Lost Continent - The Beginning

(Prologue)

It was terrible. I remember standing outside, tears streaming down my face, watching my father leave. It was dark, the wind blowing from the north. I could tell that there was going to be a storm and that he wasn't going to make it. He sailed over the horizon in his little boat, the Descartes. He had left his sword on the table. Alone, defenceless, and adrift in the open sea. My father was a dead man. Ever since that day I've felt empty. Nothing could make me feel alive. Nothing except the sea.

Ten years later and my Mum had died and I was still sailing. I was just a little girl back then, but the memories are still vivid. Everyday I miss them. Why did he have to go?

One day, while I was cleaning the house, I found something. My father's sword. I held it up to the light, letting it reflect and bounce off the sword. I followed one of the beams as it shone on the wall. I noticed a small cubby hole in the wall the I'd never noticed before. I went over to it and pried it open with the sword. Inside were photos of my father and I, a necklace, and a letter. I picked up the necklace and looked at it. It was a pendent on a chain. The pendent was of skull with two pistols crossed behind it and a sword going through them. The mark of the pirate. A memento from my father's days as a pirate. He had it tattooed on his arm as well. I had often asked what it meant, but he never told me. I found out eventually though, and hated him until the day he left. I went into the living room and opened the letter.

Dear Grace,

If you're reading this then I must be dead. I'm sorry for leaving you and your mother alone that night, you know pirates, can't keep them away from the sea. I want you to know that, although I've probably caused a lot of pain and hate from leaving you, I never stopped loving you. You're the greatest daughter a father could ever wish for, I only wish I was just as great a father. But there's one thing you must know. A pirate never dies. There was a reason I left my sword and necklace behind. All people have souls that ensure their humanity, without them we're just empty shells. However, a pirate's soul is never whole, just in case they get lost or die. You may have already guessed this, but part of my soul was given to both yourself, and your mother, but also into my sword and necklace. I want you to find my body, bring it back home, and use the sword and amulet to bring me back to life. I'm almost sure that you don't know how to do that, so I'll tell you. There's a small island in the middle of the sea, unmarked by any map. Off the shore of that island, on the western most side, there's a book in the water. You'll need it. To get to the island, just sail NNW. My sword will help to find my body. Hold the necklace in your hand, and also the sword in the same hand. Hold the sword up to the sun and where the rays join is where you'll find my body. Please, hurry. I already miss you.

I love you,

Dad.

P.S. How's your mother?

I began crying when I realised how much I missed him. I also realised that I somehow went from standing up, to sitting, leaning against the wall. I got up, dried my eyes and closed the cubby hole. I picked up the sword, feeling a fire rise inside me. As i put on the necklace I became even more determined and passionate to bring my dad back. I rushed out the door and almost ran straight into my best friend. "Ow, Jess, move."

"Why? What? Where are you going? Is that a sword?"

"Away."

"What? The north winds blowing, you know that means there's a storm coming."

"I don't care."

"Grace, you'll probably die."

"Then thousand men are dead out there, my fathers one of them. I'm going to bring him back. Don't try to stop me."

"What? But Gra-"

"I said don't try to stop me." I raced past her, climbed into my boat and began sailing away. I knew that the wind would blow me off course, but I raised my sails anyway, letting the sea take me where it wished. It was becoming rougher now, but I didn't care. I was on the way to finding my father. I left and never looked back.

(Part 2, Part 3)