Madeline led Emma down the stairs that opened into the brig after passing Krystal who stood guard. Issy was in the second cell on the left. Emma stopped in front of the cell and looked in at their prisoner, who leaned against the back wall, arms crossed and gaze tilted down at the floor so that her mooshuian hat covered her eyes. Maddie and Emma excahnged a glance before the sorceress spoke. "I-Issy?"
"What?" She spat angrily. Emma stared at the diviner. Spiteful even now, she thought.
"W-why did you do this?" Maddie asked, voice cracking with now obvious emotion. When Emma looked back at her, she saw tears streaming down her face in rivers. Emma's face contorted in concern. "Why do you hate me so much? I don't understand! I just want to know. After all that's happened, what is it even worth? We're both broken people and you know this. This is only gonna make the pain worse. Why did you do this?"
"Because of who you are," Issy growled, her tail swishing back and forth angrily. She didn't look up, but Emma could imagine her cat eyes were tiny slits. "You're perfect and have everything I've lost. You have a man that loves you and that you're soon going to marry. You have friends that love you and care about you no matter what. You have people who look up to you for your skill. You have happiness and that's something I've always wanted." Emma choked up a little at Issy's sad statement. "And your best friend is still alive."
"No she's not," Maddie objected, voice nasally from crying. "The Issy I once knew is dead, gone, but I'm hoping she'll come back again, soon. I miss her so much."
"Shut up already!" Issy shouted. "You don't know what it's like to lose the one you loved most! The one you saw yourself with twenty years from now. The one who could wipe away your tears and make you feel so loved that everything else never mattered." Emma's jaw gaped open. She's not still talking about that snake is she? She wondered, very confused.
"I'm sorry about what happened to David, Issy, but there's nothing that can be done." Madeline told her, compassion filling her voice.
"Let me ask you something, Maddie." Issy said. "Why didn't that captain lady just kill me? What was the point of letting me live?"
"You're going to have to figure that out on your own," Madeline said with annoyance. "Come on, Emma let's go." The red head turned and left the brig. Emma turned to follow her, but glanced one last time at their prisoner. A single tear streaked down Issy's cheek. Emma's throat tightened and she hurried to catch up to her friend.
"That's horrible!" Krystal exclaimed as Carter and the others filled her in on what they'd learned. The group had docked at Skull Island and had decided on leaving Anna as a guard in place of Krystal. Luke offered to stand guard, but Maddie insisted upon not letting him near Issy because she thought he might literally murder the diviner. They walked along the docks as Captain Blue and her companion joined them. "Carter, I've got somethin' to tell ye," She told him. "We need to go to the tavern cellar and talk. Ye won't like what I've got to say." Emma gulped. Captain Blue led the way up the stairs that led to the beach. They trekked across the grainy sand and into the little market area set up on the island. Captain Blue glanced at the group before entering the tavern. It was lit dimly and many pirates sat at tables all along the tavern, drinking and talking. Captain Blue weaved her way over to the open cellar door and descended into it with everyone else following. The cellar seemed larger than the tavern, but Emma knew that was simply because there was less in the room. Only a long table and a few crates sat in the room. Captain Blue went to the head of the table, opposite the exit of the cellar. Emma followed Carter as he took a place beside the captain. Luke and Madeline took places on the opposite side, next to Captain Blue's follower and Krystal stood beside Emma. Should we even be here? She wondered. "Alright, Captain, what is it you had to tell me?" Carter asked. Captain Blue met his eyes sorrowfully.
"There's been a mutiny," she said solemnly. "Calamity and I are the only ones to survive."
I've got some bad news, you guys. I had to completely reset my computer and while I was able to save a bunch of my other files, I totally forgot to save my fanfic files. I lost a bunch of my pre-written chapters, so I will be only posting one chapter until I catch up. Sorry!