The Sacrifice

"FIND THE CHILD!" "BRING HER TO ME!"

Ice gripped Flora's chest like cold claws as she pulled on Mildred's reins, bringing the horse to an abrupt, reluctant halt. She swiveled onto the burning town where the vengeful, inhuman voice had come from.

From here, she could only see the giant cloud of smoke coiling into the night sky like a great black and red serpent. Surely they don't mean me? Flora's head throbbed violently at the thought. It can't be…!

Heart racing, Flora drove Mildred forward, continuing down the path to Grandfather Albert's mansion. Nothing mattered now except finding her grandfather and any possible survivors, and getting off of the island!

All of Flora's hopes were dashed away, and her worst fears were brought to life the moment the mansion came within sight. "NO!"

Her home, like the settlement behind her, was set ablaze. The dead had already been here.

A dizzying weakness overwhelmed Flora, threatening to tear her apart. She was about to break down and lose it when an unexpected sight stopped her.

It was Marion! The maid was still alive! Flora sucked in her breath and ran Mildred forward. "Marion, what are you doin'?!" Flora quickly dismounted and approached the housekeeper. "Where is everyone?! Where is grandfather?!"

Marion turned at the sound of Flora's voice. There was a bloody gap in her lip, and a dazed, faraway look in her eyes. "D-devils…monsters…" She muttered almost incomprehensibly. "D-demons of the dead!"

Flora eyes widened and she grabbed at the housekeeper's shoulders. "Focus, Marion! What happened?!"

"Demons of the dead…" Marion continued in an absent voice, "demons of the…." Her gaze drifted onto Flora, and a flash of recognition crossed her vision. "Th-the child…" Her expression shifted from disgust and horror, to compassion and gentleness. "The child of the sea…!"

Flora couldn't take this. Not after all that's happened tonight! "Miss Marion…please!" She shook the older woman, "Tell me what happened! Where is grandfather?!"

"O' child of the sea, child of sea spirits and devils…" Marion sang in an eerie, cryptic voice, "Your path is your own now…"

She is lost… the truth dawned on Flora as the maid continued to babble. Mouth quivering and eyes unblinking, the child slowly backed away as her heart cracked. "Gr-grandfather…" She balled her hands into fists, trying desperately not to look away. "Wh-where is he…?"

"Follow the path to the sea…" Marion turned aimlessly in a circle, "follow the path to the sea, and you shall be free…" The madwoman walked over to the side, and the path revealed itself.

"The tide pools!" Flora gasped, "Th-that's where he's gone!" There was still hope!

Flora was about to rush over and hug Marion, but then stopped herself at the last second. She yearned to help the delirious housekeeper, but deep down she knew the painful truth. There was nothing she could do for Marion, and even if there was a way, she didn't have the time. Her fate was sealed.

"Th-thank you, Miss Marion," Flora said as she backed up to Mildred's side. "Thank you...for everything…" She climbed back aboard Millie's back, just as the horse began to nicker in fright. The dead were coming back.

Flora grasped the flintlock at her side, making sure it was still there before turning back to Marion. "Good-good bye." Taking one last glance at the home she grew up in, the only home she had known all her life, Flora directed Mildred down the path of the tide pools and didn't look back.

Albert drove both his sword and cane into the sand and tried to pull himself up. Blood spurted from his leg, and he fell back to his knees. The old man spat and inhaled a few long breaths before trying again. This time he was successful. "Could've…could've used your help there." He joked miserably to the blue-eyed crab ahead of him. Stephen blinked and watched the old man stumble his way towards the nearby cave.

A whinny blared into the night. Albert lifted his head and smiled weakly as his granddaughter rode in aboard Mildred's back. She's loved that horse ever since it was a tiny filly… He thought dimly as he turned toward Flora. The girl's dress was scorched and stained, and her face was coated with bruises, muck, and dried blood, but she was alive.

Alive with the will to keep going, that's all that mattered. "I knew you'd be here, Flora." Albert said, dully. "I knew you'd come…"

"Grandpa, what has happened?!" Flora rushed over to her grandfather's side and gaped at the ugly gash on his leg. "Your leg-!"

"It will be fine," Albert lied. "A scuffle with those undead bilgerats, that is all…" He furrowed his sweaty brow when he noticed Flora's own wound. "Your arm…"

Flora instinctively clutched her limb. "It's fine, its nothin'!"

Albert narrowed his eyes at the injury. The blood had almost dried, but the evidence of one of Flora's most dangerous secrets was still there. Mixed in with the crimson fluid was a thick, jet-black liquid that grotesquely resembled ink. "It's not nothing."

Instinct drove Albert to tend to the wound and shield the scar, but he caught himself at the last minute. There wasn't any time.

The old lord gazed intently at Flora, and then back down the trail. "Is there no one else…?"

The image of Marion phased into Flora's head, and a wave of guilt overcame her as she answered. "No…no there isn't."

"Everything is gone then…?" Albert lowered his head. "The stables, the school, the library…"

Flora struggled to stay focused. They couldn't do this now! "We can grieve on the matter later. We have to get out of here!" She swiveled to the cave, and her blue eyes brightened. "The longboat! We can use it, can't we Grandpa?"

The old man lifted his head. That damned longboat…He had set it out so long ago, and now he would finally be using it. Or at least, someone will be using it for him..."We can use it, little one." He nodded, "Let me give you a hand."

His granddaughter scowled. "Not wit' that leg-!"

"Not with that arm, either!" Albert suddenly retorted in a loud, commanding voice. "But if we want to save the skin on our backs, we have to!"

Flora blinked and fought the urge to step back. In that moment, her grandfather sounded like a completely different person. Like the sailor he used to be…! Through the darkness conceived by the night's bloodshed, her heart began to soar.

"Right then!" Albert positioned himself by port side of the longboat. "Give me a hand here, Flora. Starboard side now!"

"Enough wit' yer jabbering, witch!" Jolly Roger wrenched hold of Marion's neck and picked her off the ground. "Where is the Squidling?"

Had the maid's mind not been snapped by the living hell surrounding her, Marion would have passed out with a high-pitched scream at the sight of Jolly Roger. Now however, she only tilted her head at the skeletal beast, her faraway gaze peering intently into his eye-sockets like a curious child. Roger growled impatiently and raised his appendage to strike Marion when she suddenly began to laugh.

It was a cold laugh, and so unhinged; a living soul would have cowered upon hearing it. Roger narrowed his eyeless gaze. What was the wench playing at?

"She is gone!" Marion howled in a mad bray. "The child of the sea is beyond your reach!" Tears poured from her eyes as she cackled a little more. "She will reunite with the sea, and the false king will meet his end!"

Snap! The housekeeper's shrill laughter came to an abrupt end, her lifeless eyes staring out behind Jolly Roger as her head rolled to the side.

Roger snarled and tossed Marion's body aside. He refused to fear the madwoman's words!

The cursed captain stomped about the area, searching for any clues that would lead him to the child of Davy Jones. The mansion was aflame, the barracks were empty, and the stables held nothing of value. There had to be something!

"Stables…" Roger stopped and gritted his teeth. The Squidling rode a horse, didn't she? Isn't that what one of his servants said? Roger examined the dirt beneath his feet. There they were: fresh hoof prints, and they were headed down a sandy path beyond the burning mansion…

"Hold her!" Albert ordered as both he and Flora dragged the longboat out of the cave, and anchored it at the edge of the shore. "There we are!" Albert leaned against the boat's hull, exhausted. "Well-well done, Flora."

Flora sat in the sand, panting like a dog. "Th-thank you, grandpa..."

The old man smiled and turned towards the sea. The boat was ready, now came the difficult part. "We need to get Mildred aboard."

The notion of bringing a horse into the long boat was almost ridiculous, but there was no way Flora was leaving the island without her mare, and she was too tired to protest for another way. "Won't-won't she be too heavy for the boat?" Flora asked as she struggled back to her feet. "What if we can't carry her weight?"

"Flora, this boat was designed especially for my old ship: the HMS Valiant." Albert checked to make sure Flora's back was turned, and then unhooked a few accessories from his belt. "That longboat can carry three horses if so desired." He placed his spyglass underneath the seat of the boat, the same exact spot where Flora kept it barely a year ago. "As for her weight…" Albert examined his sword and scabbard one last time before placing it next to the spyglass with a sigh. "I believe you will manage…"

Flora's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"

The old lord didn't respond and looked back his granddaughter. She had guided Mildred on top of one of the nearest tide pools so the mare could easily jump inside the boat. "Good thinking, lass." He started to wave his hands as though signaling a vessel. "Bring her in then! Quickly now!"

"Alright, ya beastie." Flora gave the horse a careful nudge, "go on in!"

Mildred snorted and backed away. "Millie, ye've got to get in now!" Flora tightened her grip on the reins and pulled. "I don't plan on leavin' you here! Please get in before I do somethin' I'll regret later!"

The horse didn't move, but right before Flora could even think of something regrettable, Mildred's ears pulled back and she began to shriek. Flora backed off, "Millie?" Her eyes bulged and she leapt out of the way as Mildred leapt into the boat.

CRACK! A heavy weight plummeted down Flora's gut. "Is she okay!?"

Albert peered into the boat. "She's just fine! It must've been the boat adjusting to her weight." The mare settled into the boat as much as she could. She appeared to be alright, but her sudden, aggressive behavior could only mean one thing…The old man's tired heart sprinted as he peered down the trail. Jolly Roger is on his way...He sighed. "Flora, come here now..."

The girl straightened herself out and ran to her grandfather's side. "If Millie is alright, then we're ready aren't we?" She asked. "Let's go!"

"We will, we will…" Albert placed a hand on Flora's back, and gently guided her to the shore. "Ya see those rocks over there?"

She furrowed her brows and looked out at sea. She nodded. "Less than a league from here, yes."

The old lord smiled and chuckled. "I'm glad you never forgot that fact." His smile turned melancholy. "I should have never kept you from the sea. It is in your blood, and yet I tried to take it from you…"

Flora took in the old man's words, and a lump formed in her throat. "What…what are you saying?" She swiveled onto him. "Grandpa we need to go, please!"

Lord Barton stood still, his eyes lingering on the waves weaving back and forth between the shore and the open ocean. He closed his eyes, and with a sigh heavy with regret, he uttered a prayer to the sea. "Whoever you are, whatever you are, your child is in grave danger. I've played my part, you can judge me on how well I did, now it is your turn." He tightened his hands into fists. "Protect her at all costs, I beg of you."

The lump slithered down Flora's throat and squirmed into her stomach. "Grandpa, what are you talking about?" The realization struck her then, and her eyes widened in horror. He can't be…!

"Grandpa, you're coming with me!" Flora screamed, "I'm not going to lose you too!"

She grabbed both of his arms and tugged with all of her might, but no matter how hard she tried, her adopted grandfather held his ground.

In-spite of the physical and mental pain, Albert's gaze softened at the sight of his granddaughter's strength and willpower. "I am old Flora, and wounded in more ways than one," He tried to explain. "I will only be a burden to you..."

"You're my grandfather!" The barriers were breaking, and the tears were pouring. "You're all I have!" Flora pounded at his chest. "You're not going to die, you're not going to die, you're not going to die!"

Yet try as the child might, the decision was already made. The deep, sickening feeling that informed her of Marion's fate had returned. She had to let go now. N-no…

Flora buried her head into Albert's chest and embraced him one last time. "Y-you took care of me, grandpa…I-I can't-I can't go on without you.."

"My flower…" Albert cooed and gently returned the hug. "Don't say such things. When you're out at sea, you will never be alone again." He closed his eyes and recalled the answers he had been given through his dreams. "When you are out at sea, you will be strong. You will be free."

Follow the path to the sea, and you shall be free…

Marion's last words echoed numbly through Flora's splintered mind, and as much as she wanted to deny them and drown herself in within a sea of despair, she found it impossible. She sniffed and paused briefly between sobs. As she did, Albert saw his chance. "Forgive me, Flora."

The old man suddenly grabbed hold of Flora's arm, and pressed his thumb into her wound. The girl wailed in agony as the scar began to seep with black blood once more. "I am so sorry, but this is the only way." Albert sighed regrettably as his granddaughter went limp in his arms, passing out briefly due to the pain. "The only way to let go…"

Bracing himself, he lifted the girl up into his arms and staggered. His leg was still bleeding, burning with every move he made, and dark spots were flashing before his eyes. He won't last for much longer.

The old man bared his teeth and continued forward, growing dizzy with each step he took. "Heave ho, Barton!" He ordered himself until he reached the longboat. "Heave…ho!"

Albert placed Flora into the boat by Mildred's side, and with his last ounce of strength, he shoved the boat out into the ocean, just as his granddaughter began to stir.

"Hide behind the rocks until it is safe!" He hollered as he fell to his knees. "Jolly Roger will not rest until all the seas bow to his whim! Remember this my flower, and take great care!"

"G-GRANDPA!" The scream of a child's broken heart drifted across the sea as the tide carried her away.

Lord Albert Barton lay across the sand. His leg throbbed, his fingers and arms trembled from both exhaustion and sickness, and his vision was blurred. He had lost everything tonight. Everything he had worked so hard to build, so hard to achieve, was reduced to ash and rubble within a matter of hours.

And yet...he felt content. The child he received from the sea was safe. His granddaughter was safe, and that was all that mattered to him now.

Large, thundering footsteps approached from behind, and the sky darkened as a slow, craggy voice snarled, "Get up, old man!"

It's come at last… Albert slowly inclined his head towards his adversary.

Jolly Roger glared down at him, an uncanny glow flickering through his eye-sockets like fire. "I said: GET UP!"

Albert seethed and tried desperately not to cry out as Roger's power wrenched hold of his body, and forced him painfully back to his feet. The cursed captain glared daggers at the old lord before tilting his head ever so slightly. "Do I know ye'?"

"You…you might have," Albert replied, weakly. "In another life…I was a part of the Royal Navy, on the hunt to be rid of you. We believed you were gone once Culter Beckett took control…"

Roger gritted his teeth. "And yet here I stand." The dagger extended from his appendage. "Tell me-" He raised the weapon to Albert's throat, "-where be the Squidling?"

Squidling? The old man nearly laughed at the name the vile captain had chosen for Flora. "She is gone." He held his ground as he gave the answer. "She fled into the open ocean where she belongs. You won't be able to find her now."

The dagger trembled, and an aura of darkness mixed with sickly green seeped across Roger's horrific body as he seethed.

"If you are wise, Jolly Roger." Albert smiled. "Then you would leave her be."

The aura concentrated onto Roger's clawed hand, and he pointed it at the old man's chest. "Never."

Albert was dead the moment the aura touched him, reducing his clothes to rags and melting his flesh until there was nothing left but rotten skin and bones. The skeleton hung limply within Jolly Roger's grasp before the cursed pirate threw it against the rocks. The remains of Lord Albert Barton smashed into pieces upon impact and scattered across the shore. It was as though the old man never existed.

Thick black and green smoke poured out of Roger's mouth and swirled into the air as he approached the shore and scanned the horizon. Nothing was there. Not even a single speck that indicated a miraculous escape!

He clenched his single fist, and green fire burst forth from his eye-sockets. Jolly Roger was not going to give up yet! Not yet!

"SEARCH THE ISLAND!" He ordered the mindless dead behind him. "EVERY PLATEAU, EVERY STONE, AND EVERY SHORE! WE NOT BE LEAVIN' UNTIL WE FIND THE WRETCH!"

Flora watched as the undead departed from the shore, trying desperately not to scream. The tide had safely, and surprisingly, carried the boat over to the rocks where she and Mildred now hid. From the distance, Flora peered out from behind a large stalagmite and witnessed her grandfather's fate by the hands of the skeletal beast called Jolly Roger. The entire time, she wanted to scream. Cry out her grandfather's name in defiance, swim back to the shore against his final wish, and give Jolly Roger a good taste of her flintlock. There was nothing you could have done! Her rational thoughts tried explain through her grief. You would have been a pile of bones just like him if ya tried!

She silenced the voice, and clutched her chest as she curled up next to Mildred. This has to be a nightmare, the child thought in anguish, a nightmare, that is all!

Flora squirmed and cried as the attack replayed before her eyes. The sighting of the Harkaway, the cannon balls bursting through the town, everyone shouting and running as everything was set aflame, the undead rising from the sea and alleyways, killing everything within their sight including poor Gretchen, being forced to abandon Marion the housekeeper, and finally her grandfather…

Everyone and everything she had known and loved was gone…

That doesn't mean ya have to give up!

Flora sobbed and gazed at the sky above her. The storm had faded, and it seemed to have taken the fog with it. But-but for how long…?

Jolly Roger's roar blazed through her head. "EVERY PLATEAU, EVERY STONE, AND EVERY SHORE! WE NOT BE LEAVIN' UNTIL WE FIND THE WRETCH!"

The rocks won't shield her forever, she had to leave now before it was too late. The time for mourning will have to come later.

Flora reluctantly wiped her face and peered across the horizon. The open sea lay before her, the sea she had dreamed of sailing for so long…

The feeling inside her stirred. "What-what did they say, Millie?" Her voice croaked as she asked, "The path to the sea will…set me free…"

It had seemed like meaningless gibberish, but now that she was here…

Mildred nickered as a gentle breeze blew by, carrying with it not the rancid scent of scorched bodies and debris, but the invigorating, salty taste of the sea.

Flora rose a little in her seat to take the scent in. It was waiting for her. The sea was ready to welcome her with open arms.

It is time, the feeling inside her said. It is time at last...

"It's...it's finally happening…" she whispered before hanging her head. Why did-why did it have to be like this…?

Her thumb grazed the surface of her locket, her heart longing to hear the melody to soothe her sorrow. She pressed her forehead against it, and inhaled a long, shaky breath. Not now…

She tucked the locket under her dress and grabbed hold of the oars sitting at the bottom of the boat. She paused. Set beside the paddles was her grandfather's sword and scabbard, and the spyglass that she loved so much. She cupped her mouth, He planned it all along…

The flower closed her eyes and tried to shake the pain away. No-no more tears, Flora, she ordered herself, not until we-we've reached the sea...

When you're out at sea, you will never be alone again…

Flora choked on another sob, and set the oars in place. She glanced at Mildred. The mare seemed content now. Confused, no doubt, but content to be away from danger at least. The girl straightened out and positioned herself. She didn't know how she was going to push her and Mildred out to sea all on her own, especially with a wounded arm, but she had to try. I have to try..."If…if we can't move, Mildred, I'm blamin' you…"

The horse nickered at the weak attempt at humor, and Flora exhaled another shaky breath. "Here we-here we go…"

She gripped the paddles and started to row. The boat swiftly rowed backwards on command. Flora froze and looked behind her. Did that really happen or was it a trick of the tide? She tried again, her heart hammering. The boat rowed again. Flora's jaw slacked. It was as though Millie wasn't even there, the boat felt light as a feather! How is this possible?!

Flora blinked when she realized she was rowing toward the island, and quickly repositioned herself and stirred the boat towards the ocean. Moving slow but steady, Flora's tired eyes lingered on the island as she rowed out to sea, her insides screaming to go back to no avail…

Once she was sure they were safe from Roger's grasp, Flora set the oars aside as exhaustion set in. Her wound had opened again, but she was so tired. So worn out that she did not care. She opened up her locket, and curled up against Mildred's bulk as the melody that soothed her soul waded gently into the night. "You're...you're on look-out tonight, beastie…" Flora informed the mare before she closed her eyes and fell asleep within a matter of seconds.

Mildred snorted and rested her head against the railing. The horse was about to succumb to sleep as well when she suddenly perked her head. There was a crab crawling up to Flora's disheveled form, a gray-blue-eyed crab that had not been there before. Mildred started to whinny in alarm, but a look of animosity from Stephen shut her up instantly. A quiet sob suddenly gasped from Flora's mouth, and Stephen immediately looked to her. Tears were falling from her closed eyes as she slept, no doubt re-living the horrible nightmare that destroyed her home.

It was a tragedy that will haunt her for the rest of her days.

The crab steadily approached Flora and laid a gentle claw against her arm as if to comfort her. It then blinked toward the star-speckled sky and started chirping. A seagull called in return, its white form blending in with the stars surrounding it.

The gull swooped down until it was gliding alongside the boat. Its blue-black eyes, as deep and dark as the abyss, watched Flora as she slept before turning to converse with the crab.

The sea had heard Albert's final prayer, and decided to answer…

Phew! This chapter took a lot out of me. It's a sad one, unfortunately, but I assume most of you saw it coming. What will become of Flora now that she is adrift at sea? How can she row the longboat so easily despite having a horse onboard? Well you'll find out, eventually.