As the night fell bursts of explosive colour erupted into the sky. The elongated shadows of prowling tall ships crept along the ichor, black sea; reached for the dinghies fluttering across the waves and sent splinters of wood into the oblivious crowd. The nights hunt began.<\/p>\n
All around her Jasmine\u2019s neighbours sent joyous screams and shouts into the heavy summer air. Enthusiasm reverberated through the crowd as everyone flocked to see the weaving boats.\u00a0 In their delusional states the hunt was harmless fun. The sweet notes of her accordion shielded Jasmine from the glamour of safety and entertainment; she could see the hidden ghosts. Jasmine saw the rolling, out of control tall ships crushing dinghies below their bows; she heard the cries for help by those plunged into Falmouth\u2019s unforgiving depths. Caressing the ivory notes of her oak red accordion kept Jasmine sane. That didn\u2019t stop everyone questioning her sanity since her parents \u2018disappearance\u2019, how could the tall ships do any wrong? But the musicians knew. Anyone who played an instrument blocked the glamour but it made others look down upon them as insane ranting idiots that were trying to spoil their fun. Jasmine had long since given up trying to save people. No one listened.<\/p>\n
Sat in her window playing melodic tunes and brushing her curling auburn hair behind her ears, Jasmin did everything she could to procrastinate before going to bed. With sleep came the mental torture of memories- flashes of the petite day boat, handmade bunting swinging from the mast, a curve of deep cobalt against the glistening green sea splintered beneath the \u2018Royal Expedition\u2019. Every image coupled with the doomed, despairing screams of a young couple. Jasmin\u2019s parents, her parents who everyone said were just lost at sea like the dozens of others.<\/p>\n
Drawing her hand across her eyes Jasmine awoke form her fitful sleep. She never remembered drifting off, she just assumed it was when the nightmares started but that would mean she had been asleep for the past three years. Pulling on her jeans Jasmine trudged down the stairs to make breakfast. Opening the fridge she pulled out a carton of milk with a few dregs left in the bottom and let out an exasperated sigh. She grabbed the keys off the side and slipped on her Converses.<\/p>\n
Meandering through the tourist packed streets Jasmine succumbed to the scent of sweet pastries and took a seat on the quay. There used to be buskers and people selling odd trinkets but they were gone now, the strumming of a guitar a distant memory. Or a unique reality. Snapping her head up Jasmine locked eyes with the guitarist. She didn\u2019t recognise him as one of the local \u2018madmen\u2019 but his sharp blue eyes held an age far beyond that of his face, an age that Jasmine saw in her own forest green irises every time she looked in the mirror. She reached into her pocket and drew out the last of that week\u2019s wages, a couple of pound coins, and tossed them into his case. Then she rose and was about to leave when he called \u201cYou lost someone didn\u2019t you, out at sea I mean\u201d a pained breath escaped before Jasmine replied \u201cI didn\u2019t lose anyone they were murdered.\u201d She turned and was about to stride off when he caught her wrist. \u201cSorry my mum was killed too, I didn\u2019t mean to stir any memories\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you know that you stirred memories?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour eyes flashed and at the mention of the sea I always remember\u2026 everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJasmine Struntle, what\u2019s your name?\u201d offered Jasmine, holding out a stiff courteous hand, she wouldn\u2019t apologise properly until she trusted him. \u201cWill Therismith sorry about before.\u201d Will shook her hand and made his way back to his abandoned guitar which was already splattered by the seagulls in the scarce minuets it was unattended. \u201cDo you have anywhere to go?\u201d asked Jasmine the words tumbling out, \u201cI mean us musicians need to stick together.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled what she hoped appeared friendly but the truth was she had no idea why she had made the offer, did she feel sorry for him? \u201cIf you\u2019re sure, I can\u2019t get a job and have no money to leave town so I can\u2019t pay yo-\u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter my parents left me the house so I don\u2019t pay rent\u2026 just don\u2019t make the hot water bill sky rocket.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trudging up the stairs, precariously balancing the mountain of bedding and towls she had just haulled out of the airing cuboard, jasmin wondered what she was doing. She had lived alone for three years and enjoyed her own company but she felt a pang of sympathy for Will and they both knew of the torment ocuuring in the harbour. Maybe he could help her carry out her plan to save Falmouth. She swept that thought away abruptly, better to set the trust in stone before she avalanched into her master plan. After knocking on the spare room door Will answered andhelp to make thebed. \u201cI\u2019m going to pick up some fish and chips what do you want?\u201d inquired Jasmine, it was half six and cooking was a very unappealing task. Besides after going to the same place down the road at least once a week made it feel like a tradition she couldn\u2019t shake. \u201cJust a normal cod and chips please, do you want me to come with you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cokay, come on my stomache is going to eat itself and the rest of my insides if I don\u2019t eat soon!\u201d<\/p>\n
After unwrapping the greasy paper andfinding two clean, usable forks they ate on the windowsill where Jasmine often played. \u201cYou get a good veiw of all the celebrations here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jasmine managed a reserved agreement around a mouthful of chips, then added \u201cBut after four years fireworks loose their vibrant appeal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGuess so\u2026 do you think there is a way to stop them, the tall ships, make everything normal <\/i>again?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d Jasmines short reply made Will turn to look at her with an expression that said \u201cgo on explain.\u201d Jasmine hesitated but thought he lost family just like me and I need the help. Before the mental batttle concluded she poured out the plan that her father died trying to enact. \u201cThere is a melody that confuses the ships and causes them to crash, when they have been sunk they rise again without their independent minds and actions. They become old lumps of wood again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure it works?\u201d asked Will a sceptive look contorting his face. Another succinct yes from Jasmine followed.\u201d Will you teach me the melody so we can stop them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIts not that simple you have to board the most powerful ship \u2018Royal Expedition\u2019 the others will crash first as they have the least power but when the mother ship<\/i> sinks its likely anyone aboard will die.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t mind, I would rather take the chance, I just want this to end.\u201d Jasmine found herself unexpectedly shocked by Wills courage and for the rest of the night they played the saving tune, rehearing every note until their fingers flexed to the correct note until they had to engage their brains. This time tomorrow they would be dead or free.<\/p>\n
The smell of pancakes and oranges woke Jasmine the next morning. She was surprised she didn\u2019t remember the nightmares that must have taunted her last night; she must have been too tired or focused on today. After a brief shower jasmine entered the kitchen to find a mountain of pancakes stacked on a plate in the centre of the table. Halves of oranges were waiting near a bag of sugar and suddenly desire to devour the lot filled Jasmine. \u201cYou made breakfast!\u201d asked jasmine \u201cIt looks great, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t going o save te world on an empty stomache\u201d stated Will a greedy smile stretching his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cFalmouth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d asked Will his cheeks already stuffed with pancake.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t save the world, just falmouth\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time that day Jasmine felt nervous, her stomache flipped and spun; she could have sworn she was bright green. Will returned with the keys to a hired motorboat and they paced the quay looking for their appointed transport. It was a small white motorboat with a stripe of green and several fenders adorning each side, it was tourist proof. They had planned to board the ship whilst it slept<\/i> during the day and wait untill it stirred.<\/p>\n
They were both silent as they approached the \u2018Royal Expidition\u2019\u00a0 and the ship didn\u2019t react as they clambered the slick rope ladder hung off the side that looked as if it were merely a knot of seaweed.Jasmine took the lead sat in the centre of the deck, took out her accordian and waited.<\/p>\n
Hours passed until finally at sunse they boat groaned into life and set sail. The stars weaved around the top of the mast and together Jasmine and Will counted into their melody over the thunderous claps and screeches of fireworks.<\/p>\n
Minuets after playing the high repetative tune several ships had succmed to the depths and were placidly lined once more against the harbour wall. Soon their fingers ached from the tunes intense technical demands and they were aboard the last rogue tall ship. \u2018Royal Expidition\u2019 swerved and ducked churning over and through waves spray dampened the guitar and accordian making them tricky to play finally the boat snagged into the rocks and began to go down. But it didn\u2019t want to die. Caught like a rabbit in a snare the boat rocked and squirmed in an attempt to free itself.\u00a0 Jasmine and Will clung to the deck in a desperate attemtp to escaape the churning reef. Then the boat began to fade. It was dying. Jasmine screamed, what about them? Would they die? Suddenly it disappeared and they fell into the jagged rocks piercing the air.<\/p>\n
Water blurred Jasmines vision and she panicked disorientated but in need of air. She looked for light and kicked. Oxygen filled her lungs like a rush of pricless gold. But where was Will? With all her strength she swam for the shore and walked up the white shingle beach.A body lay face down, waves washing over its legs and a steady stream of red tainted the surrounding water. Jasmine sprinted kicking up stone as she raced to cover the distance between them. Then her heart stopped. The world froze, why, how, what? Questions swamped her mind but every thought was muddied. It was Will. She reac for his wrist. Thwere was no pulse. She was free but he was dead. Her only friend. Jasmine was more alone than ever. What would she gain from the victory?<\/p>\n
-Ten years later-<\/p>\n
Jasmine cast a reef into the rolling surf and played the melody that had saved her town. Then she bought a danish pastry and sat on the bench ,where she had first met Will. The fireworks pinwheeled across the sky and the crew artfully manned the tall ships in a harbour parade. Looking back she realised it had been worth it, everyone was happy and safe. But she would never forget Will.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As the night fell bursts of explosive colour erupted into the sky. The elongated shadows of prowling tall ships crept along the ichor, black sea; reached for the dinghies fluttering across the waves and sent splinters of wood into the oblivious crowd. The nights hunt began. All around her Jasmine\u2019s neighbours sent joyous screams and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[1],"tags":[492,392,325,59],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n