Secrets from the Deep

Chapter 18

The crack of dawn came quicker than anyone expected.

The door unlocked, and all of the crewmates came in to bring everyone out to the plank. While Jasper's hands were tied behind his back, the rest of his friends were bound to the post and gagged so they would be unable to interject.

"Members and prisoners of the Air Mando, today the soul of the beloved Captain Modi shall be avenged as his murderer Jasper Mondel walks the plank and becomes breakfast for the creatures of the sea," Terrance announced.

"No, please. You don't understand! This man who claims I stole your captain's life was fighting one of the prisoners, and I helped my friend escape his grasp. Mr. Espen said we could escape before he shot the gun and threw it to the ground, making it look like I was guilty!" Jasper pleaded.

"Once again, all of these silly stories and ridiculous accusations! Force him down the plank!" Terrance demanded.

Chris began to push Jasper down the plank while Meg was trying to free herself from her restraints. The end of the plank came, and Jasper took his final step. However, shortly after he fell off, he moved his arms so that the rope that held his wrists together would not let him fall into the ocean.

"Where's the splash?" Terrance asked after seeing Jasper fall.

"It seems as though he found a way to hold onto the plank a little longer," Chris responded after seeing Jasper's tied wrists on the plank.

"Guess I'll have to dispose of him myself," Terrance said as he walked onto the plank to defeat Jasper once and for all.

While this was going on, Meg had finally freed herself from the ropes and gag and yelled to the pirates, "In the name of my father, Dominic Paat, stop!"

Everyone looked at her in confusion.

"Did you say that Dominic Paat was your father?" Terrance questioned.

"Yes. My father was murdered on this very ship, and I will not allow the same thing to happen to my friend," Meg said.

There was a moment of silence.

"What's going on?" Caden asked after he was able to escape his ropes.

"I remember the first time I met Dominic Paat. It was about thirty years ago, and he was a young man sailing on a ship. My former crew and I attacked his ship and took him captive on the Air Mando. Dominic pleaded that we would not kill him, as he wanted to return to his love Bella, so we decided that if he took pirate lessons for a month, I would not kill him, and he would be allowed to leave. So he trained as my apprentice for a month, we became quite close, like father and son, and he proved he was quite talented and useful on the ship. But, once the month ended, he was ready to return home as he still couldn't forget about the woman he said was the love of his life. I didn't want him to leave, of course, so I lied to him and said that she had died from an illness. He was devastated by this news and turned to me for comfort and decided that he would be a member of the Air Mando from then on. Soon afterward, he would take on the name of Captain Modi when he took on the title of Captain of the Air Mando," Terrance explained.

"So not only are you the man who murdered my father, but you're the reason I never met him before I began this journey!" Meg realized, finally putting the pieces together, and her anger beginning to rise.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Bill asked, wanting to know the truth.

Before anyone could say anything else, however, Meg grabbed a sword and pointed it at Terrance's chest.

"Settle down, settle down, young lady," Terrance begged, trying not to look fearful.

"YOU KILLED MY FATHER LAST NIGHT! HOW CAN I SETTLE DOWN!" Meg yelled, letting all of her anger be exposed to the people on the ship.

Before anyone else could say another word, Terrance grabbed a sword for himself and tried to attack Meg. However, she was prepared for this, and the two of them began to fight.

"Is it bad that I don't know who to believe right now?" Chris asked Bill.

"No, because I don't know either."

"So if Meg is Captain Modi's daughter, does that make you his niece then?" Caden questioned Annie after he helped Jasper from the plank.

"I guess so. But why are you asking me this right now when my cousin is fighting for her life?" Annie replied, confused.

"Sorry, it's not every day you find out that one of your closest friends' long-lost father is actually one of the most feared pirates in the last couple of decades," Caden apologized.

Finally, Meg was able to disarm Terrance after she backed him onto the plank.

"Ah, Miss, please don't do this to me," Terrance pleaded.

"Then tell them the truth from last night! Tell them how you acted as though we could go free only to kill someone you said you saw as a son and frame it on us!" Meg demanded.

"Fine, I killed him. I was the one who shot Captain Modi last night. You may kill me now."

There were gasps of horror and shock from all of the crew members on board before Meg said, "No. I'm not like you. Besides, now you will have to live with the fact that you killed someone you cared very deeply about because you thought you would be safe afterward."

"Ahh, you truly are your father's daughter, Miss." Suddenly, Terrance walked backward on the plank and allowed himself to fall into the sea.