Don't Call Me A Hero

Chapter 18

I groaned as I slouched in the hard wooden chair. Most of my friends were in the same condition as me, filled to the brim with delicious food that left our stomachs aching. I hadn’t eaten like that in such a long time. My stomach was not prepared. 

Predictability enough, Charlie was still going strong. The ship worked almost like a buffet except for the fact that the food was brought out to you instead of it being self-serve. I couldn’t even keep count of how much fish he had gone through. How does his stomach work anyway? If he’s made of rock, would he ever even gain any more weight?

“Is everyone full?” one of the waiters asked, raising his hands above his head. The college group cheered and Charlie only let out a grunt as the pirate kept talking, “if you all could please make your way to the deck. There is a brilliant display waiting for you.”

“Do we have to?” Maria complained as she forced herself to her feet. We all followed after her, our plan to come up with a game plan seemingly forgotten. I stumbled up after everyone, completely blind to the crewmember coming up behind him.

Of course, blind until I was pulled back down the stairs. I crashed onto the hard floor just as the door at the front of the stairs slammed shut. I rolled to my side as I glared up at the pirate. I slowly pushed myself to my feet and glanced up when I heard distant booming sounds. I could hear cheery voices above and I assumed they were showing fireworks.

“You guys are working for Arthur too?” I asked, looking around the space for anyone else. I could maybe take this guy. The problem was that I had no idea what he could do. 

“No, sir,” he bowed. I stood frozen as I watched this, wondering who the hell bowed anymore, “I’m sorry if I hurt you. I was simply trying to snag you away without anyone noticing.”

“”What do you want?” I asked. Strangely enough, I wasn’t scared. I had grown strangely confident in my ability to protect myself even after almost being kidnapped. He didn’t seem bothered by my fighting stance or my swirling shadows that were already forming around my fists before I had even thought to conjure them up. 

No, he seemed unimpressed. 

“It isn’t about what I want,” he shrugged and gestured for me to follow after him, “it is about what my boss wants.” 

“And that is?” I asked as he led me to a door that stood directly across from the stairway.

“You will see, Alexander Blackwell,” he said as he pulled the door open and gestured for me to enter. I looked back at him and into the long, dark hallway. At the end stood a closed door with a thin yellow line below it. I held my breath as I stepped forward, hating not knowing what to expect. I also knew, however, that I wouldn’t be able to just walk away. My curiosity would be eating away at me. 

I jumped and spun around as the door slammed shut behind me. I lunged forward and slammed my fists against the hard surface. I didn’t dare yell out. I didn’t know what stood beyond that closed door at the other end. I clenched my hands into fists and turned toward it.

What happened to all that confidence you felt just a little while ago? I told myself.

“Okay,” I muttered as I made it toward the door. I felt around blindly until my hand landed on the door knob. I let out a heavy sigh and slowly twisted it. I listened to it clicking as the lock slid out of place. I pushed the door open and stepped into the small, warm room. 

It looked to be an office of sorts. There was a large desk with papers neatly organized into several separate piles despite the constant movement of the ship. The large office chair was turned away from the door but I could hear movement from beyond it as whoever sat there went through a wooden cabinet behind the desk. The wall directly to the right of it held a bookshelf. The lining of books were held in place by a glass door. The chair across from the desk was a love seat with seemingly over plushed cushions and dark red fabric.

“Hello?” I spoke up and softly closed the door behind me, “your pirate friend very rudely pushed me in your direction.”

“Did he now?” the voice asked and I could hear the chair creak as they straightened up. The chair slowly spun around and revealed a man that looked oddly familiar. He was taller than me by a lot. He was thin, but not sickly, and his dark hair contrasted sharply with his pale skin. His bright blue eyes seemed to take me in just as I was him. 

I knew why this guy looked familiar though I had never seen him before in my life. He looked just like me except for the few gray hairs dotting his head and the slight wrinkles forming on his face.

“Dad,” I coughed out as I stumbled back, backing into the door as he stood up with a nervous smile. The word had escaped my lips before I could even think to stop it. I have never met this guy. Why was I calling him dad? 

“Hey, son,” he said, his voice shaking as mine often did when encountering a strange situation, “god, you look just like me. Did you get anything from your mother?”

“Height,” I answered simply. He chuckled as he folded his arms across his chest.

“Very true,” he said as he gestured for the loveseat, “please sit. We have a lot to talk about.”

I did as I was told and let myself sink into the cushions. He sat down as well and opened his mouth to speak before closing it again. Silence fell over us as he, and I, struggled to speak. Perhaps I got that from him as well. 

“Okay,” he groaned as he ran his hands through his hair, “I knew this was going to be difficult but...I don’t know. I thought seeing you would make it easy.”

“Make what easy?”

“This,” he waved his hands between us, “I felt like maybe the words would just flow but...I just don’t know where to start.”

“Did you really send someone to give me that phoenix necklace?” I asked him. He looked taken about by the answer. He tilted his head for a moment before leaning forward.

“So you did get it?” he smiled softly, “did you get anything else from me?”

“No,” I shook my head, a sickening feeling crashing over me, “you sent more, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” he nodded, “I guess I’m not surprised that your mother kept everything from you. I’m surprised you remembered such a small thing.”

“It wasn’t a small thing to me,” I shrugged, “I had forgotten who I got it from when I was younger, but I always had it.”

“It doesn’t look like you have it now,” he commented. I played with the sleeves of my long sleeved shirt before forcing myself to look at him.

“I threw it away when I realized it was from you,” I told him, “I...I didn’t think it was right.”

“Think what was right?”

“That I don’t hate you like everyone else,” I let out a shaky breath as I glared at my shoes, “my mom hates you, all my friends hated you...the whole city but…”

“You couldn’t,” he nodded as he sat back, “that’s the strange part of being a child. No matter what your parents do to you, there will always be a small part still attached.” 

“I guess,” I said as I sat up, “so what do you want?”

“What do I want?” he said and leaned back against his chair, “I guess I want a relationship with my son.”

“What?” I asked, glancing up at him, “why didn’t you contact me sooner? How are you not in jail?”

“Well, I got out of jail two years ago,” he said and pointed toward a metallic ring resting on his neck, “I got out early due to well behavior. They gave me this to block my abilities. I have to wear this for just a few more weeks until I get it taken off. Of course, if I do anything villainous during this time, my punishment is going to get a lot worse. I’ve, uh, been trying to find you since I got out.”

“What?” 

“Yeah,” he chuckled softly, “my employee Kendra came up with the idea of the college. She made quite a few assumptions but, luckily, some of them were correct. I had her keep an eye on you until I could figure out a way to contact you without alarming everyone, especially you.”

“Kendra works for you?” I asked.

“Yeah, she’s been quite the loyal employee actually,” he nodded, “her dad works at the college so it was easy to sneak her way in.”

“So, she’s like a spy?”

“Bodyguard, actually. Nothing illegal is happening here, Alex,” he assured me, “I’m simply using my resources outside of normal avenues. When she said you were in danger…”

“You had her bring us here.”

“Yes,” he said with a nod, “exactly.”

“Okay,” I nodded as I stood up, “um, I gotta go clear my head, you know?”

“Of course,” he nodded, standing as well, “it is a lot to take in. How about I give you my number? When you figure everything out or if you ever need anything, you can call me.”

“O-okay,” I stuttered out. 

“Perfect,” I said, “give me your phone.”

“I don’t have one,” I shrugged, “got a pen?”

“What kind of teenager doesn’t have a phone,” he muttered and looked around his office. He spun once before going into the small draws of the desk. He pulled out a smartphone and held it out for me. I slowly took it from his hand and he pulled out a cord to hand over the desk as well, “now you have a phone, a charger, and...I think that’s all you need. Give me a moment to activate it again, Alex. I just got a new one but that one works fine.”

“I can’t take this,” I said and went to hand it back to him.

“And why not?” he asked, pulling a similar looking phone out of his pocket.

“Because I can’t pay you back for it and I can’t afford a phone plan. I’ll just borrow someone else’s.”

“No,” he said, speaking sternly as if to a child, “I know I haven’t been there but I’m here now. Even if you don’t want me in your life, let me do this for you.”

“You’re sure?” I asked.

“Positive,” he nodded, “as soon as it is activated, I’ll give you a call. You’ll have my number then.”

“Uh, thanks,” I muttered as I got up to leave. I paused at the closed door and turned toward him. He raised his eyebrows at me and walked out from behind the desk.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I groaned as I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around the stranger in front of me. His whole back went rigid before I slowly felt him soften and wrap his own arms around me. I stood there for a moment as his grip got tighter. I released him and stepped away, my eyes on my feet as my cheeks heated up.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“The phoenix necklace,” I told him, “and I thought you’d want to hug your son at least once in case he decides he doesn’t want you in his life.” 

“Thank you,” he said with a small nod. I turned on my heel and hurried out of the room. My heart was hammering in my chest as I made it onto the deck. I shoved the cord and phone into my jean pockets as the cool night air cooled my warm face. Whatever they were showing was over and I could see Peter’s half frantic face looking wildly around until his eyes found me. I could visibly see him relax as he hurried across the deck toward me.

“What happened?” Maria asked, coming up to my other side, “the pirates said you went to the bathroom but you were gone a very long time.”

“Yeah,” I lied as I turned toward her, “my stomach did not agree with me.”

“I’m sorry,” she said as she hooked her arm through mine, “Peter actually came up with an ingenious plan. We’ll tell you on the way.”