A Life Given For All Those Taken

I CAN FEEL MY HEART RACING whilst the river guide calls out paddling commands as we near White’s Rapid. Normally, this specific hole would have been a class 2+, but because of the new water level it’s a class 3. Mom thought this would be a nice, relaxing vacation, if you can call it that. It’s anything but relaxing. Don’t get me wrong, I love the water, but I’ve always preferred the calm waves lapping onto the sandy beaches of the sea over the rocky torrent of the river.

I hold my breath as the front of the raft hits the rapids. Just as we hit the hole, I can tell something is wrong. Everyone can. The raft is slowly tipping, and I can hear the guide yelling at us to get to the high side of the boat. I try, but his voice is drowned out by a sharp ringing in my ears and the roar of the waves crashing against the rocks around us that create the rapid.

Before I can register what is happening or can do anything about it, I’m submerged in the deep, dangerous waters, flailing my arms around for the rope on the side of the raft. All my hands grab is the water that slips through my fingers. I’m left there, repeating the same words in my head over and over again. I’m going to die. I’m going to die, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Why had I always been so drawn to the water if I was destined to die here?

And then, out of the blue, a hand grabs hold of my wrist and hoists me up with ease. As my head breaches the surface, I gasp for air and choke on the water that had entered my lungs. I relish this cool air that soothes my body, feeling my heartbeat slow from that sprint it had just been racing.

I’m hauled into a small wooden boat by two sets of strong arms, instead of the large white raft I had been on moments ago. In fact, I can’t hear the roaring of the rapids anymore, or see the large red mesas that surrounded our raft route. All I can see now for miles is an expanse of clear blue water shimmering in the light of the glowing sunset on the horizon. My heart begins to race, and I can even hear the pounding in my ears. Where in the world am I?

I turn, looking for whomever pulled me out of the boat. In front of me sits a boy. He wears a white tunic, brown britches, and knee high black boots. His hair is the color of dark chocolate, his eyes the color of the extraordinarily clear water that surrounds us, but the look in those strangely captivating eyes is like a dagger to the gut.

“My name is Jacks,” he says before shooting a girl holding the oars a look that I assume means for her to start rowing. I’m right.

The three of us sit in the boat in silence. I have no idea where we’re going until I turn my head in each and every direction and see a large ship. I assumed that these two had come to rescue me, but now it feels more like a hostage situation.

I turn to the boy who calls himself Jacks. “Who are you? I ask him nervously, scared of what is to come next. “What do you want with me? Where am I?” I feel my anger spark with every question I ask

The girl clicks her tongue, rolling her eyes. “So, so many questions, so little time.” She laughs wickedly. “I’m Finn, by the way.” My vexation is set ablaze at her mysteriousness, I have to clench my fists to keep from shouting at her. I let out a deep breath, taking in the salty smell of the sea, allowing it to calm my anger. I just want to know what is going on.

Jacks glares at Finn. “I thought I was the one that was supposed to do the talking.”

Finn rolls her eyes again and smirks, and I can’t seem to tell if I like her or not. She has a funny attitude, and yet she’s still holding me hostage. As we reach the ship, I notice the flags that fly in the soft sea breeze are black with a white skull and crossbones painted on them. It’s like the fairytale pirate ships, I can picture the drawings in the storybooks that I had as a child ever so clearly.

My heart skips a beat when our small wooden boat is slowly lifted off the surface of the water and into the air. For a second I allow myself to believe it is magic, until I notice the ropes on either side of the boat. I let my eyes drift over to Jacks, catching him staring at me with a sense of worry in his eyes. As soon as he realizes that I’ve caught him in the act, his expression hardens and he looks away.

Our little boat reaches the deck. As soon as I’m out of the boat and on ship, all eyes are on me. Staring at me. I want them all to go away, but even with all this discomfort, something feels so…familiar. Finn wraps an arm around my shoulder.

“Now, now boys, don’t make Anna here feel uncomfortable. Staring is rude.” All the eyes are averted from me within seconds.

“I expect you to treat Anna with the same respect as we did when we first took you in.” Jacks raises his brows at the crew and they nod, saluting him. I take a moment to realize that Jacks and Finn seem to be the captain, or captains of this crew.. “Good.”

Finn steers me away from the group and toward a small first mate’s cabin. “This is where you and I will be staying.”

I turn to her. “Why do you guys keep calling Anna? My name is Brooks!” She sighs. “Sorry. That’s what we’ve always called you.”

“Excuse me?”

“Just wait and get dressed. Then I’ll have Jacks come and explain it to you.” I suddenly remember that I’m in my life jacket and swimsuit. She rummages through a weaved basket, throwing me a pair of red britches, a white linen tunic, a blue bandana, and a pair of brown boots. I turn away from her, changing into the clothes she gave me.

Just as I finish lacing up the last boot, the cabin door bangs open. It’s Jacks. “Finn, they need you on deck.” Finn nods, heading for the door, but Jacks grabs her arm. “Have you given her the rundown yet?”

Finn shakes her head. “Why don’t you give it to her?”

Jacks gulps, his eyes widening as Finn smirks, shutting the door behind her. I take a seat on the floor across from him, raising an eyebrow questioningly. Jacks takes a deep breath before saying the last words I expect to hear. “You’re cursed.”

“Excuse me?”

“So am I. The whole crew is. This–this is one of your past lives. My sister and I were brought back here first, though we have no idea how long ago. Whether it was 60 years or 4 hours ago, no one can truly tell.”

I look at him incredulously, but he continues on as if his statement makes absolute sense. “Time here is frozen, to an extent. Before the first of us died, we were cursed to return here. You’re the last one to join us, and–and—” he stumbles over his words, looking at his hands before taking a deep breath, “ —you were the first to die.”

So that must be why he can’t look me in the eye. “But how do you remember me? Why do you keep calling me Anna? I don’t understand any of this, nor do I remember it.” I hug my knees to my chest, allowing tears to drip down my face like soft rain. “How did I come back?”

Jacks places his hand on mine. “Don’t cry. The memories come back eventually. The first time we met your name was Anna. You had been a hostage on another ship, and Finn made it her duty to rescue you.” He smiles at the memories. “Usually we have the same name as we have in all of our past lives, that’s part of the curse, but you don’t. I apologize for calling you Anna, and it’s alright if you don’t understand. Neither do I,” he pauses. “Usually a crew come back when they’re a inch from death, or there is a special connection between the soul and this life.”

I smile lightly, wiping the tears from my face. Then something strange happens. The scenery changes in a flash. I assume this is a memory, but there’s more than just one. Flashes of beautiful sunsets and sunrises with the crew, swims in a cove, the wind in my hair as the ship makes its way toward another, and a sudden, sharp pain in my chest that makes me scream.

I blink and it’s all gone in an instant. I’m sitting in the cabin again, and Jacks’s eyes are wide and expectant. “Well?” he asks. “Did you see anything?”

I shrug, explaining everything to him. He stands up quickly, nodding and muttering to himself, and makes his way out the door. I chase after him, calling his name. He doesn’t respond, so I grab his arm.

“What? Did I say something?”

“I think I know where the curse is,” he says. “The cove that you described. It’s where we were cursed, and where we first met.” He looks worried, terrified, even. I can’t understand why. This is supposed to be good. “I don’t know how I didn’t think of it before.”

“Set sail for Devil’s Cove!” Jacks shouts, then grabs my hand and pulls me towards the upper deck.

“Where are you taking me?” My mind is whirring with possibilities.

He doesn’t respond, just continues to drag me up the stairs until we reach the helm. He looks at me confidently, gesturing toward it. I knit my eyebrows together in confusion. I have no idea how to steer a ship, but I suppose I could give it a try.

Finn laughs. “Just don’t tip us, Anna!

“Brooks.” I correct her. She sighs, rolling her eyes. She does that a lot, I’ve begun to notice.

I place my hand on the helm, taking in a sharp breath as I’m thrown into something of a trance. My hands spin the wheel like a natural. Everything feels so familiar now, like I’ve done this a million times. Maybe this is why I have always been so pulled toward the waters. Because of this curse, because of who I was and what I had done in this lifetime.

“Where is Devil’s Cave, anyway?” Finn asks.

“Two miles east, then half a mile north of Lonely Island,” Jacks and I say in unison.

Finn looks alarmed, then smirks and turns away, walking down to the main deck. Jacks stands next to me, the night breeze blowing through his dark hair. The sun has set at this point, and the stars are slowly blinking into focus, one by one. The moon shines the brightest I’ve ever seen it.

“The first time we let you get your hands on her helm, you nearly tipped us all” Jacks says, laughing halfheartedly. I smile, turning the helm slightly to the left. It’s strange, having someone know you in a different light than you know yourself. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. The glow of a million stars that lights up the dark night sky seems to send me into a reverie once again, like some sort of trigger.

I stand on an island. Lonely Island. I stare out at the ocean, Jacks beside me. We’re laughing at some horrible joke he just made about crabs and dolphins. I lean into his side, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he sighs, smiling widely.

My grin broadens at my best friend’s comment. “Absolutely gorgeous.”

In that moment, everything goes black and I feel the all consuming, aching, growing pain again, except now it’s stronger. It’s no longer just physical, it’s emotional as well. I hear myself scream out indistinguishable words, and then it’s gone and all I can see is blinding white light.

The light fades as I blink it away, finding myself on the hard floor of the upper deck. My eyes go wide as I come to the realization of what’s happening. I push myself up from the ground and make my way towards the stern with shaking legs, but Jacks has gotten there first.

The waves crash loudly around us, and dark clouds are starting to blot out the stars, the ship beginning to veer off course, but within seconds of Jacks’ expertise, we’re back on our route, but the boat is still rocking dangerously.

I brush his hands off of the helm. “Let me try.”

His expression is blank, so I take the wheel and struggle with it for a few moments before I feel the ship stop rocking. He laughs. “You always had a talent for calming her down.”

I smile weakly. The rest of the way to Devil’s Cove, Jacks nor I say a word. We end up reaching the cove around dawn, the rising sun reminding me of the memories —visions—whatever Jacks called them. We dock the boat and the entire crew gets off, gazing around.

We’re near a cerulean lagoon, standing on a sandy white beach, a large cave of smoky gray rock towering above us in the shape of a devil’s mouth. We make our way into the cave, carefully walking along stone ridges and warily looking around for quicksand or dangerous animals.

“How come we’ve never seen this place?” a man named Juan says.

“Because we never brought you here,” Jacks snaps. He and Finn both seem on edge.

Everyone peers around, looking for something unusual. Finn spots it first, a bright glowing yellow light. “Over there!” she shrieks, and we all begin to make our way towards the light.

Jacks is shaking uncontrollably, sweat dripping down his brow. He turns to me, forcing a smile. “I’m finally going home.”

I smile and take his hand. Finally, we reach the source of the light, and everyone stares at it in awe, but I’m the only one who acts on it. Jacks pulls me back as I reach for it. “Don’t,” he says, but I ignore him, grasping the orb.

A knife is in my hand, and I’m shaking with rage. Another vision, I think. Finn stands in front of me. Jacks is beside her, a pleading look in his eyes. “Anna, please, don’t do this again. I can explain.”

I blink and everything is back to normal, except for the fact that Finn is holding a knife to my throat and the whole crew is running away. Her eyes are fiery and full of burning rage. “You won’t take this from me, Anna. You won’t.”

All of it makes sense now. Jacks’ nervousness. Why I always died first. Finn’s annoyance and sick composure. The realization is like having a brick thrown at my head. In our past life, the two siblings wished to be immortal, no matter the cost. Jacks and Finn cursed this whole crew to come back to this life over and over again. Neither of them had wanted me to remember this moment. And they had been stupid enough to bring me back here.

Finn presses the knife to my throat, pressing harder into my esophagus. Jacks is struggling to talk her out of it. “Finn, please! She doesn’t understand!”

Finn laughs haughtily. “Of course she understands. I told you we should stop bringing her back here.”

“She’s right, Jacks.” My voice is raspy, especially since I’m trying to keep her from slitting my throat. “You’ve taken innocent people’s lives, taken every chance that any of us have had at happiness just because you two were looking for it in the wrong places. Why should others suffer for your choices?” They look astonished at my words. I take advantage of Finn’s distraction, grabbing the knife from her hand and pointing it at her chest.

“Oh give up, Anna.” Finn laughs. “It won’t happen this time, or next time, or ever. So keep dreaming up your stupid fantasies of being able to live happily ever after because it’s never going to happen.”

“You’re right, there is no such thing as happily ever after. But there is such thing as happiness. All this misery and suffering and pain that you have caused ends now.” I pull back the knife, a sick expression on Finn’s face as she reaches for one in her belt.

Jacks grabs my hand. “Stop.”

“What are you doing? Let go of me!”

“The only way the curse can be reversed is by a sacrifice.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

“Do it, Anna. Just do it.”

He takes the knife in my hand and places the point of the blade at his heart. The look in his eyes is full of broken promises and heartbreak. I finally grasp the meaning of what he is telling me to do. I can’t believe it. I sink the knife deep into his chest, my eyes shut so tight I see stars. Tears roll down my face like a roaring waterfall when I hear him scream out in pain. I can hear Finn’s cry of outrage. A wave crashes over us. Jacks may have hurt me, taken my life away, but that doesn’t make his death any less painful.

I gasp for air, my lungs burning. Surprisingly, air enters my chest and I bolt up. I lie in a hospital bed, the room smelling heavily of bleach. The walls surrounding me come into focus, along with everything else. My mom and sister sit in the corner of the room, speaking in hushed voices.

“Hi,” I croak out.

My sister inhales sharply, jumping up. “Brooks! You’re awake! Are you alright?”

Mom grabs her arm. “Juliet, let her relax. I’ll call for the nurse.”

“How long was I out for?” I ask. My mouth feels like a bag of sand.

“Two weeks. You hit your head on a rock and got stuck in that hole when you fell out of the boat and went into some sort of coma. The doctors weren’t sure you were going to make it,” Juliet says.

Mom scolds her. “You were supposed to wait for the nurse to explain it all in a less traumatizing way.”

“It’s alright, Mom. I’m glad I heard it from you guys first.”

I did make it. Maybe in my future lives I’ll be able to live fully, oblivious of this one and all the ones before. I relax as the nurse checks my vitals, because I know that I’ve done it. History will repeat itself no longer.

TWELVE YEARS LATER

“Your report on how past events in history affect the world today is due tomorrow, and no handing it in late, Thomas! If it’s late, no grade.”

A smile spreads across my face as I scold my students, who are all about to leave for the day. Hopefully none of my AP History students will have the traumatizing sophomore year thatI did.

“Ms. Miller?”

“Yes, Taylor?” I ask. “Let me guess, you lost the assignment requirements again.”

Taylor nods guiltily, but I just laugh. “Here, let me get them for you.” She thanks me as I rummage through my desk, smiling widely.

“Brooks Miller, you have a visitor,” says someone at my door, probably the Vice Principal.

“Tell them to wait in the back of my classroom,” I say. “I’m busy.”

“Alright.”

I hand the paper to Taylor, who walks out of the classroom as I sit down at my laptop, entering grades into digital campus.

“So I suppose it worked. Sacrifice for another chance at life, for others and yourself.” That voice. The voice I have replayed in my mind since the day I was thrown out of that raft so I wouldn’t forget anything that happened. But it can’t be. It’s not possible.

My head snaps up. Standing in the back of my classroom is the last person I expected to see here. I don’t know how it’s possible.

It’s Jacks.