Shaw's Yacht
Now
Charles
The sailors all stand together in tight huddles, talking, passing around a bottle, laughing. I consider joining them a few times before my better judgement rules it out.
"Never been on a boat before, kid?" One of the sailors says. I notice that I'm clutching the railing. "Not in years." I respond. "I heard that one smuggler was finally caught." One of the others says.
I catch Raven from the corner of my eye. She's perked up, listening intensly.
"Which one?"
"One of that old mob boss Mathias' thugs." My heart nearly stops. I exchange a look with Raven. "Xavier? Oh yeah. That bloody bastard. I heard she killed her own siblings to get away once. God bless their souls." The sailor says.
"Glad they'll finally be putting that one behind bars for life. I feel so much safer with her gone."
I snap.
"Shut up! You don't know anything about her! You've got no right!" I yell and they stare at me. Raven opens her mouth, but decides against it.
"Woah, easy kid. You don't know the girl either."
"I know her better than you!" I turn around and walk towards the steps. "Charles!" Raven calls after me.
"You shouldn't have gotten mad, they might think that we're-"
"We're what Raven? I've spent years thinking if I had tried to protect her better, she might be here right now!"
"Alli was my sister too, do you think that I don't wish she was still here every day?"
I shake my head. "Forget it, let's just go back up on the main deck."
~.::.~
The old thrill comes back. Running. Shoving through the crowds. If I try hard enough, I can imagine myself running down the streets, looking for Alli.
I reach out to the man in the water's mind. There's rage and confusion. And fear. Paralyzing fear.
Alli. I think and shake my head. Now's not the time to be thinking about this.
The water's cold when I jump in. I ignore it and swim towards Erik. From what I can tell, he's got a few minutes left before he goes unconscious, five before he drowns. Damned fool.
'Erik, you have to let go!' I press my fingers to my temple as I reach Erik. he struggles, not letting go.
'I know what this means to you but you'll drown. Calm your mind!' My lungs feel like they're going to burst and I swim up, pulling Erik with me.
"Get off of me!" Erik yells as soon as we surface and I take a deep breath. If I try hard enough, I can see Alli. The fear and anger.
I repeat what I told her all those years ago.
"I thought I was alone." Erik says. "You're not alone." I respond.
For the first time in years, I think about Alli. Her laugh, her goofy smile and the way her eyes had that mischievous glow. But Alli was. She was alone. And she was scared.
I'd do anything to make sure that Alli knows I still love her.
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