Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
TALLY
Standing up on the cliff, I watch as the Burnt Bones sails away.
The pitch black fabric of the sails, drags them further and further away from me. Taking my heart with them.
Usually, when someone leaves the Island, I go to say goodbye, but this time I couldn’t do it. I sent Tina and a couple others to send well wishes in my place.
The rock and dirt beneath my feet is the only solid thing currently.
My tears have long since run dry, leaving me an empty shell running on nothing. I feel empty, devoid of anything.
I didn’t sleep last night.
Tossing and turning, hoping and praying to turn back time, make a different decision that would stop this pain. However, even knowing how I’d feel after, I don’t think I’d ever be able to change my answer.
I’d still choose my dove.
Even knowing she’ll never choose me, I belong to her. From now until forever, no one will ever match up to her. She understood my responsibilities, she cared about what I cared about. Her body fitted to mine perfectly.
Fuck, unrequited love is truly the biggest fuck you from the universe.
That is until someone joins me atop the cliff.
Hago’s chuffing laughter grates on my bones, irritation crawls through my veins. I lied, unrequited love isn’t the biggest fuck you, its this fuck hanging around, laughing during it.
“What do you want, Hago?”
“The same as you. Just admiring the view of those mutts finally leaving.” He huffs.
I glare at him. “They are not mutts, arsehole.”
“Whatever you say, princess. We’ll be better off without them around.” His arm wraps around my shoulder, making bile rise as he squeezes me into his side. I want no one's touch right now, least of all his.
Not in the mood to deal with his utter bullshit, I growl and use every ounce of energy still left inside of me to push him off. “Fuck off, Hago. You wouldn’t know what’s good for us if it bit you on the arse.”
His joy dies a quick death, as a scowl takes its place. He sneers at me, as he says, “You’ll regret rejecting me and the way you fawn over those heathens. Mark my words.”
Then he storms off. Like a little toddler, as he stomps his feet into the dry, barren dirt below him. Fluttering his dumb cloak behind him as if he’s some sort of king. It would be hilarious, if it wasn’t for his parting words and my already abysmal mood.
There’s always been something not right about Hago. I thought he was always a bit eccentric, moody and always had to have differing opinions to everybody else.
But the ‘mark my words’ felt like a thinly veiled threat.
And I’ve never taken kindly to threats.
I watch him stalk down the hill, heading off to who knows where. Once he’s out of view, I turn back to the ocean, watching the Burnt Bones become a mere speck on the vast open blue. Nothing more than an ant on a map.
The further it flees, the further my heart feels from my body.
My gaze drops to the dock, one that had one of the largest pirate ships docked in it for months, now lies completely empty.
The sunlight glistening off the damp rocks, as waves crash into them, completely unrestricted now that the carefully constructed pile of wood has moved.
Empty, like my chest.