Torrent watched as the rowboat splashed into the shallows. His excitement was building with every drop that fell back into the ocean. A rope ladder started to descend down the side of the ship into the rowboat and at last Torrent saw one. A person climbed down the ladder into the boat. He could not see any details, but that didn’t matter much. Then another one came down the ladder! Two people were rowing toward his beach causing his heart to beat out of his chest.
As the boat got closer Torrent could see that one was a girl and the other a man. He ran so fast to meet them that he tripped and fell, tumbling in the sand. “Agh if only my legs were long like my arms, then I wouldn’t have fallen.” Torrent thought to himself. Now at the water’s edge, their appearances became more and more clear, but it was hard to tell with all the sand in his face from tripping. He was overjoyed to meet them, but for some reason, he could not make a sound. The girl exited the boat first. Leather boots splashed in the shallows as they stomped the ever-moving sand, making it still for the first time this morning. She wore black pants with a white shirt and her blonde hair waved in the morning breeze. Her face was fair and kind and she appeared to be about as tall as he was. The man jumped out next causing an even larger splash when his boots hit the water. He looked tall and strong, dressed in all black and wearing a captain's coat that was torn and tattered. His beard reminded Torrent of gunpowder speckled all over the man’s face and his dark hair was messy as it fell almost to his shoulders, with an old black captain's hat resting on top. The man reached in the boat and pulled out a large rope with an anchor on the end. He looked behind him, back at the ship, and dropped it in the water. Turning back towards Torrent, the bearded man and blonde girl walked right at him.
“Ahoy kid, my name is Captain Aero and this is Rayne” he stated with a voice that reminded Torrent of rumbling thunder. “I’m gonna get straight to the point. I’m looking for some foam that glows you see. Ye seen anything like that on this spit of land?” the captain said as he spit on the sand. “Ummm y-yes, it comes in with the evening tide” Torrent stuttered, still in shock that he was talking to people. “I see. Well, I guess we must wait til sundown.” the captain said, walking back to the rowboat. “Captain Aero!” yelled the blonde girl running after the focused Captain. “We can’t just leave that boy here. Who is he? Where did he come from? How old is he? How long has he been on this island? How…” “Alright alright enough questions Rayne.” said the captain as he interrupted her stream of questions that would have probably gone on for much longer. “I guess we have some time until sunset. We will find out about this boy.” As the two strangers walked towards Torrent, thoughts flooded his head. “What will happen? Do I tell them everything? Will they take me with them? Why do they want the seafoam? I’ll just tell them everything. What do I have to lose?”
Rayne eagerly walked toward Torrent. She had a look in her bright green eyes that made him feel safe and scared at the same time. “Soo, what’s your name? Where did you come from? How old are you? And how long have you been here? Yeah, let's start with that.” she asked, firing off questions just as she did before. Captain Aero stared her down with a disapproving scowl, but she paid no attention to the captain. “I will tell you what you want to know, but first do you have any food? I skipped breakfast.” Torrent asked, sick of eating mangoes for so long. Captain Aero let out a raspy chuckle as he shrugged his shoulders. “I do on me ship, enough to fatten your scrawny self right up,” Aero said, spitting in the sand while looking at Torrent's long arms. His face clearly focused on the task at hand and not Torrent’s empty stomach. Realizing that he’d be eating mango again, Torrent sighed and said, “Come on then” and walked toward the shelter.
The afternoon sun was beating down and the sand was scorching hot. The sound of the waves pushing and pulling on the shore was soothing to Torrent as he tried to remain calm, due to the unexpected visitors. As soon as they entered the shelter Torrent realized that it was not big enough for all three of them. After all, he’s never had guests. He grabbed 3 mangos and handed one to the Captain and one to Rayne. Torrent remembered the shark tooth he found and quickly pulled it out to peel his mango. “Do you need help with yours?” he asked as he moved the tooth back and forth along his fruit. “No need”, replied Rayne as she and the Captain unsheathed daggers from their belts. The blades were identical to one another, being the length of a grown man's hand. The handle was as blue as the ocean and lined in gold. As Torrent was fixated on their daggers, Captain Aero was staring at the shark tooth. Curiosity filled the Captain's mind and something seemed oddly familiar. He dismissed the thought and said, “So what's yer name kid?”
“My name is Torrent, Torrent Brighton. I was shipwrecked here about five years ago. At least I think it was five years. I am the only survivor and you two are the first people I have come across.” Torrent said. He then began to tell them in great detail of the shipwreck. It wasn’t hard to remember, that memory would never leave his mind. It haunted him, occupying his head like an unwanted rat on a ship. While Torrent was telling his tale, Rayne’s jaw was dropped. Tears gently ran down her fair face as she listened. Captain Aero just sat there, focused on the words coming out of Torrent’s mouth, and once again something seemed familiar. “And that’s how I ended up here.” Torrent said as he finished his story. Rayne looked over at Captain Aero still in shock at everything she just heard. “Captain Aero, follow me” she commanded in a bossy tone as she walked right out of the shelter. “Be right back” said the captain as he followed the bossy girl out onto the beach.
“Do you realize who this is Captain?” she asked, secretly knowing he would not know the answer. “He said his name was Torrent Brighton, were ye not listening” replied the Captain. “NO CAPTAIN, he is the one from the prophecy! I just know it! Why else would Levianar destroy that ship five years ago? You heard what Torrent said! The red eyes in the wave. We know Levianar can travel from our world to this one. This is just too much!” Rayne said. Torrent was watching the interaction between the strangers that appeared on his beach that day. The blonde girl seemed distressed, waving her hands around and pacing back and forth while she talked. The captain just stood, stoic as ever with his giant arms folded in front of his chest. The captain kept looking at the girl and then back at Torrent. “Why does he keep looking at me?” Torrent thought, “They must know something!”
Captain Aero grabbed Rayne’s hands and said, “Ye might be right. We must take him to Hydronia. But first, we need that seafoam.” Rayne smiled and said, ”Of course, but what if he won’t come with us?”. Captain Aero looked over at Torrent. He saw a young, disheveled boy who had been alone for years. “I have a feeling he will.” said the captain with a smile. Captain Aero and Rayne walked back to the shelter. Nothing was different about the captain, but the girl was skipping right at Torrent. Her long blonde hair flowed up and down in the breeze as she bounded from one foot to the next. As soon as they reached the shelter Rayne shouted, “We want you to come with us!” The words seemed to erupt out of her like lava from a dormant volcano. Captain Aero looked at Rayne and shook his head, “Aye, we want ye to come with us Torrent.”
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Torrent was speechless. His blue eyes filled with tears as he thought about his whole life changing. He had been here for so long, how could he just leave? Fear started to enter his mind. He remembered life on a ship. How glorious it was until suddenly it wasn’t. “The last time I was on a ship, everyone I knew died. Will this be the same?” Torrent thought. Suddenly, that dreaded memory flashed before him. He was back on the ship, surrounded by fire and water. Everyone was gone, his parents, the crew, everyone. The only thing that could save him was himself. He jumped off the burning deck and into the ocean. As he fell toward the ocean the crimson eyes came closer and closer, but when he hit the water he splashed back into reality and saw Rayne and the captain in front of him standing right outside his shelter. His palms became sweaty as he relived the horror of being alone. It became crippling and before he could think any longer he replied with a loud “no!”. “No?” Rayne exclaimed, “What do you mean ‘no’?” Rayne looked at Captain Aero with so much bewilderment. How could someone not want to be rescued? She did not understand. Captain Aero was conflicted. “How much should they tell Torrent? What if this isn’t the prophecy coming to pass?” Aero thought. Then he looked over at Rayne and saw that this boy had given her hope. She hasn’t had that in quite some time. “Maybe we should just tell the boy,” grumbled Captain Aero. “Rayne, go ahead and sing the prophecy, I have no desir’in to hurt the boy's ears. I barely know him.”, Captain Aero said through a smile. “Yes, Captain!” Rayne replied as she laughed. Then she started to sing.
“Ohhhhhh in the ocean, down below the surface
Is a mighty darkness, ready to destroy us.
Light will come from the shore.
Bringing victory to us once more
What a day that will be
Keepin' us sailing on the sea”
“I know that song!” Torrent shouted, amazed that these two knew it. The fear that overcame him was loosening. With every word that Rayne sang, he felt hope grow in his heart. “My parents would sing that song every night with the crew. I can’t remember a night when I didn't hear it. How do you know it and why did you call it a prophecy?” Torrent asked. “This prophecy has been sung by our people for over one thousand years. It might even be comin to pass right before me eyes,” replied Captain Aero, still unsure about these peculiar events. “Coming to pass? Your people? I am going to need to know more than that before I get on your ship!” Torrent said, not sure if he should believe the rugged captain. “Ye have no reason to trust us Torrent, but I think somethin’s a stirrin’ in yer soul. Ye know what I speak is true.” said the captain, as he peered into Torrent’s eyes. “So what do you say?” Rayne asked eagerly. Something was pulling inside Torrent. It was a pull to join Rayne and the Captain. He didn’t know why, but he felt like he must go. “Live Torrent,” he said under his breath, remembering the last piece of advice he ever heard. It was time for him to live and not just survive. He watched as Rayne was grasping at the silence, waiting with anticipation for his answer. The captain was present, but his mind seemed to wander. Torrent looked back at his shelter, the place that had given him safety for five years, the place where he fought fears and grew into his bravery. Then he looked at the ship, a symbol of the unknown, of pain and terror. “I will go with you!” Torrent said confidently, trying to mask his uncertainty.
As soon as the words left Torrent’s lips, Captain Aero gave a subtle nod. This was quite a different reaction from Rayne who was now running and jumping all over the beach. Her celebratory screams could be heard all over the island. Their reactions made Torrent feel warm inside, being wanted was a feeling he had not felt in a long time. Rayne ran to Torrent and hugged him, unable to control her excitement. Torrent’s eyes became wide, and a nervous pink flushed over his freckled cheeks. “Rayne!” the captain shouted sternly. “Oh…right” she replied, finally recognizing how uncomfortable Torrent was with the hug. She let go of the flustered boy with a quick, “Sorry”, then continued to skip on the beach. “That one is about as free as they come.” the Captain told Torrent, hoping to explain the hug. Torrent smiled and looked down, shuffling his feet in the sand. “Have ye been all alone since that shipwreck Torrent?” Captain Aero asked. “I have,” replied Torrent. “Well, not anymore. I think I’ll lay down and take a breather since we still got a bit until sunset,” said Captain Aero as he lay on the sand pulling his old, weathered hat over his eyes.
Rayne came running back over and laughed when she saw that the captain had fallen asleep. “Well, what do we do now? Do you need to pack anything to come with us? Do you need help?” she asked, once again firing off questions faster than she breathed. “I don’t have anything that I would need away from this island. I lost everything in the crash. All I have to hold on to is my memory of them.” Torrent said, knowing he would never forget his parents and the crew. “But I don’t want to talk about me anymore. I don’t know anything about you other than your name,” he said as he sat down in the sand. “Well, there isn’t that much to know. I am twelve years old. I lived in Hydronia my whole life and have been with the captain since I was ten. It’s every kid's dream to be chosen by a captain when they turn ten and Captain Aero is the best. You see, when you turn ten, Hydronian children have two options, they either get chosen by a captain to one day become a captain or they stay back in the city working or something. My dream came true. My mom and dad couldn’t have been happier for me and I get to see them when I return home. It’s not so bad.” Rayne shared. Torrent was so confused. “Hydronia? Captains? Choices?” he asked. This doesn’t seem real, he thought to himself.
“You’ll get to see for yourself since you’re coming with us. We just have to wait for that seafoam” Rayne said not realizing that Torrent was beginning to think she was crazy. “What is so important about the seafoam?” Torrent asked. “Well, I don’t really know, but Captain Aero does. He’s the best captain to ever live in Hydronia!” she shouted, covering her mouth trying not to wake the captain. She motioned for Torrent to come closer while looking to see if the captain was still asleep. Torrent scooted closer to Rayne, nervous that she might hug him again. Rayne leaned in and said, “Some people say that when Captain Aero sleeps, something evil wakes up, and when he wakes up the evil thing falls asleep! I don’t know if it’s true, but it makes for a good story!” Torrent looked at the captain, finding it hard to believe what he just heard.
Rayne and Torrent continued to sit on the beach telling stories that may or may not be true. The sun began to set, on the second most eventful day of Torrent’s life. “It’s almost over isn’t it?” Torrent said as emotions started to rise up inside him. “What’s almost over?” asked Rayne. “My life on this island. I have been here for so long. It feels sad to leave it.” replied Torrent. Rayne looked right at Torrent and said, “You may be right, but now you have a friend to journey with!”
“The two of ya bonding or somethin'?” Captain Aero said in a loud voice. Rayne and Torrent jumped in the air, scared half to death. Torrent thought his heart would stop. “Captain!!! You know better than to sneak up on people!” Rayne said as she yelled at the captain. Captain Aero just laughed and laughed, proud of himself for being so sneaky. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I couldn’t help meself. Who's ready to get some seafoam? I’ve been here long enough. And besides, the evil being needed a rest.” the captain said, cutting his eyes at Rayne. Rayne and Torrent’s jaws dropped as they looked back and forth between the captain and each other. They could not believe that he heard them! “Torrent time to start a new adventure. Oh, and you best be bringing that shark tooth along. I have a feelin' ye might be needin' it.” said the captain as he walked toward the ocean. Torrent patted his pocket and felt the tooth. Still a little unsure he walked beside Rayne and followed the captain.
