We’re swimming hard, and the ship is getting closer and closer. Men are lining the outside, guns pointed. Another shot rings out, and another one drops into the water. I wail loudly, and saltwater fills my mouth and I begin to choke. He’s putting this on me, and I know that if I don’t stop swimming, he will keep killing. I cough and splutter, and my legs are aching so badly that each movement is painful. I begin to struggle in the water, my mind making me doubt my actions.
“Don’t let him do this. He’s the one with the gun, he’s the one killing them,” Eric yells, not letting me go.
“I…I…I have to go back, I can’t let him kill anymore.”
“You keep swimming goddammit,” he screams, pulling me.
“Eric, please!”
“No, we’re not going back.”
“Keep swimming,” one of the men yells. “You’re nearly here.”
My vision blurs, and I’m hiccupping and crying so loudly I sound like a wounded animal. Eric is pulling, guns are shooting, Hendrix is screaming and I’m hyperventilating. The next few minutes pass as a blur. We wade past at least six sinking bodies, and the water is filled with a reddish color that is fading to almost brown. By the time we reach the ship, I’m completely out of it. Eric is holding my weight, because I have nothing left.
I hear the sound of more gunshots.
I feel them pull me up.
And then everything goes black.
“Hey, Indi, wake up.”
My eyelids flutter open, and I see Eric’s face. The moment I realize where I am, and what happened, a sick feeling crashes into my chest, and my stomach turns. I roll off the bed, crying out in pain as I lean over the side and throw up. All those people. Dead. Because of me. It was hard enough knowing John the yacht owner died because of me, now this? The one thing I knew I could never recover from was being the reason someone died. I throw up, until I’m dry heaving and gasping for air.
“Oh, Indi,” Eric soothes, stroking my hair.
“It’s all my fault,” I sob.
“No, it’s not. He did it, he was the one who made the decision to shoot them.”
“If I went back…”
“Indi, he would have shot them anyway. He’s a goddamned pirate, do you honestly believe he’s never done anything like that in his life?”
“Stop!” I cry, covering my face.
“We’re free, we’re going to get home and…”
“And what?” I scream. “And live in fear? Live our lives running? What, Eric?”
“We’re going to be okay.”
Black and white. Black and fucking white. He sees nothing else.
“Indigo?”
I lift my head to see a tall, dark-haired man coming into the room. He’s wearing a crisp, white sailor suit. He has kind blue eyes.
“That’s me,” I whisper, sitting up.
“Are you ill?”
“No.”
He nods, and walks in further. “I’ll have someone look after that mess for you. If you have a minute, I’d like to talk to you about our plans.”
“Plans?” I rasp.
“Obviously you’re not safe until we get you out of the ship and onto a plane home, but before then we’re going to need some statements. Now, you’re safe here with us, but when we arrive at the small docking island we’re going to have to keep full cover on you until we can sort out safe transportation. Even after you arrive home, I would suggest full watch for a few months at least.”
“W…w…w…we’re stopping at an island?”
“It’s a small town, really. We have full protection for you there, but you will need to follow instruction. We’re not sure what we’re dealing with yet, and whether or not you’re in danger.”
“They’re pirates,” I snap. “Of course I’m in danger.”
“Pirates you say?”
“Look, I’m not doing this, okay? I’m not giving you all this information, because you’re unable to do anything to stop them. I won’t go there, because there’s no point. They’ve been out there for over ten years, nothing you do will change that. I just want to go home, and forget this ever happened.”
“Indi,” Eric snarls. “You need to give a statement against him.”
“Why, Eric?” I yell. “What is going to change?”
“He needs to pay.”
“He’s not going to pay, you know that as well as I do, and so does he,” I snap, pointing to the officer.
“We have our ways, so we need a full statement to ensure your safety. When we arrive at the island we will check you into a hotel, and keep you there with watch until we can figure out the safest mode of transportation home.”
“Whatever,” I whisper, lying down and rolling over. “Can you just leave me be?”
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” the officer says, before leaving the room.
I feel Eric shift beside me. “Why are you protecting him?”
“I’m not protecting him, Eric,” I whisper. “I’m simply stating facts.”
“He was going to sell you, and you’re basically refusing to give information.”
“He’s a goddamned pirate,” I snarl, spinning and glaring at him. “He’s not getting anything done to him because he IS the fucking law on the ocean.”