Welcome to my weekly Wednesday Brief flash fiction entry! This is just a free piece of flash fiction (between 500-1,000) words based off of a prompt. I’m part of a wonderful group of flashers 😉 and I’ll have a link to a site where you can read other stories, after my piece.

A light breeze tugged with the tangle of curls that refused to be tamed by any sort of hair tie. She stood on the beach, the sand working its way between her toes, weight on her heels, allowing herself to sink into the warmth. The water was crystal clear and calm, stretching out until sea met sky in a blurry horizon line. She started forward, toes curling to find a grip as she struggled to keep her balance.

“You really don’t have land legs do you, Aggie?”

She pursed her lips, “You should be on the ship.”

“Someone’s on it.”

 

 

 

“It doesn’t matter, I told you to stay on the ship.” The breeze picked up her words, playing with them. She turned, managing to pivot in the sand without falling on her ass. “You upset the locals last night, and it’s my responsibility to keep the rest of the crew from being chased off. This is a good port, and I want to keep this as one of the few places we’re welcome.” She had to look up at him, her hands on her hips as balance.

Drake Amilous stood a few feet away from her, a knowing smirk on his face, brilliant red hair buffered by the wind. Rail thin and easily a foot and a half taller than her, his long limbs expressed ease of self. He moved effortlessly on the sand, closing the space between them. “Aggie, darling, I know why you come to this port every few months. He’s not coming back love.” His voice was low, words meant just for her, his Inlander’s accent coming out thicker. His words smoothed together, the vowels longer than her own.

“I come here because this is a safe port for us.” A boldfaced lie if she ever told one, and it infuriated her that he knew, could see through it. The others could as well, but he was the only one brash enough to call her out on it.

“He screwed the crew. Fucked you over,” a glance up and down, and she crossed her arms over her chest, scowl deepening when he laughed. “in more than one way. He ran off with our loot. It was our stash, and he took it and turned and ran.”

Righteous anger burned her face, feeling the heat rush through her body. “If you know what’s good for you, shut your mouth.” Turned back to the water, the idyllic view and calm shattered for her. She staggered to the water’s edge, gaining more solid footing when the dry sand gave way to hard packed ground.

She stopped at the water’s edge, just close enough for the flat end of the wave to wash over her toes. Here she felt comfortable, rather than on the solid footing of the Terrain. Born on the water, she grew up ships, not even stepping foot on the remaining Earth until she was twenty. Her father had told her the stories of the old days, when the land masses were divided into countries–ruled by individual leaders. The ice had melted when he was a child, the decades of rains coming afterward.

“Agatha.” Drake had come up beside her. He brushed past her, standing in the water, the mellow breakers rolling past his calves. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”

“I really don’t want to deal with you right now.” Agatha stared at his freckly leg rather than attempting to meet his gaze. His eyes seemed to go through her, pale grey and all knowing. Drake was one of the few Inlanders she trusted.

“We’re friends aren’t we? Friends tell each other the truth.”

She recognized the hesitation in his voice. The subtle shift of tone, shortening of his words. “I am the Captain of The Isla, and you are a member of my crew.” Sidestepped him, and waded further into the water, carefully holding the hem of her pants out of the way. The water swirled around her knees, the lapping of the waves, the push and pull as they cascaded toward shore, and retreated back comforting.

“You’re a guaranteed ticking time bomb.” Almost casually tossed over his shoulder as he slogged back to shore.

Agatha waded out deeper, the water swirling up around her, her pants soaked to her upper thigh. There was magic in the water, she could feel it pulsing through her as the waves swirled and tumbled. She took a deep breath, putting one foot in front of the other, the sand underfoot slick and silky. The tug of the current was more insistent when the water pushed up over her hips. Inhaled deeply, tasting the salt in the air, exhaled, trying to let go of the tension that Drake’s words put in her mind. She closed her eyes, keeping her arms outstretched for balance. The warmth of the sun beat down on her shoulders, warming her further, the water soothing her nerves and soul.

Part of her knew it was foolish to continue to return to the Sparatas port, but hope kept logic at bay. There was a longing behind her returning to this place every few months, that she would see the one who had betrayed them all. She wanted answers, not only for herself, but the crew.

And to put a bullet between the traitor’s eyes.

Wednesday Briefs Flash Fiction Site

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