Chapter 10: Who I Am

"My real name is Angel," she said before grasping her necklace. "My mom died when I was two, so it was just me and my dad for a bit, until he died when I was eleven. He gave me this necklace, told me to always wear it as it would keep me safe."

She closed her eyes briefly as the memory of his death flooded her. "My dad was killed by someone who was after his money and me," she continued. "Someone who had made a deal with that monster."

A gasp went up through the crowd and Angel nodded. "After my dad died, I went into foster care, but I didn't like the family I was with. They were forcing me to date one of their sons to marry later on, but I refused and ran away. Yet no matter where I went, they found me."

"You mean you were on your own in the streets for seven years?!" Cagney asked in shock.

"No," she said. "I worked odd jobs for some elderly people in the towns I was passing by and they offered me work in exchange for a place to sleep and food to eat. Some of them paid me what they could and I saved it, as I knew it would come in handy.

"But my foster family kept on my trail, so I couldn't stay long in a town. Usually about a week was the limit before the children I had recruited to watch for them would warn me and I'd run."

"The children would watch out for you?" Cala Maria asked.

Angel nodded. "I'd bribe them with candy and it always worked," she said. "They would even get the police to stop my foster family while I made my escape."

Elder Kettle smiled at that before looking concerned. "But then how did you end up on a ship?" He asked.

"An elderly lady that I did odd jobs for would tell me stories about when she was a captain at sea. Her father had been a merchant and she had taken over when he had passed away. She told me that if I was looking to escape someone, going to sea was the best because on a ship, I'd be harder to track down, especially a merchant or pirate ship.

"I took her advice and began searching for a boat to take me on. I was sixteen at the time and one merchant hired me on to look after his library, which he treasured. He even let me read the books, which is where I got my love of reading from. We sailed for a year until we landed in a port and he docked, saying he was going to stay for a while as he had family in that port. So I began looking for another boat to take me on."

She then looked at Brineybeard. "In my hurry one day, I ran into Brineybeard and he not only gave me the red marker, but told me of a captain that was looking to ship out soon and would no doubt be willing to take on a passenger. He must have sensed I was on the run, because he told me to watch out as bad people would watch the warf and ports."

"Aye, I did tell ye that," Brineybeard said with a smile. "Not only that, word had gotten around the ships about a girl who was running from some bad people, so we were ready to help ye gain your freedom."

Angel smiled at him. "That's why you gave me the red marker," she said. "Because you also knew that my foster family had made a deal with that monster too."

He nodded and Mugman looked up at the young woman. "So you went to sea again?" He asked.

She nodded. "I became an errand girl for a kind merchant captain, who I told my story to and he promised to keep me safe. When the monster approached him, he made a deal, but went back on it by paying with the fool's gold and having no intentions of helping the monster. We hoped we'd be safe long enough to get away, but the monster found out that he had been tricked and caused the ship to wreck."

She bowed her head. "The captain knew the monster couldn't handle water and so encouraged me to take a life boat and get out of there. But just as he got me to the boat, the monster attacked us. I vaguely remember someone pushing me before I heard a cry and realized the captain had been struck. A second shot blew me and the life boat overboard and I hit my head on the life boat, which knocked me out."

"Which would explain why you were in the water when you first arrived," King Dice said.

Angel nodded again. "My necklace guarded me because it has a cross on it and it was given to me out of love, which defeats evil all the time."

"Which would explain why the monster couldn't find you when you first arrived and why you defeated him so quickly," Djimmi said.

She smiled. "Actually, he was defeated by his own error," she said. "He got too overconfident and that's what cost him."

She then looked down. "I...I wonder if the captain and his family made it out of the shipwreck," she said softly.

"They did, lass," said Captain Brineybeard.

"Yes," said Cala Maria. "Briney and I rescued them a day before the others found you, Angel."

The young woman looked relieved to hear that and she looked at Beppi. "My foster family liked to scare me with scary clown masks, which resulted in me being afraid of clowns," she said before taking Beppi's hand. "But I'm not afraid of them anymore, thanks to you, Beppi."

He blushed before gently squeezing her hand. "I'm glad I could help," he said. "But you really overcame that fear on your own."

"With some help from a sweet, patient clown," she said, making him blush again.

Cuphead suddenly thought of something. "But...you have your memory back," he said. "Do you have other family?"

Realizing what the young cup was asking, Angel shook her head. "No, I don't have any other family," she said. "My family is the people that are standing in front of me."

Everyone smiled at that and Mugman went up to her. "So, does that mean you'll stay? Cause Cups and I would miss you if you left," he admitted.

"And I'd miss you both and everyone if I left," she said before looking at Elder Kettle. "Grandpa, would you be willing to allow me to rent a room from you?"

The kettle smiled. "My dear, you're part of our family," he said gently. "You're more than welcome to stay."

Djimmi and Beppi smiled. "You're part of us all, Angel," said the genie.

"I agree," Cagney said, going up to Angel. "Besides, a certain blue ghost would miss you to pieces if you left," he whispered in her ear.

Angel looked at him and saw him wink before she looked at Specter, who was gazing at her, but then looked away, blushing when he saw her watching him. "Specter?" She asked.

He took a deep breath and looked at her. "Please stay, Angel?" He asked her.

She smiled and looked at everyone, seeing their encouraging smiles and she nodded. "You all have been my family and friends these past few months," she said. "My home is here with all of you."

They all cheered happily, making her smile before Specter took her hands in his own, making her look at him before he tried to clear his throat. "Um, Angel, I've been wanting to ask you something," he said.

"Yes?" She asked gently.

The ghost began blushing again and looked nervous before taking a deep breath, rubbing his thumbs over the backs of her hands. "Angel...I meant it when I said I loved you," he said.

She smiled. "I sensed that before you disappeared," she said before blushing. "When I told that monster that he hurt the man I love, I was talking about you."

Both were blushing a bright red now before Specter cleared his throat and looked at the woman he loved. "Angel...may I court you?" He asked.

Smiling, she leaned forward and gave him a kiss right on the mouth, making him jump in surprise before he returned the kiss. Angel gently broke it after a moment and she smiled at him. "Took you long enough to ask me, you silly ghost," she said.

He blushed before grinning at her. "Took you long enough to come to the Isles," he said teasingly, making her laugh and blush too before they embraced and kissed again.

Cagney smirked. "It's about time you two got together," he said.

"Oh, shush, Cagney," Pirouletta said without heat.

"I agree," King Dice said before scooping up his girlfriend, making her giggle. "Angel and Specter make a cute couple."

"That they do," Elder Kettle said with a nod.

Angel and Specter, oblivious to the others, continued kissing, lost in love and in each other's arms.


Looks like the love boat has sailed for Specter and Angel. :) Next up is the epilogue.

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GoldGuardian2418