BLACK BUTTERFLY
Rated:
R- just to be safe and all.
Chapter 7
The stench of the crew quarters slapped her in the face, making her gag as she disappeared down the stairs. The decay - the filth - the rotten corpse like smell, seemed somewhat unbearable to her nose. If it wasn't for the old man holding her steadily, she would have collapsed yet again.
Fly's swarmed around a soiled object that represented a table. All the muck and clay like filth that appeared to be on it, made it seem obscene. The beds, which consisted of sheets hung between each poll and swung from side to side, appeared ridiculously filled with objects that were considered in normal respectable society, as trash. The kitchen oven, benches, and sinks were stacked with soiled plates, rotten and burnt food, as well as – no – could it be- the most grotesque of all- human excretion!
She gagged again at the sight of it, only this time her body could no longer contain the vomit. Her body lurched as bile rose up her throat to hit her tightly clenched mouth, which was blocking its release. Second passed before the acid taste of vomit could no longer be bearable and contained. Roughly she pushed the old man away, collapsed onto her knees and released the vomit.
"There, there de'r," Mr. Smee spoke gently as he took a hold of her hair and held it back off her face. "Best let i' out."
Jasmine stayed in the crouched position, gagging continuously even though her stomach had nothing more to give. A dangerous cough which almost chocked her erupted through her system, causing Mr. Smee to flinch and his eyes to narrow in sympathy.
"I can't…." she sobbed, "I can't take this anymore….."
"Don't cry dear. The capt'n isn't really mad at ya…..His just suffering a nasty shock at yer identiy." He pulled out a clean handkerchief from his pocket and gently began to dab away the remains of bile that coated her mouth. "Who 'ere to thi'k dat Peter Pan had a relative…. he was said to 'ave been indestructible for such a long time. The Capt'ns a bit hurt that's all."
"That man….is a beast!" Jasmine spat through her sobs. She gently took the handkerchief from out of his arms and finished cleaning herself up. "I have never seen such a selfish and rude man in my life. What does he want with me Mr. Smee? I…I…" she stuttered as she slowly stood herself up on her feet. "I've done nothing to him."
Her legs still felt unstable. They were quivering with exhauster. "What does he want with me?" she whispered as she tried to take a step away from the old man, only to lose her balance and fall to the ground once more.
A loud moan of frustration passed through her lips as her hands bailed into fist and slammed into the floor boards. Her body began to shake dramatically as her sobs evolved themselves into harsher ones, revealing her true identity of anguish. She simply could not take it anymore. Her mental satiability was shutting itself down.
"He jus' wants hes question's answered. That's all miss. Gicve 'im some time. He is nicer then what he was like today. Capt'n hasn't slept well for a long time. Ever since the alligator…" Mr. Smee spoke as he bent down and gently scooped the girl into his arms. He continued talking to her as he carried her to the very end door of the cellar.
Knowing very well that it was considered improper for a man to hold a lady in such a manner, Jasmine pushed aside society's regulations due to her weakened state and allowed the man to help her. God bless him for his kind heart, she thought as she used the back of her hand to wipe away the remaining tears from her eyes.
Finally they arrived to the end door. Gently setting her down onto her feet he asked her if she felt stable enough to stand alone while he opened the door. When she nodded her head in understanding and lent up against the wall beside the door, he pulled out the chain of keys once more- found what he was looking for- and opened the door.
The room, though stranger it may sound was far cleaner and neater than the crew members quarters. It contained a small bed made out of hay and a wooden chair in the other quarter. The only light that could be found in the room came from the door Smee had just opened or from a candle. Other than that it was pitch black.
Gently, he placed his arm around her for support and helped her into the room before setting her down on the bed. She flinched a bit at the stiffness of the hay stack, but remained quite.
"Now I better get back to the Capt'n. Other wise he'll 'ave me neck." He turned to leave, but stop at her sudden powerless remark.
Her voice sounded desperate and full of fear as she spoke to him. "Don't leave me in the dark…"
"I will 'ave to talk ta the Capt'n if yer want a light. He'll 'ave me neck if I give you one without 'is permissi'n."
"Please….Mr Smee I beg you. I am frightened of the dark." She whispered as she drew her legs closer to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Her body had curled itself into a small ball and had begun to tremble slightly.
"I'm sorry Miss…" Mr Smee whispered quietly as he turned around and shut the door slowly behind him.
Jasmines heart began to accelerate as she helplessly watched the light from the door ever so slowly disappear. Whimpers began to leave her mouth as the light narrowed itself down to an inch before finally fading.
A moment went by, where a deathly silence filled the room. Mr. Smee hesitated near the door when he heard a frightful cry tear from the girl's lips, before heavy sobbing echoed throughout the crew quarters.
Swallowing the lump of guilt, he forced himself to move away from the child's whimpering sounds and back to his captain. Each step that he took away from the door, the louder her sobs became. Mentally he prayed that the captain would have the heart to take her back in his quarters after he told him of her fears. Perhaps if her apologized for the girl's behalf and made out her reactions to be a consequence of her fever, that maybe- just maybe, he would let her come back.
For the child's sake, he hoped he was right.
