3Clones Part8

Hunter Cont: 3

Lord Pierce hadn't had a nightmare for a long time. He had almost forgotten that people have them. So when he found himself standing on a dock surrounded by fog, he didn't realize he was dreaming. Confused at how he came to be there, Pierce stood on the dock and looked around. In the deep fog, he couldn't tell which direction was the shore and which was the sea. The silent fog curled around him.

"Hello?" Pierce called.

A muffled echo replied.

"Hello?" He called louder.

The echo sounded again, this time it was more distorted.

"Hello!" He shouted.

"Hello." This was not an echo.

Pierce jumped and whirled. There was a figure in the fog. He couldn't tell who it was but he instantly felt that he knew him.

"Who are you?" Pierce asked. "Show yourself!"

"Hello Darien." The figure growled, stepping into view.

"You." He gulped dryly. "You're dead."

"You can't even say my name can you?" The apparition's voice was filled with anger. "You murder me and you can't even say my name!"

"I-I... I'm sorry..." Pierce stammered as he backed up.

"Say my name." He growled. 

"I-I can't..."

"You murdered me!" The ghost shouted. "The least you can do is say my name!"

"Bill! I-I'm sorry Bill!" Lord Pierce screamed. "I'm sorry!"

"No you're not." Bill put his face close to the other man's. "You just don't want to die."

"No. I don't want to die!" He whimpered. 

"You won't yet." The ghost took one step back. "I've got other plans for you."

"What do you want with me?" Pierce asked.

Bill smiled and began to fade away.

"What do you want with me?!" He shouted.

Lady Elaine shook her husband. He thrashed and growled a few times. Wanting sleep, she slapped him awake. Pierce shot upright.

"What was that for?" He asked.

"You were sleep talking," she replied. "I want to get a bit of sleep."

"What did I say?" Pierce asked nervously.

"I haven't an idea," Elaine replied, already falling back asleep.

Ezekiel stood at the docks again. This time the young man wasn't alone. His father was looking over a ship he was thinking about financing. Little did the young man know that his father was being black mailed into financing this ship. Toby Rowe also stood there, admiring the Great Alexzander. 

“Do you really have to go?” Josephine asked.

“It won’t be forever.” Ezekiel stroked her face. “We’re just going to Brazil and back.”

“Yes, but if I went with you,” she smiled. “We’d never have to come back.”

Lord Pierce looked over the side of the ship. 

“What do you think, sir?” Toby called up to him.

“She’s a good ship.” He replied, his face ashen. “I’ll do this run to Brazil but that’s it. Nothing more.”

“Ah, don’t you worry sir!” Toby laughed. “You’ll take to this trip like a fish to water!”

“When does the Great Alexander sail?” Lord Pierce called.

“A week from now.” The low tones of Scott made them jump.

“Uh yes… A week from now!” Toby called up to Lord Pierce. 

“A week,” he sighed. “So be it.”

That week passed like a breath. Lord Pierce did everything he could to get out of his obligations. However, everyone knew he had given his word. Backing out now would just bring up unwanted questions. Very unwanted questions. 

The waves gently rocked the Great Alexander. Ezekiel had already boarded and was running around the deck. Lady Elaine and Josephine were at the docks, waiting to see them off. All that remained was for Lord Pierce to board and set sail. 

He flexed his toes in his boots. The creak of the deck caused him to look down. Something bothered him about the wood under his feet. An uneasy feeling curled at the back of his mind. Suddenly needing to be away from the dock, Lord Pierce marched up the gangplank and boarded the ship. 

Hunter Cont: 2

Toby exited the pub with a slight buzz in his head. His troubles temporarily forgotten, he enjoyed the night air and cool breeze. Humming quietly to himself, he began to meander home. Walking past the docks, Toby saw a silhouette in the moonlight.   He thought it was rather poetic looking until he recognized the scarf on the figure.

"Nope!" Toby tried to hurriedly stumble away.

Scott caught him as he tripped.

"Are you alright, Toby?" The even tones sent a chill down his spine.

"I thought you were done with me." The semi drunk sailor replied. "What do you want?"

Scott smiled. He tried to make it non threatening, but being who he was, he failed. Miserably. 

"Toby Rowe, it's been ages!" Lord Pierce shook his hand enthusiastically. "What brings you to my door? Did you gamble your life away again?"

"Ah..."

"Or made a deal good or bad that you think I should know about."

"Well,"

"I know, you've struck gold!"

"Sir, will you let me speak?" Toby asked, annoyed.

"Well, have you anything new to say?"

"Yes I have."

"Then say it!" Darien said.

"You owe me."

"I said new things Toby..."

"Yes," he replied. "And I've never called in this debt before."

"What debt?" Darien picked up a quill and began writing something on a piece of paper.

"The Constelyon."   

Silence fell like a bad smell.

"What did you say?" He tried to look calm.

"You know very well what I said, lord Pierce." Toby's eyes glinted dangerously.

"Why? After all these years, why bring that up now?" He stared at his desk, unable to meet the sailor's eye.

"Call it delayed gratification." Toby smiled.

"And what exactly do you want from me?"

"The shipping line I work for needs a sponsor."

"No. I don't care if you tell the world I murdered Bill Chase. I will not pick up the shipping business again." Pierce growled fiercely.

"I'm not going to tell the world!" Toby laughed. "I'm going to tell your wife. Just her."

Pierce paled. He tried to find words, any kind of argument. His shoulders slumped as he realized the only thing he cared about was keeping that secret from her.

"Do we have a deal?" Toby held out a hand.

"Yes." He said the word like it was poison.

As they gripped hands, the older sailor's sleeve pulled back a little. Pierce saw a half healed scratch disappearing up the man's arm. The sight of it sent an icy chill up his spine.

"He agreed." Toby said, rubbing the scratch on his arm. 

"Hmm."

"So, what's the next step?"

"Getting him on the ship," Hunter replied.

"Uh-huh... And the point of all this is?" 

"Revenge."

"You know, you could get revenge simply by killing him," Toby said delicately. "Or telling his wife what he did."

Scott made a strange face as he thought about that. Toby thought he saw a brief flash of humanity in those eyes. Then suddenly the hunter went still. A green fog settled around the man's eyes. Moments later, the fog vanished.

"No. The plan is good." Scott said distractedly.

Toby felt a chill run down his spine. Something eerie was going on here.