Edited and re-uploaded

The Pirate Side

Captain Kirkland walked across the deck; he was inspecting what his men had pillaged from this pitiful excuse of a country. This was a very productive day, the madman chuckled to himself. Running on the deck alerted the captain's attention, whirling himself around only to see one of his men. Calm down.

"Captain! The boy is gone!" The man coughed out breathlessly.

"Boy? Who… Alfred!" Kirkland grabbed his crew member by the collar. "What do you mean he's gone," he growled in a more commanding tone than a question.

"Well, sir, he wasn't in his room when I looked for him. I searched for him all over the boat, three times over."

"FIND. HIM! NOW!" Kirkland screeched while throwing the man to the floor.

The man scurried away and the captain stomped his way back to his cabin. He couldn't believe that Alfred would leave him. Why? How could he leave me?! Did I not care for him and give him everything that he needs or made him smile that brilliant smile of his?! He will come back… He has to!

Kirkland paced his cabin in a rage while continuously telling himself that Alfred, his adopted brother, no, his son, would come home. He saved that boy from a wrecked ship! Alfie would not just abandon him like this.

His heart raced as he paced the room, he walked past his bed, and around his desk. He kicked at the ground, scuffing the old floor boards. Captain Kirkland was heated and on edge, unable to comprehend the madness taking over his blackened heart. He wanted his Alfie back, his little brother.

His thoughts were as dark as his cabin. No lights to guide his way, with no sign of the future. He was not used to this feeling of helplessness, not any more. He wanted it all to end, he wanted, for the first time in his life, not to be who he was now, a pirate.

The captain waited all day and long into the night for news about his young child. He was forced to think back to what he had done; over and over it played out in his mind. The man had forcefully thrust the young one into the reality of chaos and uncertainty. He had made him see the death and rape of women, some even men. It was too much for a child as young as he to take, of course he would run away. No sane man would stay. And yet he stayed.

I forced him to watch us pillage the weak and unsuspecting, and yet I have the nerve to believe that I had been wronged. For us, tis life, but not for him, this is not his life. He idolized us and we caused him pain. No! I will not feel bad about doing what is me! I have done no wrong, for I am a pirate captain! I will not wish to be something I am not.

~flashback~

"Captain! Captain! Look! Look!" Baby Alfred squealed as he held up an obviously horribly drawn picture. The colors seemed to blend together and there was no set organized factor.

"Yes?" Captain Kirkland laughed. "That's a very wonderful picture. What is it, if I may ask?"

"It's you," the child beamed proudly. "I drawed it just for you! See?"

"Oh? It's drawn wonderfully," he lied as he looked at the undecipherable blob.

"Yay!"

~end flashback~

"I was wrong," he choked back a sob. Kirkland heard a knock at his door. He quickly fixed his appearance and demeanor. "Enter!"

"S-Sir? I could not… I could not find him." The man seemed ready for a blow.

"Leave my presence."

"Yes sir." He quickly backtracked out of his captain's room; afraid he may change his mind and be less merciful.

When he knew the crew member was out of earshot he whispered to himself again, "I was wrong. I was IN the wrong." He sat helplessly on the edge of his bed. That night, Captain Kirkland silently cried himself to sleep for the first time since he was a small child.

The next day he made the announcement that Alfred was gone and for no one to look for him.

"There is no use looking for him, I've decided to have him sent away," the captain lied. "It is better this way, there will be no child getting in the way of our pre-destined life. This is the life that God gave us, and he is just a brat." He felt sick calling his adopted son a brat, but he had to make it convincing. There was no going back. It HAD to be done.

Many years had passed and 'Captain' Kirkland stayed a renowned pirate, known far and wide for his brutality and mercilessness. No one dared cross him, lest they "sleep with the fishes."

"Daddy?" A little voice pulled him out of thoughts of the past.

"Yes, sweetie?" He laughed happily, and a smile gracing his lips.

"I drew you a picture. If you don't want it…" she whispered in her beautiful islander accent, extremely close to tears.

Kirkland's heart dropped at the sight of her being sad. He picked up his dear daughter. "What? How could you think that? I would love that picture, may I see it?"

Her beautiful brown eyes sparkled with childish delight. "Here!" She held up her picture with pride. "I drew you and me, together."

He stared at it longingly and lovingly, feeling nostalgia wash over him. "It's beautiful, my dear. I will treasure it for the rest of my life"

He held close his beautiful adopted daughter, with her skin kissed by the sun. Her beautiful silk-like hair tied in two perfect pigtails. He held her close, her with all her grace and charm. A sweet little girl, who he promised to never let go.