Enduring the Storm

Chapter 22 What?!

Brooke's POV

I can't hear what is being said between Owen and William but I can see that Owen is doing most the talking and whatever he is saying is making William's mind run. I back up to the table as I turn around to see the huge mess that is made. I take a piece of bread, taking a bite as I pick the room up.. I'm sure he will be demanding me to do this anyway, so I might as well start. I set the glasses on the table picking up one apple after the next, placing it back into the bowl as I hear the door to the cabin shutting. I can hear his footsteps approaching as I see a hand grabbing the apple I was reaching for, as a crunch is heard in my ear, showing he is not helping just once again getting what he wants.

"How about another round?" he hums into my ears as I spat out, "did I not make things clear when I smashed that bottle into the side of your head? I might have to choose something harder to really make sure that answer gets through your thick skull." He chuckles and purrs into my ear. "I love that feisty attitude, it makes me want to tame the beast within you." I know he is saying this probably, meaning to be sexy but since I am livid at his actions, it is not working on me.

"Well, the beast within wants to murder you, but the womanly mask wants to show restraint." I reply without hesitation as he huffs out in frustration. "What would you have me do Brooke? Woo you?" I laugh at that as I turn around to see he is serious. "Why would you woo me? You know you don't really want me, you just want what I could offer you.. that's it.. you woo someone you actually like and want to be with.. did you not know that?" I ask him not understanding why he would say this unless he doesn't understand what it means.

"Ok sure.. I don't want you as mine forever or anything and I do like what you have to offer under that dress.. So, I guess I could get used to you." he says to me as if this should be some sort of compliment or something. "Get used to me? Um.. no thanks, I would rather not." I spat back turning back to the floor, continuing to pick up this mess. I grab the last apple, placing it into the bowl before turning and putting it on the table.

Once the bowl is out of my hands, William turns me around as he yells out at me. "Well then how the f*#k do you expect to pay me back for saving you from the BuaBua tribe? They were planning on eating you if I didn't take you.. just so you know." he snaps this at me, sounding as if he is losing the little bit of patience he has left. "Well, like I said before, I can work for you to pay it back or you can just take me somewhere that has a phone so I can call my dad's lawyer.. because I'm assuming that you don't have a phone with any type of service on this ship." I try to suggest this but he just looks at me like I am psychotic or maybe delusional.. maybe he just doesn't like the options.

"Phone? Lawyer? What is that?" he asks me as I laugh thinking he is joking until his features don't change. "A phone.. to make a call to someone far away.. like my dad's lawyer, the one that has helped him with all his money.. maybe they can give me money to pay you.. the guy really thought I was great.. something like his daughter." I try to break it down for him but now he looks even more confused. "I thought you had no family? Why would someone want help with their own money? My money is my own and no one else will touch it unless I say so.. and I still don't know what this phone is." he declares as I look from him then around the room, realizing how old everything looks with no signs of any type of technology around.

I don't know why I never noticed any of this before, but maybe it was all the chaos and weird circumstances that was distracting me. I flip around looking at William as I build up the nerve within me to ask. "What year is it William?" he laughs at me until he sees that I am now serious. "1685." My mouth drops open, "What?!" I gasp out, stumbling back in shock as I almost trip over the plate on the floor. "Brooke? What's going on?" he asks me as I shake my head.. storming past him and out the cabin door as I feel his hands trying to grab for me.

I avoid his grip, heading out to the bow as I stand hyperventalating. How can this be? That isn't possible.. What am I going to do? How would I even get back when I don't even know how I got here.. What am I going to do? I can't calm my breathing as I feel hands on my arms spinning me around. It's Owen. "Brooke, what's wrong?" he asks as I hold my chest with panic in my eyes, not being able to calm down. Let alone breath. My chest tightens as I gasp for air.

"What did you do to her?" Owen snaps out at William. "Nothing Jeeze.. We were just talking and she started freaking out for no reason." He says this causing Owen to glare at him as he yelps out. "I mean it! I didn't do anything to her.. we were just talking." He snaps, before adding. "she is just being dramatic.. women am I right?" throwing his arms up in the air before walking away because he obviously doesn't care.

"Brooke you need to breathe." Owen tries to talk with me as I nod taking some deep breathes, easing some of the pain in my chest, but now my head is really starting to hurt after that hard realization. Even with my body getting air it hasn't changed the fact that I am stuck here in this time. I shake my head trying to comprehend everything as my heart beats out of my chest at the scary realization. "I'm not supposed to be here.. I can't be here .. why am I here? How did I get here?" I say to myself as my head continuously shakes. Owen is rubbing his hand over my arms as I shake them off. "What is going on?" he snaps at me with confusion. I think just wanting to help, just not knowing how to do it.

"I should not be here." I snap at him before walking away from him. "How did I get here?" I say to myself as he mumbles behind me, "We got you from the tribe.. that's how." I shake my head as I snap out at him, not because I am mad with him but because I'm scared.. terrified actually. "My boat capsized in a whirlpool.. a huge one, looking like a tornado but in the water.." I try to explain but he looks even more confused then I am. "Wait.. the whirlpool." I state as I turn away from him going to the edge of the ship looking out at the water.

"Maybe that is my way home." I say using the rope and wood to climb up the side of the railing to get out to the water as Owen instantly grabs me and swings me back onto the ships deck. "What are you doing? you will die out there." he yells out at me as I shake my head.. "But maybe I can go home.. to my time." I say as his eyes pan around to the other men around us just curious about what they might think is insanity. "Your time?" he asks as I snap back, "Yes! MY TIME.. Think I am crazy all you want, but I am from the year 2023!"

The men laugh at me before rolling their eyes as one states. "She is getting the sea sickness of being out on the sea too long.. she is already going crazy, not meant to be out here." they laugh as most walk away. I just shake my head, as another one states, "See I told you that having women on the ship is bad luck.. she has a brain disease and will give it to all of us if we don't throw her overboard." Owen and I glare over at that man before they clear the area, I guess not wanting to be by me, the delusional, diseased woman. Owen is the only one who has stayed and looks curious or maybe just stunned in confusion.

So I try to explain this as best as I can to him. "It's the year 2023 for me and I was in my boat sailing alone, just trying to find something new and exciting, since I had no family or really friends at home.. I remember using my cellphone to take some pictures after I cooked food, then I woke up to this storm that was rampaging around me.. Me and my boat just sucked into this huge whirlpool and I thought I was going to die.. I woke up on that island.. The BuaBua Island apparently.. and then you guys found me.. how is that possible?!" I ask him with panic as he shakes his head.

"I don't know." He responds as I look at him.. "You believe me, don't you?" I ask him pleading with my eyes, as he doesn't answer, just slightly nods but it is not even remotely convincing. I run back into the cabin to grab my pants. I grab my lighter from the pocket as Owen and the other men, that didn't go as far away as I thought, apparently keeping their eyes glued to me even from a distance. They stare at me until I flick it to create fire. They are astonished by that little thing as I notice that the Captain is watching my actions as well.

"I wish I had my cellphone to prove it but I am not from here.. have you ever seen clothes like this?" I ask him picking up my jacket that zips and my jeans that do the same, with velcro and magnet snaps over the zipper. even my shirt that has the Ramones on it. He shakes his head as I state, "That's because I am not from this time.. I don't know how I got here, let alone how to get back." I snap out, storming away from their judgemental stares that say to me that they think I am delusional.. and I'm sure I sound absolutely insane.. that doesn't make me wrong.

I go back to the bow of the ship out of frustration, not having anywhere else to go which is completely frustrating. "How do I even get back or I guess forward.. the future?" I snap out to myself, just trying to figure it out as I hear from behind me. "You want to go back?" I flip around to see Owen who looks almost sad with that comment. "I.. I.. I don't know.. maybe.. It's not like I know how." I say to him out of frustration and exhaustion of this thought. "Do you have someone waiting for you?" he asks me as I stare up at him before shaking my head. "No." I softly respond before huffing out, "So in that case, it's not like it matters if I do go back.. It's not like anyone would miss me.. ugh.. I just don't understand any of this."

I'm so confused as I hear, "I'm sure it matters to someone." Owen says just trying to be nice because he probably feels bad for me thinking I hit my head too hard when my boat capsized. "No one.. I matter to no one.. I'm on my own again and even more screwed than before.. I don't know why I thought I could do this on my own but obviously I'm just going to be a screw up in my time and yours." I spat turning away from him as he tries to grab for my arm. I swipe it away, "Just leave me be.. please." he turns away from me without hesitation even though I slightly hoped he wouldn't but it's fine I do need to figure out what I am going to do next.. It's not like I can just leave and go back home.. I need to figure out what my next steps are going to be.. and that won't be easy.