Chapter 2: A Rope Between Life and Death (Part 3)

Old Jareth began, his voice at first gravelly, like stones scraping underfoot. But as he continued, it softened, rolling through the crowd like smooth and desolate waves crashing against the hull of a ship. Their imaginations took them from the small town square to the deck of a ship tossing in the endless waves.

The island loomed like a shadow against the horizon. Kai leaned over the bow of the ship, the wind whipping through his long brunette hair that was pulled into a low ponytail. The salty fresh ocean water stung in his face as he squinted through the black night at the dark silhouette growing larger with every passing minute.

“Land ho, cap’n!” Kai called back to Dalton, the oldest of them there, who was busy studying an ancient map with a focus so intense you’d think it was the treasure itself. “Any updates from our professional Navigator?”

Dalton looked up briefly, his eyes flashing with a smirk. “I’ll let the Explorer know when I find a map with pictures on it.”