Hidden dreams

Chapter Nine.

                Ash gulped down the now lukewarm water, Alice staring at him intently, her eyes unreadable. Ash set the pot down, resting his arm on his knee, his other hand sliding into the smooth sand, he tilted his head back a small smirk placed on his smooth, thin lips.

                “I’m Ash but most of my crew calls me Blue-eyes.” She nodded, not offering her name. He sighed rolling his aching neck. “And your name?” He asked she lifted her head a little, her grey eyes yet again captivating him.

                “Kate.” She whispered. His eyes narrowed, he had a feeling that wasn’t her real name but he didn’t push it further.

                “Kate…” Her name rolled off his tongue hitting her ears. She looked away ashamed but answered all the same.

                “Yes?” She didn’t give any more than that, proving that this was going to be more difficult than he thought.

                “How did you get here? A ship?” She looked down, then shook her head.

                “I’m not…sure?” She whispered, her eyes wandering around, looking everywhere but at him. She gestured at a large spike of wood through it looked to be a man, drips of blood made small patterns in the sand.

                It was the Captain. Ash stood, mostly out of horror but he pretended it was out of respect. He was covered in large lush green leaves. But there was no mistaking that that was the captain.

                “I covered him in the leaves and have made sure he was not eaten.” He nodded in thanks but said nothing.

                “The crew and I will bury him and decide who will be captain.” His words were cold and frigid. He looked down at the sand, his fists clenched. His eyes borring into the sand him pretending to see straight through and into hell. Where the captain was probably drinking and laughing with the devil.

                He turned back to Kate, who was looking away at the endless sea. Its waves folding over each other. Her eyes lost, a void to something dark and evil. Not from this world. She jumped and caught him staring at her.

                She looked away blushing, brightly. Ash’s eyes narrowed, and he flopped down in the sand, on his back, looking up at the stars. He could faintly hear, Kate get up and flop down next to him. Slowly she lowered herself into the sand, next to him.

                “I was learning to play the violin.” She whispered. He looked over at her, interested.

                “I know how to play I would teach you but-“

                “Shipwreck.” He nodded.

                “You should get some more rest, I’m going to check out the island.” He whispered, standing up swiftly. He quickly stood also, but with more difficulty. His head swam and he began to dangerously tilt to his side. Kate grabbed his arm, holding him steady.

                “It’s dangerous let me go.” His voice trailed off sleepily. She chuckled and it warmed throughout his whole body, he grinned, his eyelids dropping softly over his eyes.

                “I can handle myself, thank you.” He wanted to say something hold the conversation, with the angel that had saved him, but he was falling too quickly into oblivion before he could even utter another word.

                “LIKE THAT!?” A man with crazed eyes screamed into his face, he was drooling out of the corner of his mouth. He had jagged black teeth. Ash head fell back down, finding himself unable to keep it up. The man grabbed his chin digging his claws into skin. He felt the blood ooze down connecting with other streams. The man pushed his head aside and moved away. Ash could faintly hear clinking metal against metal.

                “Oooooooo I do like this one.” The man’s words oozed thickly from his mouth, dripping. Suddenly there was a fiery pain in his side, as the cold weapon buried itself inside his rough flesh.

                “Mmmmmmm OH YES I FUCKING LOVE that, YES baby give me MORE!” He raged in his ear and all that Ash could manage was a whimper. The man cut and slashed away at his body, ripping his flesh to shreds. The man danced around him humming loudly.

                “Ba bo do, hey babyyyyy I loooooove you.” He sang as he pointed at Ash, while doing a little tap dance which in itself was elaborate. Suddenly Ash found a small reservoir of strength.

                “WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY?” The man stopped dancing and raised an eyebrow.

                “Oooooooo so has Little Ash found his voice.” The man spat on his face, little droplets of acid. Ash became enraged and tugged and pulled on the restraints. The man laughed and laughed. The laugh growing louder and louder till Ash’s ears began to bleed. It was just white noise, it made him want to scream and cover his ears.

                Suddenly it ceased and Ash’s head fell forward again, he could taste the blood forming in his mouth, pooling in his ears, fogging his vision. The damned man crackled and danced around singing again.

                “Oh poor Ashys mummy died and with daddy gone he was about as lost as anyone. Searching endlessly, he will toil, till he’s buried in the soil.” Ash forced himself to roll his head back, and as he did this he used to the chains to pull himself up, till he was swaying dangerously but was standing up all the same.

                Everything around him burned, the wind was harsh and burned into his skin, wearing it down at a rapid pace. Red fiery liquid burned people and some willingly jumped into the river they body giving way to the liquid with a quick sizzle their tortured screams echoing. A fly landed on the man’s eyes but he gave it no mind and walked over to him.

                He had a slight limp and he was covered in rags. His eyes were a dull black, it was crudely fixed in his skull and looked to be have stolen from a very large fish. They were completely dead, looked to be a wall behind them. His skin was a dead grey, bits and pieces had been sewn on and others needed to be. He had thick greasy hair in some spots but most of it seemed to have fallen off. The man tilted his head.

                “Ashy poo, looky.” The grotesque putrid man pointed to his right. Ash mustered up the last of his strength and looked to him right. There towering over all the chaos was the man who had killed his mother. He was dressed the same. Thick black coat, his face completely obscured in the shadows. Except for those piercing eyes that when seen in the light shown, sadness and hatred. Ash didn’t know where he found the strength, but with everything left in him he pulled and pulled at his restraints, he could feel the wall holding the chains give way. The greasy dead man laughed and walked over and pushed him over. Ash fell with a heavy thud and a groan. The man in black walked over to him and squatted down, grabbing his chin and moving it side to side as if checking him over.

                “He’ll do good won’t he?” The greasy man cooed from behind him. “Do good, do good.” He hissed.

                “Shut up Cowley!” The shadowed man growled only glancing at the man before returning observing the Ash.

                “You’re perfect.” Ash summoned up strength and spat right in his face. The man stood turning around and removed his hood. As he whipped away the spit he spoke, “Cowley I want him in top shape.” The man bowed.

                “Yes, yes, yes, yes ooooh yessss.” The man advanced towards Ash holding a rusty drill in his hand as the shadowy man flipped his hood back on and sauntered out.

                The room was quickly filled with his screams and taunting laughter.