A Final Journey with the Evening Star

A Final Journey with the Evening Star

The polished teak deck of the elegant and exquisite schooner, Evening Star, gleamed in the warm light of the evening sun. For more than ten years, she had been the pride of Captain Elias Mercer, a ship that had explored more of the world's lesser-known locations than most men would ever see in their lifetime. However, she was about to venture into uncharted territory, both geographically and figuratively.

Five souls, each bearing secrets and sorrows of their own, were on board the Evening Star. With silver strands winding through his once-black hair, Captain Mercer was a wise and seasoned man who rarely spoke. Up until this day, he had been the captain of his ship, as sure as the northern star.

Mercer's right hand man was First Mate Samuel "Sammy" Fletcher, a big man whose wide smile often concealed a sharp mind. After years of sailing with the captain, he had heard rumours of mutiny lately, and Sammy's name was constantly in the centre of them.

The medical officer of the ship was a woman with keen eyes and an even sharper tongue named Dr. Clara Voss. Her motivations for embarking on this expedition remained enigmatic, although some speculating that she may have been fleeing from someone or something on the mainland.

Marcus Tillman, the youngest member of the group, was a greenhorn who was just out of his teens. He was devoted and eager but too innocent to fully comprehend the gravity of the environment he had entered. He saw Captain Mercer as a father figure and looked up to him.

And lastly, there was the traveler Evelyn Hart. Only she and the captain knew why she had sailed over the dangerous waters when she had joined the Evening Star two days prior. Her unwavering beauty and serene demeanour made her a compelling figure akin to a marble statue.

The sea took on a rich, crimson tint as the sun set below the horizon. Though there was a great deal of anxiety in the air, the Evening Star easily navigated the waves. At the helm, Captain Mercer's eyes were locked on the far horizon, as though he was looking for something that was just out of reach.

"How long until we reach the island?" The silence was broken by Evelyn's voice, which was as cold as the evening wind.

Mercer turned away from her. "By dawn, if the winds hold."

With a nod, she made her way to the bow, where she would have some privacy to reflect. With a spark of something unfathomable in his eyes, Sammy watched her go. He leaned idly against the railing as he walked up to the captain.

"We have a strange passenger over there," Sammy muttered.

Mercer grunted noncommitally. He'd learnt long ago to listen to Sammy talk without becoming too involved.

She doesn't appear to be the kind of person who would be here, in this remote area. What is her narrative?"

"That's not a concern of yours," Mercer finalised his response.

Sammy straightened up, his smile wavering. "Well, Captain, everything on this ship concerns me, all due respect. particularly if it involves a traveler who could be causing us problems."

With stern eyes, Mercer turned to confront his first mate at last. "You forget your place, Sammy."

Sammy met his eyes with a steely edge in place of his previous grin. Maybe it's time for someone else to assume leadership. Someone who is aware of the importance of a ship and its crew."

The challenge was right there. For weeks, Mercer had sensed the tension that was about to explode, simmering beneath the surface. But a scream cut through the air before either man could move.

Everyone ran to the bow, where Evelyn had her hands grasping the railing and her wide, scared eyes fixed on the ocean below. The others followed her eyes and saw what had scared her: a body softly bobbing in the waves while floating face-down in the ocean.

"Marcus!" Clara gave a start when she saw the red jacket on the greenhorn.

Orders were yelled by Captain Mercer without hesitation. "Drop the boat! We could still be able to save him!"

But Evelyn backed away from the railing, pale as a ghost, while they rushed to get the lifeboat ready. Shouting, "It's too late," she said. "He's gone."

Glaring at her, Clara turned to face her. "You can't really say that? He's still releasable!"

Evelyn gave a non-readable shake of her head. "I witnessed his fall. He was... shoved."

The group went silent in shock. It was Sammy who spoke first, his voice full of incredulity. "Who would shove the boy into the water? That's not logical."

However, Mercer did not give him a confused glance. It was a sombre awakening. "We all know who has the most to gain from a dead body on this ship."

Everyone's gaze went to Sammy, whose expression tightened with rage. Do you believe that I carried out this task? You believe I would murder a child?

With a murderous tone in his voice, Mercer moved forward. "Sammy, you stated your goals clearly previously. There is not enough room on this ship for the two of us."

Evelyn interrupted Sammy before he could say anything. "It wasn't him."

Everyone was shocked by the comments, but Sammy was particularly taken aback and gave her a surprised look.

"I saw who did it," Evelyn said in a cool, collected voice. "It was Captain Mercer."

The group let out a collective gasp. While Mercer stared at Evelyn in shock, Sammy looked at her as if she had just saved his life.

Clara stated, "That's a lie," but her tone was hesitant.

Evelyn pressed, "It's the truth," "He pushed Marcus, as I observed. He did, and I'm not sure why."

The group appeared to falter as they tried to balance their allegiance to the captain with their shock at Evelyn's charge. Seizing the opportunity, Sammy moved nearer to Mercer. "Looks like your time's up, old man."

Mercer sensed the tide was shifting against him. He knew in his heart that this was how it had to end, therefore he was at a loss for words to defend himself. With resignation, rather than a struggle.

Mercer stepped back towards the railing before Sammy could react. "Sammy, I'm not going to argue with you. I'm worn out. You can have the ship if that's what you desire."

The captain turned to face the sea, and the others watched in startled stillness. For a little period, his hand held onto the railing firmly before releasing it.

He uttered, "May the Evening Star guide you well," with a mournful tone that reverberated through the darkness.

Captain Elias Mercer then jumped over the railing and into the black chasm below without saying anything else. The ocean's vastness engulfed the sound of the splash.

Nobody moved for a little while. It seemed as though time had stopped, their amazement at what they had just seen being too much to take in. Breaking the stillness first, Evelyn turned her face emotionless and turned away from the spectacle.

Sammy walked cautiously up to the edge and peered into the murky waters where the captain had vanished. He whispered, more to himself than to anybody else, "He's gone."

Clara had a sorrowful whisper of a voice. "Why would he do that?"

"Because he knew it was over," Sammy corrected himself in response. With a newfound air of power, he turned to face the others. "We keep this between us. As they say, the captain went down with his ship. We'll finish the task at hand since we have one."

There was no disagreement. With Sammy in charge again, the crew quietly went back to work. Unspoken feelings and unsolved ideas hung thick in the air. With a face as impenetrable as ever, Evelyn went back to her cabin, her head buzzing with the truth that only she knew.

The memory of Captain Mercer, a man who chose the sea over the sins he could not face, lingered like a shadow as the Evening Star sailed into the night. A world that had recently lost one of its own to the deep was silent as the waves gently lapped over the ship.

With the ghost of a skipper keeping watch over it from the harsh, black waters below, the schooner continued on her journey, bearing its secrets and sorrows.