The Night of the Living Dead

Charlie bit his lip. He was rather nervous of talking to Willy, considering that the guy was a pirate now, and may not be as easy to converse with. Passing by the body bag, he noticed something strange:it was open!

No! This can't be happening!

Charlie nervously glanced over at Mort, who was steering the ship. The boy heard him humming a familar tune.

Yo ho, Yo ho! A pirates life for me!

"Mr. Rainey?" Charlie boldly called out.

"Charlie?" Mort responded, keeping his back to him. There was something different about the way he spoke. Almost like he was transfixed. Mr. Wonka would do that often. Just sit for hours at the wheel, staring at the ocean. Many a time, Charlie watched his gaze. Willy would smile alot when he saw the moonlight catch the waves, and make them shimmer. There was also the time when he would look out at the stars. When you tried to speak with Willy when he looked at the twinkiling beams of light, he would rarely respond in a tone that would suggest he was truely listening.

"Have you seen Mr. Wonka?" Charlie asked.

"He seemed very strange when he told me to take the wheel" was the only response he got. Charlie would just have to find Willy himself.

And he found him. Standing at the railing of the ship, drinking from a very old and dirty bottle. He looked like he had alot on his mind, due to the fact that he was changing his facial expression every three seconds. Charlie went to stand beside him. There was a very awkward silence. It never was like this before. Two years ago, the two could just create candy together without having to say a word for hours. It was almost like they had learned to communicate through their eyes. Charlie wondered if he could still do that.

Finally, Willy spoke.

"Who let the cat out of the bag?" Willy asked, not even looking at Charlie as he said it.

Charlie pulled a face. What was he talking about? Suddenly it hit him. Willy opened the body bag!

"You saw the enemy's body does not reside on the ship? Will, you must know that I had very good reason to do what I did"

"And what good reason is that? The mere joy of helping a pirate?" Willy said.

Charlie frowned. "The joy of helping a good man"

Willy chuckled. He turned, and looked at the boy in the eye.

"I'm curious as to how you could want to help that man" he said.

Charlie looked straight into Willy's eyes when he gave his response. "Every person has a heart. Sometimes it just takes a while for someone to find it. Do you deny that I found yours four years ago?"

Willy thought for a moment.

"No"

Charlie smiled. "Deep down...way down...there is a side to Jack that is just like your original self. You original self has left you...and I miss it! I thought to myself: If there could be one person who was like the candymaker I once knew, well that person deserves to be alive!"

"Why is that?"

"Because your the greatest person I have ever met Will! I don't ever want to lose you"

Willy just blinked. The two stood in silence for a while. Charlie once again started to speak.

"Our lives are moving in different directions now. As much as I hate to say it, the door to our friendship is quickly closing. And i fear the door of respect between Captain and crew member is the one we will face entering."

Willy stared at him. Charlie sighed.

"That is all I have to say to you."

The boy could feel the eyes of the Captain slicing into his back as he walked off. All he said came from the heart. Maybe in time Willy would begin to understand his words. That day may not be today, in may not be tommorow but it will be soon. Charlie started his walk down to the lower part of the ship, where he and the crew slept in hammocks. They were basicially dirty blankets held up by ropes. Underneath each was a locked chest, containing all of that crew members personal items. Charlie pulled out a key that unlocked his own chest. He pulled out his bag and stuffed all the remainder of contents into it. A tear rolled down the boys cheek as he slung the bag over his shoulder.

There is nothing left for you here Charlie. Not anymore.

He had made his decision. Charlie would search the world if he had to, if only to find the one person that had Wonka's spirit.

I can't do it alone.

No. He could not. Tonight he would confront the two people who would most probably follow him on his journey.

Ichabod and Edward.

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