Hidden dreams

Chapter Seven.

                Ash woke once again on this sickening boat. He was getting really tired of everyday waking to the captain screaming for them to get to the hall eat and then get to work. Ash begrudgingly pulled himself out of the hammock by grabbing the rope and pulling his body out. His body had gained massive muscles from all the work he had been doing on the ship but he was still just as skinny as he was before since food was just as scarce as it was before when he was on the streets.

                Ash pulled on his torn and ripped blouse. Then pulled his brown hair back with a fayed ribbon. He hoped they would stop by land soon he was running out of supplies and the last thing he wanted to do was go without a shirt. Especially with the harsh sea and the salty wind blowing against skin. It was the reason why his skin was so weathered and hard. His hands were callused from all the rope he had handled. He had cuts and burns from cooking and from hauling barrels and boxes from the ship to land, for stingy rich people who never pay enough for the whole crew to eat enough.

                “COME ON BLUE-EYES! ITS YOUR TURN TO CLEAN THE MESSHALL.” He growled, it had been Dax’s turn. But he raced up the stairs all the same, grabbing a mop and pail. He threw the mop into the mess hall and ran towards the railing of the ship. He jumped and his foot landed on the railing and he jumped off and swan dived into the calm royal indigo waters.

                Ash let himself sink. He loved the water, everything about it was soothing and beautiful yet at the same time it was terrifying since these calm waters could turn raging and kill every man on that boat.

                Not to mention what lurked under the folding waves.

                Water enveloped him completely his hair slowly floated up. His eyelashes collected water bubbles. Gradually he opened his eyes. The water was foggy making it difficult to see. He observed his blissful environment, but was stunned to notice that there was no life. No fish swam in schools. No fish darted to his face then away.

                Absolutely no life.

                This wasn’t good, this meant a storm was headed this way. He glided upward, breaking the water’s surface he gulped in the fresh air. The salt water stinging his throat and lungs. With his hand he pushed back his salty soaked hair. He shook his head trying to get most of the water that still clung to his eyelashes and hair. He grabbed the rope and hauled himself up with one hand the other carrying the water filled pail. He pulled himself on board to spot his captain peering through his scope, which was pointed to the east.

                “Captain, there’s a storm on way.”

                “Aye.” The Captain remarked, with a small nod.

                “Are we going to prepare.” He was silent, for a while and his arm carrying the pail began to weaken, he was about to repeat himself when the Captain finally answered him.

                “Alas no, carry on with ye duties. I have a feeling fate has this one planned for us.” Ash squinted his brow furrowing. His Captain usually always planned ahead, especially when a storm was on its way.

                But for once he looked laid back, completely unruffled by the news.

                “Blue-eyes go clean the mess hall now.” Ash gave him a sharp nod, as the Captain peered down on him, his small black eyes unreadable. That unnerved Ash greatly, but he chose to trust the Captain as he had before.

                He turned and made his way to the mess hall and began scrubbing, the collected filth, crusted food, and spilled grog.