The Captain's treasure

I always open my eyes to find myself drowning.

There is no panic or fear to speak of when I look up to see I'm sinking deeper and deeper, as the light reflecting on the water's surface slowly fades and I fall into the darkest depths of the ocean.

I don't even try to fight it, because somehow I know there is no fighting, there is no struggling against the ocean as it consumes me. I'm not sure why.

I've never wanted to die, but as I sink like a rock to the bottom of the ocean and watch as my blood paints the waters I don't even try to swim.

is a cold and lonely descent. but I'm never alone for long because eventually I see a figure swimming towards me, it's a woman I don't recognize but somehow I know her. 

seeing her here always makes my chest constrict painfully. as my vision goes dark I watch her as she swims closer and reaches out towards me.

but before I can ever see her face…

I wake up.

jolting upright I pant heavily clutching at my chest as if I could still feel the seawater filling my lungs. as I take deep long breaths I am able to slowly calm down. 

“damn that dream.” I grab my head, and throw my legs over the edge of the bed to stare at the boards beneath my feet. I've had this dream for years, yet nothing ever changes, I never get to see the face of the woman, never understand why I would just let myself drown and die.

there's very few things I fear in this world. but that same dream always scares me. sighing I roll my shoulders and neck stretching, as I stand to get out of bed. 

‘Perhaps it's because of all the drinking.’ the sound of a bell being rung outside, pulled my attention back to reality as I looked towards the door and listened as someone in the crows nest shouted out “Land ho!” 

forgetting all about the dream I quickly washed my face off in my basin and got myself dressed. Situating my hat I stepped towards the door that led to the main deck and opened it up. 

sunlight momentarily blinded me as the familiar sound of seagulls and men shouting our orders to one another filled my ears. 

“morning capt!” someone said from across the deck.

“g'morning cap!” someone shouted from above.

“mornin capt!” someone said as they passed me by.

“about time you woke up.” an all too familiar voice spoke up from behind me. Turning around I was greeted by the smug face of my quartermaster and childhood friend. Jasper.

“get enough beauty sleep did we?” He teased and I chuckled before making my way around to the steps leading up to the second deck. “I wouldn't know, with your steering it's hard for anyone to get some decent sleep!"

“Ha! compared to your driving?! if you were in charge of steering all the time this ship would never make it to port!” He jabbed as I came up beside him. 

in response to his remark I rolled my eyes and shoved his shoulder which he gladly returned. as we both looked up to the island ahead, an unsettling feeling set in the pits of our stomachs. 

Nothing in particular looked strange about the island, in fact it seemed completely normal, and the weather was more than ideal when it came to docking. Here we had no fear of the navy considering it was a place outside of their control, and many of the crew's families resided on the small chunk of dry land.

Even still, this place made me uneasy.

“it's been a while…quite a few months have passed.” Jasper spoke quietly beside me. “The place doesn't even look any different from the last time we were here.”

I scoffed while glaring at the island and crossing my arms. “This place hasn't changed since we were children. I doubt it ever will…”

silence ensued the rest of the journey until we finally docked. 

“Alright boys, you know the drill! make sure everything is restocked! I don't want to see any lolly-gagging!” I shouted out to everyone on the deck. 

receiving numerous “aye-ayes” I made my way down the steps of the quarter deck to leave the ship. “You ain't gonna stay and make sure everything gets taken care of first?” Jasper called out. 

Turning back I shrugged. “You know how she gets when I'm gone too long! besides I haven't had breakfast yet and I'd be damned before I miss out!”

Jasper sighed and shook his head. “Tell her I said hi!” 

I waved him off as I walked down the ramp off the ship. “Come tell her yourself!”

leaving the docks I walked through the streets of my hometown, headed for home. everything was quite run-down and less than sanitary. I eyed everything as I strolled through the street.

how there were people sleeping on the ground, how filth covered the streets and how worthless scumbags of all kinds roamed about. This place wasn't much different from any other small port town, but unlike other islands, this one happened to have one particular issue…

A commotion up ahead caught my attention and I looked up to see a drunken man shouting at a woman. They went back and forth before the man suddenly grabbed the girl roughly by the arm. 

changing my course slightly I be-lined it for the two before the brute was able to land a blow on the woman with his free hand. 

shoving him to the ground I pulled out my pistol and aimed it at the bastard's head. “I think that's quite enough.” I stated. 

the man grunted and glared at me but made no move to retaliate with a gun to his face. reluctantly he got to his feet grumbling curses and insults as he stumbled off down the street.

the woman huffed in agitation, gave me a curt thanks then went inside of the building she was outside of. I watched them both go their separate ways before sighing and continuing on my way. 

reaching the outskirts of town, I finally reached my destination. an old stone brick building up on a hill overlooking most of the island.

taking a deep breath I walked up to the house and knocked on the door before opening it and stepping inside. 

Almost immediately my eyes were met with the sight of an older woman picking up a plate off the table. Once she saw me she paused and a warm smile grew across her face. 

“Hey, ma.” I smiled back as she set the plate down, and stepped around the table. 

“oh! old man Richard told me your ship was coming in today!” She pulled me into a hug and I chuckled before hugging her back. 

“Sorry we've been gone so long.” I replied awkwardly as we pulled away from each other.  

“don't even worry about it sweetheart, as long as you come home safe and sound I don't mind waiting! Now come on in and sit down, I made breakfast!”

_____

After hours of talking and catching up I found myself outside on the porch of my old home, sitting in a chair looking out at the rest of the island below. 

seeing the crescent shape of the bay with the clear blue waters was a stark contrast to the oranges and yellows of the sunset on the horizon.

It reminded me of days past when we would sit outside and watch ships coming in and out of the docks dreaming of the day we might leave this place. 

as my mother came outside she stood beside me and smiled sadly at the sight of the practically empty docks. my vessel was the only one sitting in the waters.

“fewer ship's are coming in each week, it's been quite a struggle for this little town to get the supplies we need. many people have started moving on elsewhere. such a shame, this place is beautiful, more people should come here and raise their families.” She mused.

my mood darkened as I balled my fists. “they are right to leave this place.” I responded.

she sighed while looking at me sadly. 

I glanced back at my mother before standing and grabbing her hands. “You should come with me, leave this place, I can afford to find you a new house elsewhere in a bigger town with plenty of trade!” I pleaded.

“My boy, our family has lived here for three whole generations. Your great, great grandparents put in so much work to build a place and a life for us, this is our home! I know you're upset, I know you miss her, I miss her too but what would she think if she came back one day and we were just gone?”

“MA! please be reasonable about this…this cursed island it–it's not safe!” I kneeled down hiding my face. “Kayla is… I don't think she's ever coming back– none of the missing people ever do. they either disappear completely or they wash up on shore torn to shreds and half eaten!” I snapped angrily.

“This island is dying ma, you said so yourself, there's not enough merchant trade ships coming in to sustain it and we can only do so much.”

her hands let go of mine to grab my head and pull me into a hug. “My sweet boy, I know you're scared, you're hurting from the loss of your sister, but I feel it in my bones. I know she's out there, I know she's alive! she will come back one day and when she does i'll be here to greet her. Until then we hope she is safe and she is happy. try not to stress over the state of the island, it's not your burden to carry Casadin, just keep you and your men taken care of. alright?” 

I felt defeated and frustrated over her stubbornness but didn't argue. “It's getting late hun, I'm going to turn in for the night.” with one final hug she bid goodnight and went back inside. 

I sat on the porch a while longer before sighing and going to town for a drink.

Upon entering the local tavern I saw several of my men including Jasper drinking. Once he saw me he waved me over. sitting together at a table I kicked back and waved for the bartender to get me something. 

“So how'd it go?” Jasper asked before sipping from his mug. 

I didn't respond and merely sulked, playing with an old trinket I carried around in my pocket. When the bartender brought over my drink I grabbed it and started gulping it down. 

Jasper just watched quietly with a look of pity. When I finally took a breath and set down my cup I sighed. “She refuses to leave this place.”

Jasper eyed his cup in deep thought. “ah so that's why you're upset…” Jasper's own mood turned solemn, and guilt washed over me. 

“word around town is two others went missing while we were gone. two men, their bodies washed ashore on the beach torn to pieces just days after they went missing.” Jasper added.

I stayed silent looking at my cup. “so many people are lost to this– thing, yet not a single person has seen what it is…”

“It's a curse. That's what it is.” I cut in before getting up from my seat and finishing my mug.

“Where are you going now?” Jasper questioned.

“back to the ship, i gotta take care of a few things.”

leaving the tavern I headed for the docks.

walking across the decking of the docks I came up to the boardwalk for my ship before I could step up however I was harshly shoved from behind by a drunkard. 

stabilizing myself before I fell I turned and glared at the man with an angry growl. the drunkard stumbled along as he went down the decking carrying a bottle of rum. eyeing the man from where I was I thought he looked somewhat familiar.

as he stumbled into a crate I scoffed and climbed up the boardwalk and onto my ship. Most everyone seemed to be asleep already leaving the ship's main deck quiet and empty. looking towards the ocean I could see the full moon high in the sky, surrounded by thousands of stars. 

stepping over to the railing I gazed out at the horizon entranced by the beautiful sight. The ocean reflected the moon and stars to near perfection painting the scene in a way that could never be captured on parchment or canvas. even with the beautiful sights of this island however. I felt resentment, anger for the loss of my beloved sister…

The subtle sound of a splash near the docks grabbed my attention and I looked down to see ripples fading away on the water's surface. I waited for something else to happen but as minutes passed by nothing surfaced and I felt a heavy buzz taking over from the booze I drank at the tavern. 

“just a fish…” I sighed before glancing once more at the ocean. turning away I went to my quarters to turn in for the evening.

—

within the calm and quiet of the night a bottle of rum floated to the surface of the water near the edge of the docks.