Chapter 10: Separate Worlds





He stopped at the edge of the ship. I could smell the salty air and almost hear the sea screaming for my name. It was probably waiting for my body to fall. I looked at the owner of the arms carrying me. If there was anything left to him from the person I met five years ago, it was all gone. It was replaced by a cold, heartless man who wouldn't mind throwing a girl's body to the sea. He had no soul.



"What happened to you?" I silently asked him. The more I looked at him, the more I am convinced to accept my fate. He looked at me and our eyes met once again. And just like before, I couldn't see recognition in those orbs. How come he couldn't remember me?



"You are Threy Weston. Have you forgotten about that?" I asked again. I'd probably die in few minutes so why not throw questions to him as much as I could. But no matter how many queries I tried to give him, he wouldn't respond. He just looked at me with those cold eyes while standing firm against the strong blow of the wind on the ship's edge. I could feel tears starting to form in my eyes so I tried to stop it by closing them. God! How could I end up like this? When I finally opened them, I think I saw something changed in Threy's eyes. There was a hint of softness and warmth in them that was suddenly gone when our eyes met again. But then, I was probably just imagining it. I was probably trying to make up a pleasing scenario before I close my eyes forever. If I could only stare at those eyes once again.



"Did you find her?" This time, I couldn't hide my loneliness. His eyes, if it was possible, became colder. It's like there was a storm inside them.



"I haven't." His voice matched the coldness of his eyes.



"When I die, I'll pray in heaven that you would find her." I said, forcing an encouraging smile on my face.



His eyes left mine and focused on the sea. His grip from my leg and shoulder tightened and I couldn't help but winced. I probably talked too much and he probably decided that this was the right time to throw me. He's maybe talking to the sea telling them not to give me an easy death.



I closed my eyes once again anticipating the feeling of falling down to the cold water. But to my surprise, he stepped back from the edge and waked back to center of the deck. I opened my eyes to meet the wild pirates looking at us confused. When he reached the young man who refused to harm me and the tall bulky man who got me from the canoe, he stopped. He gave me to the larger man and said, "Give her a cabin. No one touches her," he said and turned to the pirates, "If anyone dares to lay a finger on her, I will give him death." He finished and climbed to the upper deck where supposedly the captain is. The men started to walk through a different door, the one on the left and opposite to the one I was shoved a while ago. It was completely different to the other one. It was brighter and had small cabins on each side of the isle. When we reached the last cabin, they opened it and the three of us entered. The bulky man laid me down on a bed that was far from being soft and not so near from being hard.



"You can stay here." The young man said. I didn't answer. I just crawled on the corner of the bed and wrapped my knees with my arms. I let out the tears I was trying to hold back all this time and they flow like the effortless fluidity of water falls in the East. They stayed for a couple of minutes watching me cry loudly until they decided to leave the cabin. I couldn't remember how many hours I spent on crying before I fell asleep.



When I woke up, I almost jumped out of the bed when I realized the familiar sound of the lazy humming of the engine and the continuous moving of the surrounding. My eyes were hurting and my head was exploding with pain and dizziness. I guess I could never get used to it. I quickly positioned myself into a ball in the corner of the bed when I heard knocking on the cabin door. It opened after three knocks and I saw the young guy entered with tray of food and a small bag in his hands. He pulled the small table and laid the tray in there.



"You need to eat. It's already middle of the day." He said and sat on a single stool. I glanced on the food he's offering. It wasn't as excellent as the food I eat in the East or even in the West but my hungry stomach couldn't deny the yearning for it. I sat up silently and grabbed bread from the plate. I peeled off the dark toasted part of it and put it back. I chewed on it slowly while looking around the cabin. I realized just then that it was neat. It was small but it was clean and more comfortable compared to the room I woke up to in the sunken pirate ship. I glanced back at the grilled fish and used the fork to get a piece of it. The food wasn't that bad. I started to feel my strength coming back to me.



"I'm Erasmus." He said.



I turned to look at him and forced a smile. He held out his hand and I stared down at it wondering if I should take it. He wasn't one of those pirates who tried to harm me. He even brought me in this cabin which I think is the safest place in the ship and gave me food. Maybe he wouldn't try to harm me. I took his hand with mine and let it go briefly. "Primrose." I whispered in audible voice.



He seemed to hear it for he nodded with a smile. "You have the Skull's protection. No one's going to hurt you." He assured me. This young man didn't make me feel that he's dangerous. Looking at his face and body built, I think he's around sixteen or seventeen. He must be younger than me. He has soft blue eyes and long black hair.



He probably felt conscious when he realized that I was staring at his face. He immediately handed me the small bag he seemed to forget while talking with me. "These are few of my clean clothes. You can use them. Yours are already torn." He said while looking away. I could almost see his cheeks blushing.



I grabbed the bag and put it in my chest. "Thank you, Erasmus." I muttered silently, still looking at him. Among all the pirates I've seen, he's clearly the most innocent, benevolent and probably an adorable one. I continued eating while he stayed on where he's sitting.



"I need to go home." I said when I finished my food. I already found Threy. And I think it's enough for me to realize that he didn't want to be found. It was so wrong for me to think that maybe something would change if we see each other. Everything was completely changed. I was almost erased.



"I'm afraid that would not be possible. We are heading to Borgian Island." He said.



My forehead creased in confusion. "Borgian Island?" I asked. I haven't heard that island yet. Is it from the North?



Erasmus grinned at me and said, "You must really be from the Four-Family Continent! I haven't been in there! I've heard there are lots of strong horses, delicious food and beautiful ladies in your land."



"If you're going to help me go home, I'll give you a tour." I said encouraging the excitement in his voice.



His smile slowly faded on his face. "But stepping on your land is restricted. It doesn't belong to our world."



I sighed when I realized that pirates are criminals in our land. They should be punished for all the crimes they had. An invitation for Erasmus seemed to be impossible. I actually doubt if my father would allow that. And since pirate ships can't dock in our shore, the chance of me going home would be too small. It was hopeless.



"I do not belong in this world." I silently said. Going back to my world would be difficult now. My parents are probably worried about me. Tarnus must be plotting some undoable plans to rescue me. I just miss my home.



I felt a pat on my shoulder and I looked up to Erasmus' kind smile. "I would protect you while you are in our world. Don't worry." I returned his smile. He's one of the brightest thing in this dark world of pirates.