Chapter 25: Left Behind

When the ship had docked, Jim disappeared to the bunks to gather his things. He nearly had a heart attack when he saw Destiny standing above his things, and he clutched his heart. Glancing around to make sure there was no one around to spot the "stole-away", Jim whispered, "Geez, don't scare a person like that!"

Was that a smile that appeared on her face? "So do you have a plan?" she hissed.

"I was supposed to have a plan?"

Her eyes blazed and she posed to come at him before he raised his hands and chuckled, "I'm kidding! Whoa..." I really don't have much of a plan, but this is fun.

She kneeled to help him toss his few belongings into his sack. "So what is it?"

Jim hesitated, pushing a shirt into his bag. "Well the captain has Delbert collecting his things, and BEN's helping him-"

"What does that have to do with my escape?" Destiny interrupted impatiently.

Sighing, Jim muttered, "I was getting there. Just let me finish." We're all girls impatient? Lexi had always been. He felt bad for Destiny. She had lost her friend, and now she was sneaking away like a criminal. It wasn't fair. But then again, when was anything ever really fair? "BEN is helping the doc, and the captain left to get some cops to arrest the crew. So if we hurry, we can get you out of here before anyone gets back."

Destiny nodded, standing up. Closing his sack, Jim got to his feet as well. "Look..." he said, pausing. Why was it always so hard to thank someone?! "Thanks for- helping me with-"

He was shocked to see a real smile graze her lips. It seemed to light up her entire complexion, and Jim knew this was the real Destiny. The one he had never met. But the smile faded just as fast. "Sure," she whispered, raising an eyebrow. "I'd like to think you'd do the same for me." Before Jim could respond, she was racing up the stairs ahead of him. Follow was all he could do.

Nervous as ever that they'd be caught, Jim was more cautious then even Destiny. He snuck out behind her and followed her off the plank and onto the ground. People crowded around, but no one suspected them of anything. Destiny stopped at the end of the plank. Jim would have thought she'd want to get further away from the ship so she wouldn't get caught. But there she stood, gazing at all the people.

"Destiny," he tapped her shoulder. "Don't you want to get out of here?"

She looked back at him. "Yes, but I can run if anyone comes now." A sad look crossed her face as she looked past him to the RLS Legacy. "I may never sail again."

"Why?" Jim glanced back at the ship.

"Because I have no one to take me." Her eyes were full of loneliness when she looked at Jim. It struck him. She really had... no one. Sliver and Lexi were gone. He had no idea what she was going through, but he knew it was awful. Here she was, a fourteen year old girl, left to take care of herself. Anything could happen to her. Yet, this was what she wanted.

"Oh... Destiny, I'm- I-"

She shook her head. "Please, don't." Jim looked over her shoulder in confusion at the strangely familiar figure that was approaching them.

And Destiny... turned.

Every piece of her shattered. Her entire soul melted and bled into her heart. Tears instantly exploded from her large, beautiful eyes... because there, walking towards her, eyes wet and bloodshot, stood the boy that had captured so much of her torn heart... Jay. She knew it was him by the way he walked, quickly and nimbly towards her, his long legs shortening the distance between them with each stride. His lovely blonde curls bounced with the movement, and his longing filled smile froze her eyes to his. She raced to him, nearly knocking him over as she threw her arms around his neck. He hugged her back tightly as her tears soaked the shoulder of his brown "medieval" looking leather jacket.

"I knew I'd see you again!" she cried, holding him tighter. He said nothing, but his hand stroking her hair explained it all.

She had found Jay. Now she only had one person left that really mattered to find. If he was still alive. Her brother. But now, all that mattered,

was she was not alone.

...And somewhere in the far distance, she was sure she heard Zera's screech of triumph. The dragon was not far, and Destiny would go to her. With Jay.

Jim stood in silence as Destiny ran to the strange boy. He had no idea who he was, but she seemed to know him, and really... that was all that mattered, right? Morph cooed at his side, making himself known, and almost sharing Jim's feelings. As he looked closer at the boy, it dawned on him. That was the boy he had seen at the Ship Repair. The boy who had stared at Silver. Dolton had held Jim back, and in that time, the boy had disappeared. That. was. him. And then Jim noticed, that behind the boy, stood four men. Men that looked to be wearing armor... the kind of armor you'd expect to see someone wearing in an old medieval movie.

But just then, Jim caught sight of a familiar feminine figure weaving about the crowd. He smiled as he pushed past a few people to her; and placing his hand on her shoulder, she looked toward him and they embraced. He stood back after a moment, admiring his mother's beauty he had never really noticed before. Her lovely brown hair, hardly even showing any signs of greying, and her dull blue eyes. His eyes. Her smile was broader then he had ever remembered seeing it, and he couldn't wait to tell her of his adventures, and give her the gold to rebuild her lost inn.

While he had been standing with his mother, Amelia had returned with the police, and was already watching them haul her prisoners away. As they were marched off the ship in handcuffs, each had a dirty face to offer as they passed by Jim and his mother. But there was none worse than that of Dolton. His shaggy red hair clung to the sides of his skull, and his eyes were dark and wrath-filled as he glared at Jim. They had never had a good relationship, but Dolton acted as though Jim was the devil, condemning him to die. And just as he walked past Jim, he hissed,

"This isn't over, Rat-Tail. Don't sleep too hard at night, or you might never wake!" His threat hung by Jim's ears even as he was led away and swallowed by the crowd behind the police.

"Jim! Sarah! Wait for us!" The doctor cried, racing down the plank toward them, with BEN stumbling behind. While Sarah greeted and hugged BEN and Delbert, Jim looked back to where Destiny was slipping away unnoticed, with the strange boy. She looked back over her shoulder at him, and her eyes told everything. 'Thank you, Jim. For all you have done for me. Good luck, and goodbye.'

And for some reason, Jim had the feeling, that by leaving her behind, he wasn't just leaving behind a girl. He was leaving behind... a destiny.

...To be continued...

~The End~

Rat-Tail (c) sultal

IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE:

My dearest faithful readers - This brings a close to "Call Of Heaven". I hope you all enjoyed it :) But just as I promised, there is a second book. So please don't stop here! I still need you guys! And please take a quick glance at the credits, there important.

-The link and title of my second book can be located at the end of the credits.-

Credits and Inspirations - Treasure Planet

People: -Thank you all so much for your frequent encouragement and help with this story. I never could have done it without you guys!-

'Merpme', 'sultal', 'Silverfox289s', 'walleye', 'Bubble-Gum1lol', 'Dancer who loves Westerns', 'Akira Darkness', 'AfriKat', 'crystallica81' and 'JadetheJaguar (Guest)' and of course for all the rest of you that read through my story and kept it up 'till the end!

-'smileyjanuaryginger' - My talented and wonderful big sister

-Drake - My sweet energetic little brother

-And my parents of course, for always encouraging me to write

(So sorry if I spelt anything wrong in your users!)

Books:

1) Pewter Angels (series) - Henry K. Ripplinger

2) Heaven (series) - VC. Andrews

Songs:

1) A Thousand Years - Christina Perri (feat. Steve Kazee)

2) A Drop in the Ocean - Ron Pope

3) Down - Jason Walker

4) I'm Still Here - John Rzeznik

5) Heart Attack - Demi Lovato

6) Skin (Sarabeth) - Rascal Flatts

7) Stand - Rascal Flatts

8) Play it Again - Luke Bryin

Sequel to 'Call of Heaven' (New book called 'Divergent Angel') link - s/11016434/1/Divergent-Angel