20.10.1766 A.C –South Atlantic Ocean

The ship sailed in the unknown seas. Its prow divided the water into two equal sides, forming a path of foam on its way. The sea was motionless and black as coal. And silent, so very silent. The ship itself was quiet as if haunted, not a living soul on it.

That first impression of desolation couldn't have been further from the truth. A hundred people were sleeping in the ship's belly, trying to warm themselves by staying close to each other, hardly escaping death. It was the end of October and the ocean breeze was freezing cold. Behind the veil of darkness, a silhouette could be seen sitting on Argo's deck. A single man, exposed, all by himself.

His name was Edward Canton, the one responsible for this ongoing tragedy. It was ironic really since he'd always thought himself to be an exceptionally smart man. A scientist and a visionary, Edward had only one great ambition: escape his small, English fishing village and start anew in a faraway land.

He studied hard for many years, devouring every book and atlas that fell into his hands, planning his great journey to the glorious land of America. He was mocked and feared by a great number of narrow-minded villagers for his dreams. He only had two allies. His equally brilliant wife, Elizabeth, and his wealthy best friend, Jonathan Lucas.

And indeed, after meticulous and careful planning, their ship set sail on the 15th of August 1766 A.C, destined to reach the coast of North America in about two months. A hundred people were Edward's travel companions. Poor farmers and fishermen, as well as wealthy adventures. Alongside his wife and best friend, as well as his son Jeremy, Edward had felt his chest bursting with pride when Argo, his ship, first opened sail against the setting sun of the afternoon, slowly cruising through the rising waters. There had been laughter then, and cheers. Joy and hope.

But there was no joy, nor hope to be found on Argo anymore. Two months had already gone by, but their only encounter was the eternal calmness of the sea. Edward had tried to think positively and keep his calm amid the slowly rising panic. He couldn't have been wrong. He had been dreaming this journey his whole life, he was destined for it. All the careful planning, the endless reading, and learning. It couldn't have all been for nought.

The last week of the journey, however, had destroyed his good spirits. The rations were as good as gone, and his people were hungry and thirsty, looking like living skeletons. Three nights ago, Edward was sleeping next to Elizabeth, trying to give her some of his valuable warmth. She had woken in the middle of the night, seized by an uncontrollable cough, her hands covering her mouth. When Edward finally looked at her palms, the sight was a nightmarish one. Fresh, crimson blood was all over them, red lines forming on his wife's delicate fingers. And Jonathan, his dear friend, would barely speak anymore, his eyes hollow and ghastly, his body a sack of skin and bones.

The frozen air of the night travelled from his nostrils to his lungs, chilling Edward's very core. He didn't mind. Torturing himself by staying on the unprotected deck was his own choice. It was his punishment, and he deserved it. He had taken those people, friends who were willing to believe in him, from their homes and simple lives and led them straight to a watery grave. Because of a futile ambition. When the tears came, he welcomed them.

Oh, my God. Have mercy on our poor souls. We are all going to perish in that ship, and there is nothing I can do.

***

Edward... Edward... Wake up.

The voice made him realize he had fallen asleep. He had never thought it possible to sleep again before the woman woke him up. At least, he thought it was a woman. He looked left and right, in front and behind. No one to be found. But for some weird reason, he wasn't afraid. He was alone, on a ship sailing through unknown waters. What was the worst thing that could happen? Maybe he was losing his mind. Edward had never believed in God, but maybe a higher power really did exist, and she was a woman after all.

You are awake at last... Edward Canton, you've wandered long enough. Your travel could end now, right at this moment. Do you wish for that to happen?

What? How was this even possible? And why would this strange woman wish to save them? To save him?

I must be going insane.

A soft, sweet chuckling sound filled his ears, as the woman had clearly read his thoughts and found them amusing.

I am a kindred spirit, Edward. Sort of an ether, if you will. I don't want to trick or hurt you, and you are not insane. I want to save your people because of your extraordinary strength and will. You are all special, gifted.

Edward felt his heart warming up. He wanted to believe the woman's words so badly. He felt lonely, desperate. It didn't, couldn't get any worse than his current situation.

The woman read his thoughts again, her voice turning suddenly cold. Besides, what is the worst thing that can happen to you? You are on a journey gone horribly wrong, with no means of turning back. There is no other option for you, really. Answer my question, Edward. Do you want for all this to end? If you say yes, I will save you. If you say no, then you can continue your journey. To oblivion.

There was no strength for arguing left in him anymore. Only a void caused by the cold, the hunger and his wife's irrevocable disease. The voice of the woman was mesmerizing and took him away to happy places with tall trees, soft sand, and a secure future. He didn't want to be on this ship any longer. Every little bit of his mental strength and sanity, every bit of his common sense, was gone in this black, motionless sea. He just wanted to go with the woman who promised him paradise.

"Yes," he said joylessly, defeated. "I will join you, whoever you might be."

Very well. You made the right choice.

For a while, nothing happened. The voice was gone and the sea was as silent as ever, the night unmoving. As Edward began thinking that the voice was a fictional fragment of his broken mind, the ship shook. Lightly at first, and then harder as the wind picked up speed. Waves started forming all around, and Edward had to grasp the wooden bench so as to not lose himself in the dark depths. He could hear motion sounds from below the deck, people who felt the trembling and were already shouting, terrified. And then, the most amazing thing Edward had ever witnessed happened.

The sea, twisting and twirling under the sudden motion, was divided into two different sides. The Argo stopped shaking and Edward's eyes focused on the miracle standing in front of him.

A curtain made of light. An energy wave was extended to Edward's left and right side, dividing the two parts of the sea, covering his view of the other side of the world. The barrier itself looked like a swarm of faceless bodies turned into liquid and melted together, ever-moving for all eternity. It was bright and warm and Edward wanted to touch it, to feel it with all his senses, his doubts disappearing.

His wish quickly came true when the light curtain started pulling the ship towards it. Slowly at first, but picking up speed the closer Argo got to it. As they were ready to be engulfed inside the blue wonder, Edward closed his eyes and let all his conscious thoughts go. He was going to a better place. He knew that now. Wherever that may be. The last thing he heard was his wife screaming his name.

Don't worry, darling, he thought. We have reached the dream.

***

You are here, Edward... Wake up...

A woman's voice again, a different one this time, sweeter, milder, with a playful, teasing undertone. Edward realized he had fallen asleep, again, and felt like an idiot. Not only was he sleeping in the most wondrous moment of his life, he had been lying face down on the sand, dirty and wet, his back being beaten by the powerless waves.

Somehow, he found the strength to get back up. He looked around, mesmerized by the scenery. He stood in a small creek and before his eyes laid an amazing shore with golden sand and tall green trees growing at its edge, exactly the place he'd wished for just before being engulfed in the blue light. He turned his eyes and, on his left, was an enormous, majestic mountain, with brown soil and black, sharp peaks. On his right, a path sporadic bushes and small-trees led to a fully-fledged forest, with many little paths towards, what he thought to be, the strange land's centre.

Edward's train of thoughts was interrupted by sounds behind his back. The ship, he thought. Feeling guilty, he turned around, watching as the people slowly came out of the Argo's belly.

Jonathan was one of the first to exit. He saw Edward and ran to meet him, a cry of joy coming out of his mouth.

We are saved, brought into paradise.

The passengers were progressively coming out of the ship, screaming with pleasure, cheering, applauding.

The last person to descend was the most important person in his life, his wife. She looked as beautiful as the day he'd first met her, as though this place gave her back the life the long sea journey had stolen. She smiled sweetly at him, tiny tears in her eyes.

And at this very moment, Edward knew he was the happiest man alive.

A/N: The song in the beginning of this chapter is titled Starfall and is composed by the amazing Thomas Bergersen.