Chapter 2: A New World

*Amaya POV*

The strange man led the way to a small cottage like house over the hill as I looked around and saw no cars, no buildings, nothing from the world I was from. He pulled a dusty chair from the table and I noticed the entire home was covered in dust, as if it hasn't been lived in for a while. I sat down as he went to get started on a fire, I glanced around for a light switch or something because it was so dark, but I only saw windows for sunlight and candles. I sat down in the chair and waited for him to light the fire, when it finally lit and was building up, he turned to me.

"If you give me a moment, I believe there is some clothes that will fit you in the other room…if she left anything." I barely heard the last part, as he walked away and shut the door. I got up, going to the fire to feel the warmth, it was nice, I jumped when Will returned and held out a dress to me. It looked like something from another time….just like he did. "Thanks." I took it and he motioned to the room again, "You can change in there if you want." I closed the door quietly and took a look around, seeing drawers open and emptiness everywhere. I wondered what had happened here as I slipped out of my clothes and pulled the dress on, realizing that it had a corset.

I cracked the door and saw Will staring into the fire, his eyes burning more fierce than the flames. "Um…Will?" he shook his head and turned to me. "Yes?" "I know this might seem odd to you…but I have never worn a corset before and have no idea how to do it." his eyes went a bit wide, but he smiled and came over to the door. "If you want to turn around first, I can wait." "It's alright, come in." he did and paused when he saw me, but quickly moved over and began to lace up the strings. I caught my breath as he tightened it and finally it was done. "I'll be right outside, there's a small shed with some supplies in it. I will return."

He didn't give me a chance to say anything before he hurried outside, as if he couldn't stand to be in this house…or near me. I continued to look around and found a broken frame on the floor, I scooped it up and saw a torn photo, well it was more like a painting. The woman in it was beautiful, her smile was bright and shown she was happy. I was so distracted by the photo that I didn't hear Will come back, let alone grab my arm and turn me around. "Why didn't you say you were injured?" I blinked and followed his stare and remembered the window smashing and slicing into my arm. "Oh, right. I had forgotten." he sat me at the table and went into a room, grabbing some cleanish looking bandages.

Even though I was a bit worried about the health issues, I allowed him to wrap the wound, his hands were rough, but they felt nice on my skin. When he was finished, I cleared my throat and stood up. "I need to go, I have to find my family." "I will help you today, but only today." I was confused by his words, he seemed so nice, but would only help me for one day? I shrugged and started outside, with his footsteps following me. "So where am I actually?" "I am assuming far from home as you look nothing like women around here." he smiled as we continued back to the beach, my eyes searched for the ship, or any other person.

"What happened when you went into the water? What is the last thing you remember?" I rubbed my arm where the bandage was, looking out into the water. "There was a storm, we had stayed in the room. The door opened and my mother and sister fell out, both unconscious. I tried to get to them, the ship rocked and I fell into the hall. It did it again, I hit something…a window. That's how I cut my arm. The wind and pressure pulled me through the window, sending me into the ocean. I tried to get to the surface, I couldn't take the pressure forcing my body down…it hurt so much, my lungs were aching-" I cut off, reliving the moment before I passed out, feeling like I was dying.

Will took me into his arms, soothing me softly. "Hey, it's over. Calm down. You are safe." I opened my eyes, peering over his shoulder into the mid-day sun. "I'm sorry. I don't want to talk about it anymore." he nodded and released me, motioning for me to lead the way. We walked for a while in silence, it wasn't awkward though, but I did feel like he wanted to talk to me, but didn't want to push himself onto me. I heard his footsteps falling behind and when I turned around, he was a few feet behind me, completely stopped. "I can't go any further. I must return to my ship before sunset." I could barely see his ship in the distance that we had walked.

"Why?" he shifted his eyes away from me, his face showing that he truly didn't want to tell me. I shook my head, deciding that since he didn't push me to talk about something I didn't want to, I would do the same for him. "Nevermind, I understand. You can go back to your ship, I will find them on my own. Thank you for helping me while you could." I stuck out my hand to him, giving him time to shake it in goodbye. "Hey, while you are sailing around, will you try to look for my family too? Give me your number that way you can call me if you find anything." he cocked his head to the side, completely confused by what I was saying.

"Call you? How?" "With your phone, of course." he still looked confused and I held up two fingers like a pretend phone. "You know what I'm talking about right?" "Uh, no. are you sure you didn't hit your head too?" I blinked and took everything in. There was no lights, no towers for power, no cars, nothing that gave away what time I was in, which apparently wasn't my own. "Will, can you tell me the date?" "It is the 17th of July." "What year Will?!" I urged him to tell me, closing the distance between us. "1752." I took a step back, taken back by his words. I was so far from my time, there was no possible way that I was in the 18th century. Time travel wasn't even invented, it was only for stories and movies and stuff.

He seemed to take in just how shocked I was, waiting for me to speak first. "I'm in the year…1752...seriously?" I kept shaking my head, unsure if I could even believe him as I just met him. "Are you well?" "No, there is no way possible that I could be here, in this time. I'm not supposed to be here. I don't understand." he looked back toward his ship before sighing. "There may be someone you can speak with about your troubles…if you wanted." I looked at him, he was still attempting to help me, even though we barely knew each other. He continued, motioning for me to follow him as he began to walk back toward the house and ship.

"There is a woman, who knows things impossible to know. She has guided us before. She is a goddess, bound in human form. She was released, but it took the lords years to bind her again. Her home is right off shore of an island, it will take us two days to get there, but it is your best chance at understanding why you are here." I smiled, thankful that I met a kind man instead of a robber or rapist. He helped me into the boat and began to row us over to the ship waiting for us. He climbed up first, telling me to follow and he would make sure I was safe. "Welcome Captain!" "Back so soon?" I peeked up, seeing several men greeting Will as he climbed aboard.

"Come on up." he called to me and I heard a lot of jeers and looks as I climbed over, taking Will's hand for assistance so I didn't fall and show these men everything under my dress. "Will, you've returned. How is Elizabeth?" I felt Will squeeze my hand as a tall man stepped forward, looking very similar to Will. His eyes widened when he saw me. "Who's this? William, you know that her kind are not allowed on the Dutchman." Will dismissed the rest of the men and took the one man to the side. "I know, she just needs passage to see Tia Dalma, she needs help." "What does Elizabeth have to say about this? I'm sure the woman could find another way to get there."

Will whispered into the man's ear and I could tell it wasn't good news by the look on the man's face. He nodded to Will once before taking his place at the wheel. "We're setting sail boys! To your posts!" the man shouted so everyone heard him and went to their business. I turned to Will, who was rubbing his face. "Come on, I'll let you stay in my quarters, unless you would rather sleep with the crew?" I shook my head and followed him into a spacious room with a couch and bed and table. "Who's Elizabeth?" I asked when we were alone and trapped in the room together. "She isn't important." he snapped and went to looking at some charts on the table.

I went to the table also and placed my hands on it, making him look at me. "Will, I can see how that man reacted and I can see the pain and anger flicker across your face when anyone says her name. I'm just curious. You have been so nice to me that I would like to return the favor and be there if you need me to." his eyes went soft and he let out a heavy sigh. "It's difficult to talk about." he sat down in a chair and I followed suit. "I understand how that is. But I am here if you would like to talk." he nodded and looked around, before finally speaking. "Elizabeth is…was my wife. I can only be on land for one day every ten years. Today was that day, but she was gone. She left me a note saying she fell in love with a friend of ours and left me. I thought she was my soul mate and yet here I am completely alone. I swore my love to her and she broke me into nothing."

I took it in and went around the table, touching his shoulder. "You are not alone, Will. You are a Captain of a ship with a crew that does everything for you. You have a lot of people that are here for you. I may not know you very well but I am also here." his eyes stared deeply into mine and he patted my hand with his. "I thank you Amaya, truly. You just don't understand." he pushed my hand off gently, sighing and going back to his maps. I tossed my hands up in defeat and plopped down on the couch. "You are infuriating. Just so you know. I'm going to bed." I pulled a cover off the back of the couch and turned away from his stare.

**In Dream**

I gasped for air as I lifted my head above the water, opening my eyes to see the dark sky looming over me. A wave hit me and rolled me back under the water, making me cough and struggle to get back up. I saw lightning flash across the sky and light up the ship as it was going down. "NO!" I screamed and began to attempting to swim toward them, praying my family got out safe. I saw several people escaping and swimming for their lives, struggling more than I was. 'Please let them be okay' I thought to myself as I continued forward, ignoring the aches and pains in my body. I passed by people seeing if they were alright and helping those who needed it. The lifeboats on the ships were floating as the ship went down and I was telling people to get into them, helping who they could.

"Bianca! Mom!" I shouted as I took a breather holding on to the side of a boat. I saw someone waving at me and I dove toward them, swimming as quickly as possible. I was smiling as I realized that it was my sister and mother, they were both alright. I grabbed a hold of their hands and pulled them both into a hug. "I'm so happy you two are safe!" I realized they weren't hugging me back. When I looked a second time, Bianca's eyes were already glassed over, she was dead. I look at my mom, who was struggling to breathe. "Mom? What's wrong?" she lifted her hand and I saw the blood coming from her stomach. "I-it's too m-much." she went to speak again, but coughed and faded away too.

I screamed out in anguish as my family completely left me alone, trying to save their bodies before they sank into the dark sea, lost forever. I was dragged under by their weight and knew I wouldn't be able to save them…but I would die with them. "Amaya…my daughter…let go…" I blinked and struggled to see in the darkness, my eyes already burning from the salt water. 'Who is it?' I thought to myself, still trying to get their bodies to the surface. "Amaya…let them go…please…" I recognized the voice and lost my breath gasping and dropping their bodies as I needed air. When I broke the surface, I looked around, it was his voice, my father! "Father!?" I shouted, trying to see him as his voice was so close. I was alone, floating in the sea as my family was gone and I realized the lifeboats had left, the ship was sank…I truly was undeniably alone.