A Pirate Calling
Chapter Nine: Old Friends
"Fay was five when it happened. She and her father went on an overnight fishing trip. It was nothing new; they always went out on his boat. She didn't really like to fish. She always said that she hated the smell," Adele whispered, laughing slightly at the memory.
Jacob sat across from Adele in the kitchen, the light above the stove the only source of illumination. He was listening carefully to her words, listening to everything that she had to tell him.
"The storm was so sudden that no one knew it was coming. The coast guard said they didn't even have time to prepare for it. The boat capsized. At least we think it did. Fay wasn't exactly coherent to tell us what happened when they found her," she squeezed the mug in her hand, cradling it slightly to her chest.
"Just her?" Jacob asked softly.
Adele continued as if she hadn't heard him. "They found her the next afternoon covered in blood from a wound on her head and on her back. She was dehydrated and unconscious. There was," she cleared her throat, "there was no trace of her father. She was out for days and in the hospital for even longer.
"The doctors at the hospital thought she was crazy. Of course they wouldn't put it that way. They said that the head injury had caused hallucinations. The EMT's told us that she had been muttering about seeing things. A man talking to her father and then both of them disappearing into the night."
Jacob sat up a little straighter. His eyebrows crinkled for a moment and then relaxed, his face smoothing as if nothing had happened.
"The psychiatrists just figured it was trauma caused by the accident. But she was so adamant about it for so long. No one knew what to do. Most of the doctor's we took her to figured she just had a very vivid imagination; something made up to explain her father's disappearance," Adele rubbed her face, her expression haggard. "I didn't know what to think. I still don't, I suppose. I mean, I know he's gone. I know he's dead. He wasn't the type of man who would just leave someone like that; especially not his daughter. He loved Fay. He wouldn't have left her unless he was dead."
Jacob watched her eyes flinch as a memory crossed through her mind. "She's changed so much since then. She was such a nice child; always so patient and kind to everyone. She was so vibrant. She laughed all the time. After the accident she was so much different. Her eyes were always so dim, so . . . dead I guess you could say. It was as if the night her father died a little piece of her went with him.
"She still has a scar at the base of her hairline. It healed nicely, but it's still there. I'm sure that every time she sees it in the mirror she remembers that night. She has a scar on her back as well. The doctor's couldn't quite figure out what that was from. Have you seen it?" Adele asked, her eyes hopeful. "She doesn't show it to anyone unless she's close to them."
Jacob shook his head. It had been too dark two nights before. He hadn't been able to see anything in the dim light from the cloud covered moon.
Adele slumped in her seat as if she had been hoping that he was close enough to her daughter that she would talk to him about her past. "It goes from her left shoulder to her lower back. I know it still hurts her even if she doesn't admit it. I'm sure you know her well enough to know that she doesn't like to talk about what happened when she was a child."
He nodded. "I don't think she remembers half of it. I'm assuming that's what she's dreaming about?"
Adele nodded as well. "The same dream every night since she was five. It haunts her; plagues her because she won't talk about it. She hides too much about herself to be normal."
Jacob fought back a grin. If only her mother knew. Adele looked up at him. "I asked you to leave her because I knew that she would only push you away anyway. She refuses to get close to anyone anymore. Fay only had one real friend throughout high school. Only one person would actually stay around her even with her mood swings the way they were. I was so grateful for that; as was Fay I'm sure."
"So I take it she hasn't changed much since then?" Jacob joked, a smile crossing his face.
Adele smiled back at him. "She's gotten calmer I guess. Still has so much anger though."
Oh you have no idea, he thought.
"But, I have borrowed your ear long enough. I should let you get to sleep," Adele said softly, standing up and smoothing down the wrinkles in her robe.
"Good night then," he replied and then watched as she smiled sadly one last time and left the kitchen.
He knew what he was going to have to do. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day.
Jacob stood at the edge of the beach, the water rushing up to the tip of his shoes and then receding. He stared out at the tolling waves. This was taking drastic measures, he knew, but it had to happen. There were parts of Fay's past that only one person could answer.
While Fay vaguely remembered what happened that night, she couldn't remember all of it. And that was the cause of her nightmares he was sure.
Jacob reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled out the smallest of objects. He'd only had to use it once before, every other time they'd met was of the other's own volition. He'd kept in contact, sure, as best he could. But, how did one send a letter to an unknown destination that probably didn't exist?
He sighed and then heaved the object out into the water, almost feeling the pulse as it hit the waves. Jacob watched for a moment, knowing nothing was going to happen immediately, and then turned away.
"Hope that wasn't anything incriminating," a voice said in front of him.
Jacob looked up to find Angie standing in front of him, a group of girls behind her. He smiled, one side of his mouth lifting. "No. Just something an old friend gave me."
"And you threw it away? Must not be that good of a friend."
"More of an acquaintance, actually."
One of the girls touched Angie's shoulder. "We're gonna go on ahead. We'll meet you there, 'kay?"
"Okay," Angie replied, her gaze not leaving Jacob's. It was almost unsettling. "I'll be there in a minute."
"Don't let me keep you."
"How do you know Fay?" she asked bluntly.
"Why?"
Angie shrugged. "Just curious."
"We have mutual interests. I run a . . . museum of sorts and she mentioned her father's files on her ancestors. She offered to show them to me."
She was silent as she gazed at him. "She offered to show them to you."
"Yes."
"You're going to have to lie better than that. Fay doesn't come here unless she absolutely has to. And that's only at Adele's badgering. So what's the truth?"
Jacob's eyes narrowed. Perhaps there was more to her as well. He stepped up to her, pausing just at her shoulder. "Don't get involved. You have no idea what we're dealing with," he whispered and then walked past her. It was a risk saying something like that to her, but it was a risk he had to take.
He didn't need her prying in to things that didn't concern her. She'd be safer that way.
"I still can't believe you came back. I thought you hated it here."
Fay sighed. "I can't believe you found out I was here, Lira. I've only been here like half a day."
"Okay, if we're playing it that way. I can't believe you didn't tell me you were coming."
"It wasn't like I planned on coming here. It was an impromptu visit. You know I wouldn't have come here if I didn't have to."
Lira stared at her, one eyebrow raised. "Then why did you come?"
"To look at some of the files my father had. Apparently I need to find out something about my past," she looked at Lira for a moment and then threw an arm over her friend's shoulders. "And to see you of course! I would've stopped by before we left."
Both of Lira's eyebrows shot up. "We?"
"It's not what you think. Trust me. An acquaintance of mine came with me."
"Male acquaintance?"
Fay didn't answer, merely looked at her friend, a look of boredom crossing her face.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop asking questions. I take it by that look on your face you already got the third degree from your mother."
"Oh god yes. And she even went so far as to assume we were friends with benefits. I think my heart stopped when she suggested that."
Lira pushed the porch swing with her legs. "But I guess it didn't since you're still here," she paused. "Wait. Does that mean you like him?"
Fay was silent as she turned away from her to gaze at the trees around them.
"Okay," Lira started, "if you have to think about it that long I'm going to take that as a yes."
"We're just friends, Lira," Fay said softly.
"Sure. That's what they all say," Lira replied, nudging Fay with her shoulder playfully.
Jacob pulled a box closer to him and lifted out a single file. He flipped through it, skimming over everything that was written down. There was so much. The information had been thoroughly researched; almost lovingly put together. But still there was nothing that he could use; nothing that was even remotely what they needed to put her ancestry together. They had been up here for two hours and had found nothing. The sun was about to set he knew.
There had to be something somewhere; something that would help him figure out anything else about her mysterious past. A sudden throb coursed through his body. Jacob's eyes widened for a moment as the familiar feeling sliced through his veins. Ah. So it was time.
A small stuffed animal hit his temple and then fell into his lap. Jacob stared down at it for a moment and then looked up. Fay was lying on the floor on her back, her legs raised up against the wall, staring expectantly over at him with a half smile hovering over her lips.
"Sorry," she said. "You've been staring at that one page for almost half an hour without moving. Wanted to make sure you were alive."
Jacob gave a half hearted grin. "I'm all here."
"Well, that's a matter of opinion."
He chuckled. "I suppose it is," he sighed and stood up. "I have somewhere to go," he said, dusting off the back of his pants.
Fay rolled over and tucked her legs under her. "Where?"
His grin came back. "To visit an old friend."
Fay looked up at him, her expression telling him that she wanted to ask, that she was curious. He waited patiently for her to ask the question that he wouldn't be able to answer. Instead, she shrugged. "Okay then. Have fun."
Jacob's grin widened. "As always," he replied. "Nothing like a dead mans reunion."
The ship erupted from the dark waters of the bay, the polished wood gleaming in the moonlight. Jacob stood still, the water spray hitting his face. He closed his eyes for a moment, reveling in the feel of the ocean spray. It had been so long since he had had this feeling; so long since he had been so close to something of so much beauty. He inhaled slowly, breathing in the smell of the salt water.
He opened his eyes when he heard a shout and then a splash indicating something heavy had been dropped into the water. A single boat made its way towards him, a single passenger rowing. Once the boat neared the beach he walked towards it, elation welling in his chest.
"'Ello mate," the man in the boat said in greeting, offering his hand to Jacob to help him climb in.
Jacob waved the hand away, deftly jumping into the lifeboat and sitting down, feeling the rough grain of the wood beneath him. His hands unconsciously traced the grain of the wood. The man smirked slightly and nodded, pushing the craft away from he beach with the oar. The short trip was silent, neither men speaking, neither one looking at each other. It was almost like a death march, Jacob mused. As if he were crossing the river Styx on his way to his final resting place. He almost felt like tipping the man for his efforts.
The small craft hit the side of the ship and Jacob stood up, able to keep his balance in the lifeboat with ease. His hand reached out and caressed the slick wood, a loving smile crossing his face again. He inhaled again, breathing in the aroma of the ancient wood. So many years, he thought wistfully.
The man behind him cleared his throat gently, causing Jacob to look at him. The man jerked his head up slightly, indicating that Jacob should climb the ladder built into the side of the ship. Jacob grinned at him, a hint of cockiness etched in the lines of his face.
Nimbly, he climbed the wooden slats, aware that the man was following close behind. A rough and weathered hand grasped his as he cleared the side of the vessel, pulling him the rest of the way up. Jacob grinned again, clutching the man's arm in greeting. The new man smiled back.
Jacob's eyes glanced around the deck, gazing into each crewman's face. "I see you have some new crew," he said jovially.
"It happens in this line of work," a voice behind him said.
Jacob turned around slowly, his grin widening, his brown eyes glinting in the moonlight. The man behind him was young, his face still boyish although slightly weathered, his brown hair tied back with a simple leather thong. The man's shirt was open to mid chest, a scar marring his otherwise unscathed skin. He looked sadder than the last time Jacob had seen him, if that was even possible.
"You look good whelp," Jacob replied, walking forward to grab the man's hand.
The man looked him up and down, holding back the laughter that Jacob could see dancing in his eyes. "You too," he said, "Jack."
AN: I know that there was a lot of dialogue in this chapter, but most of it was necessary, so I hope that you don't mind.
So. Now you know of her past and what happened to her father. You also now know who Jacob is. You have also met a new character. Lira, a friend from Fay's past. Does she have anything to do with everything that's going on, or is she just a bystander? What do all of you think? Also, now that Jacob's real name is revealed, should I continue to call him Jacob, or just call him Jack? I'll leave it up to you!