Jocelyn Getman smiled as she watched her seven year old son, Thomas run to the shores of the Caribbean Sea. He was fascinated with the life that lived deep under, always begging Jocelyn to take him there. Luckily they lived close by so she didn't have to worry about walking long distances every other day.
"Mother! Look!" Thomas called, running up to her with a handful of shells. "Look what I've got!" He added as he picked up one of the bigger shells and had her examine it.
Jocelyn looked down and half smiled. They reminded her so much of her husband, who had died three years ago at sea. He always loved to collect shells and anything else that had to do with the giant waters of Earth. "Yes, I see. They are very beautiful."
Jocelyn looked around after her son had fled back to the water. They were the only ones there today. Possibly because of the storm that was seen coming. "Thomas, we're going to have to leave soon to get away from the rain in time."
"All right." He replied with a hint of sadness. He looked up from where he was standing to look at the horizon, his eyes scanning every speck. "Mother! Look over there!" He shouted when something caught his eye in the distance. Before Jocelyn had time to look, the thing had disappeared, almost as if it had gone underneath.
"What is it?" She asked, looking around but seeing nothing.
"There was something there before! It was a ship!" He called back. He looked around again..nothing. Amongst the calm waters, a tiny wave caught his attention. It was only a few feet away. Curiosity had gotten the best of him, and he jumped in the water, his clothing now soaked.
Jocelyn stood up and called out, "Thomas! Get back here now!" Worry filled her mind as the sudden calm sea now began to rage in different areas. The storm was coming.
Jocelyn ran to her son, who tried turning back around, but the small waves and current pulled him back. "Moth--!" He shouted, but his word was cut in half as a wave flew over his head, crashing against him. Jocelyn could feel tears already forming in her eyes as she ran in the water and dove down. The salt water stung her eyes as she desperately scanned underneath for her son. Then she saw him, knocked unconscious and sinking down. She suddenly picked up the strength and courage she needed and swam faster.
Only about a two feet away from her son, she reached her arms out and grabbed him. She swam faster and harder to the surface, but her lungs were already starting to give in. Finally, she reached the surface and gasped for air. She held Thomas tightly to her as another wave crashed against them, knocking her unconscious.
Jocelyn opened her eyes slowly as they burned from the salt water that had previously entered her eyes. Realizing she was no longer in the water, she sat up quickly, looking around at her unfamiliar surroundings. Suddenly the thought of her son hit her and she jumped out of the bed she had been placed in. She scanned the room, but most parts were too dark to see. Finally her eyes found a door and she quickly walked towards it.
Before she had time to open it, a deep voice stopped her. "And were are ye goin'?" It asked.
She gasped and spun around to see who or what had spoken..she saw nothing.
"Ye want to leave already?" The same accent spoke, this time in a different direction. Jocelyn's heart jumped as she squinted to see who was talking. Suddenly, a darker figure stood in the shadows. She could barely make out what he looked like.
"Who are you?" Jocelyn's voice cracked in fear.
The voice chuckled without replying. She heard him take a step forward, but that didn't help her vision at all. It was almost as if the shadows were following him. She stepped back, her back against the wall. She felt behind her with her hand and found the doorknob. Twisting it, she quickly opened the door and flew out.
She stopped dead in her tracks as she looked around. It was completely dark outside, except for the light that shone from the moon. She was on a ship!
Sudden laughing from behind made her spin around.
"Looky here! A lil' woman." This man's voice was deeper than the other.
One word could only come across her mind..pirates!
"Get away from me!" She spat, picking up a heavy block of wood and throwing it at him. This only made him laugh, along with others that had surrounded her.
"Oh come on lil' miss! Just a touch!" He said, reaching out with his hand.
"Maybe ye should get back ta work!" The familiar accent from before yelled.
The crew member walked off with the others, and she guessed the other was the captain. He stepped forward, his face hitting the moonlight. She gasped and backed away, tripping on some ropes from behind and falling on her rear.
"Don'cha be afraid now-uh." He chuckled. "We don't want ye to get hurt." She didn't trust the tone in his voice. Her whole body began trembling.
"Where's my son?" She asked.
"Yer son-uh? He's doing jus' fine. He's busy at ta moment-uh." He replied with a grin.
"Where is he?" She asked again, this time her voice growing louder. "And who are you?"
"Ye refer to me as Cap'n, an' for the last time-uh, yer son is fine-uh!" He bent down and grabbed her by her shirt, pulling her up.
"Answer my question!" Jocelyn blurted without thinking. She was too scared to think before she spoke.
Suddenly she felt the cold hard sting of his hand against her cheek. She looked away, placing her hand on her face, tears pouring down her eyes.
"Yer lucky I even kept ye alive-uh!" He yelled in her face, which didn't help her tears at all. More poured down her cheeks.
"I'm not even supposed to be here.." She whispered, causing his face to soften just a tad. His tentacled face stopped moving as he just stared at her. It was almost as if time had stopped. He snapped out of his 'trance' and pointed to the entrance that led below deck. Jocelyn knew he wanted her to go down and she obeyed. She didn't want to get him too angry.
She slowly began making her way down. Thomas was working, scraping off the sea life that grew on the walls. He looked completely fine and unharmed. She ran to her son and grabbed him, picking him up in a giant hug.
He smiled and returned the hug. "Mother! We're on a ship!" He said cheerfully as if he didn't even realize what ship he was on.
Sharon smiled and kissed her son's head. "I know, sweety, but you have to be careful. You could get hurt."
"I'll be fine. It's fun to work on a ship!" He said once she put him down. "Captain Jones told me this ship is called the Flying Dutchman. Isn't that neat?"
Jocelyn froze..she was on the Flying Dutchman..the ghost ship everybody feared! "Y-yes..Thomas. It is."
Her heart seemed to race faster than ever as she looked around. How could she not have known? Now it was obvious to her eyes as she scanned her surroundings.
"Thomas, we have to leave." She said, trying not to scare him.
She could see the confusion in his eyes, "Why? I like it here."
Jocelyn looked around again. Maybe she could stay for a while longer, but she knew she'd have to get out soon. There was no use in making her son upset. "Never mind. We'll stay longer."
Thomas's eyes brightened and a giant smile formed across his face. "Thanks mum!"
Jocelyn half smiled and sat down on a chair. She always loved making her son happy. Sudden footsteps from behind made her spin around in her seat. There was Captain Davy Jones. Jocelyn froze as Thomas ran up to him with a full bucket of barnacles and other things that she couldn't make out.
"This one's full, Cap'n. Can I have another?" Thomas asked as Jones took the bucket from his hand. He gave Thomas another and Thomas smiled, running back to his working area.
"Yer son is a hard worker-uh." The Captain said to Jocelyn, not making eye contact.
Jocelyn gained up her courage and replied back. "Yes, he loves ships."
Davy only nodded and turned around to walk away. Jocelyn suddenly stood up and walked quickly over to him. He heard her approaching and turned around. Although she didn't trust him, she had to at least thank him for what he's done.
"I, uh, just.. wanted to.. thank you for keeping me and my son alive, and I also wanted to ask when you can drop us off?" At this, Jones laughed aloud.
"Drop ye off-uh?" He asked, ignoring the first part of her sentence.
Jocelyn was confused by this, "Y-yes, back at our home."
He chuckled, "I'm sorry miss--"
"Jocelyn." She finished.
He continued, "I cannot do that-uh."
Jocelyn's jaw dropped a little, "Why not?"
"Once yer on this ship, there's no gettin' off-uh." He replied with a grin. "Unless yer time is up-uh."
"What time?" She asked.
"I'll be nice, and allow ye to stay for only ten years-uh." He said with sarcasm, chuckling.
"Ten years?!" Jocelyn blurted a bit too loudly.
"Yes-uh!" Jones yelled, "Ten years, and that is final-uh!" And with that, he turned around and quickly walked out, leaving behind a very confused Jocelyn.