How to explain the days that followed? The aura of sheer joy that accompanied each passing moment?

We adjourned to the lighthouse that first night and entered to find a dirt-strewn table, the metal chest sitting in the enter, the key inserted into it and left ajar. Inside, Will's heart, black and unbeating. When Henry and Carina returned with news of what had surpassed, along with word of my parents and my voyage to find Will, it was naturally Elizabeth's first thought: What of the heart that beat outside her husband's body? They were alarmed to find it shriveled and dead, but now a new heart beat in its place—it's proper place, within Will. Silently, we gazed upon this symbol of the imprisonment Will and Father had just faced. Will stepped forward, taking the key out and closing the lid. Together, we buried it on the cliff outside in the waning light, each of us saying a silent prayer that those past days of pain would remain behind us.

The rest of the night, we didn't quite know what to do with ourselves. There was laughter, tears, joy, and love. Each of our epic accounts were told intermittently, as an aural patchwork quilt of sorts was stitched together to get one complete narrative of the past thirteen years of strife. Here was where Father and Will told us all at once that it had been Jones who had captured them, which naturally was followed by an "I told you so" glance from me to Henry and many questions from the Turners. Carina, who apparently hadn't believed in supernatural beings up until her recent face off against Captain Salazar and his ghostly crew, looked bewildered by all of this talk, and Henry, who sat at her side, would occasionally draw her from our conversations to fill her in on relevant details. Father let me weave the narrative of our part of the voyage, and only when I got to the part where Philip and Syrena had found us did I pause, sharing an alarmed glance with Father.

"What is it?" asked Mother curiously.

"We lost them," I said to her. "Mermaids seeking guidance from Calypso found us because they sensed my blood. We bargained with them. In exchange for their help in getting here, we promised them counsel with you."

Mother raised an eyebrow and voiced the very concern both Father and I had shared, especially given the recent loss of the powers she once possessed: "How could I possibly provide them counsel?"

"Well," Father said, "For the moment it matters not. We lost them amidst the storm. If they find us," he said, looking to Elizabeth, "Perhaps we can all arrange a suitable solution."

Elizabeth's eyes were wide and uncertain, and through a laugh, she mused, "Right. Bargain with…mermaids." She then leaned into Will. "I've dealt with worse. Why not?"

Will's grip around her shoulders only tightened. He had refused to let go of her throughout the evening, almost as if he did, she would vanish altogether.

"Please tell me that when you say 'mermaids,' you don't mean…" spoke Carina, still visibly unsettled by all this talk.

"Fangs and fish tail?" I finished. "I most certainly do."

Henry gave me a nudge. "Anna Norrington went face to face with a band of mermaids, bargained with them, and lived to tell the tale?" he teased.

I shrugged, "What can I say? I'm valuable to all species, apparently," I said with a grin.

Elizabeth looked troubled, however. "Still, I'm not sure I like the sound of mermaids in my harbor." She turned to Mother. "I am thinking of the right variety, yes? Man-eating sirens?"

"That's the only kind I know," Mother reported. "But if James and Anna lived to tell the tale, perhaps there is more to them than what the stories say."

"They're pescatarians!" I insisted. "The merman used to be a human!"

Elizabeth still appeared uncertain, and took a deep breath. "Well, we'll handle it if they find us. We'll treat them with no less leniency than any another visitor to the Cove. Proper bargaining will be emphasized."

Will gave a soft smile at his wife. "Spoken like a proper King," he complimented. He ran his fingers through her dark brown hair. "What's this?" he asked, noting its much darker shade from whence he had last seen her.

"The British have regained their stronghold, so a disguise was needed," she explained with a smile. "I'm afraid we're still wanted criminals, you and I."

He leaned into her, pressing his forehead against hers. "Let them come," he murmured. "I'd like to see them try."

For the remainder of the night, chatter was idle. My parents were mostly silent, only ever occasionally commenting. Mother's head rested on Father's shoulder while Father's arm was around my shoulders. Here too we stayed stationary as though any movement would destroy this perfect moment.

Henry eagerly chatted about the future, his plans for us all. Clearly his time with Jack had inspired a wanderlust in his heart, for his immediate goal was to get all of us back out to sea. Now with no heart to protect, we were free to voyage wherever we pleased. He emphasized our separate skills; my marksmanship, Will, Elizabeth's and Father's leadership and strategy, Carina's navigation skills, Mother's sailing and healing, and his brute strength. Will kindly yet swiftly rejected this plan. "I think I'd like to see how solid land feels for a bit, son," he said with a polite grin.

Henry, though disappointed, was no less optimistic, and simply turned to Carina and took her hand in his, drawing her closer to him. This piqued my curiosity; I had clearly seen Henry's obvious infatuation with Carina back on the Pearl, but how long had they been a couple? When was her affection returned?

Despite there being thirteen years-worth of catching up to do, the revelry didn't last long. Will and Father were visibly exhausted, as were we all. We left the Turners and Carina at the lighthouse while I led the way back to the fortress for father, who had only been here but a few times before, and my newly night-blind mother. Once we crested the top of the ridge encompassing the Cove, I raced ahead to light enough lanterns so that Mother could see once inside. The moment her eyes adjusted, she first led my father to her storeroom where she was able to properly tend to his stab wound with her trove of medicinal wares. I meanwhile made my way to the tubs where I had my first proper bath in far longer than I care to admit.

When I came back around to the storeroom, it was apparent that Father had done the same. Mother pawed at his wet hair, having just cut it a bit so it was more manageable. She moved onto his beard.

"And what of this?" she asked.

Eyes closed, he groaned and said simply, "All of it. Gone." When she gave the slightest noise of protestation, he looked up at her. "What?"

Standing behind him, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek against his. "I rather like it."

He snorted. "I'm quite through with things clinging to my face, thank you."

She leaned back, raising an eyebrow. "I thought marriage was about compromise."

"Fine," he finally relented. "But for God's sake, get rid of some of it."

She smiled and began her work. Then, in the way that all mothers seem to be able to do, she knew instantly where I stood peering at them from behind a case and said to me without looking up, "I see you over there." Finding me, she grinned. "You should rest."

I came out in my nightgown, my bare and slightly still wet feet slapping against the wood floor as I made my way over to them, pulling up a stool and sitting at their side. "How can I possibly sleep given all that's surpassed?" I asked.

"That's precisely why you should sleep," Father said slightly, trying to keep his jaw still.

This was so strange. I was so unaccustomed to having both of my parents in a singular setting. I still needed to get used to speaking with them both at once.

My eyes met Father's, and when they did I asked aloud, "What's next? I mean…besides sleep, that is?"

Mother, having completed the trim, put down her tools and sat on the arm of the chair Father was in and wrapped an arm around him as he sat straighter up. He looked to her, uncertain as to how to answer my question, so she replied, "Well…I believe the answer is 'anything.' For once there are no rules, no obligations, no curses. There is no plan. We just…live."


And that's when living started. Father and Will slept for, and I do not exaggerate here, over a day. When they did awaken, each respective family took things slowly, as the men were plagued with frequent headaches and mobility struggles. When things improved and Father's wound healed up, Mother and I took him to the town to show him the hub of the island. We took him on all the familiar roads and pathways and introduced him to the regular townsfolk. We paid respects to Grandfather at his grave. Nightly, we would dine either at the grand table at the top of the fortress or at the lighthouse with Will, Elizabeth, Henry, and Carina. We needed familiarity. We needed stability. Together, we found that solace.

Soon, regular island business was able to start again. Father, ever attracted to a sense of duty, began interrogating and observing Mother's business. He began helping us in the storeroom, meeting with our typical traders and learning the ins and outs our practices. He soon assumed control over the docks of the Cove, keeping inventory of all new supplies as well as being a liaison for incoming pirate vessels wishing to conduct business with Elizabeth. It was during one of these days he spent out at the docks that he came inside to where Mother and I were running the shop, a quizzical look on his face.

"What is it?" I asked.

With a slight movement of his head out the storeroom opening, he said, "We've got a couple in the harbor wishing to receive payment they are due."

Mother's and my eyes followed to where he was referring, seeing two heads bobbing in the water of the Cove. Phillip and Syrena. They had found us!

When we made our way to the edge of the dock where they had swam to meet us, I said with a smile, "You found us!"

"The storm moved us off course," Syrena replied solemnly. "We have come for your promise."

Philip, however, looked flummoxed. He stared at Mother, his eyes narrowed in recognition. "Madam Hexfury?" he asked, pulling the top half of his torso out of the water with his upper body strength.

"You know me?" Mother asked.

"I…yes!" he stammered. "It was many years ago now, you probably wouldn't recall. I was here," he said, motioning to the fortress. I sailed with Edward Teach. You had a son!"

Father and I both looked to Mother, whose face slowly melted into an awestruck smile. "The missionary," she murmured. Turning to me, she then instructed, "Anna, fetch the Turners." With a grin, she said, "I'd like to introduce them to the man who helped save Henry's life when he was just a boy."


Everyone was naturally curious to inquire after the mermaids, so retrieving the Turners was an easy task. They all immediately dropped everything they were doing to reconvene at the Cove. To protect against curious gazes from passersby, Father and Mother had discreetly guided Philip and Syrena from the harbor, provided them with clothing for after they transformed while on land, and guided them into the storeroom.

There, we met. Carina came as well, at Henry's insistence. While Mother was introducing Henry to the man who had helped convince Blackbeard and Angelica not to kill him the night they inquired after the Fountain of Youth, Carina took a seat next to me in the semi-circle we had formed around them.

"…I don't understand," she murmured to me. "These are the mermaids? Why do they appear human?"

"In air, their scales transform to flesh," I explained.

"Do you jest?" she asked incredulously. "Why, by that logic anyone could be a mermaid, just wandering about!"

I laughed. "You'd spot one instantly. They have little muscular abilities to walk. It takes a lot out of them to transition."

She furrowed her brow, her eyes still locked on them in distrust. "And…they…eat people?"

"Sometimes," I said. "They haven't the best reputation."

She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Right. Mermaids and krakens and ghosts. Anything else I should know about?"

"Zombies," I replied, deadpan.

Her striking eyes widened as she said, "Oh come now. Surely that's fiction."

"I wish it was," I chirped.

We stopped speaking here as Elizabeth began her formal questioning of the newcomers to Shipwreck. "Mr. Swift," she started, "We are obviously indebted to you and your companion on several accounts. Not only for the rescue of my son all those years ago, but again for the sake of the Norringtons. What is it you seek here?"

Philip opened his mouth to speak, but Syrena cut him off. "I do not understand." Her black eyes darted between me and my father. "The bargain was to make counsel with Calypso. Where is she?"

Hesitantly, Mother slightly raised her hand. "I'm afraid that would be me," she began. "Though I am afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you. I am no longer privy to the powers Calypso once imbued me with."

Syrena exchanged a confused glance with Philip. "I do not understand."

"When Calypso was once again reunited with the sea," she explained, "She charged me with some of her powers as not to be bound again by any other being for the rest of time. She confined herself to the Locker, while I went in her stead in this realm."

"Carina and I together broke all curses at sea," Henry chimed in. "I did it to free Mr. Norrington and my father," he said, motioning both them both.

"Aye," Will corroborated. "And now the Locker is closed to man forever. Calypso has been restored to all seas in all realms, and Rose no longer contains her powers."

"That explains it," Philip muttered to Syrena.

"Explains what?" I asked.

But my query went unanswered, as Syrena angrily spat, "So there is no Calypso?"

"There is," Mother replied stoically, "But she isn't here."

"Lies!" hissed Syrena, glaring at me. "You promised us!" My blood ran cold at the impact of her fury that was only directed at me.

"Excuse me," Father retorted, leaning towards her. "As I recall we promised you counsel with Calypso, and at the time my wife was Calypso! You are getting your proper counsel now, are you not? So watch your tongue as you so freely hurl insults at my daughter."

"Apologies, sir, miss," Philip hastily apologized to us both. "You have to excuse us. We are exceedingly desperate and very tired from our journey." He glared at Syrena, and through gritted teeth, hissed at her, "Aren't we?" to which she only shrugged him off.

"Calypso is irrelevant now," Elizabeth said, maintaining her poise. "You have traveled a long way from White Cap Bay, and you shall be heard here today. You still haven't answered my question, however: What is it you seek here?"

"Madam," Philip implored, "We seek only sanctuary for our kind. White Cap Bay is uninhabitable. We are starving and being hunted. All we ask is a place of refuge."

"For you both?" Elizabeth asked. "Consider it done. The aid you have provided my family has earned you a place in my waters," she promised.

The mermaids exchanged a hesitant glance. Syrena then said, "I am afraid this is not good enough."

"Not good enough?" asked Will. "My wife offers you the very thing you request and you say it's not good enough?"

"Our kind is dying," she emphasized. "We seek refuge for us all."

I knew what Elizabeth would say to this before the words even came out of her mouth: "Out of the question."

"Now hold on a moment, Mother," Henry protested. "You just said they have proven themselves trustworthy. Why can't we offer them a place here? We have an abundant reef surrounding the island. It's a paradise for their kind!"

"It is an exceedingly beautiful habitat," Philip agreed. "We would happily accept should the offer be so graciously awarded us."

Elizabeth held up a hand to silence him. To her son, she explained, "They are but two. I cannot subject the people I protect to possible attack by a species that feeds on our kind by nature." She then looked to Father with a knowing glance, saying something that he must have said to her in their past, for he gave a slight nod in acknowledgement: "One good deed does not account for a lifetime of villainy."

"I side with Henry on this," Mother said to her friend. "What if we could mutually benefit from this partnership?" She then asked the mermaids, "How many of your kind are there?"

The two looked uncertain. "It's difficult to say," Philip asked. "It depends upon how many would be willing to migrate with us. On the whole I would estimate…a dozen? Two?"

"And your food source?" asked Will.

"Fish, I promise you," insisted Philip. "I was once a man as you are. I wouldn't dream of—"

"You wouldn't dream," said Elizabeth. "Would the others? The natural born mermaids?"

Here, Syrena spoke up, taking Philip's hand in hers. "They would look to our example," she said. "We cannot prove this to you unless you give us the chance."

Then, silence. We all waited for Elizabeth's judgement, and it was clear her mind was racing with various possibilities. Finally, she said, "Alright. I propose that you both go from here. Return to your family, search the waters for as many as will willingly join your migration. Gather your forces and return here. I must ask you to prove your loyalty to my kind, understood? As a collective unit, prove to us that you will live in harmony with the Cove, and not in adversity. Only then will you be permitted to stay."

"Yes!" Philip nearly shouted, overjoyed at the mere chance to prove his people worthy. "Your majesty, Madam Hexfury, all of you, we will do as you ask. And I assure, you, you will not regret your partnership with us. You may very well need our aid."

"What do you mean?" Mother asked warily.

The mermaids shared another dark glance, then Syrena said, "The seas are unsteady. Ever since the end of all curses. Something evil is in these waters."

"Aye," continued Philip. "We cannot be sure of what it all means, but we can sense it. And if there is a fight, you can rely on us to be at your side. This we vow."

A fight. Unsteady seas. No, this couldn't be true. We were safe from all dangers, all curses. Life was finally restored to normal once more. All of us were on edge by their concerning comments, but none looked so impacted as Will, his face pale and jaw tight.

The invitation was extended for the two mermaids to stay and rest for the night, but almost as soon as they came, they were off again, insisting that there was no time to spare: every second that passed more time their species was endangered. There was a long journey ahead of them, and they didn't dare waste another moment.

Together, they dove back into the harbor, where I instructed that Carina watch them carefully to catch the slightest glimpse of their legs transforming back into tails as they disappeared. Once they did, I looked to her for some sort of reaction, but she only asked aloud, "Mrs. Norrington?"

My mother, amused at Carina's formal reference, replied with a slight hum.

"I've heard lore that you have a collection of books about the mystical and unexplainable?"

"That I do."

"I'm afraid I'm going to need to thoroughly acquaint myself with them. If the past month has taught me anything, it is that there is much I have to learn about these matters if I am to stay on this island."


A few days after the visit of the mermaids, we received a call from Pintel and Ragetti at one of our nightly dinners at the lighthouse with the Turners. The two ruffians had successfully stolen all of the wares paid to their crew from the Dutchman and had staked out in the lush foliage of Shipwreck while their crew angrily searched for them, failed, and bitterly took their ship and made off for new plunders.

"It was a reverse mutiny, it was!" Ragetti laughed merrily.

Pintel grunted, "A self mutiny, more like!" They both uninvitedly pulled up a place at our table and began to feast on the food we had prepared for ourselves, much to our bewildered amusement. "SO!" Pintel cried, mouth full of turkey. "What be it, then?" He pointed a grubby finger between Will and my father. "Which one of you's be the captain then?"

The two men were uncertain of how to respond…the Dutchman was anchored in the Cove, dilapidated and in desperate need of repair. Will had wanted her saved, but nothing had been done with her since that day we fished her from the depths. So who was the captain now?

Will, to our shock, immediately shrugged off the title. "She's not mine anymore," he deflected.

Father was understandably taken aback at this. "She's not mine," he countered.

Will gave a small smile. "She would have been."

It was true—originally, when eternity seemed like a promise, Will had arranged for Father to take command of the Dutchman the moment Elizabeth died so that husband and wife would be reunited in the afterlife. "Things are different now," Father said, shaking his head.

Pintel cleared his throat. "Um…might I er…possibly put forward—"

"NO," we all cried in unison, circumventing his obvious plan to take the ship for himself.

"Fine then," he grumbled, returning to his turkey leg demurely.

"This does raise an interesting query," Henry said. "What are our plans for future voyaging?"

The silence from our elders that followed provided his answer. Neither Father nor Will had any ambition to return to the sea anytime soon, nor did their wives wish to put them back in that danger.

"I…I know it's not my place," Carina suggested, "And do forgive me, as I know little about ships, but what would be the harm in making repairs? That way we could make sail if we so wished, or worst case sell the vessel off."

This was an attractive alternative, and we all instantly recognized its brilliance. "Indeed," mused Father. "I think that would be a suitable course of action. Captain?" he said, turning to Will, an eyebrow raised in silent defiance. He wasn't going to let Will give up his command that easily.

Will sighed, finally giving in. "Alright," he conceded. "Pintel, Ragetti, gather a crew and acquaint yourself with the town. Start repairs on the Dutchman. Inform me of all relevant costs and I will arrange payment."

They overall looked pleased at this, but Pintel, ever the entrepreneur, wasn't going to stop there. "And what about our payment?" he pressed. "What do we get in return?"

"Clemency," replied Elizabeth swiftly. "You owe it to my family. Don't you, poppet?" she remarked.

Begrudgingly, they agreed to the terms, and Will kicked them out before they were able to nab yet more food from us. Though this was an elegant solution, when it was back to just our families once more, Will instantly guided conversation around what had just happened. No more talk was given to discussions to the Dutchman or of our future. It was clearly a topic he aimed to avoid entirely.

Dinner completed, we each broke off into various parts of the house. For awhile, I wrote in my diary on my own at the deserted table. Mother and Elizabeth were off in the parlor, but the rest were nowhere to be found. Once I had finished, I stood and went to look to see where they had all gone, but stopped at a window. There, I saw Carina sitting on the cliffside alone, her knees drawn into her chest as she gazed directly upward into the night sky. I watched her for a moment, but she was fixated, completely unaffected by the winds whipping around her forcefully.

I jumped when I felt something push me from behind with a shout. "GAH!" I cried, to which Henry only laughed. "Henry!" I whined. "Stop that!"

"You make it too easy, Norrington," he teased. He then stood at my side and propped his elbow on my shoulder, following my gaze to Carina. "She's really something, isn't she?"

I felt a bit uncomfortable at this. Clearing my throat, I stammered, "I mean well…yes, I suppose." Then after a moment, I asked, "So, you two...?"

"Aye," he said with a smile, his gaze fixated on her still. "Who would have thought; I set out to find my father, and I restore him and find love all at once."

I let out a guffaw. "Love. That's mighty strong, isn't it?"

"What else is it?" he asked, looking down at me with a frown.

"Well, I mean…isn't this all a bit sudden? You only just met her. And she freshly lost her father, her home…"

"What would that matter? We're her family now. We're her home. And speaking of," he said to me, giving a slight nudge, "I'd love it if the two of you spent more time together. She's been keeping to herself quite a bit. It would help her assimilate I think to have a friend her own gender and age. You suit the bill, eh? What do you say?"

"Well," I stammered again, "I mean of course. If she wants me around, I mean."

"Just try," he said. "She just needs to feel at home here and not spend so much time apart from us."

I motioned towards where she was outside. "But…isn't she alone now? Why don't you go out and keep her company?"

"Why don't you?" he retorted, providing me with little to answer. If he claimed to "love" her, why wouldn't he be at her side? But, he did have a point—why didn't I? He nudged me out the door, where I marched along the bluff towards her. In her lap was a small notebook that I instantly recognized as the "Map No Man Could Read," Galileo's diary, with his charting notes and hers bound into a single, collective volume.

"Mind if I sit?" I asked, breaking her focus.

"Not at all," she replied with a smile.

Nervously, I sat. I didn't quite know how to begin… St. Martin? Might render homesickness. Barbossa? Absolutely not. Remarks about the weather? Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stu—

"Andromeda," she said, breaking the silence.

"What?"

She pointed to the northwest. "That constellation right there. That's Andromeda. See that bright star? That's the primary one, and the one below it, and the next, and the next…" In the air, her extended forefinger traced a pattern in the night sky until I found its completed shape.

"Ah, that makes sense," I said. "It's like her chains."

"How do you mean?"

"Do you not know the myth?" I asked. She only shook her head. Excited, I said, "It's a fantastic myth straight from ancient Greece! I can't believe you've never heard it! Andromeda was a beautiful princess from Ethiopia. Her mother, Cassiopeia—"

Carina interrupted, "She's right there! Cassiopeia! See that 'W' formation?"

Sure enough, there it was, a distinct 'W' in the sky. "Yes!" I cried. "Well, Cassiopeia insisted that Andromeda was the most beautiful creature in the world. As punishment for her boastfulness, Poseidon ordered the sea monster Cetus to attack her land."

"Mm, yes our good friend Poseidon," mused Carina with a sideways grin. "Father of Calypso, owner of that blasted trident. So since they're supposedly real, let me guess…this Cetus fellow is what, a good friend of your family? Neighbor? Uncle?"

I giggled. "Not that I know of, but there are no promises with this family." I continued my tale. "The only way to save his people, Andromeda's father was told, was to chain her to a rock and sacrifice her. But the warrior Perseus circumvented the attack, saved her and they wed. Together, they had nine children."

"My," Carina said, raising her eyebrows. "That's ambitious."

"Quite. Poseidon wasn't finished, however. To punish Cassiopeia, he chained her to a chair in the stars."

She squinted at the 'W.' "I can see that," she said. "Interesting. So you know quite a lot about these sorts of things, do you?"

"What can I say," I said with a shrug. "When you're raised by someone like my mother, you don't have a choice."

At the mention of her, Carina drew into herself slightly. "Rumor has it my mother came from here. Is that true?"

My blood ran cold. "My god, I am so sorry, Carina. I shouldn't have—"

"No," she said, closing the diary. "I just…I know a bit about how I got to St. Martin. Your mother told me how my father came upon this very book. We can assume that he found me here and left for St. Martin based on her details. Your uncle, meanwhile, told me that Barbossa told him that my mother died in childbirth." She looked at me earnestly, "Do you reckon that was true? I don't have the courage to go inquiring."

"I know not," I said. "We don't even know her name—"

"Margaret Smyth," she replied. "Supposedly."

"Ah," I said, uncertain of how next to proceed. "Well…perhaps we can find out together. You've been to the town, but have you spoken with anyone?"

"Not particularly."

I sat straighter, excited. "Then let's go together, then!" I cried. "Perhaps we can find out the truth between the two of us. The townsfolk know me well. I can introduce you and together we'll seek out answers!"

"I'd like that," she said with a smile. She turned her eyes one more time to Cassiopeia's place in the sky. "I'd like my mother to be more than just this…myth in my mind."

After a moment, she once again returned back to the present and suggested we go back inside the lighthouse. She went on ahead of me, and I would have followed along behind her if I didn't hear something odd coming from the other side of the lighthouse. Gingerly, I tiptoed along the side of the building, sneaking around the corner. There in the shadows, Father and Will were talking in hushed voices. Stealthy as I was, Father instantly saw me, and quickly sat up and gave a small nod in my direction, causing Will to stop talking.

"Something wrong?" Will asked.

"No, I'm sorry," I apologized. "I just heard something out here and wanted to investigate."

They just straightened up and began to walk towards me. Father gave me a pat on the back as they passed, walking back towards the door to the house.

"Oh, don't let me interrupt!" I insisted, inwardly regretting that I had been seen.

"Not at all," Will said. "It was time we were heading back anyways."

Will then entered, to which I turned to my father. "Everything alright?" I asked, my brow furrowed in concern.

"Absolutely," he said simply. "No cause for alarm," and with that he entered as well, leaving me alone, my thoughts whirring in my head. Something was amiss. That conversation seemed too hushed, too secretive, and their response too oddly nonchalant.

...were we truly free?