The Slow Fade

[KeeperOfTheCode]

Chapter Name: The Dream

Death is a curious thing; it shapes us and guides us, it makes us hold life even dearer, and when we come to fear it, it drives us to madness.

The sky was still grey as they set out from yet another small port, out of the many where they had stopped to buy supplies, and more importantly, to hear news of the Black Pearl.

"The Black Pearl? It hasn't been out that way in over a year." Roger wouldn't believe it. His sister wouldn't have lied! Such he felt in the most shallow parts of his heart, but something else was there... No, what he wanted now was to kill- to kill and to kill, until there was nothing more to kill. Then, perhaps, he could rest at peace, knowing that he would be alone to brood over the deaths of his family at the hands of the pirates.

That night, he dreamt that he lay on the silvery sand of some distant shore, listening to the sounds in the dark.
A figure stood over him, a young maiden, with eyes that pierced him, though he saw nothing else of her from under her hooded black cloak. And she spoke out in a voice he knew. It was his sister's voice.
"Oh Roger, what's happening to you?" Her concern was evident.

"I'm going to find your killers. Everyone on that accursed ship will pay for what they did to you." Without so much as turning to her, he continued "I know this is a dream, and I'll just wake up, and you'll be gone." Though he tried to be cold, he had already stored her words away in his memory, as if each were a jewel, worth its weight in gold, and more.

"You think that my death was that terrible?"

"It was death, need I say anything more?" Her eyes welled up with tears at his words, and he resented her for it. "I will make things right."

She was even sadder then. "Do you really think that death can be made right with killing? It is as likely that fire can fight fire. When there is fire, you right it with water, its opposite. Such is this universe. Their deaths will not make mine any less heinous. Rather, cherish life, for each of us must eventually enter the void." She turned and started to walk away.

"But you're here!" She couldn't go now, she couldn't leave him in his despair!

Turning back her head, her brown hair flowing out behind her, she turned those sad brown eyes on him, and sighing, said "You know I'm not. You said it yourself, this is just a dream." With that, she turned back to the horizon, and walked out into the sea, disappearing into the silvery mists.

Roger suddenly woke up, sweat dripping down his face.
"I'll find them." he muttered.
Turning over, he felt a cold lump in his clenched fist. He opened his hand, and there, in the middle of his palm, was a tiny black speck. A small black pearl...


Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Tell me what you think.