Out to Eternity

Maiden Voyage

Flames engulfed the sinking ship. Masts toppled as their supports were burned to ash, creating swells of waves which crested over the modeled wood of the sailing vessel. A ghastly ship looked onward as the crew of the caving in Serpent's Fang began to sink towards the crushing depths of the sea floor. The captain of the audience ship, William Turner, watched with cold, hard eyes.

William was cursed to ferry the souls of those lost at sea to the other side for all eternity. He did not believe he would be doing this job for so long when he had first begun. His betrothed, Elizabeth Swann, had agreed to meet him after ten years of servitude aboard the Flying Dutchmen. On the agreed upon day, he sailed to the island of Isle de Tropi and waited on the sandy beach where he had given Elizabeth the chest which contained his heart. He waited there all day, with no signs of his beloved or the chest. As the sun set, Will realized the one woman whom he had ever loved, the mother of his child, had abandoned him.

Fifteen years had passed since he'd been doomed to his fate. His son, William Turner III, would be a grown man by now. Abigail, Elizabeth's second child, would turn seventeen that year. Will's heart had turned to ice and he did not trust a soul. His father, William Turner Sr., had watched his son slowly sink into despair as time passed. The crew of the Dutchmen also noticed the change in their captain's step. While none of them spoke of it, there was a fear that William would become like the previous captain, Davy Jones. Jones, when left by Calypso, had become so enraged that he neglected his duties. As retribution, he became a mix of human, undead, and nautical flora and fauna- as did his entire crew.

But for all the years the crew had been serving on the Dutchmen, they had never had such a great captain as Will. He kept to his duty as captain and ferried the souls to their final resting place even after Elizabeth's betrayal. He never mistreated his crewmen. He was always friendly and never harsh or unfair. If there were disputes among the men, he always settled them fairly and without bias. The brig, which had been used frequently under Jones, had become a place where the souls could rest before they arrived at their destination.

The Serpent's Fang was now only floating debris. Will steered the Flying Dutchmen to the remains of the destroyed ship. Bodies were strewn about; some in pieces, others barely being held together. The Serpent's Fang had been attacked by marauders. Unfortunately for the passenger ship, the marauders believed that they were flying false colours. So, without mercy or warning, they opened fire on the poorly armed ship.

The Dutchmen's crew gathered the souls and showed them to their quarters. Will stared blankly at the wreckage. Almost nothing remained of the vessel. The objects left on the surface were either burning or in the process of sinking. His gaze wondered over a rectangular piece of the ship's top deck. It was not burning and on it's surface was a body. Had his crew missed a soul?

"Mr. Turner," he called, summoning his father, "is that not another to bring to the locker?" Will asked. William Sr. stopped herding the spirits towards the second deck and walked to his son's side. The man's eyes followed to where his son was looking and frowned.

"Will, my son, that one is not dead." He answered. Will blinked, looking to his father. The elder man shook his head. Raising his hand, Will shouted.

"We have a survivor! Take a boat!" He commanded. There was a 'yes sir!' from a few in the crew as five or six began to undo one of the smaller longboats.

Four men rowed out to the survivor. They hauled the person into the boat with care, quickly dressing the wounds they could with strips of cloth. After returning to the Dutchmen, the person was lifted onto the top deck. As the dingy was being secured, Will, his father, and the crew who were awaiting orders made a circle around them. William Sr. grabbed their wrist and pressed his thumb to the underside, holding still for a moment.

"It's weak, but there's a pulse. He's still alive." He then leaned down, pressing his ear to their chest. His face turned troubled. He sat up and looked at his son.

"Not breathing, Captain Turner." Will's brow furrowed. He quickly knelt down next to the fading survivor. He also checked for breathing and when he found none, repositioned near his face. He pushed down hard and swift fifteen times on their solar plexus. He then tilted their head back, closed their nostrils with his calloused fingers, and breathed into their mouth after cementing his lips to theirs.

Repeating this process, Will was forced back as the survivor heaved and coughed up the water that had been in there lungs. William Sr. helped the boy sit up, hitting his back to help get the water out. After emptying his lungs, he quickly refilled them with air.

"You're lucky to still be alive, son." William Sr. said, a small smile on his lips. The boy turned to look at William. Their jade green eyes pierced the wise man.

"You're..." William started, but was stopped when the boy spoke.

"Thank you for saving me." He said, his voice not as gruff as those around him. He was wearing simple cloths and wasn't too dirty. But he wasn't in deep colours expected of those who travel on passenger ships like the Serpent's Fang.

"You're a stowaway, aren't you?" Will said, finally speaking up. The boy turned his attention to Will, who was also struck silent by the brilliance of this stranger's eyes. The green eyes had turned suspicious and narrowed at Will.

"Who might you be?" He asked sharply, his words quick and pointed. Will, becoming angered at this boy's superior tone, bit the inside of his cheek.

"It's rude to ask for another's name before giving your own." Will answered curtly. The boy scowled.

"Riley Sterling." Will, accepting this as a small victory, smirked and stood.

"I'm the captain of this ship." He offered his hand to Riley. Riley stared at the fingers smudged with dirt and water but clasped it with his hand. The boy's hands were soft and much lighter than Will's skin. He helped Riley to his feet.

"My name is William Turner. Welcome aboard the Flying Dutchmen."