Sink With Me

Cordelia stifles a laugh, pressing her knuckles to her mouth. We’re both thinking about it, but I won’t correct him. He’s an adult now anyway. The glass plates clank against the table, each one filled with different assortments making me wonder if they just told the server to bring everything on the menu.

“Hear that? My present is badass.”

“I’ll get him a better one.”

“Highly doubt it.”

I swell with pride.

I hope it’ll always be the last word with her.

Date: 8-22-2024

Time: 1900

Breathe. One, two–

“Hurry up!” Moe yells as he pushes past me with his bag on his shoulder. It’s not as terrifying looking at the vessel bobbing by the pier as it was the last time I was near one. The cool air nips at my skin, turning my cheeks pink. It’s quiet besides the occasional crash of waves by the dock and the low hum of the large engine. I shift nervously and place my hands behind my back, only for them to be clasped in between calloused ones.

“I still think we should just take a plane.” Caspian says, rubbing soothing motions in my palms. I tilt my head at the sight before me, reading the writing down the side of our official team’s name and of our ship.

Seaborn

At least if we sink, it’ll be in something pretty, with an actual meaning behind it. Letting out a breath, I walk towards the ship with my chin held high. I didn’t expect Moe to put thought into our name, but I’m proud he did. I instantly fell in love with the idea, but it took some convincing with Caspian.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared.” I call out, but I don’t look behind me to see the scowl I’m sure he’s holding. He’s had a short fuse lately, but I assume it’s because we have zero privacy and the idea Moe keeps throwing around about tracking down his biological father.

It’s a lot more cozy than the previous ships I have been on. The environment just feels better. It feels safe. Maybe it’s just the ‘big brooding man’ trailing on my heels, but I don’t mind. I’ve held my own for as long as I know. It’s nice to have someone look out for me every once in a while. What can I say? He broke down barriers I held strong for so long and successfully helped me navigate my mind.

“Do I have a reason to be scared?” He mumbles under his breath to where he thinks I can’t hear him. He has every reason to be scared. For seven whole days, he’ll be stuck in this small space with me. Who says I won’t throw him overboard and watch him sink to the bottom of the sea? The intrusive thought makes me giggle, but I don’t try to hide it. We both know I can’t kill him. I toss my bags into a random cabin even though I know it’s not the right one, but I need him distracted for a moment.

As expected, an aggravated groan falls from his mouth and his footsteps disappear. Who the hell knows where Moe went? I’m sure he’s busy gawking at the female recruits around here somewhere.

I would go check on him, but I move to the nose of the boat instead so I can see where the world curls with the ocean only being highlighted by the setting sun. This time my stomach doesn’t turn, and my knuckles don’t turn white from gripping the rail. The horn bellows so loud it vibrates through my feet right into my chest. I raise my arms and clasp my hands behind my neck so I can take a deep breath.

We have a long year in front of us and more obstacles to overcome than I care to admit, but I’m finally doing it. In the end, when I’m ready to throw in the towel and live out the life I once dreamed of, I know Caspian will be by my side.

This time I’m doing it right with no blinders and no corruption. I’m not so sure I’m doing it for my parents anymore, though. I’ll always miss them, but if the world didn’t work the way it did, I’d never be where I am now with the people I need by my side. It’s a clean slate. With no shady past, no complicated present, and a future full of so many possibilities.

The salty air tickles my nose. Nothing scares me now. Not even the high tide. I won’t say that out loud it might hurt his fragile ego. As if he senses anytime I think about him, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand.

“Oh, come on!” Moe’s protest has my head turning with my hand over my mouth to the sight of his ear pinched between Caspian’s fingers. The medic I’ve seen so many times before pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose and hurries off.

“You’re the one who said you wanted to start learning my role.” Tide purrs, tossing Moe in front of him and raising his fist. “How about I teach you through some training?”

“Cock-block!” Moe yells and throws his shoulder into Caspian’s stomach successfully knocking him to the metal floor.

I roll my eyes. Brothers. What am I going to do with them? I cross my arms over my chest, unfazed by the soft jerk of the boat as it begins its journey into the sea. Seven days back to Bay’s headquarters where we’ll fix whatever chaos is forming on American soil and gather whoever wants to move stations, then months’ worth of traveling to dock members in different locations. Not to mention hours of training and preparing each person for any situation that can appear.

Our goal is simple: keep wars from forming and stay hidden, but logically there will always be someone prepared to ruin it all. We simply protect both the land and the sea. Tide pins Moe to the ground, laughing at his red face and squinty glare. We want eyes and ears everywhere, so if a problem does arise, we can stop it in its tracks.

“It doesn’t feel good being interrupted, does it? Imagine how I feel almost every damn night when I have to go to bed with blue balls because you want to watch that stupid show with my wife.”

I roll my eyes at the statement and take one more glance at the sea before heading through the swaying white door. Technically we’re not married—he just insists on saying the word wife. I avert my eyes with a small grin as I walk past Sam with an arm perched against the wall above Jasmine’s head, caging her in like a small bird.

They’re still in denial—probably for good reason—because he looks pissed, and she looks nervous. I’ve noticed the tension between them ever since we revealed that there’s an issue in America that we need to relive before we accomplish anything else; like I said, there’s always going to be some conflict somewhere. They’re not my business. I find our proper room, pushing the door open beneath my palm, taking in the large space. A small chest sits against the wall for our belongings and a small restroom sits to the side with a sliding metal door. Where is home?

Taking slow steps, I stand in front of the window, watching the waves roll across the water. Quiet chatter rumbles through the walls mixing with the vibrations of the sea. I swear the devil hears me calling for him when my lips don’t even part. The soft click of the door is quiet enough I turn my head slightly towards the sound.