Ch.30 The Letter

BANG! BANG! Went her dream. Blood and screaming and pain. Her parents lying on the floor...

Josephine woke with a scream. She gasped and caught her breath. She looked around her. Her cabin was the best on the ship; her revenge as sweet as it could get, but her dreams were the worst in the world.

Josephine leaned back. A couple minutes later, after failing to fall asleep again, she sighed and got up. She dressed herself and brushed through her amber hair. She looked at her reflection in the mirror in the cabin.

She looked like she had seen a ghost. "Which in reality," she thought wryly, "I have."

I am not afraid of my dreams, she thought. Yet, from them I get this sense of danger still ahead.

"Stop being silly, Josephine," she told herself, "He killed your parents; he destroyed your life. He deserves what he is about to get."

She brushed her hand against the mirror, and then put it face down on the table. She walked up on deck and was greeted by the pre-dawn wind. It rustled her dress and blew her hair into her face. She raised her hand and put her hair behind her ear. She walked up to the stern of the ship, and sat there with her eyes glued to the horizon. The sun began to peek up and the ocean reflected its pink and orange light.

Abruptly, she felt cold as if a shadow had fallen on her. She turned and saw Barbosa standing just a little ways behind her.

"Good Morning, Miss Turner."

"And to you, Captain Barbosa," Josephine greeted him without a smile.

"Why up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep," Josephine replied indifferently turning her gaze back to the rising sun.

"Ah," he replied, "That happens to the lot of us once in a while."

"Indeed it does," Josephine replied.

Will awoke early the following morning and went to his shop, wanting to get a good start on his work for the day. He placed a bent sword in the furnace and watched till it glowed crocus yellow...

Elizabeth woke about mid-morning. She got up, bathed, got dressed, and ate breakfast.

"I still haven't seen Josephine today," She said. "I'll go get her up."

She walked up the stairs to Josephine's room and knocked on the door.

"Josephine?" she called as she pushed open the door.

"O...my ..." she said at the sight that greeted her eyes. The room was a mess- the trunks were thrown open, and had clothes sticking out randomly. Elizabeth's eyes went over to the bed. It was neat and untouched, and on top of it was....something... she couldn't quite see it.

Elizabeth walked over and picked it up. It was a note from Josephine. Elizabeth opened it and read. "O God," she said, her eyes frantic. She turned and hurried out of the room. She had to tell Will.

Will sighed. He had just finished his repair work. He stoked the fire to get it hotter. He heard someone open the shop door.

With his back turned he called, "If you have work, put it over there," he said pointing vaguely with his hand at a corner of the shop. "I'll get to it as soon as possible."

He turned and caught sight of Elizabeth, just standing there and looking sorrowfully at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

She didn't reply.

He caught her in his arms. "What's wrong?" he asked more gently.

Elizabeth looked at him and then pushed a paper into his hand.

He took it and opened it. He read:

"Dear Will,

Please don't worry about me. I have gone, probably for good, though I regret not being able to see you again. But it's better if I don't come back. None of my leaving is your fault, so please don't blame yourself. I left because of an opportunity. I have a chance for revenge on Jack for what he did to me, and I plan to use it. I am traveling with a man who calls himself 'Captain Barbosa.' He is my partner in this quest, but I don't entirely trust him. I am on my guard. Don't come looking for me, please; I can help myself. Look after Elizabeth; you two are a beautiful couple. Farewell.

Josephine"