The Silent Sailor

Prison Escape

        I woke up the next day with a splitting headache and the sound of passengers swirming. Today would not be a day in which I would venture out onto the deck. I didn't want to deal with my sisters or Daddy. I sat up and ran my hair through my very messy hair. It was nasty and knotted. I groaned very loudly, stretching, before I got to my feet and wandered aimlessly around my messy cabin. I needed to clean it. Later, I decided, gathering my things for a shower and going to my bathroom -the smallest of all my sisters, of course. Once it was warmed up I stepped in and used my voice for the only thing I was actually willing to use it for; I sang. Mom's favorite song was L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole. So naturally that was the one I knew best.

        I sang often but only in the privacy of my room. It was a hobby that Mom and I shared, one I wouldn't share with anyone else. Ever. Especially not my family. I washed my curly hair and part of me wished I could shave it all off. I tried that once, but I realized that I was taking away one of the things I shared with Mom and I could handle the aggravation if it meant I was closer to her. I hopped out when I had finally finished and changed into my favorite outfit. It was a pair of green shorts and a purple tank top. I threw on my flip flops with it, just in case I decided to travel into the outside world.

Yuck.

        I spent the remainder of my morning cleaning up my room and sorting through Mom's little collector's items. I was going to take them all with me. We were docking in Orlando in seven hours and I was going to leave. I was getting as far from my family as possible. My plan was set and I was packing my bags now. All of Mom's favorite seahorses were stored safely in my bag, protected by clothes. I only needed one bag and I kept my shoes on my feet, so those could be the ones I travelled in. Lucy was going to be upset and Daddy was going to be pissed, but by the time they left my cabin will have been discovered as empty and I would be half way across Orlando.

If I could find a car to take a hitchhiker.

        I'd turn on my radio and lock my door, so I would have time to escape and then I would run. I'd have to hide my hair, though. It served as a beacon for anyone looking out over the port.

        "Lynnette, Daddy needs to talk to you!" Linda called through my door. I cursed and moved to hide my bags. I pulled my hair away from my face and tucked it into a somewhat neat ponytail. With a groan I exited the room and took to the crowded halls. I reached the pilot room and Daddy turned to me, a grimace sitting on his face.

        "Linnie, I know you love Orlando, but your behavior these past few months has been horrible. You do things without my permission and break curfew. It isn't fair to your sisters that they would face punishment for doing these things, but you don't."

        "Dad?" I murmured, praying he wasn't say what I thought he was.

        "I'm sorry, but I'm not letting you leave the ship when we get to Orlando."

        "Daddy, I'm seventeen! I'm not a child anymore!"

        "Don't you take that tone of voice with me, young lady! I provide you with shelter therefore you obey my rules!"

        "If you would just listen!" I protested, but he held a hand up. "I am the adult, you are the child! I don't have to listen to you!"

        "What would Mom say?" I spat out, throwing his words back in his face, "Mom always listened to what we had to say, even when we were wrong! You never listen! You complain that I am silent and that I never try to talk to you about my problems, but it's because you never f****** listen to me! I'm sick of having a voice and not using it! I hate you!! You aren't Mom and you'll never make up for letting her die!! It's all your fault! I hate you!" It was the most I'd spoken to Dad in years and I knew the evil words did their trick.

        "Lynnette, that's enough. Go to your room. I am not your mother and I know it was my fault, but how dare you blame her death on you being how you are? It's pathetic."

        "Dad! You still-"

        "I said, ENOUGH!" He yelled, snatching me up by my arm. I yanked away and turned from the room. My middle finger flew in the air before I left and violently slammed the door.

        I hated him. I hated him so much. There weren't words for my hatred for him. He wasn't my Dad anymore, he was...disgusting. I continued to pack and gather my things for when I could finally leave. I pulled together all the money I saved from the trips back and forth on land. 1, 243 dollars, not much, but enough to get me somewhere. I hid it in my bags, so I wouldn't get anything stolen.

        We were due to port at 3:00 and it was already 2:23, so close to getting away. I just hoped I could get passed Dad. I was nervous, there was no doubt about that, but I was excited too! I could finally escape from my prison. I could explore land for more than just a few short hours.

        I pulled my hair into a braid and coiled it around the base of my head, so I could hide it under my hat. I yanked on a different outfit, too, so I couldn't be pulled out in the crowd. White shorts and a pale grey crop top, it was non descript and I would blend in nicely. My eyes bounced to the clock.

2:58.

        Showtime. I pulled my bag up my shoulder and a pair of sunglasses. One glance at the mirror confimed that I was nicely disguised. "Please look out for me, Mom." I murmured, turning my stereo on and making sure I locked my door behind myself. I strolled around the deck and spotted Lana, she looked directly at me, squinted her eyes for a moment. And nodded at me. "I won't tell." She whispered, relief flooded through my body and I thanked her with a stern head bob in her direction. Way too close, I decided, so I snatched the arm of a nearby boy. He had thick black hair and an amazing body, I noticed as I pressed my body close to his.         

        "Please, just go with it. It's an emergency." I mumbled and his eyes looked down at my own, a deep ocean blue, like the waters of the Bahamas. My concentration broke for a moment and I found myself leaning closer to his face. "With pleasure." He replied, placing his hands on my waist, moving towards my lips. I put it out of my mind that this was my first kiss and that I didn't even know the guy's name, focusing more on the fact that he was cute and I would be more that happy to suck his face off.

        We were less than an inch away when the ship hit the dock. I yanked backwards and grabbed his hand. "You mind going on land for a minute?" I asked, realizing it'd been years since I'd spoken so much in a day. "With you, I'd love to." I blushed, running towards the exit. I turned, taking in my home for one last moment. The ramp was lowered and I was ready to run onto the port.

        "By the way, I'm Eric." I didn't say anything in response, I just slipped into the crowd, still holding onto Eric -even his name was hot! - taking a deep breath when I realized I had finally escaped Dad's grasp.

I was free!