by Bec Botefuhr
“Shit. Ok, are you coming to me?”
“You’re the only one I can go to.”
“How will you get over seas?”
“I will figure it out, I have to go. I will call soon.”
I run into my parents bedroom, grasp their cheque book and fill out a cheque for a hundred thousand dollars. Then I run downstairs, quietly sneaking past the dining room. I hear my family talking and slow.
“She doesn’t need to know, we just need to get her some help.” My father says.
“Steffan, this has been coming for a long time. As soon as anybody assesses her, they will know of her gifts and questions will be asked. If they find out she isn’t yours, hell will break loose.”
I’m not his? What?
“She hasn’t known for this long, she doesn’t need to know now. We will get her help, she isn’t injured so there is no way for them to know of her gifts.”
“What if she blurts it out? She is unstable.”
“Grace, nobody will know Jade isn’t my daughter.”
“This is too much. I have kept it from her so long, but she is getting to an age where it is going to come out. What if Mack comes back and decides to try and see her, then what?”
I feel tears pouring down my face, I wasn’t his daughter? Oh god, I should have known. All those years he treated me so badly, I never looked like him and he never loved me the way a dad should. This is too much. And who the hell is Mack? I bolt out, running towards the gardeners gate and slipping through. I haven’t dared look at the old run down pub for so long. I peer at it; nobody has brought it so it sits alone, dead.
I don’t pause long; I run faster towards the busy road. Throwing on a pair of sunglasses and tying my hair up in a bandana, I flag down a cab. He stops, and I tell him I want to go to an airport, midway there I realize that is stupid. I would never be able to book a flight out; I have no fake ID. Nothing. I couldn’t hire a car either. Then an idea dawns.
“Take me to the docks.”
The taxi driver peers at me. “Are you sure?”
“I am sure.”
He drives in silence until he pulls up at a large shipping dock. I peer at the huge ships lined up; some are being filled, and others unloaded. I get out, pay the man with what little cash I have and thank him. I run towards the main shipping office, and as casually as I can, stroll in. The woman at the counter looks up at me with a sharp glare. When she speaks, I realize she has no idea who I am. Thank god.
“Yes?”
“I am a student from a nearby university studying ships. Could you tell me; do these ships go all over the world?”
“They do.”
“And how do you tell the difference, for example, how do the men know which to load for different countries?”
“They are sticker coordinated.” She says, in an impatient voice.
“Ok, so what colour is America?”
“Blue.”
“Oh, right. Well thanks for your time.”
She mutters something and looks back down at the stack of papers in front of her. I walk back out the door, peering at the large ships. I see three lined up with huge blue stickers. Bingo. Rushing over, I peer around, it seems as though they are empty. I glance over my shoulder, realizing nobody is watching; I run onto the closest ship.
Large doesn’t even cover the size of this ship; it is absolutely massive. I run down hall after hall, getting lost in the maze that the internal walls hold. I finally find a sign saying “Ship Basement” and slide the door open. Yes! I am so happy for myself; this ship would take me to America and I could start my life fresh. I walk into the darkest, deepest part of the basement and sit down on a couch, which looks like it has seen better days.
I pull out my bag; I have enough food and water for a few days. After that, I would have to show myself; hopefully by then we are too far away from shore for them to toss me off. If not, I could always pay them out. That cheque could come in handy. I lay down on the couch, exhaustion racking me. I have to make one more phone call to Keegan before this ship takes off into the land of nothing.
“Hey Jade, are you ok.” He says as soon as he answers.
“I am on a ship to America.”
“You are?” He cries, happily.
“I am, I am not sure how many days or weeks it will be, but I will keep you updated as I go along.”
“It’s really happening then?”
“It really is, I will see you soon Keegan.”
“Oh Jade, you won’t regret this. Stay safe.”
When I hang up, I feel the ship jerk to life. Here goes nothing, I hope to god I know what I am doing. After an hour or so, I can tell by the change in movement that we are out further out in the ocean. Afternoon is upon us, and the sun beams through a small window on the ship. I walk over, sliding it shut before curling back up on the couch and falling into a deep, yet oddly restless sleep.
I must have slept for a long, long while because when I wake my phone tells me it is three am. I rub my eyes and almost instantly hear voices. They seem close to the basement, when I hear them begin to shout and sound panicky; I know something is off. I slide out of my hidey hole and slowly creep up on the top level. It is quiet; the rooms seem empty. Where are all the people? This ship is too big to be so quiet.
I creep down the halls, closer to the voices. I peer around a few corners, where are they? I tip toe closer, wondering what all the fuss is about. When I round the next corner, I freeze. I see an older man with a goatee, tattoos and kind eyes. I yelp and he stops walking, spinning around quickly with his gun drawn. He stares, squints and then lowers his weapon.
“No…” He whispers. “I am dreaming.”
“Rusty?” I croak.
“Good lord, it is you. Jade what are you doing on this ship?”
“Oh god, Rusty. Oh god.” I stammer.
Then something clicks, hard. If he is here…he doesn’t get to say another word because in an instant, Jax rounds the corner.
“Rusty we are loaded lets….”
His voice trails off when he sees me, and suddenly my world freezes. Not a single thing has changed, expect his attire. He now looks more rugged, with a gun belt slung around his hips and a bandana on his head. He looks, like a pirate. For the first time, I see him completely and utterly as nothing else. He blinks, once or twice, then his face changes.
“Your face looks familiar, have we met?”
I can’t believe my ears. He is pretending he doesn’t know me; he can’t be bloody serious? Rusty snorts rudely and shoots Jax a glare so nasty; it should have melted him on the spot. If I wasn’t so angry, I may have fallen into a heap on the ground. How dare he pretend he doesn’t know who I am.
“Really? Is that honestly your maturity level? Wow pirate, you never cease to amaze me. What after the little ‘you changed me’ letter, you are actually trying to pretend you don’t know me? I honestly thought your IQ was so much higher, but apparently it’s not. Either that or your age has given you some sort of disorder to make you forget, Alzheimer’s perhaps? Wouldn’t surprise me with all the diseases you probably have….”
“Enough.” He roars. “What the fuck are you doing here Jade?”
Rusty shakes his head, again glaring at Jax. “Really Cap, you’re going to be an asshole?”
“Back down Rusty.”
I shake my head. “I am on my way somewhere, to see a friend. I ran away.”
“You’re on your way to the ocean floor, this is a fucking loaded ship Jade. It’s been set to go down in twenty four hours.”
“W-w-what?”
“It’s been used, finished, it’s time for it to go down. They send them out to the ocean full of explosives. We raid them because we take all the sheets, china and anything else we can get hold of. You insane idiot, you didn’t notice there were no people?”
I huff. “Don’t call me an idiot, I only got on before…I didn’t realize it was empty.”
“Well, we got no choice now, we gotta take you
on board.”
“I am not going anywhere with you.”
“Have it your way, this ship blows up, and you blow with it.”
Rusty gives me a worried look. “Come on lass, we can drop you off at shore.”
“I…am meeting somebody in America.”
“What, a little lover?” Jax snorts. When I don’t deny it, he stiffens. “You ran away from home, for some man you don’t know?”
“I know him very well and yes, I ran away. James was planning on bumping me off, and my father wouldn’t listen to me, not to mention…I am not actually a princess.”
Jax shakes his head. “We don’t have time for this now, you stay and die or come with us.”
“Will you take me to shore?”
“When I pass by shore, perhaps. Make the choice, we leave now.”
I mumble under my breath and nod. “Fine.”
“Come on lass, the crew will go wild to see you.” Rusty says, taking my hand and leading me towards the deck. I tell him I have to get my things, and he wait’s while I get it all and rush back up.
I can’t explain the crazy feeling of love I feel when I get onto that ship. I am hugged, pulled, kissed and torn in so many directions I know it will hurt tomorrow. I can’t wipe the grin from my face; it feels like home to me. When the excitement dies down, Jax yanks my arm towards a room and shoves the door open.
“You can stay here.”
“Fine.” I snap curtly and go to shut the door, but he puts his arm up and stops it.
“You told me you loved me?”
“You know pirate, I was wrong. I lusted you; I was sexually attracted to you because you made me feel good. I didn’t know what love was. You did the best thing for me leaving because I would have only hurt myself further, instead I moved on.”
It is a lie, a huge lie. If he knew how my heart was straining against my rib cage right now, how my stomach is twirling with pain and hurt over seeing him again, he would know it is all a massive lie.
“So, you were all fake too. You never really cared about me?”
“No you’re wrong, I did care about you. I just didn’t love you. You’re right; love is a huge waste of time. I would never have learnt that without you.”
“You said you have a lover you’re running to?”
“I care a lot for him, I will marry him and have children with him. He will take care of me, but I will never give my heart to anyone again.”
“I thought you said you didn’t love me, so how did you give your heart to someone?” He murmurs, and I curse myself on the inside.
“I gave my heart to you all the same, love or no love. I trusted you, and you were my friend, friends can break hearts too Jax.”
He stares at me for a long moment. “Whatever, I won’t be docking for some time in America. You stay with us until then.”
“How long?”
“Months, at least three.”
“WHAT!”
“It was that or die, be grateful.” He snarls, slamming the door.
I yell out curses to him, then turn and face the room. It is rather nice, considering it’s on a ship. The walls are wooden, the same dark pine the rest of the ship. There’s a small window on the far wall, its round, just like in the movies. There is a double bed, which I am grateful for. It has a bundle of new sheets sitting on it, thanks to the ship that I was on. There is a small bathroom and toilet off to the side; it is modern enough and quite clean. The room’s small, but it is cozy.
I have to wonder what will it be like on this ship for months? Would I see horrible things? Would I witness death? I shiver; I hope and pray it is a quiet, quiet few months. I sit on the bed, staring down at my bag, before riffling through it and finding my phone. I have to let Keegan know I would not be there for a little longer. He answers on the second ring; his voice is calm and soothing, like it always is.
“Hey.”
“Hey girl, how are you?”
I explain to him what has happened, and the line falls silent for a long while.
“You’re on the ship, with your old lover?”
“It’s hardly like that Keegan; he despises me and the feeling is mutual.”
“So…how long until you make it here now?” Disappointment washes through his tone.
“A few months, I am so sorry. Death is the alternative, so I am not ungrateful.”
He sighs. “No of course not, neither am I.”
“I have eyes only for you, it was over between Jax and I a long time ago. You believe that, don’t you?”
“I trust you Jade.”
“Ok, listen there is someone knocking, I have to go.”
“Be safe.”
“You too.”
I hang up the phone and walk over to the door. It is a light knock; I assume female or somebody with some respect. I open it and make a strangled sound; it is Jack. The years have been kind to him; he has not aged a day and is still extremely handsome.
“Oh Jack.” I cry, throwing my arms around his neck.
“Hi sweetheart, I couldn’t believe it when they said you were back. Can I come in?”
“Oh, please do!”
“How are you feeling?” He asks, sitting on my bed.
“Confused. I really cannot believe Jax raided the one ship I was on. I suppose he saved my life; I would have died otherwise.”
“How are things since you have been back on board?”
“I refuse to let him know how I feel, I said I have moved on. The man I am seeing is lovely but, I don’t think I feel how I should about him.”
“You still love Jax?”
“Yes and no. I do, but I am so angry at him for leaving me the way he did.”
“He always said he would run Jade, you knew that.”
Jacks eyes are gentle as he speaks, I sigh and plonk down next to him. “I know but a letter? Really? I know I shouldn’t have fallen for him, but I did.”
“Are you staying?”
“I don’t think so, I should go and move on. If I don’t…”
“He will break your heart sweetheart, I assure you.”
“I have no doubt. He has moved on anyway, so it doesn’t matter.”
“He hasn’t moved on; he went back with Bella for a while, but she left in a hurry over something. Then, he has just been with the girls on the ship, even that has been few and far between. Not his usual self.”
That gave me a small sting of hope. “Anyway, how do you survive all these hours on a ship? I am bored already.”
He smiles, reaching out to grasp my hand. “Come.”
He leads me down the hall, to his room. When he opens the door I gasp, beautiful sculptures of ships and castles, hand made and carved from wood; line the room.
“Oh Jack, did you do all this?”
“Sure did.” He says, walking to his cupboard and opening the door. He pulls out a small carved ship and hands it to me. On the side, he has carved “Jade”.
“You made this for me?”
He nods, sitting on the bed.
“Why?”
“Because, you changed us all, when you left I decided to make it.”
“Are we friends Jack?”
He smiles. “We most certainly are, you are without fail my friend and the only decent one I have had in a long time.”
“Right back at you.”
“How do you think you will cope on the ship if a battle occurs?”
“I haven't really thought of it, I am certainly not as tough as you lot.”
“Might have to roughen you up a bit then?” He smirks.
I lean into him. “Maybe Jack, maybe.”
“Do you want to learn how to carve?”
I beam. “Please.”
“Come then, let me show you.”
I spend the rest of the few hours left of darkness carving with Jack; then I decide to go and check out the view up on deck. The sun is just rising in the distance; the clouds linger beside it, waiting for it to pop up and shove them out of is glorious way
. The ocean is still, no waves rack the ship. I peer out quietly, alone in my thoughts as I sink down onto a nearby wooden chair. I feel myself drifting off when a hand shoves me. I open my eyes to see Jax.
“It’s dangerous out here.”
“Hello to you too.” I mumble, straightening and stretching.
“The enemy ship is lurking Jade, you need to be careful up here. You won’t see them, but they can see you from miles away. One shot and…”
“I get it,” I snap, standing. “I will go play prisoner again.”
“You don’t have to hide in you’re room, dinners on every night in the dining room and music, things like that.”
“To socialize with you, I think not.”
He glares at me. “Don’t be a bitch to me, I saved your ass mate.”
“Wow, you’re going to use that? Honestly? If you want to get technical, RUSTY saved my ass.”
“Don’t play with me Jade, I do not have the patience for it.”
“Aye Aye!” I salute sarcastically.
“You said you’re not a princess anymore, how is that?” He asks, ignoring my rude outburst.
“None of your business.” I growl, standing and storming off. He doesn’t follow me.
I don’t go to dinner that night; instead Sam brings me a tray of food. She sits beside me on the bed as I eat. I am rather surprised at the amount of delicious food that has been prepared. Chicken with rice, steamed vegetables and a golden syrup pudding for dessert; served with ice cream.
“How have you been honey?”
“Not too bad.”
“I heard about you running away, your parents have not managed to track you down obviously?”
“I am not sure they really want to.”
“Are you truly not a princess?”
“Apparantley not, so I overheard anyway. I didn’t confirm it, but something tells me it is true you know?”
“Sometimes feelings are all the confirmation you need.”
“Anyway, how are you?”
“The usual, healing wounded men.”
I laugh. “Sounds fun, too bad they aren’t sexy.”
“Two are.” She smiles.
“Oh Jack?”
“At least he is pleasant to clean up, Jax grunts and swears the entire time. Though it’s always fun to touch him.”