London, England.

December 25, 1499

"Happy Christmas, Miguel!" Gabriella sang, shaking her brother out of bed.

"Gabby, it's the middle of the night! You'll wake up Mr. Worsley!"

It had been nearly three months since their mother had died, and two weeks after that; they were taken to London and put in an orphanage. It was owned by Mr. Archimedes Worsley, the most miserable and cruelest man they had ever seen. He would beat any child who dared to even cross him when he was drunk, and sometimes the children would go days without eating. He turned his own children into his own spies, making them rat on anyone, whether they'd be sneaking food or trying to escape. Mr. Worsley adored them, and they were so spoiled that no one would really care if they would just fall over and die.

The only comfort the children had there was Mr. Worsley's wife, Lily. She was very young, probably no more than twenty. She would help the children when they were beaten and would sometimes sneak them a little food. But her husband, even her own children, too controlled her. One time, in a drunken rage, he pushed her down a flight of stairs, breaking her leg. Ever since she always walked with a hobble. She was still very pretty, with curly red hair that went down her back and soft brown eyes. She was slender and wore simple cotton dresses and a blue ribbon in her hair. Miguel and Gabriella loved her. She was the closest thing to a mother they had left.

"But Miguel! I got you a present!" the little girl squealed delightfully.

"What?" Miguel asked, suddenly becoming interested. "Where? How?"

Gabriella held out her hand and in it was a gold compass. "Isn't it pretty Miguel?"

Miguel looked closer at it, and realized it wasn't an ordinary compass. "Where did you get this?!" he hissed.

"In Mr. Worsley's drawer!" she replied happily.

"OH NO!!" Miguel yelled, and left out of bed, heading for the door. "Don't you know that he is going to-" But as he reached the door, it opened quickly and smacked him dead in the face. The compass in his hand was knocked out of his hand and went spiraling on the floor.

In the doorway was Mr. Worsley. He was a very fat and strong man, with a thick beard and bald head. He was probably in his fifty's, but that didn't make him any less powerful. "So, ittle Miguew?" he said with a deep cockney accent. "You sto me prized compass, eh?" He was less than an inch away from Miguel's face. His breath smelled of sour gin.

Miguel looked at his sister, who had pure terror on her face. He couldn't rat on her. This monster of a man could rip her in half. With a long, painful sigh, he whispered, shaking, "Yes sir."

The huge man chuckled, nearly choking Miguel with his breath. "Welw, we ave punishments fo ittle boys oo steal now, don't we?" And with that, he dragged Miguel by his arm into the next room.

* * * * * *

"Hold still now Miguel, I'm almost done." Lily was just about putting the hot rags on Miguel's welted back. The rags stung violently on his skin and he had to bite into his pillow to stop from screaming. "There now. All done." She said happily, trying to sound cheerful to comfort him.

Tears flowed down his cheeks, which didn't do any good for his black, swollen eyes. "This is too much. I didn't steal it, Gabby did. But I couldn't let him get his bloody hands on her... I swear, if we live here anymore, we are going to die..."

"Oh, Miguel. Don't cry." Lily said soothingly. Miguel buried his face in the pillow

and began muttering.

"She should have known better... It was a horrible job... It's all her fault."

"All whose fault?" she asked.

"Mother's!" he sobbed back.

Lily suddenly had sympathy for the little boy with a heart full of pain, something little boys shouldn't have.

She put her hand on his head.

"Now Miguel. It's not your fault and it's not your mother's fault. It was... just her time to go. For you see... God has a plan for all of us. He decides when we are born and when we die. Now, sometimes we die when others aren't ready for them to, like you and your mother. But maybe God is planning on doing something extra special for you. He left you alone to care for your sister and to protect her from harm, like you did just now. Your life will continue and so will hers, but soon they will end too... We are all part of a story that is written by God himself, which always lives, for each of our lives is what

makes it exciting or dangerous. Your mother's chapter in the story is over, but yours is just beginning."

Miguel had never thought about it like that. "But I still miss her so much."

"Well of course you do. And you always will. But she will always be with you in your heart. Love is all that matters. Love is what makes the story a happy one." She kissed Miguel's head tenderly, and then whispered: "Now let's get you and your sister out of here."

* * * * * *

Lily, Miguel and Gabriella had reached the docks. In front of them was a large ship. It was the biggest that Miguel had ever seen.

"Miguel!" Lily broke off Miguel's wonderment.

"Yes ma'am?"

"Do you speak any Spanish?"

"Yes ma'am. My father was a Spaniard."

Lily smiled. "Good. This ship will sail to Santander. I am giving these gold doubloons." She handed Miguel a hefty sack of gold. "That should last until you get a job. Now, I have signed you on as a boatswain. You must do everything that the captain says and no arguing with anyone. These men can slit your throat in two seconds flat. Listen to my words and you'll do fine. Understand?"

Miguel smiled and hugged her tightly. "I wish you to all the best." she said, and gave both of them a kiss on the forehead.

"Maybe we'll see each other again?" Gabriella said with a smile.

"I hope so." Lily replied. With a final smile and a good bye, Miguel and Gabriella walked onto the ship, ready to start a new life in Spain. Lily looked on tearfully as the boat finally disappeared into the horizon. "May God protect you both."