Departure: Ace Trappola, Deuce Spade
Deuce was running late. The bright moon overhead seemed to be mocking his tardiness. For once in his life, he wanted things to go right, for a day just to be good. Unfortunately, today couldn’t have been worse.
It all started when he overslept this morning. His mom came and woke him up, but he fell back asleep. He stayed out late the night before trying to fix up his bike that he wrecked last week, so he was exhausted. His mom had just assumed he was getting ready, so she didn’t bother checking on him till he was supposed to get on the bus. Deuce panicked and started getting ready in record time. He already had nine tardies for the school year, one more and he’d get suspended again.
Out of frustration, Deuce yelled at his mom that she should have woken him up. He yelled at her. She didn’t deserve that. Deuce knew that. She deserved so much better. She worked two jobs in order to provide for Deuce and herself after dad left them. During the day when Deuce was in school, she worked full-time at the local car garage and then she worked part-time in the evenings as a delivery driver for White Rabbit Deliveries. She worked hard to provide a good life for herself and Deuce, and here he was just screwing it up like usual. He wanted to do better, be better, but every time he tried to stick to the right path, he just screwed it up. Just like this morning. What good kid yells at his own mother? It was his fault that he stayed out. It was his fault that he fell back asleep. It was his fault that he was a bad kid.
His mom, his gracious and forgiving mom, took it in stride and simply handed him his book bag and a lunch she packed herself. She told him to have a great birthday and that when he came home, she would have something for him.
Oh yeah. To top it all off, today was his birthday.
Deuce grabbed his book bag and lunch, and ran to the front door. Just like every other morning, Deuce’s mom told him to promise to do his best, and Deuce hurriedly replied that he promised. A promise he broke each and every day.
Deuce ended up being late to school by three minutes. He tried to plead with the principal, but he refused, citing each day that Deuce was late this school year. He said that if Deuce really cared about his attendance, he wouldn’t already have nine tardies. The principal then grabbed the phone and began to dial his mother’s number to tell her that starting tomorrow he would be suspended for the rest of the week.
Deuce didn’t know what else to do, so he left. He grabbed his book bag and ran right out of the office. He didn’t want to hear the principal talk with his mom. He didn’t want to feel the shame and guilt overwhelm him when hearing his mom’s shock. He couldn’t bear it.
So he ran out of the school and into the nearest alleyway. He took turn after turn to make sure to lose anyone who came after him. Once he himself wasn’t sure where he ended up, he slid down the wall and sat on the ground. He brought up his knees to his chest and rested his head on his knees.
Deuce didn’t know when he started crying, but he knew he cried for quite awhile. It started out quiet, but then his sobs grew louder as the day’s events washed over him. Why couldn’t things go right for once? Why couldn’t he get his act together? Why couldn’t he be a good kid? He asked himself these questions over and over, but he couldn’t come up with an answer for any of them.
As his thoughts began to overwhelm him, Deuce cried louder and louder. Eventually, his cries drew the attention of others.
“Look at what we have here boys. A little baby who can’t find his way home.”
A hand grabs Deuce’s hair and yanks his head up. Deuce immediately registers that it’s some member of the Black Bunnies gang, recognizable by the gray letterman jacket with a black rabbit patch on it.
Once the guy gets a look at Deuce’s face, he calls out, “Hey, wait a minute. Isn’t he the Cauldron Duke?”
Three more members of the Black Bunnies emerge from the shadows of the alleyway. Deuce feels his stomach drop. He should’ve just run back home.
One guy with short, blonde hair says, “It really is! What’s he doing out here crying?”
Another guy with long, black hair retorts, “Maybe he’s not all what the rumors say he is. Maybe he’s nothing more than a snot nosed brat.”
The one holding Deuce’s hair, a guy with pink hair, asks, “Got anything to say for yourself, Cauldron Duke?”
Deuce steels his nerves and doesn’t respond at all. He narrows his gaze, trying to look somewhat intimidating. He knows it isn’t successful when he sees a frown cross the guy’s face in front of him.
“You think you’re above us? Answer me when I’m talking to you!”
Suddenly, Deuce is sent reeling backwards. A punch sends him flying into the brick wall behind him. He falls to the ground and tries to catch his breath.
The pink haired guy grabs Deuce’s face again and yanks it up so that Deuce is looking him in the eyes.
“Does the baby not know how to talk?”
The guy punches Deuce in the chest with his free hand while his lackeys walk up behind him.
“Need someone to hold your hand?”
This time a kick to the gut from the lackey with blonde hair.
“Come on boys! Don’t let me hog all the fun!”
Deuce just wants it all to stop.
“No way this is the Cauldron Duke!”
“Wish you had some friends, don’t you!”
He wants someone to come flying to his rescue, but no one does. No one ever does.
“Let’s get him good! He’s all alone now!”
“I bet you want your mommy!”
Mom. He’s always had her. If no one else, he’s had her. She’s waiting for him. He needs to get back to her.
“How about one more boys-“
The pink haired leader gets sent flying into the nearby garbage dump. The other three lackeys stare dumbfounded at Deuce who managed such a feat with a single punch.
Deuce shakily rises to his feet and wipes the blood slowly dripping down the corner of his cheek. He’s going home. He’s not going to let anyone stop him.
Deuce doesn’t like to fight, he knows that it’s wrong and that his mom would be disappointed in him, but he does like the feeling. He lets his mind shut down, letting his body go on autopilot. All those thoughts weighing him down just disappear when he prepares to fight. Step. Punch. Step. Duck. Repeat.
He takes care of the lackeys quickly. They end up turning tail and leaving before the fighting gets too intense. After the last one runs out the alleyway, Deuce lets out a breath that he didn’t even realize he was holding in. He begins to assess himself, seeing what damage was done. Other than some nasty bruises, he seems to be ok. A bit sore, but ok.
Deuce stretches his arms above his head, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. As he releases his breath, he opens his eyes and takes in the scarlet sky that’s beginning to give way to a deep blue with stars just dancing on its edges.
Deuce curses to himself and mutters, “I’m so late! Mom said she had something she wanted to show me after school. But those guys jumped me and-“
Deuce immediately takes off running in what he believes to be the direction of his home. How did it get so late so quickly!? He was supposed to be home by now.
The day just continues to get worse and worse. As Deuce didn’t pay much attention when he ran out his school earlier, he got lost trying to find his way back home. By the time Deuce finally manages to get back home, the sky is full of stars while he is out of breath. He quietly approaches the door and pulls out his key. He tries to think of something to say to his mom, but his mind is empty. What could he possibly say to her at this point? His mom is probably already asleep anyway, so he can just ask her about whatever she wanted to show him tomorrow morning. It might be better if he just slips into his bedroom and goes straight to bed, putting this awful day behind him as quickly as possible.
As Deuce makes up his mind, he turns the key and quietly steps inside, making sure to lock the door behind him. He tiptoes towards the kitchen to put his book bag away, but he pauses when he notices that a light is on down the hallway. It’s the light in his mom’s room. Why’s his mom still awake at this hour? She usually goes to bed early during the week because she has to get up to get ready for work. Deuce quietly walks down the hallway and listens to see if he can hear if his mom’s still up. Maybe she accidentally fell asleep with the light on? If he doesn’t hear anything, he’ll just quickly open the door to shut the lights off.
As he reaches the door, he begins to hear noise from inside the room. Crying. It’s muffled, but it’s definitely the sound of his mother crying. Did something happen at work? Did someone mess with his mom? While Deuce debates entering the room or slipping away and pretending he never heard anything, he hears his mom speak.
“Mom, I just don’t know what to do. The principal called and said Deuce skipped school again.”
“I just don’t know what to do! I love him so much, but it must not be enough if he’s doing all this.”
“Maybe I can’t do this on my own…maybe Deuce needs a real family. I just want him to be happy, mom, but he keeps getting into trouble.”
Deuce bites his lip and balls his hands into fists.
“Am I doing something wrong? Am I not a good mother?”
He turns on his heel and walks towards the kitchen.
His thoughts fly as he makes his way back down the hall.
‘No. Mom…she feels like this? I’m…I’m a terrible son, making her go through all of this.’
Deuce grabs the handle and quietly turns it as a tear slides down his face.
‘She’s the one who deserves better! She’d be better off without me screwing up her life! I should just-‘
The state of kitchen sends his racing thoughts crashing into an abrupt halt. The kitchen is decorated in streamers and banners of varying shades of blue. Balloons sit in each corner of the room along with some shiny tinsel. In the center of the room sits a cake topped with sixteen unlit candles. A banner boldly declares in a bright and cheery font, “Happy Birthday Deuce!”
That’s right. Today’s his birthday. How could he have forgotten?
This is what his mom wanted to show him. What she had planned. She went through all this trouble for him, yet all he does for her is cause trouble. Why? Why would she go to such lengths for him? He only ever brings her grief and she did something so kind for him.
Deuce feels his heart drop. He wishes he could simply disappear.
He drops his bag by the closet before walking towards the cake in the center of the kitchen. Deuce takes small steps, making sure that his footsteps are muffled. He peers at the cake and reads the words written in blue icing on the cake, “Happy 16th Birthday, Deuce!” Deuce bites his lip while grabbing one of the candles from on top of the cake. He turns on his heel and quickly speeds out of the kitchen towards the stairs. He tries to be as silent as possible, but he’s not sure how much noise he’s made. His heart seems to be knocking loudly on his chest. He’s convinced his mom can hear his guilt.
Deuce closes his bedroom door and cries out, “I wish I could be a son Mom could be proud of!”
“It’s not too late. You could still become a fine son.”
Deuce’s head whips up at the sound of another voice in his room. A boy stands in front of his window that he was positive was closed before he went to school this morning. The boy is small, Deuce would’ve mistaken him for a middle schooler based on his looks; however, his voice was cold and dignified, making Deuce think he was actually older than he appeared. The boy had red hair hidden beneath a red pirate hat with a large black feather in it. The hat matched the rest of the boy’s ensemble of a bright, long red jacket with black and gold accents.
Deuce knew he should immediately start throwing fists at this person who broke into his room. He had no clue who this person was, or what he might do. Even though his body was ready to move forward and start swinging, Deuce’s mind was exhausted from the day’s events. He didn’t think he had it in him to do much more than lay on the floor and cry.
Not to mention, the boy had said something that echoed in Deuce’s mind. He said that Deuce could still become, “a fine son.” The way the boy said it sounded like he was reciting a fact. That he knew Deuce could become good. Deuce had never met this person before and yet they sounded like they knew him in such a familiar way. It was strange. His body wanted to fight. His mind wanted to hear more. For once, he went with his head.
Deuce declares to the stranger, “Tell me how!”
The red headed boy scoffs and says, “Not even going to ask my name, or how I arrived here? You are quite reckless. I shall take you aboard my vessel, the Queen’s Court, where I will turn you from a fickle youth into a fine gentleman worthy of everyone’s praise.”
The boy turns towards the window and adds, “That is, if you’re willing to change.“
Change. That’s all Deuce has wanted to do, but it didn’t seem possible. At least, not on his own. When he tried to change, he just screwed it up. Trouble found him in different ways and Deuce ended up right back where he started. It was like he was stuck on an endless loop, all alone wallowing in his guilt. Maybe what he needed was the help of someone else. An outsider. A friend.
Deuce balls his hands into fists and says, “I’ll do anything!”
The boy turns back with a smile on his face as he responds, “Then welcome aboard, Deuce Spade. Come along, we depart now.”
The boy begins walking back towards the window and Deuce quickly says, “Wait! Don’t I need to pack? I-“
The boy cuts him off, “Everything you need will be on board.”
Deuce takes a step to follow the boy, but he hesitates before making another move. He turns back towards his bedroom door. Could he really just leave?
“Your mother will be fine without you. She won’t even know you’re gone.”
Deuce whips his head back towards the window and says, “You promise?”
Deuce isn’t sure if he imagined it, but it seemed like sadness briefly appeared in the red headed boy’s eyes. Deuce couldn’t be sure though because as quickly as he saw it, it disappeared and was replaced with a determined gaze.
“Of course. I promise on my name Riddle Rosehearts.”
Deuce takes one last glance at the door and raises his fist. He opens it revealing the candle he took from his birthday cake in the kitchen. He would become someone his mom could be proud of. Someone she could brag about to all the neighbors. No longer would she have to apologize on his behalf. He would become someone worthy of her love.
He quickly slips the candle into his pocket and turns to follow Riddle. Then he realizes he’s not sure where he’s following Riddle to besides his window. Would they leave by climbing out and leaping into the alleyway below?
Just as his mind begins to think of other places Riddle might be leading him towards, he notices what lurks just outside his window. A large ship has laid down a plank leading up to his window. Deuce blinks several times before finally believing his eyes. There’s a floating ship right outside his house. A ship that apparently can turn him into a good kid according to Riddle. What a strange day it’s been.
Deuce quietly follows Riddle onto the ship where people are milling about pulling on various ropes and moving crates around the ship. Everyone seems to know their task and is getting it done without a moment to waste. He notices that some of the boys begin to whisper to one another after realizing Riddle has come onboard the ship. Their whispering ends just as quickly as it began, the boys quickly resume their work with even more vigor in their steps. Riddle walks up to a boy with orange hair who is carrying a box with various pieces of clothes inside.
The orange haired boy smiles and says, “It’s totes good to see you again, Captain! You sure know how to get the job done quickly!”
Riddle pays no mind to the boy’s praise and says, “Cater, would you please take Deuce to the sleeping quarters?”
Cater winks and retorts, “Do you even have to ask? Cay-Cay would be more than happy to show the way-way!”
Deuce inwardly cringes at Cater’s wordplay, but he’s probably just trying to make Deuce feel more at ease. After all, Cater understands everything that’s going on onboard this ship, while Deuce is completely in the dark.
Riddle pays Cater’s silliness no mind and says, “Thank you. I’ll be off to make sure the preparations are complete for our return to Neverland.”
Riddle turns to Deuce and continues, “I’ll leave you in Cater’s capable hands. If you have any questions, I’m sure he will be able to fill you in. I’ll see you in the morning, Deuce.”
With a swish of his red jacket, Riddle makes his way up a flight of stairs towards some unknown part of the ship. Deuce watches Riddle until he fades from view before taking in Cater. Cater has orange hair that is partially clipped back with some pieces falling down to frame his face. Underneath one of his green eyes, Cater has a red diamond painted on. His outfit consists of the same outfit as the other boys milling about, a simple blue striped shirt with jeans that are covered in a variety of patches. One accessory sets Cater apart from the other boys and that would be a camera attached to a strap hanging around Cater’s neck.
Deuce isn’t sure what to say or do, but luckily Cater quickly begins to strike up conversation saying, “Welcome aboard Deucey! My name is Cater Diamond, expert coordinator on board the Queen’s Court. Any questions I can go ahead and answer for you?”
Deuce has a million questions sitting on the top of his tongue. What is this place? What’s Neverland? Why is Cater here? How was Deuce chosen for this experience? How was the ship floating? Why was everyone acting so calm? Did his mom hate him? Was he making the right choice by being here? Despite all these questions, Deuce can’t bring himself to ask a single one. He’s tired. He’s had a long day. If he received any answer to any of his many questions, he’d probably end up forgetting it right away. That, or it’d probably be the last straw and Deuce would just collapse into a sobbing mess.
Cater seems to notice Deuce’s overwhelmed state and gives a small smile as he says, “I’m sure this is a lot for you to take in, so how about we head on down to barracks so you can go ahead and crash?”
Deuce returns the gesture with a smile of his own and says, “Yes, please.”
They head through a nearby door and down a flight of stairs. Deuce can’t help but wonder what he’s gotten himself into. Perhaps this is the first step in his journey to become a better son; however, it’s just as likely this could be him sealing his fate into some crazy adventure. Regardless, Deuce felt a strange sense of peace. No matter what lay ahead of him, he knew that he would not be the same person as he was at the start. Change was all around him and he was sure that it was bound to become a part of him. All he needed to do was continue to walk forward on this new path he embarked upon.
