Two words: Please review! L.V.B.

Chapter 3: The U n f o r t u n a t e Age

Klaus woke the next morning to find his forehead pressed into the typewriter's keyboard and figured he must have fallen asleep the night before while he was writing. An odd assortment of random letters had been typed on the paper. He guessed it must have happened when his head hit the keys.

He looked up and paused as he stared at the calendar. Sunny would have turned 13 that day. He sighed and hoped they would all be able to celebrate her birthday in the near future.

Klaus adjusted his glasses and rubbed his aching forehead thoughtfully. He had been trying to plan out the journey ahead of him. First he would go back to Briny Beach. He had only been there three times since the fire. The last time had to have been 10 years ago. It was always warmer near the ocean, so he would only need to bring a light coat now that it was winter. Then he would go down to Daedalus Dock to check with the crew of The Prospero and find out if they had seen anything.

Klaus quickly pulled on some fresh clothes and grabbed his jacket. He felt more confident and determined as he walked out the door of his small apartment. There was business to attend to.

The beach was exactly as he remembered it. The air was moist and had a salty taste to it. Clouds made the sky gray and blocked out the sun you would have expected to find at a beach. Klaus and his sisters used to like going to the beach on days like this, when tourists stayed home and crowds avoided the outdoors, leaving the beach almost completely empty. It occurred to Klaus that he had never been to Briny Beach on a warm sunny day most people would have gone on. But, of course, that's what Klaus had learned represented this beach. Darkness and coldness. He didn't see it as an enjoyable place.

Klaus sighed deeply and slowly trailed the shoreline, letting the waves spill over his boots. He bent down, picked up a smooth rock and tried to skip it on the water's surface. The tide was too strong. The waves just pushed it back towards him.

Klaus tilted his head to the side as he stared at the rock. They had much in common, in this case, he thought. Trying to get somewhere but constantly being pushed back, for one reason or another.

Klaus kept walking.

"I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you children."

Klaus jumped and whirled around. Before him was a mysterious figure emerging from the fog.

"Mr. Poe?"

"Your parents have perished in a terrible fire."

Klaus's heart did a flip-flop. He was reliving the moment.

His eye twitched.

"They perished in a fire that destroyed the entire house. I'm very, very sorry to tell you this my dears."

Klaus continued to stare.

"'Perished' means 'killed,'" Mr. Poe explained.

"I know what perished means," Klaus mumbled.

He kicked sand at the figure and turned around when it disappeared. He glared at the sea foam as he walked. He couldn't stand being here any longer.

Klaus headed back towards the road to hail a taxi that would take him to Daedalus Dock.

The dock was much more crowded than Briny Beach, and, even after the years, he still felt a bit paranoid in crowds. He was afraid someone would suddenly point at him and say, "Look! It's one of those Baudelaires! Arrest him!" although Klaus had tried to convince himself that it should never happen. Tourists were leaving to get home for Christmas, while some local residents were leaving to visit relatives for the holidays.

Klaus paused and tried to remember last year's Christmas. Nothing special, he recalled, as usual. He and Isadora met at the Diner and exchanged gifts. Klaus had gotten her a book on the life of William Blake, although he was beginning to doubt whether or not Isadora could have already recited it from memory, despite how grateful she seemed.

Isadora bought him the typewriter.

Klaus regretted giving that book to her. He should have gotten something more special, seeing how expensive the typewriter must have been. A necklace this year, Klaus thought. Girls like jewelry right?

He was torn from his musing when someone almost knocked him over as he shoved past him. When Klaus looked up, he noticed everyone was heading back his way, away from the dock. He tried to push his way against the flow, and maybe he would be able to figure out why everyone was complaining and sounded annoyed as he overheard people speaking. Klaus finally made his way to the front, and saw that the ship was gone. He glanced down at his watch. Ahead of schedule...

Klaus froze. He remembered now. This was The Prospero.

"Every ship has its own schedule."

There had to have been a Volunteer in need of a quick ride out of the country. That was the only explanation. But how could it be? V.F.D. hadn't been active since Klaus was a boy. There were no more Volunteers.

Unless...

In the confusion, Klaus hadn't noticed another figure rushing against the crowd to get to the dock. He saw her now, a girl of about 14 years of age. She was clutching a small valise, and she looked very worried. And she apparently didn't stop running in time and almost fell off the edge of the dock, but Klaus caught her arm and helped her regain her balance.

She pulled her arm out of his grasp but continued to stare after the boat. Tears were forming in the girl's eyes as she whimpered, "No. Come back..."

Klaus observed her carefully. "You need any help? Are you lost?"

"No, I'm fine. Just missed my boat," she said in a quiet voice, still refusing to make eye contact. She clutched her suitcase close to her and nervously bit her lower lip.

There was something in the girl that seemed familiar. She looked so lost and confused, and her eyes were dark and lonesome.

"Where are your parents, kid?" Klaus asked gently.

She stopped searching for any sign of the ship returning and looked down into the water. "They're dead."

Klaus realized why he thought he had seen her before. The girl was tall and thin, and her dark hair was short and tied back in a ribbon. He then began to wonder if she was really there or he was just seeing another memory of Violet.

But there was something different about her. Her face was slightly rounder and freckles dotted her face. Violet's hair was darker and not as wavy.

Something clicked in Klaus's mind.

"How old are you?" he asked slowly.

The girl glanced at him but quickly looked back down at the ocean. Klaus could tell she was getting suspicious. "Why do you want to know?"

"Sorry. Just curious." He paused. "I missed the ship too. I've really been wanting to get out of the city. It's too loud here. I was hoping to spend the holidays out in the country. Where the world is quiet," Klaus said carefully.

There was a slight response from her. She looked up out over the ocean, to where The Prospero was turning into a tiny dot on the horizon. After a long silence, she frowned and tears began to pool in her eyes once more. "I turn 13 today," she said quietly.

Klaus's eyes widened, but he tried not to show any surprise. He looked back at the departed ship. "Thirteen, huh?" he said casually. "Some people call that the 'Unfortunate Age.'"

"Well, they were right."

Again, a hint of Violet in her voice.

"What's your name?" Klaus asked her.

She didn't answer. Klaus didn't expect one.

"I knew Violet," he said, hoping to trigger some response.

Her eyes widened. But still, she said nothing.

After waiting a few quiet moments, he turned and started to walk away. The girl suddenly whirled around and called after him.

"Wait!" she shouted.

Klaus turned and waited.

She blinked a couple times before replying, debating whether or not she was doing the smart thing.

"Sunny," she said. "My name's Sunny."

Klaus swallowed and it was all he could do to stop himself from bursting into cheers or bursting into tears at hearing the name.

"Sunny," he said.

"Yep."

Klaus took a deep breath. She obviously didn't recognize him. She was too little the last time she had seen him. Violet might be different. She was older. She might remember.

If she wasn't trying to forget.

"Where's your sister, Sunny?" Klaus asked, struggling to maintain his calmness.

Sunny looked back over the water's surface and, staring after the ship, uttered only two words.

"The Prospero."