The Adventures of the HMS Harlot

Part 5: Eldon Bridges, Cabin Boy

As I lay here exhausted, I can't tell what's sweat and what's tears dripping down my face and on to this metal grate. In my fatigue, my gasps for air turn into cries and then into laughter.

I usually try to stay tough like the rest of the crew, but I just can't help it. These past twenty four hours have been so weird. First, I saw Odessa storming off and disappearing into the ship. No idea what that's about. Then, in the middle of the night, I found the Captain standing on a railing, reaching for the moon. I've never seen her act so silly. Once we caught sight of land, I ran into Seymour, who proceeded to diss sword fighting and give me some fancy pieces of metal made by some guy named Philip. Like I said, a weird night.

I stumbled upon the Captain because I couldn't sleep. We were so close to a Union village. Everyone else had a rather gloomy look about them, but I couldn't wait to arrive. As soon as we docked, I sprinted off the ship. The Captain yelled something about meeting at the weapon's factory later but I took off.

Just like in the colony, I weaved in and out of the streets and alleys. Staying out of sight was not an issue for me as I was seeking out the secret nooks and crannies of the village. That is where they'd be hiding. Not that I'd know what they look like, if I found them. An older version of me I suppose.

I checked the basement of every abandoned building I could find and looked at graffiti for any repeated symbols that could be translated into secret messages. I even knocked over every old bookshelf I could find. Roy has told me several stories, where homes have secret rooms hidden behind their bookshelves. All you have to do is pull out a specific book and, BOOM, a mystery room appears. Apparently everyone had them when people lived below the skies.

I knew I had to explore places no one would think to look. You see, I came up with this theory that my parents survived the Armada attack on our village and have been hiding ever since. Well not just hiding, preparing for a revolt, waiting for the right moment to take back the Union from the mosquitos. I was just a baby when the invasion happened, meaning that they've been organizing for over a decade. This also means they'd be very good at hiding by now.

The further out from the village I went, the more broken down the buildings got. Still, there was no sign of them. I climbed to the roof of an old factory to get a better look of the landscape. It looked like a fire had taken out the rest of the village. Had I looked everywhere? There were no signs of life, but I had to keep searching. As I sprinted down the steps of the factory's fire escape, I decided to jump to the next building's stairs. I didn't even think of how stupid it was, I just jumped, hoping this would be the building. My foot slipped on the railing, not giving me enough spring to reach the banister. As I fell, I reached out and grabbed on to the stair's landing a story below. I pulled myself up on to the metal grate and collapsed into the position I'm in now, laughing and crying while covered in sweat and tears.

I was silly to think I'd find them here. They could be anywhere from an Armada prison, to the skies, to not even here at all. I just like to think of them still living in their home, the Union. It's technically my home too even if I've no memory of living here.

My search will continue but, as the sun begins to set, I realize that I have a second home waiting for me in the Harlot crew. Maybe one day my two homes can become one. Until then, let's go steal some weapons.

Eldon Bridges