Chapter Text
"Come on, lass. You need to get going." Jacob seizes a sleepy Maisie by the ankles and hauls her from the bed. The kid lets Jacob have his way, groaning quietly when he lifts her over his shoulder, yet her eyes remain closed. It's obvious she'll choose to sleep among anything. If it's a weekend, Jacob wouldn't mind if she sacks out. The only problem is today is a Wednesday — a sunny Wednesday — and that means today is a school day.
Jacob makes a beeline for the kitchen and deposits the yawning child on a chair. Since Maisie slept in late, he whipped up something she would like to get her up and about: fried rice and hot cocoa. She refrained from scratching her eyes to gawk at the food.
"Wow, you didn't burn it this time," she snorts, grabbing the silverware with underlying enthusiasm. Jacob frowns. "I didn't burn it last time either. It was just slightly overcooked." He sat across the table and picked up his coffee. He had a feeling she would make a rebuttal, judging she had a brow raised, so he continued. "Eat, you'll be late for class."
Maisie pouts and begins to scoop the brown rice. "Can't you tell the teacher I'm sick and can't go?"
"Alright, first of all, it's Blue that is sick—" Jacob spared a glance at the window overlooking the azure sea. "— not you. Second, do you take me for a liar?"
Blue hasn't been feeling well for a couple of days. He refuses to leave the water and avoids contact. The cause is still unknown, Jacob never chance upon one of his kind in his past job. To top it off, studying beasts isn't exactly a hunter's strong point, or purpose, for that matter. He understands where Maisie comes from, though. Even he is worried, too. But skipping school isn't, and will never be, one of the solutions to the problem. Maisie sulks as she brings the spoon to her mouth. “No need to be snappy about it,”
“I’m not.” Jacob took a sip of his brew, relishing the bitter taste with a sigh. It's a fair substitute for rum. “What I’m trying to say is, you should focus on your studies. I’ll take care of him. I promise.” He shoots her a reassuring smile. That should do the trick.
And it didn’t.
“How could you say that when you’re busy building them ships.” Maisie grouches, slumping even more. Despite her petulant complaints, she’s putting away her meal like the wind. The sun’s about to reach its first quarter. Jacob guesses she’s aware she doesn’t have all the time in the world to argue with him.
Being a shipwright is toilsome and exhausting. Jacob has helped build ships of different sorts and sizes in a span of three weeks. While he may not be at home for most of the day, he sees to it that he finishes work early to pick up Maisie from school.
That said, maybe he could ask someone to fill in his spot while he tends to Blue.
“I’ll think of something." Jacob sets his mug aside and reaches to pat her dark curls. "Now, hop along, lass. Drink your cocoa, and sail through your tests, aye? Blue will be okay. Trust me." He watches Maisie's sullen mood become somewhat animated. She nods, a toothy grin tugging on her lips. "Aye!"
With high spirits, Maisie gulps down her cup, gets dressed, and snatches her bag hanging on the rack by the door. She twists the knob and pulls it open. Jacob expected her to be on her way, but what she did next baffles the clueless man.
"Uhm… Jacob?" Maisie turns, and their eyes meet. That's when Jacob noticed an indistinct expression hidden beneath her features. Clutching the handle of her satchel tightly, Maisie says. "I… I wish you had someone to help you take care of us,"
Does she want me to hire a nanny? Jacob furrowed his brows and blinks at her, confused.
"Until then, thank you for bearing all the responsibilities. See you later!"
The door shuts before Jacob could utter a reply. He was left in silence, alone, with his thoughts. He huffs and leans on his seat, arms crossed over his chest.
He's confident he provides for the household quite fine. Even though it's not on par with what he earned when he was a hunter, the money he makes is enough to satisfy their needs. Not only that, he goes out of his way to ensure they are comfortable and happy and secure. No one can cook? He takes upon himself to learn. Maisie's clothes were torn? Better practice sewing, then. Blue hates mosquitoes? Purchasing insect-repelling candles doesn't sound bad.
Jacob clenches his jaw. He's convinced he's doing a great job being a parent to Maisie — to Blue. It seems that he has to try harder. Maisie wouldn't think he needed assistance if he did.
Blue is still agitated when Jacob comes on the dock to check on his well-being. He dives underwater and resurfaces with a whine. Although Jacob has no plans to close the gap, Blue swims farther away to guarantee their distance from each other.
"Well, you're still blue. That's a good thing." Jacob yanks his trousers upwards with a grunt. He takes heed of the melted candle perched on one of the cleats. He'll scrape it and place a new one later. The basket by the bank must also be restocked with Blue's favourite fruit. If he lets someone cover for him at his job, what would he do for the rest of the day? Sit here? Despite knowing he can’t do anything about Blue's condition?
All the chores that must be done nibbles at the corner of his mind. It's giving him a borderline headache.
"I'm going to be late for work." Jacob tells Blue, positioning his body to turn around. "Get well soon, ya hear me?"
There was no response. Blue submerged. Jacob sucks in a breath and leaves. Every step triggers a dull ache throughout his body. Does he need rest? Maybe. Will he get it? Unfortunately, no.
Still, he's fine without any help… right?
To Maisie, school today perfectly embodies the word: ignorant . An announcement was made — only it didn't arouse her interests in the slightest. If anything, it made her upset. It's about a family day event to be held in two weeks. Both parents, or at least, a parent figure are required to attend the function.
It's ironic, to be honest. A good chunk of Maisie's class have their parents serve as hunters. Who knows if they're already dead or incapacitated to move. She raises the concern, notifying the teacher not everyone is privileged to such things. The faculty will arrange a plan to fix the issue, was the verdict.
"It still don't sit right with me." Maisie boots the pebble on the side of the road. Class ended after the sun hit its third quarter. She and her friends decided to stop by at a fruit stand near school before going home. "Best if they should just cancel it,"
Dunlop hands Maisie a sliced watermelon and a few berries. "Is it 'cause you're worried about orphans like me and Amar?" he asks, taking a huge bite off his banana.
"You talk like I ain't one." Maisie giggles and kicks his shin playfully. Dunlop stares at the empty space to process what he heard, yet his jaws keep on moving. He swallows afterwards. "I mean — you are, but don't you have Jacob Holland to watch over ya?"
Amar joins the conversation as soon as Jacob's name is mentioned. Maisie suspects she hasn't paid for the piece of pineapple she holds. Covertly, she darts the payment to the vendor, who almost didn't catch the shiny coin.
"Girl, I would die the greatest of the greatest deaths if the Jacob Holland, who killed four of them beasts in the span of two days—"
"It was five." Maisie corrects, popping the berries in her mouth.
"— lives under the same roof as me!" She squeals and jumps in glee. The stares she received were ignored as she munched at her snack.
Dunlop scoffs. "There she is again with her weird obsession. If I was Maisie, I would've deemed you a crank."
"But you ain't Maisie, are ya?" Amar sticks her tongue out at him. "Leave me and my fantasies be,"
Maisie observes as the two fall into their usual squabble, taking bites off the watermelon and spitting out the seed. She remembers this is how their friendship started — Amar brazenly expressing her thoughts of Jacob and Dunlop telling she's crazy.
"I could never understand what you like about that guy." Dunlop shakes his head, casually tossing the banana peel in a nearby trash barrel. "He's two decades older than you,"
Amar retorts with a smirk. "So what? Are you jealous?"
That. That's the phrase she always uses to shut him up. Maisie stifles a laugh when Dunlop looks away. His ears were burning red. "Whatever. I'm going home!"
Dunlop is a man of his word, Maisie commends him for that. So, it's no surprise when he really left. They know better than to be worried, though. Tomorrow, it'll be like none of this ever happened.
"I should be going, too." Amar discards what's left of the pineapple and gives Maisie a peck on the cheek. "That kiss's for Jacob." She titters. "See ya!"
What a free spirit.
Maisie continues on her way after consuming the last bits of her fruit. The sun's about to set. It's probably past its third quarter. Jacob told her he'll nurse Blue, hence she doesn't anticipate his appearance.
The walk home is silent without him. Usually, they'll make comments about anything and bicker about it. Maisie only realises that their rhubarbs distract her from the lengthy distance they have to take.
She skips down the path as she hums a certain tune. It's quiet. Too quiet. One or two carriages go by, and that's that. People don't frequent the area as it is far from the town square; there aren't many shops to visit. Also, houses are low in numbers because the trees look scary at night. Nevertheless, few individuals come across Maisie and recognise her for her courageous stunt at Castle White Rock.
This is one of those times.
"Maisie Brumble." A man clad in black approaches. Maisie's compelled to halt when he knelt to meet her gaze. He takes her hands in his, clasping it firmly. "It is an honour to finally meet you. No one could forget what you did for them sea beasts,"
Something feels off. Maisie blinks at him, at his eerie smile, at the burn mark surrounding half of his neck that disappears underneath his collar. She doesn’t linger for too long, as the man speaks again. "I must say, you're quite the lionheart. Aren’t you afraid somebody might come and hurt ya? Not everyone was happy with what you proclaimed back at the castle, after all.”
Maisie couldn't find her voice to answer. She tried to retract her hands from his vice-like grip, but it's no use. Her eyes flick around in search of someone. Just one person. One person nearby and she’ll muster the guts to fight.
There’s nobody. They’re alone. She’s alone .
Jacob.
Dread courses through Maisie’s body once the man lets out a manic grin. Her knees wobble. Heart racing. Fingers itching to unsheathe her knife she doesn’t have.
Her breath catches on her throat as the man leans in. “Because of you, them prying scalawags messes up our operations,” he whispers.
Operations?
A cold, sharp object pierces through Maisie’s stomach. It was a quick execution. The dagger’s buried deep, then it was removed. Maisie whimpers at the feeling of liquid dripping out and soaking her garb.
Excruciating pain follows.
Maisie reels and coughs vigorously. Splatters of blood taints the earth in a gruesome manner. She heaves and gasps and eventually collapses. She can't take it. Her limbs are losing strength, vision growing hazy and dim. Maisie presses a shaky palm on the injury in an attempt to minimise, if not stop the bleeding.
"Be careful. The enemies bask in the same light as you."
No matter how much she tries to focus, she sees nothing but a pair of boots walking away. Maisie allows her muscles to slacken, except for the ones bolstering her middle part. It shouldn't touch the ground. Infection is the last thing she'd want to deal with.
A cry rips out of the poor girl when her body suddenly caves in. The wound was jammed by accident, causing it to throb in excessive pulsing waves. More blood oozes. And tears brimmed on the corner of her eyes.
To die with no one aware of your agony, is the loneliest death of all.
Maisie had no idea how long she lay there, weeping, bathing in her own blood. She had no idea how much of it she had lost, or if someone had seen her helpless state. She’s gone numb. The only thing she’s aware of is her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Slow and hard.
Dunlop… Amar…
Blue…
Jacob.
If Maisie could turn back time. She’ll give them the biggest hugs ever known to mankind. She’ll tell them phrases about how important they are to her and how much she loves them. She’ll sing them songs and dance with them. If only she could, she would.
But she can’t .
Before she loses her grip on the world, she hears a distant voice calling her name. It gets louder — more urgent.
Then, it was all black.