2: The Night Before
Sorry I haven't written in a while—been wicked busy with school and whatnot. I'll hopefully be updating this story more frequently!
We headed back to my aunt's house from downtown as the sun began to set over the blue ocean before us. Each of us was exceptionally quiet, not really knowing how to feel or what to think. It was such a bizarre feeling, having nostalgic feelings and memories about this place 312 years before, and walking down the somewhat exact streets 312 years later. I could feel their pain: the pain of knowing that their world does not fully exist in my own and the pain of knowing how it was all destroyed.
We arrived at my aunt's house, to my surprise, no body was home. I ran up to my room in the west wing of the home and fixed everything as it was before we arrived.
"If they come home, I don't want them knowing we were here," I say as I fix the room up.
"Well where are we going to stay this evening?" Elizabeth asks as she walks out to the balcony.
"We'll hang outside on the beach until they get home and go to sleep. Once I know everyone is sleeping we can come back in here," I reply, joining them all on the balcony. The sun was setting brilliantly over the ocean in front of us. It turned the sky into a magnificent montage of colors: reds, oranges, purples and pinks. As we all stared in awe at the sunset, I heard some banging from below.
"Shit! They're home!" I exclaim. "Quick! Get down to the beach," I say as I run through my room one last time before descending. I finally head back out to the balcony and make sure to leave the windows open and commence to climb down the side of the house.
Once on the beach, we remain close to the house until the sun has set entirely. We sit on the sand, waiting…
The sky gets darker and each star begins to dot the sky. I notice that certain lights in the house go on and off periodically.
"Do you know how much longer until we will be able to go back up there?" Will whispers.
"Not a clue," I reply. "It's probably around 8 o'clock right now, which means we could have probably 2 or more hours out here,"
"Oh jeez," Jack groans. "Why can't we just go on in there and if they discover us, you just tell them we're your friends you met here?"
"Because I've been gone for a month! They will probably freak out!" I exclaim.
"Wait! Didn't you say that nothing has changed since you left?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yeah, in my room," I reply.
"Well wouldn't that possibly mean that maybe it hasn't been that long here?" She asks.
"I don't know," I reply. "I guess I could take that chance..."
"Let's climb," Jack says, standing up.
We climb to the balcony. I peer over it first to make sure nobody is in my room. I signal to them that it's all clear. Once we are all in the bedroom, I turn on the lights.
"Okay, just look like we're all chilling out, okay?" I ask.
"Chilling out?" Will asks.
"Look like you're having fun," I reply quickly, as I take a deep breath and open the door.
"Where have you been?" My mom asks angrily as she walks down the hall, seeing my door open.
"I needed some time to think," I reply, trying not to become upset.
"You've been gone all day!" She exclaims. "Where did you go?"
"All day? Really?" I felt so confused. "It felt like so much longer…"
"Yes, all day. Now where were you?" She demands.
"I was out meeting people," I reply. "Come on out and meet my mom, guys!" I call into my room. Jack, Will and Elizabeth come out of the room.
"Mom, this is Will, Elizabeth, and Jack," I introduce them.
"Pleasure to meet you," Will and Elizabeth say,
"It's a pleasure," Jack says.
"I met them in Kingston. They're visiting here from England," I say.
"You went to Kingston?" She asks, agitated.
"Yes. Since you banned me from going downtown, I figured Kingston would be better," I reply.
"Well, clearly, there is nothing I can do to stop you," She says finally. "It's nice to meet you all," She says to them and walks away.
We get back into my room and I shut the door. "Well that's my mom," I say, flopping over on the bed.
"She's just looking out for your well-being," Will says.
"Not you too!" I exclaim, throwing a pillow at him.
"Well, looks like we're stuck 'ere til morning then," Jack says, taking a seat at the piano bench.
"It will come soon," Elizabeth says. "The moon is already out,"
"The moon means nothing!" Jack exclaims, becoming agitated at having to wait in such close proximity.
"Time goes much faster if you're having fun," I say, getting off the bed and turning on some music. "Let's dance!" I begin dancing around the room acting like a complete ass.
Will and Elizabeth laugh at me. I go over to Jack and pull him up to his feet. "C'mon you guys! Dance!" I exclaim.
We all dance for what only felt like a few moments, but when I glanced over at the clock, it read 10:23. Suddenly, there was a knock at my door. I turned the music down and answered it.
"Linz, I'm going to bed. Will I see you in the morning?" My mom asks.
"Yes, but I'll have to leave for Kingston to drop off Jack, Will and Elizabeth," I say.
"Oh, your friends as spending the night here?"
"Yes. The guys will sleep in the guest room next to mine, don't worry," I say finally.
"Okay. Well good-night," She says.
"Night! I love you!" I say, hugging her.
"I love you too," she replies, then leaves.
I go back into the room and close the door. "They're going to sleep now," I say.
As night becomes fuller, we all decide to try to get some sleep. Will and Elizabeth get to sleep almost instantly as their heads hit the pillow. I, on the other hand fall in and out of a restless sleep, dreaming of the adventure to come. My mind is soon engaged in a horrible nightmare of shipwrecks, fatigue and death. I wake up suddenly in a cold sweat and look to the balcony, startled. Stupid Jack is standing out there!
I get out of bed and join him on the balcony. He is gazing at the moon reflected ocean.
"Can't sleep?" I ask, leaning on the railing next to him, not looking into his mesmerized face.
"No, no I can't," He said quietly and seriously.
"I can't either," I say. There is some silence before I finally glance over at him. My heart jumps at the expression on his face. His eye are dark and mysterious yet twisted in thought. His lips are held tightly together, as though almost clenched in fear.
"Jack, what's wrong?" I ask, turning him towards me.
"There is just so much…" he says, trying to redirect his gaze to the sea.
"Well what is it Jack? You know you can talk to me about anything," I say.
"Just everything—I miss Port Royal, the sea…the Pearl," He says finally.
"I know you do. Anything else worrying you?" I ask.
"This adventure—this is crazy—I've never been even the slightest bit fearful of anything…but this…I can't explain it. It's just all too strange for me to even being to understand,"
"I feel the same way—except I haven't been on many fearsome journeys," I pause then speak again. "I just had a horrible nightmare about the adventure, Jack,"
"What happened?" He asks.
"It was just horrible—I don't even want to say in case it jinxes the trip early on," I say.
"Good idea, pet," He grins finally.
"We'll get through it—I know we will," I say finally. "I mean, especially you! You're Captain Jack Sparrow!"
"Savvy?" He smirks, putting an arm around me, finishing his own typical phrase.
"Luv, yer right. We'll make it," He says, kissing me quickly.
"Mr. Sparrow! What was that for?" I exclaim.
"Starting the adventure off right, luv!" He winks at me, and then heads back into the room.