Mathew Roberts

*A flashback*

"Dad, I do not understand what you say," Ella queried.

" My princess... I know this is going to be hard but please princess, I want you to understand." I pleaded with her, trying to get Ella to see my reasons.

"No, I do not understand Dad!" She held her face in her palm. "I thought you said you loved me?" Ella cried, yet she was muffling her tears.

"Yes princess, I do."

"Then what is going on Dad? Why now? I am going to get married in just a few days into a big family and that is scary..." She cried. "I have you left in this world, but you do not want to be there for me at a time like this."

"My princess," I called, holding her hands. " You know it is not true. You know I will always be there for you! But I have to make this trip, it is not like I will be gone forever. Besides, I would be there for your wedding to walk you down the aisle."

" No Dad, please do not go. I have never had to stay without you all my life, so please do not go now! How would I be able to handle the Russell family all by myself?" Ella asked in pain.

" Look here Ella, I have no doubt that you would be a good addition to the family. The Russells would be so happy to have you, I am sure of that. I also know that you are going to do this job as a first lady."

Ella nodded, still unsure.

" When are you leaving Dad?" She asked me.

" A few weeks from now. Almost immediately after you are wed!"

" What job offer were you given?" She asked again.

" Princess, I do not know for sure but when I get there I will find out!"

" What Dad?" You are about to travel out the shores of USA and you are not even sure what you're going to do."

Ella looked shocked, her eyes were wildly opened in shock and wonder.

"Well Ella, I am sure of what I am about to do. I am going to make some coins for us, my princess."

"But you do not know the kind of job you're going to be offered."

" Does that matter princess?" I asked.

"Yes Dad, it does matter.

"Ella, what matters is that I have been given a job and I am about to make money for us...." I said, being a little stubborn.

Ella stared at me. She did not know if she should feel sad or bad for me. Dad, I do not know what to say. Why are you doing this??" She asked.

I was also downcast.

"Maybe it is because I have served a man all my life and now is the time to finally do something for myself."

"You have never had to prove yourself to me, Dad."

" I know my princess, but please let me. I will be back soon, I promise."

********

"On board!!" Echoed a man just right by my side. I looked at him then he laughed. I boarded the ship about to sail and looked back at the shore.

"I have to do this for Ella my princess, and also for myself."

My daughter tried to convince me not to leave for this journey, but what can I do? The offer was just too good to be passed over, and I could not let myself down.

I can still remember my conversation with my daughter before taking this journey and I still feel really a bit sad.

"Hey how are you feeling, I am Kole." It was the man, that same man that acted like he was a sailor or something.

"I am fine Mr, I am Mathew," I replied, giving him my hands for a handshake.

"Good to see you, Matt." He said and took my hands, smiling at me.

"Mathew. It is Mathew." I corrected.

"Okay, it's fine by me Matt." He repeated, still glaring his teeth at me. Pure white teeth I must say.

"Mr Kole, there is no problem." I said, giving up.

"Well, you can call me Kole! Just Kole!"

"No problem Kole or just Kole!" I replied. I really was not in the mood for all this, I had a goal in mind and fooling around with Kole....or whoever was not part of the plan.

Not long after, the ship started sailing.

"You see, this is my first time traveling by sea."

"Oh, beautiful!" I replied curtly. Kole has refused to leave me alone. He was a tall, handsome man. His skin was tan and beautiful.

"How about you, is this your first time?" He asked.

"No!" I lied.

"Oh really."

"Yes."

"So I am traveling for work. How about you?" He asked.

" Same!" I replied.

"So where else have you been to by sea?"

" Kole, I really am in no mood for small talk."

" Pity!" He said

There was silence for a brief moment, and I was so grateful for that, it gave me time to look at the beautiful sea.

"You know I lost my daughter and this work is going to help me get my mind off things." Kole started speaking again and this time he caught my attention.

"And what do you mean?" I asked curiously.

"My daughter, an only child, actually died of breathing issues...I'm not really sure what it is exactly...." He chuckled. " I guess it just goes to show what kind of father I am." He added.

I felt really bad for him.

"Kole, it does not matter if you know or do not know the name of the evil illness that took her life. It doesn't make you a bad father." I tried to console him. Somehow, I feel drawn to him now. Maybe it was because he has an only daughter which I do have or because he is on this journey in survival mode.

"I have a daughter too," I said, not sure why I said that.

Kole stared at me.

"We have the best relationship and, truth be told, this is the first time ever that I have been separated from her." I was saying. "She is really beautiful, just like her mother. She got married a few days back into this wealthy family and I honestly do not need this job...."

"So why are you doing this then?" Kole asked.

I suddenly looked downcast.

"Kole, when she was very young I had gathered a lot of debts. A wealthy man had decided to clear up my debts and I had to work for him in return. I took my daughter Ella to work with me. We did this for several years. I have never had the chance to prove to her that I was capable of clearing our own mess! I did not know how to feel when she was to get married into a wealthy family...."

" I understand." Kole simply said.

By this time, I could notice other passengers on sail. They were all men, and it seemed as if they all had a monetary purpose for being on sail.

They mostly looked moody....some serious-faced, some blank and expressionless.

"I have never been on a sail before, I lied when I said I did."

"I know," Kole said really casually.

"It's just....."

"You do not have to explain to me, Matt." He had cut me short.

I stared at him in admiration. Kole was a really cool guy, although he had this annoying yet amusing personality.

He had made me his friend in just a few minutes on board. He was really good!

**********

We sailed for two full days or so I think... I easily lost track of time while at sea. Kole was in a corner on board, chatting with some of the other men.

Kole could make friends easily.

It had already been announced that we would be at our destination in no time and Kole had walked up to me to ask me some questions.

"Hey, you never told me where exactly you were going to?"

" Of course, it does not matter."

" Yes, it does." Kole shut back. He was beginning to play his mischief card again.

"Well.... I'm not sure where I am going but...." I began opening up a white paper to him.

"Hmm, who gave you that?" He asked, peering into the white paper scribed with blue ink.

"A friend," I answered. "His name is Joe, a retired army!"

"Hmm," Kole rubbed his head, looking really lost and distant.

"Is anything the matter?" I asked.

"Nothing really. It's just that I also have the same destination as you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, truly confused.

"I am going to that same address in your hands." He said, still rubbing his head.

*******

We finally got to our destination.

I and Kole walked together, trying to locate the office address that we were both given.

"I do not understand what is going on."

"Me neither," Kole replied.

We both stood and stared at the uncompleted building before us.

"I don't know Kole, but this was the address I was given."

"Yeah." He replied thoughtfully.

"You think we should step inside?"

"I am not so sure. Do you suggest that?"

We both went back and forth on whether we should go in or not, but just then.....

"Hey." We heard a voice from within the building.

"Who is there?" Kole shouted.

There was no response.

"Let's leave this place! Kole, I do not have a good feeling about this place."

"And what next man? Go back home empty-handed, right? After all, we have been through to be here? No way." He thundered.

"So what do you suggest we do," I asked, already so exhausted from all this.

"We'll go check inside....."

Just then, two really huge men walked down to us and tried to yank us into the building.

"Hey stop man, who do you think you are?" Kole said and flung the man's hands away from him, but he was really huge, so he yanked Kole up onto his shoulders and dragged him into the building.

"Please I have done nothing wrong, I am so sorry sir...." I cried as we were dragged into the building.

*********

I and Kole were on our knees.

We were inside this really strange-looking house. Its walls were old, and its paintings were peeling off. Most of the walls were covered with fresh growing moss and algae.

Half of the interior building had no roof, and you see the sky directly from some parts of the room.

The whole building looked and smelt terrible, but this was not part of my main concern.

Right there in the room where I and Kole knelt were other men of our ages, some were younger, some were older, but we were all grown.

What frightened me more was that some of these men were not in clothes, and they were chained together like dogs by the legs.

"What is this place?" I thought to myself.

"What have I gotten myself into?" I thought really hard.

I stared at Kole directly opposite me, but he was not smiling -as expected. He looked really downcast, yet I assumed he could pounce on anyone soon.

He was fuming really badly, and I felt bad for him.

I bowed my head, on my knees, and prayed a little silent prayer.... I thought of Ella, I thought of everything that I had to go through to get here.

I thought of Joe, my friend. He had given me the address to this place, promising a dream come true job, and I had quickly believed him.

"Had my friend lied to me? Had he set me up?" I thought to myself. I needed answers.......