Chapter four

This is another chapter, hope you all like it!

                 No poetry today, I don’t want to think of it.

The sea is stirring strangely as I lean over the edge. It’s only slightly different, not like before a storm, but something that feels so much more familiar in the strangest way.

I’m so nervous as we approach Siren Islands, that I hardly notice Remy standing next to you. 

“You good, Amara?”

I jump slightly. “Oh, uh…yeah. Just a bit…stressed.”

Remy raises his eyebrows as if to say, ‘care to elaborate?’

I sigh. “Siren Islands?” Realization spreads across his face. “Oh.” I nod at that. “Yeah.”

We both stand there, leaning against the edge of the ship, before Maurice walks by, interrupting a comfortable silence as he mutters something to do with peeling potatoes and a dolphin? Huh.

I sigh, leaning a bit farther over the edge of the ship, but not far enough to fall off. 

Today’s been so uneventful, I’m starting to wonder if reality has just been put on ‘pause’.

I sigh again, looking into the sea, and it’s bluer than ever. I love seeing it like this, but it’s especially hot today. I put my arm over, hoping the sea’ll splash it, but, no such luck.

I briefly wonder if we’ll have the luck of passing the Siren Islands with no casualties, and that sends a wave of regret over me. Of course we won’t. The last time, even though I was too young to understand, my crewmates were dropping like flies.

I know I’ll lose someone.

And I hate it.

Fidgeting, I look up at the sky. It’s clear. Thank goodness for that. But I just know something is going to happen soon. I always get this weird…feeling before something bad happens.

Dwelling on it won’t help anything at the very least. I just have a good sense of when I’m in danger, that’s all.

“Amara? Hello? Earth to Amara!”

I jump slightly, then realize it’s Remy. “Oh! I…uh, sorry. Just a bit tired.”

He nods in understanding, a small smile on his face.

I smile too as I see that the stars are starting to come out. My breath catches in my throat and I suddenly have the sense of coming home when I was always there but never wanted to be.

I calm my raging senses, and Remy luckily didn’t notice I was almost panicking.

I look out at the sunset. It’s beautiful, the last of the sun shining blood red. Remy walks me back to my cabin, and kisses me on the cheek, going onto his tiptoes in a way that almost makes me laugh.

The cheek kiss caught me off-guard though.

I feel a slight nervousness at how close he is to me then, but I ignore it, saying, “Remy, you don’t think I’ll sleep as soon as the sun goes down, do you?”

He breaks into a smile, and the awkward air between us disappears instantly. Remy shrugs, and says, “No, but you seemed pretty fine with it if not caught off-guard.”

I laugh, and say, “Seriously? I was only caught off-guard because you-”

Wait, is this romantic? If so, I don't get it.

And why am I so freaking nervous?

Remy blinks, and I swear I can see a pink tint in his cheeks. “So, uh, wanna come in to talk?”

“Sure.”

We talk for a while, and the nervous feeling dissipates. Almost.

“Yeah, of course I understand how relationships work. I mean, I had to watch Maurice and Mom making out for so many years, even if I think it’s extremely gross.” 

“Sure, and the Titanic was built well.” Remy says, and when I scowl at him, he says, “What, I don’t think you’re supposed to, like, ever.”

I laugh. “I guess. It’s just…I get it, but I don’t understand feeling that way and wanting it reciprocated, like, romantic feelings, yeah, but it doesn’t make…sense.”

Remy shrugs. “It doesn’t make sense to me either. I think I should go so we can sleep.”

I nod, stretching. 

When he leaves, I get into bed and pull my blanket over myself. As soon as sleep finally claims me, my eyes blink open.

It’s clearly later by at least an hour when I look out the porthole. There’s clear skies and the stars are shining beautifully but all my senses are exploding with fear in a strange and haphazard way.

I roll over, and step out of bed, slightly surprised when my hair falls messily onto my shoulders.

I walk out of my cabin, closing the door quietly. When I walk up onto the deck and look into the sea, a sharp, jarring urge to vomit hits me. The feeling leaves as quickly as it came.

I suddenly feel a strange sense of homecoming.

The taste- or rather, anticipation of blood rests on my tongue. I see something dark behind me, and I whirl around, my heart hammering in my chest so hard it almost hurts.

Oh. It’s my shadow. 

I get the feeling that I’ll be dead in a second in minutes like this, but I can’t let my fear take control.

I suddenly hear the most beautiful voice, angelic and soft. Is this what people mean by it sounds like their mother?

As I realize what it is I’m not shaken from the trance I’m in before I see Remy walking out, looking towards the voice. I’m about to call out to him and tell him to stop, but I don’t, realizing I can understand the siren’s song.

Feet in the sand,

The little fool thought she could get away

Destiny

You must stay

With us

Forever

The sea’s song

Has been there so long

You want to be tame

It’s all the same

Have you ever heard,

Little girl

That those might be your last words?

In the skies

Away he flies

Icarus

The forgotten

He’s not one of us

Anymore

The sun shone bright

And those little wax wings

Burnt up in light

I could know so much if I just followed the song, into the enticing voice’s threshold- no. I can’t. Not now.

My breath catches in my throat as I see Remy standing on the edge of the ship, no rope around his face, and clearly about to jump.

Terror shoots through me, and I freeze.
“Remy!” I shout, and at the second he hits the water I can see him fighting it but then he plunges into the deep, murky blue.

What I don’t realize is that some others have come, ears plugged, and Maurice has none but the song isn’t affecting him.

I run to the edge, but Maurice holds me back. The others are tied up, including the captain.

I look at him, tears in my eyes, acting as if I’m not about to do what I do. I bite him hard, prompting a wince and then I run to the edge and jump off.

I hold my breath and welcome the water all around me.

Remy.

I have to find him.

The world is all too cruel if he’s gone.

He won’t be, I won’t let him.

I’m scared, but my fear must be turned into a weapon now.

I see a great number of shadows, all of which could be Remy. My throat is burning, and I suddenly have the strong temptation to let the water into my lungs.

No. I can’t.

As I go deeper, the pressure is pounding at my head.

I can’t go much longer, but I have to find Remy.

It all goes black after that thought and I’m consumed by a sense of comfort and abyss.

            

Author's Note

just a minute