The Confession

Sib and Sophia started to delve deeper into the tunnels. There was a distinct impression that nobody had visited this location in a while.

The walls were covered in spider webs, and there was some low-lying water on the floor. The two had to watch their step or they would slip on the wet ground.

It was an awkward silence between the 2 love birds since it was the first time they were completely alone. Finally, Sib decided to break the silence.

"Um, princess?"

"Yeah?"

"I wanted to ask you something. I've been meaning to ask you this for a while"

"Go on."

"I..."

Before he could finish, however, Sophia tripped on the wet floor and was on the verge of collapsing when Sib caught her in his arms. Following some time spent gazing into each other's eyes, they slowly turned their heads away while blushing.

When she fell Sophia, she dropped the torch in the water, and now they could not light it up again. It was pitch black now.

"Oh no! What are we going to do now?!"

Sophia exclaimed

"I have an idea."

Sib took out the box of matches Alexandra left them and checked the box. There were only 10 sticks left. He took one out and lit it up.

"We have to hurry up and find an exit because these won't be enough."

Sib said and then he took the princess's hand, dragging her forwards.

Sophia blushed when she felt his touch on her. It felt nice that he was here with her even if he was forced to.

After a while, inside one of the tunnels, Sophia's attention shifted to some strange writings on the wall.

"Sib, wait a bit."

"Huh? What is it?"

Sib turned his head towards where Sophia was looking.

The two approached it and Sib put the match a bit closer. It read

"Our love will last forever, Marina"

Sophia remembered the name written on the captain's chest. It said Marina as well. Strange she thought. Could Marina be the reason the captain reacted this way upon seeing the island?

"Interesting."

Sophia said.

"What do you think, princess?"

Sib asked

"Marina. I've seen this name before. It was written on the captain's chest."

"No way. Really?"

"Yes. Haven't you seen the chest before?"

"Actually, the day the captain found you with it was the first time I've ever seen it."

"Hm. I must ask her about this when we get out of here."

"Well it has to be soon, otherwise, we will run out of matches."

Sib as he showed the princess that they had only 5 left.

"You're right. We should hurry."

Sophia took his hand and the two continued to walk inside the tunnel.

It didn't take much walking for them to find the ladder the captain was talking about.

"Sib look! The exit!"

Sophia exclaimed happily.

She was about to climb up the ladder when Sib grabbed her arm.

"Careful, princess. The ladder looks old it might break at any moment."

"Don't worry. I'm being careful."

He let go of her arm and she climbed up. When she reached the top she tried to open the trap door but something was preventing her from opening it. She tried pushing it open but it didn't work.

"Princess? What's going on?"

"Ugh! Damn it. It won't open! Something is blocking it!"

Sophia yelled

"Here let me try."

Sophia then climbed down the ladder and Sib climbed up. He tried pushing it and hitting it but the door would not open.

"I'm sorry, princess seems like I can't do it either."

He said as he climbed down.

"So what now?"

Sophia asked

"We have to wait for the captain and the others to help us."

"How many matches do we have left?"

"With this one, only 2."

Sophia sighed and put her head on Sib's chest.

Sib blushed and slowly put his hand on her head, caressing her hair. Sophia then remembered her conversation with the others last night. She thought that now was the best time to ask.

"Hey, Sib?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"I've been meaning to ask since last night. Are you from an aristocratic family?"

Sib's eyes widened. He pulled away from Sophia.

"H-how did you know?"

"The others told me last night but they didn't give me many details. So I wanted to ask you. Are you really?"

Sib let out a big sigh and nodded.

"Why did you hide this from me?"

"I didn't hide it. It just never came to mind. I may be from an aristocratic family but I was disowned a few months before I joined the Mermaid's Heart. It's been so long that I started to forget about it. I'm sorry, princess. I shouldn't have hidden this from you"

"No, don't apologise. You had every right to not talk about your past. I'm sorry I even brought this up."

"It's alright. I don't mind talking about it."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then can I ask you something else?"

"Go ahead."

"What exactly happened between you and the First Mate? And the riot?" And so, Sib began his story. He told Sofia that what The First Mate said was true. He indeed was the son of an aristocrat who made him the commander of the army with some connections. He said he was young and spoiled. Sib told her that he didn't feel bad for taking Alexandra's place back then. Till he made a huge mistake. Because of his recklessness, a member of the royal family was killed by intruders. He was kicked out of the military and disowned by his family. At that moment, he had nowhere to go and with that, he became a crew member on the Mermaid's Heart. He didn't know at first that The First Mate was part of it too. When he saw her, he tried to apologise but she made his life miserable in return. He got angry and started a riot together with the other crew members. He decided to do it when the captain was most vulnerable. Huge mistake. And with one hand, she slaughtered almost everyone. Nobody ever started a riot again. And Sib was kept alive to pay for his disrespect till the end of his life. He needed to witness all that to realise what kind of an idiot he was.

Sophia was stunned, she didn't expect Sib to have been a person like that.

"Princess, please say something. I promise I'm not who I was before and I-"

"I believe you"

"Excuse me?"

"I believe you. Who you were doesn't matter to me since you've changed. My feelings for you are the same."

Sib was shocked.

"Feelings?"

He said with a red face.

"Yes. I believe it was pretty obvious that I like you."

Sib had no idea what to say or do at that moment. She's right it was pretty obvious.

"I-I like you too, princess."

He confessed staring deeply into her eyes.

Sophia blushed at these words and came closer to him.

He put his hand on her cheek and caressed it. She put her hand on his and slowly closed her eyes as her lips met his. Sib's match started to fade, and all of a sudden they were left in the dark.

It was not in the most romantic place as any of them imagined it but it felt just as perfect.

They pulled away and pressed their heads on one another. Smiling softly.

Suddenly, they heard a rumbling sound from above. Finally, the light of the afternoon sky hit their faces as the others opened the trap door from the other side.

"Hey there, love birds."

Eleonora exclaimed.

"Come on! You don't wanna stay there forever, now do you?"

Christina said

The two climbed up the ladder and finally, they were back on dry land.

"Took you long enough"

The princess said

"Haha... next time watch your step princess. We might not be there to save you."

The captain said with a smirk on her face.

All of them left and went straight to their camp.

There, they spend the night.

The captain went to bed almost immediately together with the other crew members and Sib. While Sophia, Christina, and Alexandra stayed together by the fire.

"First Mate?"

Sophia said

"What?"

"Don't you feel a little ashamed for pushing Sib into that hole?"

"Ashamed? For a scum like him? Never. Why are you getting so worked up about it? You two shared a moment, didn't you? I just help the process"

Alexandra said

Christina giggled

"Haha very funny"

"It was funny. The way he fell was hilarious!"

Sophia glared at the two before remembering what she saw in the tunnels.

Christina said while laughing.

"Hey, um I wanted to ask you something"

"What is it?"

Alexandra asked.

"About the captain's chest."

Alexandra and Christina looked at each other and then back at the princess.

"What would you like to know about it?"

The Quartermaster questioned.

"I saw some strange writings on the walls down there. It had the name Marina on it. The same name is written on the chest. I want to know who is Marina?"

The two hesitate to answer.

"We are not allowed to share this information with y-"

"Marina was the name of our captain's first and only love."

Alexandra began to say when suddenly Christina cut her off.

"What?"

Sophia exclaimed as her eyes widened.

"Christina!"

"What? She asked and I answered."

"Yeah, but we are not allowed to tell her!"

"Relax! It's not like the captain would know."

Alexandra looked at her with a furious gaze.

The two then turned to the princess.

"Don't ever tell the captain we said anything about her, understood?"

Alexandra said

"Yes, of course."

"Good"

"But I wanted to know. What happened to her?"

Sophia asked.

"What do you mean?"

Christina enquired

"You said she was the captain's love. Did something happen?"

Alexandra looked at Christina and then sighed.

"She was killed. Right in front of the captain's eyes on this island."

Alexandra said

"Killed? No. She was ripped apart in front of the captain's eyes by other pirates.

Christina then exclaimed.

Sophia was taken aback by the Quartermaster's words.

"What do you mean ripped apart?"

She asked.

"They cut her up limp by limp. Took every organ from her. Eyes, hands, voice. ears. You name it. It was a scary thing to see."

Alexandra answered

"We were lucky we only saw the aftermath. The captain witnessed all of it.

Christina added

Sophia could not believe her ears. No wonder the captain panicked like that the moment she saw the island.

"Then what happened to the other pirates?"

"She killed them all. All 15 of them. She lost her hand in the process but it did not stop her from executing all of them."

Christina said

"Wait. The captain has a missing hand?? How come I've never noticed it before?"

"She wears a wooden one and covers it with her gloves. The hand works like an actual one so it's unnoticeable."

Alexandra responded.

"That's horrible! I feel so bad for both of them. How can someone do such a thing?"

Sophia exclaimed.

"Pirates, princess. Some of us are just cruel."

Christina said

"Okay, I think you've heard enough for today. Remember you don't ever tell anyone about this. Not even Sib or the captain."

Alexandra said

"Yes, First Mate!"

"Okay, good. Now if you two excuse me, I'm going to bed. See ya tomorrow."

Alexandra said as she picked up Baki and headed to the ship.

After a bit more talking about unrelated topics Sophia and Christina went to bed.

In the morning, the ship took off and they headed to their destination, America.