I listen carefully, and slowly crawled out from under the stairs, followed by Tintin, Snowy then Haddock. "Is there anyone else in you family? Maybe they know.." Tintin carried on the conversation with Haddock.

"Sir Francis had three son. All but my blood-line fail. I am the last of the Haddocks."

Watching Tintin, I saw his eyes light up bright, filled with pure hope and excitement. "Did you say three sons?"

Haddock wasn't listening and started up the stairs. I followed, but Tintin stood thinking for a second. Thought and ideas, hypothesis' and theories bubbling up in his head. When I tried to move though, I realised our hands were still connected.

The things people forget...

I tugged gently, rousing him out of his thoughts. "I know what Sakharine is looking for."

"What?" I ask as we slowly make our way up the stairs.

"It was written on the scroll! 'Three brothers joined. Three Unicorns in company sailing in the noonday sun will speak.'"

I went over the quote in my head before speaking. "...Sir Francis didn't make two models of the ship...he made three!"

"Exactly. Three ships, for three sons!"

"Of course! It fit together all too well!"

Tintin walked quickly, our hands still linked, pulling me along with him as he went to tell the captain.

"Captain! Sakharine is after the third model ship!" Haddock wasn't listening. Instead, he rushed to the door at the end of the corridor, only to discover it's locked. "Well is there a key?"

"A key? Ahhh..." Breathed out the Captain in one, long exhale, sending a wave of thick, moist alcoholic breath. The stench was sticky, and brought water to my eyes, but I could hardly complain because poor Tintin was unfortunately got the full blow of it as he was standing in front of Haddock.

Coughing, Tintin walked...or stumbled along after the Captain who was on the move again. I helped Tintin orientate himself then lead the way, following Haddock closely.

We stopped at a door, and Haddock explained what his intentions were. "Mr Jaggerman, top bunk in the centre. 'Keeper of the Keys.' Careful mate, he's a restless sleeper on the account of the tragic loss of his eyelids."

I gasped. "He l-lost his eyelids!"

"Aye, that was a poker game to remember."

Tintin started forward, followed by snowy, while I stood by Captain. "I'd do it myself Tintin," Haddock began. "...but you have a lighter tread...less chance of waking the boys." Bad excuse Captain, I thought, I can see the fear on your face.

As if proving my point, Captain went on about who Tintin should be careful and who to avoid.

Mr Hope, a chubby man, very handy with a razor. Mr Kitch, a muscular man clutching a poor mouse, sacked as a shepherd...on account for his animal husbandry.

Haddock and I watched, breath hitched, as Tintin slowly climbed myself up a bunk, and reached across towards to keys. Closer, closer, closer, but he couldn't quite reach. The idea of using snowy as extra distance didn't go down well either. Tintin held the mutt, one arm out stretch, trembling with the pressure of weight and the squirming Snowy did wasn't helping. Snowy we just in reach of the keys, but was of course distracted by a sandwich.

"Not the sandwich Snowy!" I whispered, but it was too late, Tintin fell, landing on a bunk below, then falls again. To top it off, the rest of the men tumbled off, squashing Tintin at the bottom of the pile. Snowy landed on top of the pile, almost trying to dig like the men were dirt, then a fist emerged from the pile with the keys grasped inside.

I sighed and leaned back against the frame of the door while Captain did a small happy dance in the corridor. I soon realised Tintin's difficulty at getting out of the pile and ran over to help. I rolled a few men away, and finally smile brightly when Tintin's head popped out.

"Well done Tintin."

"Anytime." He winked. I pulled him out, almost falling in the process and together we staggered over to the Captain in the corridor, Tintin tossing the keys over to him.

Back at the door at the end of the corridor, Captain unlocked it and swung it open. "Behold! Just the essentials of course!"

Inside, selves, bags, crates, everything was filled with alcohol. EVERYTHING.

"W-what is this Captain. I thought you were taking us out of here?" I began.

"What? No, no no. The exit is..." He finished stuffing his pockets and turned around, "...This way. To the life boats."

I gaped at Tintin, who was doing to same thing before shaking his head. "Come on. Valentine."

"I don't trust him. He's a drunk. I don't trust drunks." I protested.

"He's the only chance we have, come on, we can't lose him." With that he grabbed my hand and dragged me behind him.

Outside, stood a man with a gun. Tintin waved us back to wait, and grabbed a whisky bottle the Captain was holding and sneaked quickly out, behind the guard. Unfortunately, Haddock didn't get the 'wait here' message and followed Tintin. Tintin lifted the bottle and I could see that he was going to knock the man out with it, but as his fist came down, Haddock snatched the bottle, leaving Tintin to knock out the man with one blow, painfully with his hand.

Haddock then downed the drink before beckoning us to follow him. "You ok?" I whispered, leaning into Tintin's ear on my tip toes.

"Fine, just a hard blow."

"I could tell, I hope you didn't hurt yourself..." I felt genuinely concerned for Tintin, through he insisted he was fine and I left matters alone.

Finally reaching the life boats, we quickly and stealthily prepared the boat. I did my fair share of pushing, but mainly kept a look out, just as well. Two men came walking out, clearly having a destination, though one was particularly cautious, looking up and around while walking.

I tapped the boy to get their attention and made them duck fast. We watched the men walk away into a room. "Is that the bridge?" Ask Tintin.

"Aye, behind the radio room."

"Radio Room? Wait here Captain and Valentine."

"What are you doing?" I ask quickly. I didn't want to be left with the drunk.

"Maybe I can send a message to the Police about this ship. I have to see though." With that his climbed the stairs up and entered the room.

I didn't talk to Haddock while we waited. Didn't even look at him. The scent of alcohol made me feel sick and felt all to familiar. Looking around, I was dumbstruck by the fact I didn't even realise we were on a boat. It seemed so obvious now, but before I was too busy trying not to get caught.

Boats.

Don't like them.

Hate them.

White flashes before my eyes and I am blind. I hear screams, and cries. A horrible choking and gargling sound is there too. My chest hurts. I can't see but I know where I am. Thunder rumbles angrily above shaking everything violently. Cold stings my face and bites into me. My eyes sting. The cries. The screams. So many people screaming.

"Lassie! Girl um...Valentine!" I was being shaken and I found my eyes were shut. I opened them to see the drunk grabbing my shoulders and staring down from above. I jumped right back up and scrambled away.

"What are you doing!" I yelled.

"You-you fainted. I was worried you wouldn't awake."

"Oh yea right." I couldn't believe this drunk. He was just like my second foster father. Drunk, delusional and a pervert dare I say. Yes he was. "Lets just finish setting up the boat." I had to change subjects.

As we were doing that, a man jumped out of the cover on the boat with a gun. "HEY! Put your hands up!" Naturally with a gun pointed at me, I complied and so did Haddock. The Boat immediately dropped down. The man had tangled his leg in the rope and was hanging upside down, metres away from the water. Lucky he is alive, though I would suspect an ankle injury from that stunt.

"And let that be a lesson to ya!" call the Captain before moving to another boat to set up, but not before checking the inside this time though.

I looked down to the water below. It was a very big boat and a very far way down. I swallowed and realised my slight trembling. I shook my arms and head, ridding of the memories and went to help Haddock.

"Not now" I would mumble whenever the thoughts came near. "Not now."

"What you going on about lassie girl."

"What? Oh, nothing. It's a...song."

"Oh, ok." The Captain was easily convinced.

Gun shots echoed from the other side of the ship. "Tintin! Hurry Captain, we have to get this boat ready now."

I heaved with all I got until finally the boat was over water, I looked down once and instinct told me to back away. I stumbled backwards but then hear Tintin yelled "Get in the boat!"

Haddock was already in, but I hesitated. Bawling my hands in fist, digging my nails in deep. I took steady breath to steady myself, I have to do this. Everything that has happened, put it behind you now. Your life depends on it.

"Get in the boat NOW VALENTINE!" yelled Tintin again. I looked right and saw men with guns pointed at me aiming. Next second Tintin was beside me, he aimed his gun and when I thought he was going to kill someone, he hit a switch on a powerful light, blinding everyone. He then yanked my hand almost throwing me into the boat and shooting the rope which held it.

We fell and I felt the memories hitting me again. They fall. They all fall down. The screaming! The Crying. I couldn't take it. I crawled into a ball and covered my ears. Tears poured down. My heart ached for everybody on that horrific day. My teeth clench tight and the walls of my head pounded as if trying to free itself.

I didn't even realise Tintin was shaking me until he pulled me down, hugging me close. I shook. He held tighter. The boat bobs up and down, but each small jolt felt like we were tipping over to our death. Raging roar of water got louder, closer. I could hear anything but that. It ring in my ears. A terrible crackling of wood being smashed broke into the rage of rushing water sending sicking chills down my spine. Then everything started to fade.

I looked up to see a not so happy Tintin glaring back down. I sat up and he help me, not taking his eyes away. Was I in trouble?

Yes. I am.

"What was that about! You could've been shot! Killed even! What was going through your mind Valentine!"

I didn't answer. I just wrapped myself tighter in my cardigan and looked at my knees.

"Valentine!"

I still didn't answer, for if I would, I would lie, and he would know.

A gentle hand is placed on my shoulder. "Valentine?" A softer tome came from Tintin, but I still didn't look at him. "Please, at least look at me." When I didn't response, he the cupped my cheek and turned my face to his.

His stare searched me. I felt exposed in his gaze. Like every secret was just then disclosed to him in this one look. I couldn't take it and looked away once more. The sun was rising now, tinting the sky with oranges and reds.

Tintin turned to Captain. "We have to get to Bagghar ahead of Sakharine."

"I know, I know." Mumbled to Captain. "Why?"

"Because he has the third model ship."

Tintin explained to the Captain about the third model ship while I just stared at the water. My eyes drooped, but I wouldn't sleep. I must know when something goes wrong. I must be prepare.

Tintin was by my side again. "You need to sleep. Now."

I didn't look at him. "I mustn't."

"Why?"

"I just can't."

"You look exhausted and you will need to energy. We all do for when we get to Bagghar."

"Why don't you sleep then."

"I am." I didn't answer again. Instead, Tintin sat drown beside me, feeling my forehead. I Flinched. "Hey, it's fine, just checking for a temperature." I still didn't answer, just stared at the water.

Tintin snuggled down as comfortably as he could then wrapped his arm around my shoulder to lean on and pull me down in more of a sleeping position.

"I can't sleep. I must sleep."

""Don't worry, Captain will make sure nothing happens. He's is a captain you know."

"And a drunk" I mumble, then stifle a yawn. I mustn't sleep. But the more I kept saying that in my head, the more sleepy I got. Soon I couldn't keep my eyes open, and I was gone.