The Sin of Innocence 4

Fleton stared at the horizon as he told Axel about his past.

"It was a decade ago," he informed. "I never met my parents, so I lived with a group of bandits. I thought I've found my place, but I was wrong. My so-called comrades sold me to authorities, blaming their crimes solely upon me."

"That's must be rough..." Axel commented.

"I escaped from all of them and traveled alone until I realized: I have nothing to trust nor a place for me in this world. That's until I met him."

[Flashback: Fleton’s Past; Fleton’s Perspective and View]

When I (Fleton) was sitting at the edge of a cliff. Below me was the ocean itself. I was staring at the sinking sun on the horizon, ready to end my miserable life with a flintlock.

I placed the barrel right on my head and prepared to pull the trigger. At the exact moment, he, the man I would address as Captain Goldteeth, saw me from afar.

"Hey! That's dangerous, ye numbnuts!" he shouted as he approached me. "Are ye goin' to end yer life just like that?"

"'Tis not yer goddamn business!" I shouted back as I aimed the flintlock at him instead. "Go the hell away from me or I'll shoot you clean!"

"Blimey! Boy, ye sure lost yer trust in everything, right?" he asked as he softened his tone. "Yer teary eyes reflected it; it's the feeling of betrayal and disappointment."

Without even noticing, he was right; I was crying; I was disappointed; I was sad. My hands were shaking as I aimed at his head. I lowered my gun and wiped my tears away.

He stood next to me, and we talked.

"Ye sure remind me of someone I used to know," he claimed. "Why don't ye come with me?"

"Where?!" I snapped out of desperation. "As if there's a place for me left in this stinking world—!"

He shook his head.

"Wrong, there IS a place for ye in this world," he claimed. "Ye just haven't found it yet—"

"Where?!" I asked aloud with doubt and sorrow. "W-Where is it then? Where do I belong to?! Tell me at once—!"

"I don't know," he answered, blatantly. "It is up to you to decide where ye could belong to."

He reached his right hand to me, offering his right hand.

"Follow me," he proposed. "Maybe ye shall find the place where you belong."

I just moved to him without ever thinking. The desperate thought of someone to trust and a place for me moved my feet without hesitation. I grabbed his arm and followed him.

I knew one thing at that very moment: he knew that I could pull the trigger. But maybe it was my mere feeling. But who knew? I felt like he trusted that I won't shoot him. Long story short, we reached a harbor.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"Where else?" he asked as he laughed and smirked. "As I've told ya: to the place where ye might belong, boy! Welcome aboard to The Abyss Walker."

I followed him and saw the ship, Za Terminus. We stood in front of the ship and caressed it. As I touched it, I could feel something from him and the ship. It was sorrow; a feeling of loss from the beloved.

"Ye are the first to join the crew," he said. "What's yer name?"

“I don’t have one.”

He flicked my forehead.

“Ye should have one!” he scolded. “No need to hide it from me.”

“Faustus Lawton Delt,” I replied with a huff.

"That's one long name, boy! I will just call you Fleton from now on."

Fleton... From that day and onwards, that would be my identity. The name might have no meaning for anyone, even for the captain himself. But for me, that is my everything.

Since then, we did a lot of things together. We hunted criminals and turned them in for coins. Our reputation grew that we even recruited more people, and our crew became well known.

Captain Goldteeth... He's not a leader to us, The Abyss Walker. For us, he's our father. And what does he think of us? I asked that once out of boredom when we're drunk after turning in a grand bounty.

He laughed and flicked my forehead. He blabbered random and confusing metaphors. I couldn't even comprehend what he was telling me. But I could pick something from his words. We're his family.

[Flashback: Fleton’s Past END]

Now, at the current time...

"If I had ended my life back then, I wouldn't have found my place," Fleton said with a smirk. "I always think about that every time I stare at the horizon."

"At least you didn't do it, right?"

"Yes. I'm lucky to haven't pulled that trigger!"

Fleton stared at the sun until it sunk below the horizon. As the light fell, the darkness made the sky and water its domain.

"Let us head to the mess hall for dinner with others," Fleton said as he headed inside.

Everyone gathered to have their dinner in the mess hall. The compact room was enough to fit twenty crew members in it. There was a long rectangular dining table surrounded by chairs. The captain sat along at the edge, enjoying his food.

The foods were some bread and roasted chickens while Axel sat next to Fleton. It also smelled like alcohol mixed with the smell of roasted meat. Axel only took two pieces of bread and a glass of water. Everyone looked glad that night.

"Does the prisoner get to eat too?" Axel asked Fleton.

"Yes, he does," Fleton replied. "He eats leftover foods."

"Leftovers?" Axel said out of surprise. "Isn't that too inhuman?"

"Inhuman?!" Fleton said aloud as he frowned, feeling insulted. "We treat our prisoner better than any other pirates out there! They feed their prisoners with food scraps and waste! Or even worse, starve them to death!"

"Ah... I-I'm sorry!" Axel replied. "I meant no insult."

"Sigh. No, I'm sorry for screaming," Fleton said as he shook his head and continued eating.

"Anyway," Axel asked. "Who delivers the food to our prisoner?"

"Thelastguyeatinghere." Fleton answered as fast as a man being chased by a hungry wolf.

"W-What?" Axel asked as he processed Fleton's words far too late.

Fleton quickly finished his meal before Axel even reacted leaving Axel the only person eating there. Captain Goldteeth saw Axel's plate still had some food on it.

"Lil Axey!" the captain said. "Ye know the rules, and so do us."

"B-But that's not fair even fair—!" Axel reasoned as he stood.

"Remember: No pirates do no trickery," Captain Goldteeth said as he gave Axel a ‘keep silent’ gesture. Axel sat back down as he crossed his arms with an annoyed look.

"Lil Axey, don't forget to grab the plate and gave the leftovers to our prisoner!" the captain ordered as he went to his quarter.

Fleton patted Axel's shoulder, and Axel stared back with a death gaze.

"I hate you for this," Axel said with an irritated tone.

"Come on," Fleton said with a smirk. "No hard feelings, okay?"

Axel took the plate and put all the leftover bread there. He opened the door and descended to the lower deck, to Durxante's cell.

Axel saw Durxante sleeping while still sitting on his plank bed.

"He's sleeping?" Axel thought as he got closer.

When Axel got close to him, Durxante opened his eyes with an intense and serious stare at Axel, surprising him.

Axel jumped back in shock that he almost dropped the food from the plate. Durxante triggered Axel's fight-or-flight response as adrenaline rushed into Axel's blood. He regained his balance and calmed himself down.

"Durxante!" Axel said aloud. "You—!"

"S-Sorry! I never meant to surprise you," Durxante apologized.

"Now I know why Captain Goldteeth hates him." Axel thought, annoyed as he gave him a bitter look.

Durxante looked at the food. The smell of bread filled Durxante's nose as his mouth watered.

"Ah! What do we have here?!" Durxante said as he clasped his palms.

"I bring you your supper," Axel said as he put the plate on the floor.

Axel grabbed the bar and tried to open it with bare hands.

"How do you open this?" Axel asked. "I can't give you the food unless—"

"You will need a key."

"A key? All right, where's it?"

Durxante dug into his pocket and took a key. He presented it to Axel by holding it with two fingers.

"Here it is," Durxante said with a sincere smile.

Five minutes of awkward silence. Axel stared at the key with a tired face, speechless. Axel rubbed his eyes and stared again at Durxante.

"Durxante?" Axel called.

"Yes?"

Axel took a deep breath before he started shouting at Durxante.

"You HAVE the KEY to your own cell?!" Axel said aloud, irritated.

“Y... Yes…” Durxante replied with an awkward smile.

"You could have escaped anytime you want!" Axel scolded. "And you're still here?!"

Durxante gave Axel a ‘keep quiet’ gesture with a worried face.

"Sssh! Hey, don't say that out loud, please!" Durxante begged. "They would punish me even more if any of them know I have the key! Please don't make me feel like I am a terrible person here!"

Axel shook his head as he pointed at Durxante's face.

"First, you tried to steal this ship. Second, you have the key to your cell. What's next? You are the true owner of this ship?!"

Axel was done with him. If Durxante was outside, Axel would have beat him to death by now. Durxante raised both of his hands in front of his chest, surrendering.

"Now, now! Let us forget about that, shall we?" Durxante begged. "I'm starving."

Axel calmed down, and Durxante opened the cell to take the food and locked it back. He put the key back into his pocket.

"I have to rest," Axel said. "Good Night, Durxante."

"May you rest for today," Durxante replied with a smile. "Good Night, Axel."

Axel ascended the stairs, leaving Durxante alone. Durxante looked at the food and clasped his arms again, praying.

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Ecclesiastes 9:7."

When Axel arrived at the crew's quarter, everyone had fallen asleep on their hammocks or bed. Even some slept on the ground. Axel searched around for a vacant place so he could sleep, but sadly, there was not enough space for him. Every corner of the room was already full.

Axel didn't know where he should sleep, so he got close to Fleton, who was sleeping. Axel shook him up lightly.

"Hey, Fleton," Axel whispered as quietly as he could.

Fleton slowly opened his sleepy eyes. He looked around with his drowsy eyes and saw Axel.

"Oh, it's you," Fleton said. "What is it?"

"Everyone has occupied the rest," Axel whispered. "Where should I sleep?"

Fleton looked around, and just what Axel said, the others had occupied every place and corner.

"Anywhere is fine," Fleton said. "As long as *yawn* As you don't disturb anyone."

Saying nothing further, Fleton fell and continued his sleep. Axel left the quarter and searched through the deck by opening doors one by one, but he found no vacant room to rest.

Without knowing, Axel went to the captain's quarter. He opened the door quietly and saw Captain Goldteeth sleeping while sitting with his face on his desk. The stench of alcohol was everywhere, filling the room.

"Wait. Isn't this the captain's room?" Axel thought.

He looked around and took his bags.

“Hey!” he thought as he wore his bags. “I almost forgot them!” He looked at the room; it was vacant enough, but the stench and the mess discouraged him.

Axel moved away and knocked down an empty rum bottle with his left foot by an accident. The sound wasn't too loud, but it was enough to wake Captain Goldteeth up. Captain Goldteeth partially opened his eyes and looked at Axel; he was still sleepy and didn't recognize Axel.

The captain began mumbling random inaudible words. Axel couldn't hear what he said, but The captain repeated the same question couple of times.

"Dave? Is that ye?" he asked several times, mumbling.

"I think I should leave now," Axel thought.

Captain Goldteeth fell asleep less than a minute. Axel opened the door quietly, making a little creaking noise, and closed it.

"Who's Dave?" Axel thought as he descended the stairs.

He arrived at the lower deck and took a key. He opened a cell door at a corner far from Durxante. He put down his belongings and laid down on the plank (the bed), trying his best to make himself comfortable, but it was too unbearable for him.

Durxante was still sitting on the plank while reading under the moonlight. He knew Axel still awoke.

He left his cell and walked to Axel's. Durxante's footsteps were silent, like an apparition. He saw Axel was lying down on his plank bed, facing the wall with his eyes closed shut, trying his best to sleep.

"He had a hard time sleeping," Durxante thought.

Durxante opened the cell door. That Axel didn't lock his cell surprised Durxante. Durxante got closed and caressed Axel's shoulder while hummed a soft and calming lullaby into Axel's ear like a mother taking care of her infant.

Instead of making Axel sleep faster, it triggered his fight-or-flight-response. Axel opened his eyes and jumped out of the bed. He fell from the plank onto the ground with his face on the floor. His heart was racing from the terror while his limbs went cold. He flipped his body to the side, facing who did it.

Axel couldn't see because of the dim lighting. He stood and dashed back into the corner on his cell. The moonlight from the ventilation revealed Durxante's face. Axel's fear turned to annoyance as he saw him. He approached and grabbed Durxante's shoulder while shaking him out of irritation.

"What in the world were you doing?!" Axel asked aloud.

"Ah. I was helping you to sleep—" Durxante replied with a smile.

"T-That's not how it works, Durxante!" Axel said aloud. "It was creepy!"

"Sorry." Durxante apologized as he clasped his palms. "At least I tried."

Axel released his grips and sat on the wooden plank. He calmed himself down with a deep breath.

"Since you're having trouble sleeping, want to talk with me to help you sleep faster?" Durxante offered with a smirk. "I'll be waiting."

Durxante entered his cell and sat down on the wooden plank while Axel sat on the floor in front of Durxante's cell. He opened a book and perused it. Durxante's sight never left the book page, even when he talked.

"Ask me anything," Durxante said as he flipped a page. "Maybe talking to a boring person like me will help you fall asleep faster"

The moonlight was flashing brightly through the tight open ventilation. Durxante was directly sitting below the ventilation. His hair prevented the light to reach his face, making his face obscured by darkness.

The things the light illuminated from Durxante were his hair and arms who were holding a book. The mystical gleam from the moon and the frigid night wind from the lower deck, combined with Durxante's mysterious aura and calming tone, was giving Axel constant goosebumps. Axel couldn't describe the sensation with words. It was hypnotizing.

"I always want to ask you. Are you afraid of not knowing when you will leave?" Axel asked.

"The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. Proverbs 29:25."

"Lord?" Axel asked. "Who is this Lord? A rich person? A noble? or—?"

"It's God," Durxante replied. "He is the one keeping me safe and giving hopes." Durxante closed the book. "Ah!" he interjected. "I haven't answered your question earlier."

Durxante held the book with his left hand while he started explaining with a hand gesture of his right hand. His eyes were shining with passion; His voice was enthusiastic as he explained.

"Men through times believed that there was one or more being responsible for creating everything. Men started worshiping gigantic trees or rocks or objects in the sky such as the sun, moon, and stars.

"Centuries later, some people claimed that they contacted a being or more beyond themselves. Thus, they proposed the theory of gods and goddesses. Some believed that there was but one supreme God or Goddess and some believed that there were several gods and or goddesses.

"They believed that the god or goddess provides everything they need such as animals and plants to eat, water to drink, and rain for their crops. They also protect them from harm or merely worshipped out of fear. With those concepts, they created religions with their dogmas and rulings."

"Which gods do you believe in then, Durxante?" Axel asked, curious.

"Good question," Durxante said with a smirk. "A single God."

"I thought there are many gods."

"Well, according to this book—" Durxante lifted the book and showed it to Axel "—There is but one God."

Axel couldn't see the title of the book. It was too dark, and the title was in a foreign language.

"Who wrote the book?" Axel asked.

"God."

"What does that book contain?"

"Everything! Everything you want to know."

"M-May I read it?"

"As long as you understand the language written in it."

"What language?"

"Believe me, you would not understand."

"Then... What does this book say about The Author Himself?"

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Revelation 22:13."

"He's eternal then?" Axel asked. "How strong is God?"

"He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. Isaiah 40:23."

Before Axel could ask for more, Durxante closed the book and put it next to him.

"Ah! Look at the time!" Durxante looked at the ventilation; it was night. "You should rest now for tomorrow! I believe that tomorrow will be a wonderful day!"

"I think I'm sleepy enough. Thank you, Durxante," Axel said as he stood.

"You are welcome, Axel," Durxante said with a warm smile.

Axel returned to his cell and fell asleep. Durxante was alone again. He clasped his hands to pray.

"May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4," Durxante recited before he fell asleep while still sitting.

The darkness that consumed the sea and the sky were fading as the ray of light from the sun rose from under the horizon. Durxante was the first one to be awake. He perused the book in silence while waiting for everyone to be awake.

The morning sun shone through the ventilation to Axel's eye, waking him up from sleep. Axel opened his cell. Axel stretched his body, creating a lot of cracking noises. Durxante saw Axel and greeted him.

"Good Morning, Axel," Durxante greeted.

"Ah. Good Morning, Durxante."

"Do you have any chores to do today?" Durxante asked.

“Sigh…” he shook his head, disappointed. “Yes, I have.” Axel took the mop and began mopping around. “I’m a cleaner.”

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10.

"Being a cleaner is fine," Durxante said. "They expect you to do your best for such simple work and if you do it your best, they will grant you more complicated tasks. Just be grateful for now."

“Thanks for your encouragement, Durxante.”

Durxante said nothing as he smiled.

Meanwhile, at the main deck, Captain Goldteeth looked at a map while Fleton used binoculars from the crow's next to look around.

"Found any loose bounty, Fleton?" Captain Goldteeth asked aloud.

Fleton looked around using the binoculars.

"It's all clear!" Fleton replied aloud.

"Keep lookin', See if there is another ship around or best, loose bounties!"

"Aye!"

Ten minutes later, Fleton saw an island close.

"Captain, there's an island at northwest!" Fleton informed aloud.

"Northwest?!" Captain Goldteeth looked at the map. "We're movin' northwest!" Captain Goldteeth ordered aloud.

The ship moved to the far northwest and docked at the harbor there. The crew gathered at the main deck, discussing their plan.