Note: This is a rather short chapter, but, it's more of just introducing a bit more of certain characters' personalities, as you will soon see. The next chapters will likely be very long. So be warned.. he he.
"Alia! Lo-Look what I found!"
Danny came bursting onto the deck from below, holding a large crate in his arms. Alia came over, peering into it, smirking.
"Rum?"
"No, rum!"
Rolling her eyes as Daniel popped the cork on one of them, she turned and went to the front of the ship, staring out over the ocean. The waves were rather gentle that night, reflecting the moon with a soft neon glow.
It was, for the most part, silent, Anamaria likely asleep somewhere below deck, Daniel busying himself with 'making sure the rum was safe'. The footsteps behind her already registered in her mind as those of Jack. Alia glanced around at him, seeing him just standing there, his hands casually behind his back.
"So… you're really dyin'?" He asked, unable to hide the slight concern in his voice, if that was even possible. Alia stared at him for a moment, and then spoke in a soft tone.
"Yes. Shocking isn't it?"
"A little." He said almost breathlessly, walking forward as to stand beside her. Alia sighed softly, not quite sure what to say. By the hesitance showing of Jack's face, this alone must have been hard for him to do.
"Hopefully we'll be able to find the necklace… soon." Alia said sadly, her eyes gazing longingly at the horizon. Jack opened his mouth as if about to speak, though decided against it. Daniel decided to come forward at this point, surprisingly not holding a bottle of rum in his hand. His dark eyes darting to the young man, he couldn't hold back his scowl as he left the two alone.
"Wow… you didn't strangle him?" Daniel asked sarcastically, once Jack was out of earshot. Alia laughed, looking over at him, her gaze meeting his. Daniel stared down at her with a rare, caring expression, only softly smiling.
"You're... beautiful."
Alia couldn't help but smile,in her mind trying to figure out whether the rum was getting to him. His hand slowly moved to stroke her cheek, gently pulling her closer to him. Their faces were mere millimeters apart when a sudden gunshot rang out, and Daniel gasped to find a tear in his shirtsleeve where the bullet had snipped it as it whizzed by.
Jack chuckled, smiling sarcastically from his seat in the darkness.
"Sorry, mate. Slipped."
