The Wretch Of Fork Island

*contains some violence.

"We got a right good wind Mr Holloway! She's almost at nine!" Crewman O'Malley yelled.

First Mate Chauncey Holloway marked his book and smiled. Captain Tobias Darden noted the approving look. Holloway walked with steadfast balance. Moving with the ship. In contrast to the first year hands fighting every pitch.

"How is our progress, Mr. Holloway?"

"I am pleased to announce our arrival in New Hope in two days," he almost knocked his boots together like a Royal Officer. He added, "if the winds hold."

Tobias let himself grin as well. That would put them a week ahead of schedule. Five hundred opium chests arriving before any other ship.

He was about to show everyone. His father would regret calling him a mad man. How he rambled about foolish schemes.

But he was wrong.

His crew— though cheap and hastily wrought— had performed adequately. His contact had not been a charlatan. The cargo had been real and they'd left without incident.

Tobias savored the moment. He breathed in the salt air. It smelled like money.

"Land to starboard!" A crewman yelled.

Everyone turned to see the sight of trees on the horizon. Tobias extended his looking glass and peered through it. Small island. Lots of trees but little sign of else.

"Just an island, keep it moving!" He ordered.

The ship continued to sail past the small plot of sand and woods. He looked again. It looked lonely. Nary a bird nor any other animal was in view. Like it had just appeared out of nowhere.

Suddenly a shape appeared. Buried in the trees. A wisp of a person almost floating. Like an image made from a waterfall. Tobias rubbed his eyes and looked again. Nothing. But when they passed the island's crest he saw its true form.

The shape of a V stranded in the ocean. Split down the middle almost completely. It forked.

—

"Almost all of it, Sir," James Smith looked shocked.

"How is that possible, bosun?" Tobias held a mug of rancid water.

"Dunno' , Cap'n, it was fine yesterday."

One barrel of water for fifty men. Perhaps a week's worth at most.

"Reduce rations. We're less than two days out from New Hope, this could have been a lot worse."

The boatswain shook his head in agreement. It would little more than inconvenience with less than two days out. Still he wondered why it soured so quickly.

Tobias patrolled his ship. Nodding at the sailors as they trended to their duties. It was important to him to be present. He wanted respect, not blind loyalty.

He stopped to observe a crewman hardly old enough to shave. He was pointed northeast and looked to be in prayer. When done he kissed a cross in his hand and stowed it in his pocket. Then he noticed Tobias and straightened up for inspection.

"Good day, crewman."

"Captain," he nodded

"Whatever the prayer I hope it is answered."

"My prayers, Cap'n?"

"Yes, you seemed so fervent in your supplication."

Tobias noted his unease then the man appeared to transform his face to a more placid nature, "just a plea for a safe return, Cap'n."

He considered pushing further but no. No man should be forced to relate their prayers.

"As do I, crewman Greyson. Dismissed."

The young man returned to securing some rigging. Tobias watched his eyes dart around suspiciously as he worked.

—

"He is a strange boy, that one," Holloway devoured his dried beef, "Bosun told me he believes the island we passed yesterday is cursed."

Tobias picked at his food daintily, "does he now?"

"That he does, he's been saying prayers non-stop," the first mate chuckled, "says it's the devil's own island!"

"Hmmm," he thought of the specter he saw in the trees. A chill came over him.

No matter, he told himself, with little more than a day's sailing left it hardly required much worry. He retired to his cabin.

He lit his pipe and sat. Letting the tobacco calm him into reflection. As was custom in times of comfort or pain, his thoughts drifted to Anna.

He could barely contain himself. It was doubtful she could wait through a second voyage. Her suitors were legion. But he would be victorious. He now had a successful shipping company, a hardened crew and a prosperous future. Hope and fate had intersected at the feet of divine providence.

The idea soothed him greatly and not long after sleep took him.

—

He was standing on a shore. The waves were licking at his feet. He looked around but saw nothing. The sky was a fiery amber yet the terrain looked dark and shadowed. Fog clung to the ground like a cold morning after a rain.

A lady appeared in front of him. Translucent, he thought she was fog at first. She cocked her head and looked in his direction. The motion was animal-like in nature. Her eyes were candle flame. They peered through and into him and beyond.

She opened her mouth to speak and the island itself shuddered. A great commotion arose and he saw water flowing through the center of the treeline as the isle split itself in two. Branches began falling , slamming the earth below them.

THUMP!

They rang out as they hit the ground.

THUMP!

The lady's face did not acknowledge the chaos. She continued to stare. He felt himself pulled into her eyes.

THUMP!

THUMP!

"Captain!" Second Mate Gunnar Hanson called through the door, "Captain, we needed up top, sir!"

Tobias groggily opened his eyes. His pipe rested on his chest; he brushed the ash off and stood to open the door.

He was greeted by his second mate's distraught face. Gunnar was a seasoned sailor and did not lose composure easily.

"Good evening, Mr Hanson," he said, still shaking the sleep away.

"Good evening, Sir. My apologies for waking you. It's just—," he looked confused, unsure of what to say next.

"What is it?"

"Cotton says we're turned around!"

"Excuse me, sailor?"

"Mr. Holloway is up top, he can explain better."

Tobias sighed and followed the second mate above deck. A half moon hung in a gentle sky as he breathed in the cool air. He spotted Night Helmsman Thomas Cotton in a furious conversation with the first mate.

"You think I don't know my duty, sir?!" Cotton looked like he may strike Mr. Holloway at any moment.

"I am accusing you of no such thing!" The first mate made an incredulous face, "yet!"

"Oh, I'll give you yet!" And he lunged at Mr. Holloway fist first. The two men collided and the first mate was sent flying back.

Tobias motioned for the second mate to secure the helmsman as he went to check on Mr. Holloway, "tie him up. Secure him below deck until we return!"

"That bastard!" Cotton attempted to lunge again but was stopped short by the second mate.

The captain reached for Holloway's hand and helped him to his feet, "what is the meaning of this?"

"Polaris, sir! It's starboard! The moron has us turned completely around!" The first mate was frantic with anger. He licked the blood from his lip.

Tobias searched the sky for the North Star. The voyage west would keep Polaris to port but at the moment it hung ominously starboard.

"I felt no change in direction, Mr. Holloway," he said. Getting off course is one issue. A full 180° was another thing entirely.

"As far as I can tell no one did, sir. Yet here we are. Apparently sailing west again."

Tobias saw the man's red eyes. He looked exhausted, "when do you last sleep, Mr. Holloway?"

"No time for sleep now, sir," his eyes looked wild.

He couldn't disagree with that. They needed to get the ship back on course post haste. Still, if anything else were to go wrong he couldn't afford Holloway making tired mistakes.

"Mr. Hanson and I will oversee the course correction," Tobias gently grabbed the man's arm and motioned him below deck. He turned to the second mate, "Mr. Hanson, initiate a full turn."

"Aye aye, Captain," he turned to the crowd of men, "okay boys, wear-o!"

Within a half hour they were turned and back on course. The tired men worked the sails back to order and the atmosphere on deck relaxed a bit. He couldn't hear it but he knew there were whispers about. Sailors were superstitious people and this would cause much alarm until they caught sight of land.

Once the maneuver was complete Tobias made his way back to his cabin. He passed Greyson on his way. The man hugged the edge of the boat in prayer. His eyes were tired as well.

"Not to worry, crewman. We are back on course and far from the cause of your woes."

"Sorry, sir?"

"The island, Greyson."

The crewman looked around nervously, "I'm sorry Captain, it's a silly thought, really."

"No need to be sorry, young man. When you play as dangerous a game as ours, superstition will abound. A mysterious new island can be very concerning, I know."

"New, sir?"

"Yes, crewman. I've been through the charts, there's no mention of it. I hardly imagine it would go unnoticed in these heavily traveled waters." Greyson looked surprised by that, "was it something I said."

"You've never heard of Fork Island?"

"Fork Island? That's a clever name if I ever heard one. It certainly fits!" Tobias gave a chuckle that Greyson returned halfhearted, "you're dismissed sailor."

Greyson looked like he wanted to say something but decided against it. Tobias pondered again if he should push more but also decided naught.

With the ship set right and a calm cool breeze blowing he felt no need to add to his distress.

—

He danced with Anna on the beach. She was barefoot and laughing as she twirled.

"I love you, Tobie!" She yelled above the crashing waters.

She was more perfect than any vision before. Her dress was white. Her hair pulled tight into a bun that flapped behind her in their spin. She looked deep into his eyes. Her baby blue irises began to change before him. Burning red. Flames flickered where they should be.

Her hands wrapped around his tightly as her smile became a snarl of fangs. She began to pull him in. Closer and closer.

Tobias awoke in sweat. Cold and wet, he sat up to rub his face. It had been eight days since the wearing. Though the course seemed correct, they were nine days past their expected arrival and one day overdue for delivery. Concerns had quickly begun piling up. Food rations were at the end. The single barrel of water was almost gone. The sailors skulked around with an eye for vengeance but against who? Or what?

The mood was somber all around. He didn't want to appear weak— no, not now. But his eyes struggled to meet theirs. Had they not been so close to home the men may have just steeled their reserve and pushed through.

The sweet song of the voyage's end had sung to them a lullaby of tavern ladies and joyful regalia. Now the tune was slipping away from them.

Tobias approached a circle of men. They had Greyson surrounded. Even from a distance he could see the crewman's face was not right. Mr. Holloway stood far opposite. Watching but making no movement to intervene. Was he afraid? He wondered.

As he got closer he could hear Greyson. His voice sounded hoarse.

"We're going back! Ha ha ha! We thought we turned around but she turned us right back! Ha ha ha!"

His face was gaunt and his eyes were bloodshot. His arms were covered in scratch marks as he continuously clawed at himself.

"What is going on here?" He summoned every ounce of command he could assemble. His chin rose to the occasion and his eyes narrowed to mimic authority.

Crewman Jeffries spoke first, "he's a bleedin' devil worshiper that's what's goin' on!"

"Ya! He keeps goin' on about some she-demon messin' us about!" Boatswain Smith chimed in. Holloway's eyes caught his from across the deck. He rolled them and turned away to focus on the helm.

"Gentlemen! This behavior is not becoming of your caliber of service! I know this is a trying time. Obviously Crewman Greyson is not responding to the stress well. We're not going to get to New Hope this way!"

"New Hope?! You want to go to New Hope?! There's no hope! Ha ha ha!" Greyson started bouncing up and down.

"See! Cap'n?" Jeffries continued, "he's been praying to that damned island all week!"

"He was saying a prayer for our safe return! He is a good Christian man, sir!" Tobias realized he was pointing. The blood was coursing hot through his veins.

"I saw him look at Mr. Holloway's book," the Second Mate spoke meekly, "the other day. I think— I think he may have changed some things."

The First Mate turned at this revelation.

"What have you to say about this?" Tobias demanded.

Holloway seemed to search his thoughts before he spoke, "I have no evidence to the contrary, Captain. It is just numerals and I make my marks in pencil. I myself have checked and double checked and everytime we regain our course we end up back in the same direction. I have no other suspect to accuse but the supernatural, sir."

Tobias was stunned. In the short time he had known him, the man had always seemed level-headed. As well as quite dedicated to keeping the peace. His words now had gathered the rest of the crew. He could smell the rage building up around him. He was standing close to a hornet's nest and he had little desire to be stung.

"Men please!" He hollered over the increasing yells of scared sailors, "this is barbarity! Be not such base creatures as to ignore a sick sailor's call for help!"

Several men had begun pulling at Greyson.

"She's coming! Ha ha ha! She's coming! All over now boys!" He screamed until he began to choke.

His captors started carrying him toward the port side. Tobias followed. He thought he screamed stop. He thought he reached out for the man's feet to pull him to safety. He thought he did all the things he should have done.

But he did none of those.

He was tired. He was outnumbered. They were not to be swayed now. More than anything his eyes became fixed on the sky ahead. The swirling black clouds and great bolts of lightning. The men could not hear the crash over their hate.

Through pained voice and spittle. As his body teetered over the edge of Captain Tobias Darden's ship. Crewman Greyson said—

"She's here."

Tobias sucked in his own breath as he watched the man flip over. He didn't make a sound. The crew was so silent they would have heard.

But they did hear him hit the water.

Then the storm rumbled in. The gentle steady knock of the boat quickly became a violent rocking. Several men lost their balance and went sliding. Tobias included. He slid head first into a pillar. Gashing his temple as it scraped the rough wood.

Mr. Holloway's hand appeared, helping him up.

"Are you alright, Captain?"

"I— I don't know! Greyson! They killed Greyson!"

Holloway shook his head, "it really is a shame but he never should have been snooping around in my books."

"But there's no proof! Just because he looked at a book doesn't mean he knew how to lead us this far off course!"

"I know, it was a surprise to me too when I caught him."

Tobias froze. The rain pounded his face and forced one eye closed at a time. Holloway stood blankly, wet globs dripping off him. He was steady. Unaffected.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asked. Afraid of the answer.

"Unbeknownst to us, Mr. Greyson is quite a skilled navigator. Learned from his father. He had the audacity to correct my course."

Lightning exploded off the bow.

Tobias, still sitting, pushed himself back, "what did you do to him?"

He started laughing maniacally, "not that it matters now but you'll find one of the opium chests a tad light. It's not the way we wanted it to go. I truly am sorry for the boy. He should have died surrounded by friends."

The boat rocked. Tobias slumped to his side.

"We? Who else helped you in this murderous action?"

"She spoke to me, the Wretch. When we passed it, she wanted you as the sacrifice. He put himself in harm's way, Captain. His fate was sealed. He chose the wrong path."

"WHO IS SHE?! Who is this demon who hunts us for no crime?!"

Pellets of hail started to sting against his flesh. Hitting the deck to the tune of a fork hitting a crystal glass.

"You'll meet her soon, Captain. Choose wisely."

Holloway saluted him and ran towards starboard. Hitting the rail and spinning over as the boat teetered up to port.

Tobias watched in horror as the hail hit him like a hundred bee stings a minute. Sailors tumbled back and forth. Slamming onto the deck and scrambling to get up. Running.

Running where? He thought, where are you all going to go?

The orchestra of terror performed its magnum opus. Winds and stings and all manner of butchery painted his view in every direction.

The ship pitched again and Tobias could see the water. It churned and foamed while the lightning crashed around. He could see no one else on deck. He began to slide.

His feet fought for purchase on the slippery surface. His arms grabbed for anything but nothing would hold. The ocean licked its lips in excitement for another meal as he neared. He had a vision of Anna waiting by the shore.

She transformed into Greyson, feral and laughing.

Then blackness and cold.