Tally Mai-chan: I had to have written this chapter at least several times before it was satisfied. Plot thickens, decisions are made! Bon appetite!
Chapter 6: The Hunt is On
Stare down.
"Listen. I don't like being cursed anymore than you do. So do us both a favor and have sex with a man and let's wash our hands of this whole thing."
"No."
Kat cartwheeled in the air, pulling at her long brown hair. He was just so obstinate! All morning, all stinking morning she tried to convince this man. "I don't want to die!" She shouted at him, halfway phased through the ceiling.
"Why don't you come down here and say that to my face." Kid said dangerously.
"NO." Kat stuck her tongue out.
Kid stood up, and walked beneath her. He gave her such a harsh glare that she felt chills roll down her spine. "You cursed me. So you are going to find a way to break the curse."
"I don't know how too! I can't read that stupid book! We found people who could but they don't know any more than we do."
"The winter solstice is in three months, right."
She nodded, not sure where he was going.
"If you don't break this curse by then, I will find a way to kill you."
He stalked out of small room directly below deck. It was mostly used for storage and as a place for the crew to relax in peace. Kat floated down into the room. She wished she could just sink to the bottom of the ocean, and hide from everything.
She was sure he'd find some way to kill her. Even if, at the moment, he couldn't. Kat was a like a ghost here. She wasn't transparent, and looked one-hundred percent normal. She still wore her black, baggy hoddie with a black tank underneath and the same light blue jeans and nike sneakers. She couldn't touch anything, every time she tried she would simply pass through it.
Kid could touch her and she could touch him. But the catch, they couldn't hurt each other. Kid tried, he threw knives at her, tried straggling her, he tried everything, but he could never harm her.
The crew accepted her as the ghost of some girl they killed or something in the past. Only Killer knew the truth about the curse and about her. Kid didn't want his crew knowing that their captain was cursed by some stupid brown haired girl, and what he had to do to break it. Stupid male pride.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid." Kat trembled in the air, curling into a ball. "I don't know anything! I don't have the book. How the hell am I supposed to break this curse? Dammit. I wish Becky was here, she'd know what to do. She's so much more logical under stress. Dammit... that's it!"
She glided up through the ceiling onto the deck. The vast, white sails rippled in the air high about her head and seagulls flew in lazy arks across the sky. A small island could be seen far off on the port side, green and hazy in the distance.
There. She decided. There would be where she would start her plan of getting Eustass Kid to have sex with a man and end her nightmare!
"Where the H-E-double-hockey-stick did you hide my book!" Rebecka screamed as she pounded on her brother's bedroom door. Heavy metal music blasted from inside. She kicked the door, gathering all her rage into it and got nothing, but a hurt foot.
"James you snake! Give me my book back! God I hate you! James, I hate you!" Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Why was she so helpless? Why was she helpless now! Why. Why now? Kat was... Kat was. She needed that book! Why did he take the book and hide it? If it was one of his stupid tricks then she was going to kill him. Kill him and dance on his grave and burn everything in his room. He was the cruelest person she knew.
He used to be this great guy. Someone she could trust.
But now, he was the king of jerks.
Jame's opened his door, brandishing a steel bat. He swung at her, she jumped back, the bat missing her nose by centimeters.
"I'm trying to do homework." He said coolly, pointing the bat at her. "Do I bother you when you do your homework?"
"Yes. Every time I-"
"No. I don't."
"You shot me with a paintball gun when I was studying for my science quiz."
"So why can't you just leave me alone?"
She bit back her scream of frustration, opting to glare at him with all her hatred. This was getting her nowhere. Jame's was a writhing snake that twisted words and truths into his own reality.
"I want the book." She said sharply.
"I don't know what you're talking about." James said slowly. He did know. She could see it in his eyes. He was doing this to her on purpose. "Now if you-"
The phone rang downstairs.
"Would go get the phone." He smirked, " because I'm studying." And he slammed the door in her face.
Rebecka fumed all the way down stairs, kicking at the walls and pounding her feet against the ground. The phone hung from the wall in the kitchen. It wasn't wireless and had a long, twisted cord. Rebecka jumped over the kitchen counter, picking the phone up off it's base.
"Hello, Thornson residence."
"Yes, is this Rebecka?" It was Professor Schwartz. She'd recognize his voice anywhere.
"This is her." Rebecka said a little too loudly. Why were they calling so soon? It's only been two days since she left California.
"It's Professor Schwartz from the Collage of Ridgeway. How are you Rebecka dear?"
"I'm alright."
"I just found out the most amazing thing today." The professor said excitedly, Rebecka could imagine his mustache wriggling as he talked. "A museum curator came by the school the other day. He wanted to put some of our research in his museum when he saw the pictures of your book. He was very excited about them and wants to see the real thing."
"Th-that's... great!" She lied.
On the other line the professor laughed heartily, "I'm sure he could tell you girls a lot about that book. It's history, origins. He's an expert on early Chinese culture. I can set up a meeting for this weekend. You'll have to fly back if that's no problem."
"I really appreciate your effort." Said Rebecka, "But we must decline. Thank you anyways. Good bye." She hung up before he could get a word in. She reached into her back pocket, pulling out the computer disk she stole from the school.
She never returned it, and she didn't plan to. She hated to lie to Kat. Hated it. But she couldn't trust the students or the professor, or anyone in that school. Something deep inside her, told her that it was all wrong. Everyone has an ulterior motive, everyone would do anything to get the book.
She wont let them have it. Not now. Kat's life was in danger and if they really wanted that book they would have to pry it from her cold, dead fingers.
Kat sat on the side of the ship, watching the waves break against the dark wood. It was nice at first. The wind blowing through the white sails, the sound of waves, the calls of seagulls. There were no noisy, vulgar men. She could stay like this forever...
until she gets bored...
which she was.
The pier was slabs of wood hammered together sticking twenty feet out into the ocean. A beach extended off the right of the pier and hooked around the island, disappearing behind the trees. A town made of dingy grey stone was carved out of steep cliff, forming a cave that the town was built deeper inside of. The streets, narrow alleys and long wooden ladders. At the bottom of the cliff she could faintly see a fountain with a statue of a man at it's center, the man's head and left arm gone.
It just looked so interesting. She really wanted to check it out. But Kid told her to stay on the ship, that she was bad luck or something. Then again, she wasn't one to follow orders.
She shook her head, clearing her mind. She couldn't stay on this ship! She'd rot from boredom. Deciding to take her chances she floated off the ship to the pier. A quick glance around and she floated down the road leading to town, making sure her feet touched the ground. People don't normally like to see floating girls.
The town burrowed into the cliff side. The deeper in the darker it because as the natural light faded away. Torches lit the town deep down, like lightning bugs at night. She walked around the statue and fountain, it was in horrible condition. The fountain was broken, occasionally squirting out little bursts of water, and the water in the small pool was green, and discussing. She wished she couldn't smell it. The town was eerily quiet. Water dripped off the side of a house, splashing into a shallow puddle.
She could hear a faint sound coming from deeper in. A soft hum that was always changing, growing louder or dimmer. She followed the sound into the town. The streets were like a maze, zig-zaging around buildings, some turning at right angles and others curving around or going of at a 45 degree angle.
The sound came from a well lit building down the street. The only building with lit windows. The noise was the collective sound of people talking, laughing and even sobbing. The outside of the building was white with dried, red blotches that Kat hoped was not blood. A sign hung from above the open door.
Wilke's Tavern
She peeked inside through greasy, yellow glass windows. The people inside were blurred and misshapen. Everyone appeared to merge together as they danced and partied. Was it Kid and everyone? It didn't look or sound like them.
This town was so strange. She glanced over her shoulder, peering into every dark space around her. Did anyone live here? She stared into black windows, black houses. Why was there no one in the town but people in the tavern? It was a big town, then wouldn't it have a proper harbor and not that raggidy pier?
Alarms were whirling in her head. There was really something wrong here, but what?
"Eh? Who's this? I thought we chased out all of those no good pirates."
Kat's head spun around, two men stood at the door, five feet away from her. They wore uniform white shirts with blue collars and long blue slacks. Marines.
"I live here." Kat lied, making herself look small before the two Marines. She stuck her lower lip out, widening her eyes. "I was out in the forest gathering herbs and when I came back everyone was gone."
They were both very drunk. She could smell the liquor spilling off their breaths, their brows knitted together as they thought.
"Pirates have controlled this island for months. How could you have..." He trailed off, looking over his shoulder to the other man. Words passed between them silently and the other Marine turned back into the bar, shouting over the noise.
The Marine lunged for her, but he was drunk and missed her completely, tripping on his own feet and falling flat on his face.
Kat took the the air immediately, the tavern was silent now, someone talked in hushed but urgent tones. She floated to the roof of the bar as Marine after Marine ran out. There was thirty of them in all, the last man tall, muscular built and wearing a white coat. The white shirt Marines saluted him.
"Looks like we celebrated too soon." The white jacket man said, pulling his hand through his wavy black hair. " Private Jenkins. Call the ship and tell them to circle back around the island. Say that there are more pirates that are in need of extermination."
"Man." A Marine whispered to his friend beside him. "I thought we took care of those no good pirates already!"
"They're like bugs." The other whispered back. "They always come back."
"Which is why." White Coat man turned to the two Marines. "We must exterminate them until there are none left. So quite your blabbering, sober up, and search this island for the pirates."
Kat, halfway phased into the tavern, listen to all of this. She watched as White Coat man, Captain Langs he was called, ordered his men into groups of five and sent them on. Captain Langs left with the last group of men, who were to search the town thoroughly. They were given her description. A brown haired brat dressed in black.
As soon as they turned their backs on her she floated up through the top of the cave ceiling and through the cliff. It was really strange traveling through rock. It was pitch black, and she couldn't see a thing but she knew she was going though solid rock. It was really, really weird.
When she came up, the sun shined brightly in her eyes, she was in a grassy, open field. Wild flowers spread out around her, splashing the light green field with yellow, blue and purples. She came fully out of the ground, looking all around her.
Where the hell was everyone? If they got caught by the Marines and sent to Impel Down she would never be able to get Kid to break the curse! Though... she thought bemusedly. It would have been much fun to go there the way she was now. Floating about, no one able to catch her. She could 'break in' and 'break out' as much as she wanted. Go through all the levels, torment the warden... vice warden... yes. It would have been much fun.
No!
No, no, no, no! She can't let herself get distracted! She had to find the others, warm them and get the hell off this island!
The field angled down, away from the cliff face, descending into dark, patchy forest that covered the rest of the island. The field was the highest spot on the whole island. Out at sea, at the opposite end of the island from the pier and the ship was the Marine's ship. Three thick masts and white sails crawling it's way through the deep, blue waters.
She didn't know how long she had until they reached the pier but she knew it wasn't long. At that pace it would take an hour, maybe two. Could she find Kid and everyone before then? If the Marines got to the pier and took the ship the Kid Pirates would be trapped on the island. Then jail and a sweet kiss goodbye to her life.
It was time to panic.
Rebcka sat downstairs in the living room, laying on her green sleeping bag. Ever since she visited Kat in the hospital should couldn't go downstairs into the basement. She felt responsible. She wasn't there to help Kat. Her best friend was in danger and she was in California, safe and sound sleeping in a nice hotel bed.
The TV was on, the news channel people talking about the current local news. Her house was on the news that morning. The headline...
Teenage girl, assaulted by father, found in a coma
It was the most horrible thing Rebecka had to watch in her life. James came down that morning to watch as well. He asked her if she was going to go to school and she said no. He laughed went back upstairs afterwords.
The news channel talked about Kat, even showed her school photo. They talked about her writing awards and then about her father, showing his picture as well. Rebecka never meet or saw Kat's parents. She knew they were both alcoholics and abusive and that was it. Looking at her father she saw that he and Kat looked very alike. The same brown hair, same nose... she almost turned the TV off then and there.
The news got to the story, Kathline, found in a coma half a mile away from home in her friends basement. They talked about how James found her and her father, who was blinded by unknown means, and dialed 911 for help. They talked a lot about the strangeness of the scene. Again about Mr. Reevus's unknown blindness and then Kat's body. It was surrounded by broken glass but there was not a single scratch on her body.
Investigators were just starting their search of the basement when Rebecka came home from California, she kicked them out of the house, shouting whatever could get them to leave sooner. James tried to stop her but she was determined and eventually everyone left.
She didn't want to go to school. Didn't want to deal with people asking her about the 'indecent'. It's been days since she's been in school. James stayed home with her, though every other word out of his mouth was "homework" or "up coming projects".
James still refused to give her the magic book. She searched the whole house save for his room (it was always locked) and found nothing. There where times she wanted to give up and she slapped herself hard in the face. Kat couldn't give up. Kat couldn't stop the curse because she couldn't break it.
She curled up on the couch and stared at the TV, not fully watching, but rather thinking.
The doorbell rang.
She sat up from the couch, glancing at the clock as she went. It was ten past twelve pm. James shouted down the stairs for her too get it- he had homework.
Rebecka heaved a sigh, extracting herself from the couch. Her mother looked out from the kitchen, dark bags under her eyes, her face paler than ever.
"Be- be careful." She said shyly. "It could be someone wanting to break in again." She was very shaken by Kat and her father and the incident.
"I will." Rebecka smiled back reassuringly. Her mother nodded, retreating into the kitchen.
Rebecka took her time getting to the door. Wondering who it could be. It was probably the police again, checking in on them for the umpteenth time. She stood on her tip-toes to look through the peep hole. The face of a middle aged woman with bright red hair flowing down her shoulders and a wide, dark red lipstick smile meet her. Rebecka pulled the door open.
"Aunt Poppy!" She screamed, hugging her aunt around her shoulders. "I haven't seen you in ages! How... why... I- you're here! Here! I thought you were in China? Why are your here? How are you-"
"Shush, darling!" Her aunt smiled, speaking in a thick, southern accent. "Your brother called me! Saying that there was this big emergency. So, here I am! Why don't you let me in and we'll cook up some grub and get a chatin'."
Rebecka let go of her aunt, taking a step back in shock. "J-James?" She squeaked. "James... called you?"
Tally Mai-chan: A hard but satisfying chapter to write. So please review! I love hearing what you think of my story!