Dizgaia ~ The Dreamfinder's Daughter

Chapter 43 ~ The Tragedy of James Hook

In the wee hours of morning, Mia awoke to a strange sound. Strange, but familiar. It was a sound she hadn't heard in an awfully long time.

Papa I know you're going to be upset
'Cause I was always your little girl
But you should know by now
I'm not a baby

It was one of Edward Baxter's favorite 1980s pop songs, and thus, one which Mia had assigned as his ringtone, much to his chagrin. The lyrics were ones that he didn't wish to consider in regards to his teenage daughter. But nevertheless, she couldn't let go of the joke, and so it stuck.

You always taught me right from wrong
I need your help, daddy please be strong
I may be young at heart
But I know what I'm saying

Mia's eyes shot open. It was still dark outside. The sun had not yet risen, but there was a faint glow on the horizon outside the cabin window and an oil lamp still flickered dimly on the charting table. Mia's backpack lay atop the maps, and Madonna's voice was singing faintly from within.

Mia sat up in bed, shoving the captain's arm off of her, and bolted from the bed only to trip over the length of chain which ran from the fetter around her ankle to the base of the bedpost. The captain snorted awake, watching with bleary eyes as Mia scrambled to her feet, dragging the length of chain with her towards the table.

"Wnn... Whuu... What's that?"

The one you warned me all about
The one you said I could do without
We're in an awful mess
And I don't mean maybe, please
Papa don't preach I'm in trouble deep.

Mia's hands plunged into her bag and she pulled out her phone. She held it in a trembling hand, barely believing what she was seeing. The battery life was at full bar, even though it had died shortly after her arrival in Dizgaia, never mind that it couldn't possibly have service in an alternate dimension! But all the same, the name 'Dad' and a familiar phone number was flashing across the screen. Shaking, Mia swiped her finger across the screen and spoke tremulously into the phone.

"H-Hello? Hello?"

Edward Baxter's voice came from the other end. It was fuzzy, crackling, but unmistakable.

"Mia???"

Hook sat up, rubbing his eyes as he slowly came further and further out of his sleep. "What? Who's there?"

Mia could hear Hook's awakening snorts, confused mutterings, and the bed creaking as he arose, but she did her best to ignore him. She stuck a finger in her free ear as her grip tightened on the phone.

"Dad?!"

"Mia! Oh, thank God! Sweetie, where... bzz..."

Mia was having trouble hearing him. There was a lot of static, as though their connection was weak. Not surprising. It was a long-distance call, a whole dimension away!

"Dad! Dad, I can't—"

"Mia! Mia, honey, you're breaking up! Please, I... bzz... Where are you?"

Mia's whole body was atremble. "Y-You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Mia—"

"Dad, please listen! I'm... I'm far away. Far, far away, and I can't... I can't..."

"Mia, honey! I'll come and get you! Just... bzzz... where you are!"

"You can't!" she wailed helplessly. "That's what I'm trying to tell you! Dad, please just listen to me! I-I want you to know I love you! I love you so much, Dad! But I'm probably... I'm probably never going to see you again! I'm... I'm so sorry!"