Black Hearted

Part 61

Sean lifted his head from Nate's shoulder, asking Granny in a shaky voice. "Are you saying that I did this to him? How much was left?" Sean's heartbeat started to thunder in his ears. He looked between them, seeing their grim faces. Taking a step back, he found it hard to breathe. Nate reached out to put his hands on his shoulders, telling him comfortingly. "Sean, we don't know if that is the cause. But even if it is, we will figure this out. It's not your fault." Sean shook his head and looked to Mark. Mark was watching the Mersharks drag the next man to the plank. The man screamed and thrashed. While Mark stood on the rail, holding the shroud with a devil's sadistic grin. Nate tried to pull him back up against him, but Sean twisted free of him. Granny put a hand on the side of his neck, gently asking him. "Sean... Calm down. Listen to me." Sean swatted her hand off, muttering out under his breath sharply. "No! Just stop! I can't deal with this right now..."

Sean bolted across the deck as Nate yelled out. "Sean?! What are doing?" Sean tossed off his shirt as he ran toward the far railing. People jumped out of his way in shock. Behind him, Granny sharply yelled out. "SEAN! DON'T! It's not safe!" Sean didn't listen. Yanking off his necklace, he jumped up on the railing and leapt off. Granny's frustrated voice filled the air as she yelled out. "STOP HIM!" It was already too late. Falling through the air, Sean summoned his trident to his free hand and dived into the water. His body transformed and for a brief moment, he took a deep breath of ocean to clear his head. Under the boat, he saw the startled expressions of the Mershark whales. One of the older ones started to swim toward him, but he twisted in the water and bolted as fast as he could. He didn't want to be around anyone. He wanted to be alone. Everything was just overwhelming him. He felt more pressure than ever. He had suffered both emotionally and physically, and now he was changing the people around him.

He couldn't take it. He didn't want to do this anymore. The farther he swam from the ship, the more he felt... free. Their expectations of him were fading. Their pressure and issues were no longer his own. Racing through the water, Sean took in everything around him. The lives of creatures that seemed to have much calmer lives. Slowing to stop, he moved up to the surface. Gently rising out of the water up to his shoulders, he looked at the sky and the sunrise. The water was a beautiful light shade of blue were the sun touched it. The sky almost mirrored the ocean with just streaks of golden yellow between both worlds. Staring at the horizon, he sighed heavily. He felt like the golden light. He was trapped between two worlds and he didn't know what to do anymore. He felt like he was caught in a whirlpool that was dragging him down. He wanted his freedom and yet the farther he tried to go... the stronger the current got to pull him back. Bowing his head, he started to cry.

He could see his reflection in the water and stared at the person looking back at him. He barely recognized the person looking at him. Slamming his hand over the surface of the water, he clenched his jaw. He was turning into a person that he didn't want to be. The water rippled softly behind him, causing his fin ears to perk up high to listen. Twisting in the water, Sean raised his trident enough that the prongs burst from the water to aim at what was behind him. Devan. Devan didn't move or flinch. Sean's voice turned icy as he snapped back. "Leave me alone!" Devan's eyes were so gentle that it made Sean's eyes water more. Devan's hand reached out to touch one of the prongs of the trident, his voice low and calm as he said. "It's not easy being different. There is nothing worse than not liking who you see in the mirror." Sean sniffled, mumbling out shakily. "I didn't want this... I just wanted..." Sean glanced off toward the endless horizon. Devan's voice turned understanding, upon answering softly. "I know. You're just like your mother. She was always looking at the horizon the same way. But Sean... What are you trying to find out there?"

Sean lowered his trident, answering without hesitation. "Freedom." Devan moved a little closer, asking lovingly. "I know life can feel like a cage, Sean. But you won't find what you're looking for out there." Sean turned his head to glare at Devan, muttering out. "How would you know?! You've never left the island!" Devan turned his eyes to the horizon, his voice becoming distant as he uttered out in a broken voice. "You think I haven't suffered? You think I wanted this life? You think I didn't try swimming away from it all? Fuck you!" Tears started to run down Devan's face as he snapped out heatedly. "I've been shamed my whole life for being a half-breed! I lost the only woman that ever truly loved me. I didn't want to raise you! I didn't want to lead those vain and selfish bastards on that island! You think I was just born to be your father?! You think I didn't have a life before YOU!" Devan's last words stabbed Sean right through the heart. He was ruining lives even before he was born.