Author's Note: Hello all! So this is my very first fan fic, hooray! Do try to be kind *hides*. This actually has a few characters from other movies as well so stay tuned to see who pops up throughout it. THIS IS RATED M FOR A REASON. A bit of future lemon and some language things. Please read & review! I'd really love to hear your comments and thoughts :D
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. All rights reserved.
Enjoy!
Prologue
The night fell silent. All the nocturnal creatures that slithered out from the shadows and dark crevasses wandered the cool night floors in hushed tones. The wind slowed to a halt. Images of faces flashed and static replaced the confusing mixture of voices and noise. A pair of bewildered eyes watched as pictures washed over each other, dancing in blurred and distorted plays. The eyes of the watcher struggled to focus, and the pictures began to spin rapidly to the point where it became a mess of color and wind. Suspended in thick, gripping air and bound stiffly in the embraces of chains, the girl blinked and tried to look away from the bemusement. Something took a strong and startling hold of the viewer's face, forcing her blue eyes to a painful open. A soft voice whispered her name in the misty distance. Just then the colors disintegrated and the silhouette of a woman stretched across the blank space.
"…W-wh…?"
"Don't forget me, Ariel..." The hollow voice echoed in the air around the girl.
The silhouette extended out her hand and in the center of her palm, a glowing vortex of golden water expanded and swirled. Suddenly, it fell lifelessly and dripped down the sides of her open hand. A small box in the shape of a sea shell opened slowly and revealed two golden figures, facing one another and hand in hand, while a familiar lullaby twinkled. The girl's expression flickered in recognition. She reached out to touch it, but the image was abruptly ripped and torn in the blaze of a chartreuse inferno. Disturbing laughter crackled from all directions and the girl was dragged down into a burning pit of emerald and amethyst smoke that spat and quarreled. Two large ghostly hands with demonic claws took hostage of her form. A painful sound slapped against her ears in a taunting fashion, soon followed by a powerful beam of light that illuminated so immensely it burned up everything in sight.
And then, there was nothing.
The red headed girl shot up in a panicked daze, clenching the bed sheets to her naked flesh. She sat in a frenzy of terror. The darkness that met her view for a moment made her believe she was still ensnared in the nightmare. She rubbed her forehead and looked around the room, allowing the familiarity to ease her into reality. A sigh of relief left her bright lips and she shook the last bit of fear away as her eyes found the male figure lying next to her. His arm slugged above his messy brown head, the other resting on his bare chest. Ariel bit her lip and snuggled up closely to his being, pressing herself against his warmth. He stirred slightly, cracking his eye open and granting his arm to curl around the girl's shoulders. Jim smiled to himself as he began to drift back to sleep. Ariel drew in a deep breath, hoping that when she closed her eyes she wouldn't be held captive to her wicked subconscious again.
Sunlight poured in from the windows and the shadows began to melt into the walls, peacefully awaiting nightfall when they could return. Ariel rolled over and stretched out her slender arms, patting the vacant space beside her. She moved her hand around in the lonely air, a solemn mar creasing her brows. She dragged her body up to a sitting position before threading her fingers through long strands of red hair, smoothing out the messy bits and pulling it over her bare shoulder. As she sampled the tips of her locks between her fingers, she recalled upon the terrifying dream the night before. It was jumbled and broken, but she could pick out specific things—the hands, the static, the laughter, and what seemed to be the voice of someone. However, she couldn't call to mind what she was warning her about. To remember?
As the girl mulled over the symbolic possibilities and meaning behind what she endured during her slumber, something caused a small picture frame upon the dressing unit across the room to fall forward and smack up against the surface. The startling noise caused Ariel to jump slightly, and scramble to keep the sheet placed over her exposed bosom. She looked around the room curiously as the silence began to sink in again. Another sound came from her left, and just as her head snapped toward the direction, all she caught was the curtain gently swaying. Then another beneath her. There were short releases of tiny mumbles. Ariel crawled across the sea of sheets and slowly began to dip her head over the edge of the bed. Her hair fell forward as she peeked over the foot board, searching the dark area before her. Suddenly a pair of large eyes popped up, sending her flying upward with a yelp.
A pocket-sized pink blob wiggled itself from under the bedding and giggled in delight at her reaction. The girl's face dropped to a cement slate. She snatched the plasmic creature, gently toyed it with her finger.
"What in the world do you think you're doing? Scaring me like that." Ariel tickled, cupping the small animal in her hands. "Now Morhpie, can you tell me where Jim went?" She asked playfully and lifted her hand away.
The eccentric blob answered in arrows and neon signs, pointing to the loading dock far off to the backside of the Inn. Ariel's expression ceased as slight agitation swelled in her blue pools. His absence was accustomed. Jim Hawkins compelled his days with work, infatuated on the repair of an old, rickety boat his father left behind in departure. The boat, however, was far from completion (in mild terms). There was a great deal of small and spacious parts that were missing, in need for triggering the operating systems. All the molded and withering woodwork had to be replaced and sculpted. The engine was unaccounted for. Through all the exertion and (almost) meaningless time spent on the obsolete vessel, Jim saw it as a way to revive his lack of relation with his father. Although he loathed the man, he couldn't shake the excruciating addiction to finish what was abandoned. It licked at his conscious and churned in the pit of his stomach, driving him mad with absurd devotion. Ariel peered out the window and noted the substantial amount of snow build-up from the previous night. A clean sheet was applied with traces of various foot and paw prints scattered throughout. She dressed accordingly; lacing up aged, camel colored boots and fastening a beautiful emerald cape, with stark white fur trimming on the hood about her shoulders.
"Oh, uh, good morning Ariel." Delbert Doppler greeted swiftly when the girl opened the front door. The dog-like man was bundled in a dark, over sized puffy coat with an assortment of chest pockets. His mouth and snout were wrapped in a bulky olive-toned scarf while a matching hat stretched down to the rim of his bushy eyebrows. Large maroon mittens were holding a few books and a leather tote. Ariel pulled the hood up over head, and stood back from the doorway.
"Good morning Delbert," she replied, allowing him to step through the threshold.
"Is Sarah around? I needed to go over some of the information regarding the current currency—ha, current currency..." Doppler mused over the phrase, losing the end of his thought. "…Yes, um, where was I?"
"She's back in the kitchen I believe." Ariel answered with a hint of a giggle.
"Ah, thank you. Where's Jim?" Delbert began to remove his outer attire, hanging it neatly upon a couple of hooks on the wall from behind the door.
"I was just on my way to find him. He's still working on that boat," she responded with vexation.
"In this frigid weather? The boy sure is-"
"Stupid." Ariel cut off, crossing her arms.
"I was going to say persistent, but I suppose that serves just as well." The canine's face softened to a small smile as he rested a cold paw on her shoulder, "I'll tell Sarah to arrange some tea."
Ariel gave him a faint smile in return, nodding her head gently. She trudged through the snow, holding her dress skirt up a little as she did so. It wasn't the fact that he consumed his time with work that bothered her, it was the persistence. The overwhelming obsession that ate at him from the inside out. Beyond everything else, it worried her. She understood the sentimental value of it all, however, she couldn't grasp the motives behind the fixation. Why did he care so much if he hated his father? Wouldn't that of pushed him away from the tedious project?
Noise fluttered throughout the boat's housing as metal tools slapped the pavement. Ariel peeked into the large open space, finding a pair of black boots poking out from beneath the wooden structure. The sound of light footsteps prompted the boy to pause from his work and slide out from the dark crevasse. His eyes met the view of a perplexed face staring down on him. She placed her hands on her hips and spat out an irritated sigh.
"What are you doing? It's below freezing." The redhead spoke with little jabs of aggravation.
"It's not that bad." Jim replied, pulling himself to his feet.
He breathed in the crisp air, feeling the chilling sensation roll around in his chest. After removing a rag from his coat pocket he began to wipe a dark liquid smeared across his hands. His eyes focused on the girl's expression, her body language, the way her eyebrows pointed downward in a minor frown. Confusion sprinkled his features and he stopped fiddling with the cloth.
"Something on your mind?" Jim cocked his head with slight arrogance.
"Why yes, yes there is." Ariel paused, drawing in a sharp, cold, breath, "Jim is everything alright? I mean, if something's bothering you or anything, you can tell me. I'm here..." She placed a hand on his arm and concern swelled in her glistening pools.
"Yeah, everything's fine. Why do you ask?" He answered dryly, moving his arm away.
"Well…" Ariel huffed, refusing to beat around the bush, "why are you so attached with this thing? I thought you hated your father." The girl stated, crossing her arms.
"Ariel, now, hate is a strong word. I like to think of it as… strong dislike." Jim rubbed his chin briefly as he searched for the wording.
"Well, then I thought you 'strongly disliked' him. Either way, what is the reason behind all this…nonsense?" Her arms flailed in exclamation.
"Nonsense? That's what you think this is?" He stepped toward her, warmth rising in his cheeks, "Listen, there are reasons for why I spend my time on things," he paused. "Besides, it's just a little project, you know, something to keep me busy," he lied. "Furthermore, what I do or don't do isn't really all of your business, sweetheart. Maybe you should keep that in mind the next time you feel the need to interrogate me on 'nonsense'."
Jim's tone compelled a sharp sting that nearly pierced Ariel. She immediately felt the smack of guilt backhand her across the face.
"I-I'm sorry Jim. I'm just worried about you. I've never seen you so…driven," she spoke carefully, "before. I shouldn't have questioned you, I-I understand the value of this, ah, piece and I apologize." She spoke into the rough material of his woolen coat, and wrapped her arms around his torso.
Jim's features lightened while a little smile spread upon his lips. He encircled the girl's shoulders, pulling her in close, and relaxed his chin upon her head.
"Don't worry Ariel, I'm alright. Really."
The girl peered up at him, gently cupping the side of his face. The situation still nagged at her, but she decided to forget about it and trust that everything really was alright, for now anyway.
"Well come on, there's tea, and your mother is probably elbows deep in orders by now." Ariel took his gloved hand in hers, and began to tug him away from the repair sight. Jim halted, however, and allowed himself to slip out her hold.
"I'll be there a minute."
Ariel turned, watching him descend back into the large work area. Her expression flattened and she began to make her way back to the Inn.
Alrighty, first chapter! Sorry if it's a bit lengthy, I didn't really know where to make the cut off haa.
So what's the deal with this boat stuff, man? Ariel's getting a bit pissy.
The next chapter has got some guest characters and little jabs of madness. It's all very exciting. Let me know what you think so far!
Lee
