He Never Left Serenity: Interlude

It’s been a few days now since I found out about Captain Reynolds. I feel so foolish. My parents have noticed my mood change. They keep asking me if I’m all right and what’s wrong. How do I explain to them that their crazy daughter had wild dreams about a Captain, long dead, and just had those dreams squished like a bug under someone’s boot heel? Charlie’s avoiding me too. That’s a bad sign. I should go back to Serenity, say whatever to Captain Reynolds and make my peace. Today. “Mom! I’m going for a walk!” I surefooted my way on the now worn path to Serenity. And there she sat, gleaming in the evening sun like a discarded diamond in the rough. But no more illusions. Walking into the cargo bay, I noticed that it has lost most of its charm. The stairs seem to creak and sway more. The flowers seem more faded and the air a bit more stale. It seemed like it took hours to reach the cockpit. But finally, there I stood and there he sat. “Captain Reynolds, I believed you to have been an honorable and worthy man. But I have learned that those beliefs were childish and unfounded. You were in fact a criminal. Good bye.”

I marched out of the ship, not feeling any better. I actually felt worse. And the view that greeted me once I cleared the woods made my blood run cold. A group of men in black suits had my parents and Charlie standing in the front yard while more men rummaged through our small house. I thought about running but I hesitated too long. “Cindy Blackwell?” A tall man appeared behind me and gripped my arm painfully. “Let’s talk.” In his other hand was my diary.