Chasing Blue- The Final Saga (Book 4)

Chapter 3: Starting Over

A/N: Thanks to those that have read up to this point. The story from here on is about to take off! (The trailer on this chapter was made brookeismyname. This is the 2nd version or the teaser trailer. My official trailer I made is in the prelude.)

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Everything.

            Gone.

It was lost in the sea. As I finally lifted my head from the depths of the cold sea, streams of water poured down my hair, dribbling down my face, before running off into the foamy sea that encircled me. The water was well to my shoulders before I realized it was a loss cause. In defeat I slowly waded back to the shore, dripping with regret. That was all I had. It was the only money I had left after leaving everything behind at home.

The brisk breeze whipped across my face. The damp clothes clung to my skin as the waves slapped against me. I tried not to look at Theseus and the nearby sailors as I trudged to the sandy beaches. I tried to hold back the burning tears as I told myself I could not live down my own humiliation. Was I cursed? Were the gods mad at me? Why did it feel like everything was against me? I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry but what good would that do? Was the journey ending before it even started? Perhaps fate was trying to tell me something that September morning.

"Did you go swimming?" chirped a small voice from behind. I ignored the voice, settling down on the boulder underneath the shade of the date tree. As I sat on the boulder from before, I watched the sailors continue to load the ships by the dock. Just then a soft hand touched my leg. What in the...It was a child? The child's big green eyes looked up at my startled gaze as he quickly released his grasp as if he was caught doing something wrong. The child must have been perhaps five or 6 years of age yet he could sense something was wrong. He bashfully withdrew before stepping behind the date tree.

"Milos! Stop bothering that poor man and come over here," Theseus scolded. I watched the boy's full lips curve into a pout as he turned around to face his anxious father who was heading in my direction.

"I am so sorry about that," he replied apologetically, yanking the boy closer to him. Theseus knelt down to the boy's level and sternly looked him in the eyes. "I need you to be an obedient boy and stay with your mother and Penelope."

"But papa..."

"Not now Milos," he replied sternly. Theseus got up from his crouched position and pointed to his wife and daughter standing by the dock's edge. The boy reluctantly trudged through the sand to his mother and older sister.

"I am so sorry about that. I hope he was not too much of a bother to you." I shook my head no. "Any luck?" Theseus inquired sheepishly.

"No," I sighed heavily. "I cannot afford the trip. All my money is gone," I croaked softly. I had heard so much about Rome but yet knew so little. My brother Barbarius had once reached the peninsula of Italy but he never mentioned if he got to see Rome let alone explore it... experience it. Then I remembered who else who boarded the ship with him...Gaius!

"I am so sorry about everything," he replied apologetically. "You forgot your sack of clean clothes," Theseus said handing me the bag.

"Thanks but you can have it," I said looking down at my bare feet.

"Well...I will leave them here in case you change your mind," he uttered. As I watched him trudge through the sand, I saw my crew from afar. One of the young sailors seemed to glance in my direction as I sat basking in the shade. His glance turned into a fixed gaze before whispering to the sailor in front of him. They knew I was here. Annoyed I got up from my seat on the boulder and began walking back towards the road barefoot. Today more than ever I wanted to be invisible.