A few weeks have passed since them and it was the final day of carnival; drunks lay in the streets, shirts stained with wine and food in their dirtied hands.

"Any news?" I inquired as Melissa walked towards me.

"No Captain, I'm afraid not. The people are to drunk to remember anything." She replied, taking a flask from her pouch and gulping down the contents, "Grape juice?"

"No thank you." I said as she and I walked back aboard the ship, "I must speak with you."

"Yes Captain. What is on yer mind?" she inquired as she sat in a chair in my bunkroom.

"I believe it is time that we shove off and leave this place, carnival is literally over and we haven't succeeded in finding the murderer... sighs I don't think we ever will..." I stated as I walked over to my bed and lay down on it.

"Nicole, sighs you've done all you could do. He would be proud of you." Melissa cooed, laying a hand on my shoulder as I sat up.

"You truly believe I have?" I inquired.

"Yes." She replied with a smile, her eyes searching my eyes frantically.

"Melissa, are you...?" I began.

"Nothing... It's nothing..." She replied, averting her eyes from my own.

She bowed her head, letting her brownish-blonde hair fall into her face, hiding it from my searching eyes.

She's hiding something... But what?

"Well, then I suppose that I shall go clean up, see you at supper." I replied, standing from my chair and escorting Melissa out of my room before locking my door.

"Aye captain." She replied her hazel eyes still not meeting mine.

I watched her walked away; she seemed as if she were limping a bit. After I made sure she was at her post, I headed down to the laundry room of the ship. As I went for my pile or clothes to hand them to tonight's washer, I saw a shirt that had been bloodied and ripped.

"Whose shirt is this?" I inquired the man whom was washing a pair of pants.

"Hmmmm... Can't dare say... Seems to be that young Mockingbird's I believe." He replied as he dipped the pair of pants into a tub of soap and continued scrubbing them.

Mockingbird...

"Might I take it? I should mend the rip in it before ye wash it." I lied.

"Yes Captain. Whatever ye need." The old man smiled as he continued his washing.

"Thank you." I replied as I handed him my clothes and began to head for the door.

"Not a problem captain!" the man bellowed as I walked slowly up the stairs towards the deck.

My hands began to quiver and my heart felt as though it had been dipped in lead and tossed carelessly into the icy sea.

"Everything alright captain?" My great uncle James asked as I walked shakily on deck.

"James..." I stammered.

"Aye captain."

"I need a favor." I inquired.

"Anything... Just name it." He said softly with a smile.

"Follow me into my quarters, we shall discuss it there." I spoke as I walked towards my door and unlocked it.

I ushered him inside and he sat in a chair across from mine.

"What be wrong captain? WHY YE look awful pale..." He said his eyes brewing with concern.

"Do you recall where everyone one was the night Mr. Willington... died?" I inquired my voice cracking.

"Yes... I believe so... Why, might I ask, dear captain?" he asked his eyes filling with confusion.

"Because of this." I said as I held up the ripped and bloodied shirt of Melissa's.

"Why that is..." he started, his eyes filling with shock.

"Mockingbird's shirt... Stained with the blood of another..." I stated.

"How do you...?" he began, his eyes glittering.

"If it was her blood, it would not have spattered in an upward motion like it is." I said as I showed him the spatter marks on her shirt.

"You don't suppose." He began.

"I can't leave her out of it. Even if she is my dear friend... I can not deny her place at the scene." I continued, holding my head wearily in my hands.

"What must I do?" he asked.

"Watch her." I ordered lifting m head wearily from my cool hands.

"Aye Captain Phantess." He replied as he was rising from his seat and heading for the door.

"James... Do not reveal this to anyone. Can I trust you with this?" I inquired.

"Aye Captain... I shan't." He replied and then left.

That night as the crew ate and drank merrily I announced that our departure was to be early in the morn and that we shall be head for the African coast as Mr. Willington had planned and that we should stock up on food and supplies in the early morn as well. After my announcement, everyone cheered and stated their opinions before continuing their feasting and drinking. As everyone ate, I kept a keen eye on Melissa as she ate and drank with the crew. I noticed that James did not let her leave his sight as well.

Good Man... I knew I could trust him...

The sunset slowly that night and everyone continued about their posts as usual, James kept a close watch on Mockingbird till she handed her post over to another crewman and went to bed. I hated the feelings that were bubbling beneath my ghost white skin and I denied the thoughts that were flittering about in my blood red eyes.

Melissa... She can't be a murderer... Or... Can she?

I have been up against her and she is a deadly fighter. She could have easily... And everyone was drunk so no one would remember.

Clever... I know of how she could have done it... But why did she? If she did that is...

These thoughts lingered in my mind as I went to bunk room, locking the door behind me and lying down in my bed. My mind wandered from thought to thought, debating on if she did it and what would I do if she did? How would I face her? What would I have to do to her? Would I be able to do it?

I knew that if things came down to that, I would have to make a decision that I would regret for the rest of my life.

God... Please let it not be true... Hide the truth... For my pained eyes can not bear to look upon it...