It was a sailing boat. A little powder blue sailing boat that for one reason or the other had suddenly decided to tip forwards, what I hope can be described as the 'arse' of the boat sticking straight up in the open air.

That's not strange… oh would you look at all the people.

About five people who were alive.

Actually alive, as in breathing and…. Shit.

They looked completely terrified, staring at the variously assembled pirates with expressions ranging from 'OMG!' to 'F--king hell don't touch me please!'

I now understood why Will needed my help. Who better to explain to living people about the dead ship on which they were supposed to be dead, than a living person related to the dead captain and living on the dead ship?

My brain hurts now…. How did I think of such a complex thought? Must have more intellectual prowess than I thought I did. Go Super-Emily!

I pushed through the assembled crew to the first person, a girl, who was sat on the deck almost sobbing.

She had a vaguely Asian look, with beautiful long black hair and very stylish clothes. She appeared to be younger than me, at being like a head shorter than me. Like a sort-of miniature teenager.

"Hi!" I trilled as sunnily as I could. "I'm Emily, your helpful and always cheerful ship's guide! How may I help you?"

She gave a little gulp and smiled. "I'm Isabella Hayton and that's my boat. Thank you for saving me!"

Hmmm… didn't actually do anything but appreciation is appreciation. "Oh, it was nothing really…"

"Yes, exactly, nothing for you…" Muttered a surly voice behind me. I swung my elbow behind me and was rewarded by a gasp of pain. Ha. HA HA.

"C'mon Isabella, I'll show you round. I want to make this trip as lovely as possible for you before we can get you back!"

It was decided that we would take Isabella and her crew back to the nearest port, whilst towing the remains of their little ship behind the big ship. The nearest port was Hong Kong and I hadn't realised how far we'd come until I found that out…. Hmm, should think before I speak really.

It wouldn't be long really before I'd be home, a thought which both scared me shitless and made me long for home, good food, my own bed…. Etc. It made me long for Hollyoaks. I mean I've been gone Gawd knows how long, anything could have happened! I mean Jake could have found out that Charlie isn't his and gone all bloody ape-frick….

Anyway, I digress. (I'm learning new words every day me! Smart words and all!)

I had found a bloody fantastic friend in Isabella. She's the same age as me would you believe, and has pretty much the same interests. She's like Chinese and Portuguese and her boat was called Corazón del océano which basically means Heart of the Ocean or something like that because she loves Titanic as much as me. Or more really! Her father is like super-rich which is why she had her own mini-yacht.

It is lovely to have a gal pal again. I've spent so long around men and their habits and their smells and their jokes and their manners that I did fear I would never be able to be accepted into proper social conversation.

('Hey Emily what's up?' 'Oh um hi huh-huh-huh you have like really big boobs huh-huh-huh blerup!'

Yeah…. Don't think so matey.)

And

I've even stopped paying any real attention to Will. I'm telling you, having a friend is the best remedy for creepy-unrequainted-love.

Instead of moping around the place after Will, I was giggling with Isabella over normal things instead of boringly-historical-seaside-salty-stuff. Things like boys and celebrities and OH! Fully caught up on goss now! Would you believe what happened to Britney? And Amy Winehouse? Heavy….

We'd be giggling in the corner and Will would just walk past and just giv us a look. A look of complete and utter bewilderment. Then Isabella would tell him to go away and watch his retreating back with disgust.

"He's like totally creepy. Why are you on this ship with all these weirdo historical re-creators?"

I hadn't bothered to delve into the whole dark and murky subject of this ship and the crew, and left Isabella to conclude her own opinions. I really don't want her to leap off the side of the ship in shock.

"It's my mother's uncle's brother's uncle's son. Just staying here for a couple of weeks with him."

Her lips would move silently as she tried to work this out for herself. She'd shrug and talk about something else, leaving me mentally going Phe-uw! and wiping my forehead in relief.

It took a few days to get within sight of Hong Kong and I was in tears on the morning of their departure. They were taking one of the rowing boats to the harbour, then catching a taxi to Isabella's mansion home.

It was just us; Will was busy and frankly our crew would be glad to see her gone. (Us two together big nuisances. As in running around the deck laughing our heads off, getting in everyone's way… fun. Serious fun.)

"I'm really gonna miss you." I choked. "It's no fun being the only girl."

"Come with me then!" Isabella gave a wide smile. "C'mon we'll get you back before nightfall! He can hardly complain, it's not like you'll be with strangers…."

I got into the boat.

I sat on the seat and smiled at the four scowling men.

Then everything went black.

I woke up on a cold, damp floor. The room was dark, pitch black and it smelt of mouldy wood and damp. I got up unsteadily, fingers feeling a small, thickly clotted lump on the back of my head. The familiar sound of water was all around, so my muggy brain reasoned I must be on another boat.

Suddenly, it pitched, sending me flying to the floor. I landed face first on the cold, hard floor in some smelly liquid.

I found I had no more strength to pick myself up again. I gathered what strength I had left and curled into a ball on the floor.

"There was a boy… a very strange enchanting boy…" I sang softly to myself, trying to distract myself from the gloom that covered me.

I began to pray that Will would find me.

A/N: Please feel free to hurt me in various ways.

I have been cruel and neglected you, my lovely readers.

But at least I updated at last, yeah? (Ducks to avoid various missiles thrown at my head.)

And I got like almost 7000 story hits... (Recieves stony glares)

I am truly sorry for leaving this so long. I got distracted and simply moved on from this fic. And I have to say it was not easy getting back into Emily Turner's head.

So please don't kill me in your reiviews if you think I deserve any...