Welcome to the world of fantasy with Freshman Media Communications major, River. Each week they will immerse you in a new world with anecdote that will transport you somewhere you've never been!
He’s the Reason Why They're Gone
By: River Porter
“Captain Isla! Everything has been decked up, we are ready to go on the adventure tomorrow,” Archer, my right hand, told me. I was lost in thought, I missed my family. I wish I had some guidance from them since I am the youngest pirate captain in history. “Captain Isla?” Archer tapped me on the shoulder.
“Hm, what?” I said, snapping out of my thoughts.
“We are ready for tomorrow. Are you missing your family Isla?” Archer asked. We’ve been friends for years, when it was my time to be captain, he was my first choice to be my right hand, I trusted him the most and he is grateful to my dad for freeing him of his past. Every captain before me he has respected, but he respects me the most.
“Yeah, if only my dad and brothers didn’t wear the coat,” I said, trying not to cry.
“You did the right thing by hanging it where it belongs, Isla. You are making a reputation for yourself and not having one made for you,” Archer told me, side hugging me. “Get some rest, you know the rest of the crew will be slacking in the morning so get prepared for it,” Archer left as we both laughed. On the mornings of adventures, the crew always slacked because they were excited to find new things. I sat there, staring at the floor, eventually I went to my bed and fell asleep.
“Isla! My grandchild! How are you?” a deep voice told me. I open my eyes, standing straight up, in a dark void. I look around a little and then I see my grandpa sitting the chair he used to sit on while he was captain.
“What’s going on?” I asked, with a straight face. I never wanted to see him, ever in my life.
“I wanted to talk to you, I know you want advice on how to be a captain,” He told me. He was smiling, he never deserved to smile after what he’d done.
“Not from you, from my dad. I only trust his advice, I will never trust you, with any advice ever, you are the reason why my family is dead,” I told him, rage filling my voice. My resentment towards him grew larger than ever.
“Your father and brothers were a disappointment as captains and I have the chance to make you a true captain. I am your family, Isla,” he told me in a stubborn voice.
“My father and brothers wore your coat and that is what got them slaughtered, because of you, even my mother, she wasn’t even a captain and you are the reason she is dead. I am an orphan because of you!” I yelled, trying not to let my emotions get the best of me. His eyes looked like flames were about to come out of his eyes.
“They believed that respect was the way to become a good captain, but it’s fear. People feared me, and no one crossed me. They all messed with your father because he wanted respect,” he rose from his chair and walked towards me, whilst yelling.
“Because they were wearing your coat! They all thought that they were just like you and needed to get rid of them, and now some of them are coming after me even without the coat! I am a teenager! I have to fight for my family's legacy to keep it alive, to show others that you were the only evil one in the family!” I yelled louder. I feel a pair of hands on my shoulder for a few seconds then I hear footsteps, running away.
“Get away from my daughter!” My father yelled from behind. I turned around, he had his sword in hand, an angry face, walking quickly towards my grandfather. My grandfather drew his sword and they began to fight.
“Isla! You have to wake up now! We don’t know how he got to you and we are so sorry. We tried to keep him away from you,” my brother Sailor told me frantically with sorrow in his voice. He was begging to cry, I was as well. My other brother Ocean gave me a hug, Sailor did the same.
“We miss you so much, Isla. Follow what you believe, stand your ground, never let anyone see you as a coward, and move forward,” Ocean told me. My dad was getting a few good hits on my grandpa because he trained instead of using fear like my grandpa does. Suddenly, it all went black, my brothers weren’t hugging me and my dad and grandpa weren’t fighting. I woke up in a jump to Archer and Fenix, my other good friends.
“Isla, are you okay? Why were you screaming?” Fenix asked. They sat me up and gave me time to process what had happened.
“I saw my grandpa, he was trying to turn me into him, but my dad and brothers interfered and got me out. And I got the advice I needed,” I explained with my voice breaking every few words. They gave me a hug, and sat with me to cheer me up, Fenix had the stupidest jokes, so stupid in fact, that they were funny. When I went back to sleep, I was in the same place again.
“Isla, come sit and talk,” my mother said behind me. I began to cry, I ran into her arms, hugging her tightly. I didn’t want to let go, I missed her so much. We sat and talked until it was morning and time to go on my adventure. I woke up, ready and prepared to be the youngest & greatest captain in history.
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