Chapter 23
“ N o, I’m not going to die.. I am not going to die.” I repeat this to myself over and over. I’m stuck in this small empty space and I can’t see anything. It’s impossibly dark. Even my thoughts can get lost in the pitch black surrounding. I press my hands up against the hard surface that is but inches from my face. It’s rough, like wood. My breath is warm as it bounces off the surface back onto my face and my lungs are so tight it’s unbearable. I can’t seem to catch my breath. It’s hot in here, so hot that sweat is dripping from the condensation buildup and the heat of my own breath. If I knew any better, I’m trapped in my own wooden coffin.
I feel rage grow inside me but more disappointment. How could I have let myself get into this position? To be kidnapped and on my way to what will surely be my end game. My eyes fill with tears as I am so helpless but I have to push on.
“I’m not going to die!” I yell. Anger continues to build up inside me all while my throat tightens with the lack of oxygen that remains. Think Abby, Think! I am trying to figure out a plan but my thoughts are blank.
Suddenly I hear a noise. A creek, then another. Footsteps! My mind is racing. Do I yell and try to get their attention? I don’t care who is out there, I have to. If I don’t get this coffin open, I will soon run out of air and will surely die.
“Help!!” I scream. I kick what little space I have to kick. Smacking the wood as hard as I can. “Help me!!” My entire body is jolting as I move as much of myself as possible to make as much noise as I am able. I’m hitting the surface harder and harder and I feel a sharp pain shoot through my body, but I don’t care. It’s life or death.
The creeks are getting louder and I hear rumbling above me. Someone hears me! “Help me, please! Somebody help me!” The lid comes off and the light beams onto my face. I immediately fall out of the coffin and land on my hands and knees. I gasp for air, breathing in every bit of the outside. The fresh smell of the ocean brings slight relief to my mind for a brief second before I hear his voice.
“Abigail.” Ace says in a devilish tone. ??This is not the Ace I’ve ever known. That voice, the Ace I once loved, is now bringing a horrible pain to my stomach. I look over and glare into the bright blue eyes that had me so mesmerized but all i see is a dark vicious storm in the ocean.??
“Ace.” I just managed to get out. Still catching the air in my lungs, I yell out, “Ace, how could you?! After everything we’ve been through, everything Charles did for you.”
“Abby, try to understand. I’m doing what needs to be done for the good of our crew. You are a toxin leaking from the barrel that we refuse to throw overboard. You don’t realize how much danger we walked around and it was all because of you.”
“And you think that turning me in.. bringing me to Symbodia, where I will be tortured and used as leverage, is going to help you? Help them?” I force out. Truth is, I’m not really sure if it wouldn’t help them. ??
Ace looks at me and sighs. “You’ll never understand. Just like Charles didn’t and that got him killed. I will not make the same mistake Abby.” ??He looks over into the distance where Symbodia will soon be in view, then continues.
“We are only days away now. There’s nobody to help you here Abby, you are best to just accept your fate.” His voice is cold, his words striking me like a dagger.??
Ace looks over at the men standing guard and nods. I’ve never seen these men before, in fact, looking around I don’t recognize anyone on this ship. The burlier man of the two grabs my arms tightly, takes a piece of rope that was hanging off of his belt and ties my hands together.
“Ouch!” I yell sharply.
He looked up at me and smiled as he pulled the rope that was cutting into my wrists. Then both men grab an arm and start to drag me down into the ship. ??“No, No, please Ace.” I beg but he just turns away completely. As if I don’t exist, as if I have meant nothing to him this entire time .
The two men take me down into the ship's prison rooms, open the barred doors and toss me inside. I fall right into the wooden bench up against the wall and whimper in pain as they continue to lock up the door and leave me all alone. It’s musty here, wet. The walls are damp and mold climbs up the wood. There’s an awful smell that murks of death. This smell is bad but I know it’s only a taste of what I’ll soon be submerged in, in Symbodia.
This entire time I’ve been so focused on trying to understand Ace's betrayal, but where is Caspian? Was he kidnapped too? Could he be working with Ace and Arielle? The timing would make sense. Uhg, my thoughts are spiraling and I really can't tell who I can trust anymore.
Suddenly I hear movement coming from the far corner of the room. Caspian? I thought.
“Hello?” I say cautiously. I can hear the weight shifting as this person is moving towards the bars they are confined behind. “Who's there?” I shout, now demanding.
“Abigail, is that you?” A familiar voice calls out. Jasper!
“Jasper, is that you?” I yell hoping to confirm.
“Abby! Oh thank god you are safe. After you were kidnapped, we thought for sure you were dead.”
Something sounds off in his voice, more than just concern for me. “Jasper, what happened after I was kidnapped?”
There’s a long pause before he responds.
“Abby, I-I’m not sure..” He stops. He doesn’t want to tell me, It must have been so horrible for him but I need to know. “Jasper, please.. What happened?” I softly request. The room is quiet for a moment as he debates what to say next.
“Ace has been working for The Order for a while now. Since we last visited Arosia. It just didn’t become apparent until he saw some of The Royals soldiers on Parties Island.”
Jasper takes a deep breath. I can hear the pain in his voice as he says, " He had the council tied up and brought down here. But, Abs he had the soldiers finish off what remained of your fathers crew. Of our friends and family, all of them are gone to the flames and then he destroyed the ship.”
Just like that, I feel like a giant hole has been ripped out of my chest. How did I never notice? Was I really so blind? I can't control the tears filling my eyes.
“Abby, there's another thing.. I almost don't want to say this but..” He pauses
“Jasper, just say it. I have to know everything.” My tone is stern but I know he can hear my hurt.
“The attack on the ship.. When your father was killed, that was Ace’s fault. I couldn't tell for sure at the time and he made it sound as if I saw it wrong. I mean it was Ace after all, how could I know he was betraying us.” Hes talking fast almost as if he is piecing it all together as he says it.
" Abby, I saw Ace fire the shot that killed your father. He was aiming right at him. I am so sorry.. I’m not sure how I could have been so dense.”
There it is, the one thing that could make everything feel worse. My stomach twists as I try to catch my breath. How could he? After everything we did for him. How could he? I immediately lean over the side of the bench and start throwing up. I feel so sick. My eyes are flooded and I can't control the tears running down my face. I’ve never known such betrayal.