Across the Shattered Sea

Three generations. The birthdates, names, and deaths of three generations were logged into the black leather-bound notebook resting on the nightstand of Founder Kimble’s private chambers. Kimble, before embarking on this mission, could not have imagined that he would be here…. still on board the Guay. He struggled turning through the pages of the book, reading the few dozen names of the current crew members, looking for an answer. While he strained to see the names in the candlelight, other more poisonous questions, bubbled to the surface of his mind. Why couldn’t he hear the voice? That loud booming voice, clear as day, back when he was a young boy. The voice that had shown him the location of $20,000 hidden deep within the pines. The voice that told him to use the money to build a ship to carry a select few to a better world. The voice that promised Kimble he would find a new kingdom. Where was this voice? Surely, it would have spoken by now. If nothing more than to reassure Kimble that he was on the right path.He thought of himself as Moses. Instead of leading his people through the unforgiving desert, Kimble was leading them through the sea. He had been a good shepherd. Kimble had done everything the voice commanded of him. Certainly, this deafening silence was not punishment for his own doing. Kimble surmised that it undoubtably was a member of his flock to blame for their forsaking. “Greatest esteemed Gyias – voice of all wisdom and time, please grant me your ear” He whispered, his face buried into the book. “I now understand your silence. I beg of you to reveal the name of the one who has disowned their cloak and deafened their ears. Give me their name and I shall bring righteous judgment upon their head”. He sat up with his eyes still closed, his fingers vigorously moved through the pages. When they stopped, Kimble read the name his finger landed on “Abraham Russell”.

Abraham awoke abruptly in a cold sweat, gasping for breath. Three days until Initiation. Normally, a celebrated ceremony, the Initiation marked the beginning of a follower’s passage into adulthood. A ritual that all the young boys and girls aboard the Guay dreamed about, all that is except for Abraham. Abraham had never felt the Earth beneath his feet. He had been told the stories of what land was like, covered in grass and sprinkled with trees, but he could not replicate these images within his mind’s eye. His world was wooden walls, salt water, his hammock in the Bairn barracks, and the ever-changing cycles of the sun in the sky. All he desired was land. Initiation for Abraham meant the death of his freedom and dreams. It meant he would be groomed, washed, poked, and prodded – made up like a sacrificial lamb – lined up with his fellow mates before the congregation and assigned, by Founder Kimble, a job and a wife. He would move out of the Bairn barracks and into the Emerald Chambers and be forced to consummate his unwilling vows. As he laid back into his hammock, he prayed that Gyias would grant him a way out.

The congregation was gathered in the dining hall eating breakfast when the voice of Founder Kimble called them all to attention. “All members report to the main deck” blared the speaking tube in the upper corner of the room. They all stood and solemnly made their way up the stairs. Abraham’s mother straightened his unruly chestnut colored hair and gave him a small smile. As they got within view of the deck, they could see Founder Kimble standing atop an empty crate, his many wives in a semicircle behind him. Kimble wore a sage colored robe of satin with a quilted robe the color of jade. A charm from each of his wives hung from his white and thinning beard. Each wife, ranging in ages from 15 to 45, wore a satin blindfold matching the color of their charm over their eyes. Each one wearing a simple sack of a dress, belted at the waist and each one with a tense smile. As congregants filed in around the crate, Kimble rose his hands. “My dear flock, thank you for gathering here today. I have called you here to hear the word of Gyias”. Each member wore an expression of concerned anticipation. “Gyias has called unto me! One last command I must abide before we may land in our promised kingdom” his hands came to his chest, fingertips touching. “Our land needs a bearer of our fruits, a Mother. Someone with whom all our future seeds will be planted and bloom on the shores of glory.” The wives’ smiles remained unchallenged and haunting. “The women behind me are to be servant of our new Mother and shall help in the delivery of souls who will be the first to set foot on our vowed grounds. Until my time ends in which they will accompany me in the Thereafter. I shall take our new Mother into the Emerald Chambers the night of Initiation.” A strange smirk started to spread across the face of Founder Kimble. His eyes locked onto Abraham. “Abigail Russell”. An audible gasp could be heard from the crowd. Abraham’s eyes widened and he clenched his fists. Abigail?!?! His sister?!?! Abraham frantically scanned the crowd trying to find her. Then he heard his mother shout, “But she is only 8!”. Abigail was clinging to her mother’s side, her face buried. “You dare question the commands of Gyias?!” erupted Kimble. His wives were no longer smiling. “O-of-of course not” Abraham’s mother said to the floor. She knew, they all knew, what happened to anyone who dare question the authority of Founder Kimble. “Women” Kimble said, motioning to his wives “make sure she is properly prepared for Initiation. That will be all.” He glared at Abraham then walked to his chambers, his wives following in single file.

The night of Initiation was upon them as Abraham silently sat boiling in rage. Abigail was visibly horrified, her mother holding her close and stroking her face. “Mom. This isn’t right.” Abraham said sternly. “We must not question Gyrias” she replied, a tear falling across her cheek. “This isn’t Gyrias, it’s Kimble!” he said quieter and more sternly. “I’m going to stop this.” His mother looked broken “It’s an honor to be the Mother of the new kingdom.” She said almost robotically. Abraham could feel the well of tears start to rise within him, but before he could say anything, the many wives of Founder Kimble poured into the barracks. Abigail turned to her mother and then to Abraham, the blood drained from her face. Her mother kissed her forehead and said “serve Gyrias”. Abraham mouthed the words “I will save you” as she was escorted out.

Abraham stood naked and cold, the sound of the rhythmic drums increasing his anxiety. Across from the darkly lit room he could see Ruth, a girl who worked in the kitchen, her hair was slicked back and she was nude except for a lavender blindfold. He could not make out the identities of the other girls standing next to her and he did not see Abigail. The young men standing to his left and right, also nude, were ogling the young women. Abraham did not find anything of desire in their shapes and instead found himself side glancing the men standing to his left and right. The drumming stopped and in walked Kimble, also nude, holding a black box. He stood in the middle of the room, set down the box, and took out a small sprig of sage. As he lit it, smoke began to blanket the ground. “Adam Fernin” as he spoke the name, a young man stood out from the line and approached. Adam stuck his hand into the box and pulled out a bit of green fabric. “Green” Said Kimble, as the young woman wearing a green blindfold took a step forward from the line. Adam reached out and took her hands. Kimble motioned to the door on the right, and Adam and the green blindfolded girl walked out. There was a knock on the door to the left and Kimble responded for them to enter. Abigail stepped into the room. She was nude, shaking, and did not have a blindfold. “Come stand by me Mother” Kimble motioned to his side. Abraham wanted to grab Abigail and run, but where would he go? He bit his tongue and tried to remain composed. Kimble handed Abigail the box “Abraham Russell” he said, almost hissing. Abraham stepped forward, his sister begging for help with her eyes. He reached into the box and pulled out a piece of lavender fabric. “Lavender” Kimble said. As Abraham went to take hold of Ruth’s hands, Kimble seized on to his wrist “I know what you are” he whispered in his ear. “Gyias knows and Abigail will be punished for the sins of her kin”. Abraham could taste the blood in his mouth from biting his tongue. He couldn’t do anything. Not with all these initiates watching and not with guards at the doors. He took Ruth’s hands and walked out the door the right, giving Abigail one final look.

After Initiation, Abraham was escorted to the Bairn barracks to grab his belongings for his new room in the Emerald Chambers. Something had to be done. Kimble was a mad man. All of them prisoners, blinded and willing to throw themselves or their children upon the altar that is founder Kimble. It made his stomach churn. How could they not see how insane he was? Abraham had not chosen this life. He did not choose to live and die in a prebuilt coffin floating across the God forsaken ocean. He did not choose to follow the fever dream hallucinations of some insane old charlatan. As he was leaving, his foot hit a board. He bent down to discover the board came up with little resistance. Inside tucked away, was a long serrated knife.

Abraham was crouched in front of Kimble’s room. He slowly opened the door to see his sister, lying nude on a lavish bed, tied down and gagged with various colored blindfolds. Kimble stood with his back to the door, a wooden paddle adorned with nails in his hand. Abraham did not remember how or when, but felt and saw the warm blood. He saw Kimble’s crumbled body on the floor, his throat slit. Abraham ran out the room and up to the main deck covered in sweat and Kimble’s blood. He shouted to the guards and the man at the helm that there had been an accident and Kimble needed help. The men ran, leaving the deck empty. Abraham pulled the wheel tight to starboard, and the ship rocked and creaked as if it had been set in stone for 1,000 years. There was a loud crash as the the fragments of Abraham’s reality started to shatter. A large crack ran upwards towards the heavens just a few 30 feet ahead of the boat, tearing the sky into two. Huge panes of glass shattered upon the deck, one piercing Abraham’s skull. The sound of screams being the last sounds Abraham would hear as the Guay started to fall into some separate dimension.

Meanwhile, the Spencer’s were awoken to the sound of broken glass. Henry, the patriarch of the family, went downstairs with gun in hand only to discover his grandfather’s prized ship in a bottle shattered in front of the fireplace.