Pirates' Destiny: In Hazardous Pursuit

Chapter 15: The Darkest Waters (Evie)

I wouldn't let Lucy see them. The bruises. They covered my stomach and there were large, dark handprints on my throat from where he'd choked me; she wouldn't see them because then she would attempt to talk me out of finding Jack again...and I just might listen this time. Since that night I had questioned my whole escapade again; I'd laid in the captain's bed and stared up at the blank ceiling above me, wondering why I'd done it.

When I awoke the next morning, I finally understood why. I'd left because I'd always wanted to leave; Jack had little to do with that. He was simply the excuse I had been using for myself so as to get away. But Jack was the reason I continued; I came to the conclusion that Jack Sparrow was really all I had in the ocean, and I knew, somewhere in my sick head, that I would not be satisfied until I found him. I wasn't even totally sure whether I despised him or admired him; I figured that would come when I met him again.

I tucked the white frilly shirt, that I'd found in one of the chests below, into the men's trousers I now wore. I'm sure the Commodore would not mind me commandeering his attire for my own use; I chuckled dryly as I tied my scarf around my neck. My nail scratched one of the bruises and my amusement was replaced immediately with hatred and fear; I would not let them see. I took a deep breath and went above.

Markus was making sure all our ropes were secure, and I observed Ben cleaning off our deck. I assumed Lucy was at the wheel with my compass so I turned and found the stairs to ascend. "Markus, rig the fly by night; the wind is on our side this morning." I said when I reached Lucy. "Are we still moving West?" she nodded, looking at me with that discerning expression she had.

I took the wheel from her and refused to meet her eyes. "What happened last night?" she asked.

I chuckled. "You were there, dear. You did not let those men get you tipsy, did you?"

"No, what happened to you when you went to get the flag?" she asked, ever more persistent. I shrugged.

"Took me awhile to find a stop like that; Tortuga is full of more rum than the British navy is of champagne. But along the very ends of the street there was an old woman sitting in a chair, rocking back and forth. She was sewing one of those." I pointed to the flag on our mast. "I asked her how much she'd give me one for, she said three shillings; I gave her three shillings, and the business was done."

"And the food?" she asked.

"Took it off a man's hands and left him more than enough to purchase another carton." I said smoothly. "Now would you mind handing me my compass now?" she passed it to me, but I could tell she was not satisfied with my answers. My answers would have to do, for they were all I would give her; she realized this and descended the steps to aid Markus.

There wasn't too much work to be done on such a small vessel, so when high noon rolled around, we were all able to gather around on the deck and share a meal together. I occasionally had to return to the wheel to keep us on course, but I would also send Lucy when I was in deep conversation with Markus. I liked Markus; he was a learned man, with more than one unique talent, and the morals to match.

Other than being the strongman in a crew, he sang, was highly flexible, and could balance a rum bottle on his tongue. He was forever entertaining us while we worked, and I could see why a captain would want him on their boat. He kept everyone alive and upbeat, even when the sun threatened to cook us all.

Benjamin was less of a showman, but lighthearted and kind nonetheless. He and Lucy got on rather well; it made sense, for they were both younger and more shy. I would observe them talking and laughing every so often, and it made me smile. Lucy was my friend, I had to admit it to myself. She was no longer a nuisance, and I enjoyed seeing her happy.

I forever had that nagging sensation in the back of my mind, reminding me that I was not happy like that, but seeing her smile made me forget for a little while. So I searched for those moments all I could. Two days and nights passed without issue, and I was beginning to believe that the sea had, at last, calmed herself and was content with me.

I should never allow myself to believe anything.

Not long after night fell, I saw a threatening cloud growling at us from ahead. "Hold on, boys." I said solemnly, staring at the sky with apprehension. "This will be a long night."

And a long night it was.

The wind thrashed against the sails forcefully, ripping some of them apart and rocking the boat back and forth. "Pull them down!" I screamed. "We mustn't let the wind take any more of them!"

Benjamin and Markus rushed to do as I asked and Lucy ran to my side. "What will we do?" she asked frantically. I could tell she had never been to sea during a storm before.

"We pray." I said, not looking at her. "Get below." I found myself saying, automatically. "Just get below and stay there, and hopefully we will all still be here when you come out." I cringed, remembering the last words I ever heard my father say, and the vision of an abandoned boat when I had surfaced the next morning from the quarters.

But I shook the memories away and looked Lucy in the eyes. She was reluctant to go. "You won't be any help if you are too frightened to do what needs to be done. You'll likely fall overboard, and I won't have that." She got a fiery look in her eyes then.

"I will not sit down there and hide, Evie." she said stubbornly and stared at me. I groaned as the rain began; the drops came hard and fast, falling in threatening waves and climbing into my eyes as they bounced off my face.

I slicked my hair back with my hand and looked at Lucy, who continued to stand and stare at me. "Very well then!" I screamed as the wind attempted to drown me out. "If you won't go down, then go help them!" I gestured towards Benjamin and Markus, who were struggling to control the sails in bringing them down.

"Aye, Captain." Lucy said suddenly and ran down the steps to where the men were; I looked at her in shock as she went. 'She called me Captain.' I thought as I watched her. 'Does she trust me now?' I was distracted from my thoughts by the wheel spoke ripping itself from my grasp, and it began to turn madly. I re-asserted myself and tried to hold her for as long as I could.

I knew we probably wouldn't make it out of this one; I recognized the scene all too well. It was as though I owed a debt to the sea that I hadn't repaid by surviving all those years ago, and she was punishing me for it. Why did she have to punish my companions as well? Couldn't she simply have taken me and then let them go? I knew she wouldn't; the sea is unforgiving.

So I held out as well as I could, bracing my bones against the wheel that wanted nothing but to be free, and take all of us down with it when it fell. The waves had become unfathomable; they were sloshing over the sides of the boat with ease, soaking myself and my crew until we were drenched with saltwater and chilled by the gusting winds that just wouldn't cease.

The skies were dark and ominous when I turned to ask for help from above. I supposed I had angered Him by running away from my life on Port Royal, so I looked back down at the wheel and jumped as a crack of thunder sounded above us. It was almost as though the sky was splitting and we were going to get crushed by its splintered pieces. It wouldn't be long before the wheel overtook me, and I knew it.

Ironic, isn't it? The same thing that took my father from me would take me as well. Perhaps I would meet him at the bottom of the ocean, and at last I could sail with him on the other side for eternity. For I had wanted nothing more when I was a child; I had a strange relationship with the sea. I respected her, loved her, feared her, and at times, hated her as well.

I came out of my reverie as another large wave slapped the side of the boat and catapulted over the side, soaking me from head to toe. I didn't dare let go of the wheel, however; it groaned underneath my hands and I felt the wood straining to hold against the pressure of the sea.

"Hold on!!" I screamed as I lost control. Just as the wheel got its freedom, I took a glance up at the sky to see a lightning strike headed just for us. In the blink of an eye it was on us, and with an explosion in my ear, everything went black.