10 Minute Tales

Apr 20th - High Seas

The blue that stretched before him was all he could see before them. Out, out, as far as he could imagine, where it touched the sky. He could almost imagine it splashing against the sky, as though it were a wall.

"Any news up there?" a voice called from below. He snapped out of it and looked down again. First Mate Biggs was not a man you trifled with.

"Not a thing, sir!" he yelled down, giving one quick glance around to confirm that. "We seem to be alone here!"

"How's the water?"

"Lookin' a tad rocky, sir, I'd say be careful."

"Aye." the shiphand nodded, satisfied, and left him to it again. He sighed in quiet relief as he sat down again. They had been sailing these clear waters for days now, and while it made his job easier... something about it made him nervous, too. He couldn't see any signs of life, not even fish in the ocean. Where was anything? He sighed again, this time of boredom, as he put his telescope to his eye, glancing around. He didn't expect to see anything.
He definitely didn't expect to see a humanoid figure glancing back at him.
He yelped in surprise and staggered back, thumping against the barrier of the crow's nest. What... what was that? He had seen a girl, clear as day, floating right in front of him! He looked around, still spooked. Nobody. He spent a moment gathering his breath, then looked at the telescope. It had been a present from his father, simple days before he set sail and never returned. He was told it would bring him luck and have the spirits watch over him.

"Spirits..." he muttered to himself, looking it over. It was sleek and black, a slim yellow circle painted around both ends. He frowned as he polished the lenses with his shirt, putting it back to his eye. He nearly failed to contain himself as he saw the figure again, closer this time, staring at him. He couldn't help but watch, fascinated, terrified, as this... ghost calmly walked over the bobbing ocean, steadily approaching the ship, staring straight at it - no, he quickly realised, she was staring straight at him. "C-Captain!" he cried out. "These waters are haunted, sir! We need to turn back!"

"What filth is he spewin' now?" the captain asked. A gruff, tall man with a thick, bushy beard, he was dressed the finest of them all, sporting brilliant red clothes.

"Ghosts, sir! There's one heading right for us, fore and starboard!" A couple of the crewmen rushed to the front of the ship, intrigued, but none could seem to see her. The figure almost giggled, shaking her head and mouthing some words. He could make them out, clear as day.

"They won't see me."

"Sir, we, we need to turn away, this is no place for mortals!"

"Belay that!" the captain yelled. "All ahead as planned. Back to your stations, men!" the captain looked up, staring straight at the lookout. "And no grog for you t'night."

"Sir, I'm...!" he tried to object.

"There'll be no further discussion." he turned back and headed for the helm. The lookout sighed, looking through the telescope one last time. The figure was gone.