes and you know that.
Dylan: Aye, I know. But are you sure you're alright?
Ruby: I'm good. Really.
Dylan: Something's got you sad, isn't it?
Ruby: Sad? Why would I be sad?
Dylan: No, you're right. It's just me and my imagination. I'm just a little bit tired.
Ruby: That's why you came? To tell me I cannot be happy?
Dylan: No! Of course not! Let's pretend this didn't happen, okay?
Ruby: It's not easy. But fine. Start again if you want.
Dylan: (Sighs) Hello, Ruby.
Ruby: Dylan.
Dylan: I had a little proposal for you.
Ruby: Go on. I'm listening.
Dylan: A little while ago, I was remembering different things I did on my ship, with my crew.
Ruby: You, remembering about your life? That's weird.
Dylan: Are you going to let me speak?
Ruby: Continue.
Dylan: When I was the captain of my ship, we would have little parties on board from time to time. We played games, played music, and I prepared different foods and drinks for my crew.
Ruby: And what was what you celebrated at those parties?
Dylan: We celebrated the simple fact of being there. We celebrated everything and nothing at the same time. The idea was to have a good moment. Forgetting that we were maritime criminals and that there were people who were looking for us simply to eliminate us.
Ruby: I like to know more about your life.
Dylan: But my idea is not to tell you about my life. I wanted to invite you to try some of those food and drinks I used to make my crew to party.
Ruby: (Smiling) When and where?
Dylan: How 'bout tomorrow? At the cavern behind the stone peaks?
Ruby: Okay. I'll be there.
Dylan: One last thing!
Ruby: Aye?
Dylan: I want to be clear. This invitation is for Ruby. Not Shadow.
Ruby: (Confused) What are you trying to say exactly with that?
Dylan: I mean, this invitation is for you to enjoy, to have a good time, to smile for a while.
Ruby: (Looks confused)
Dylan: I've noticed that whenever you're sad, angry or worried, you dress completely in black. You may not even have realized it by yourself. But I do have noticed it. It's not a simple coincidence. You're not completely comfortable right now.

Ruby, with a sigh, looked away from Dylan to look at the altar near the dock.

Ruby: (Accepting Dylan's words) You're right. I'm not completely comfortable right now and I'll never be. Not in this place at least.
Dylan: That's why I want to invite you to eat something. To take you away from what you don't like for a while.

Ruby, upon hearing Dylan's proposal, couldn't help but remember the trips on the Lotus Flower, when they played games and music.

Dylan: So do you accept my invitation? Tomorrow at the cavern?
Ruby: I'll be there.

(•••)

The next day, Ruby didn't wait long to go to the cave where she had confided her friendship to Dylan.

Ruby was determined to go in, but when she looked in and saw the blond pirate putting plates with different foods on the table, she froze and regretted it at the last minute, so she hid next to the entrance, in a place where she couldn't be seen from inside, but the pirate had already heard her.