Chapter 1: The Map

"Viola!" my father hollered from the Inn. "You must come at once!" I looked at Olivia and sighed.

"Father is calling." I said and I stood up from the hard wood floor that Olivia and I always sat to converse. She smiled.

"'Tis another suitor, Viola." she said. I nodded and looked, exasperated, down at Olivia's sampler and she smiled up at me.

"Tell me, Viola, dear, why is it that you always turn all your suitors away?" Olivia asked I sat back down.

"Olivia, it's to dull and tedious! I can't knit or sew like you can. I burn the bread and mother always has to do it. I'm NOT about to have children, I'd be a bad mother and every single suitor father has ever brought is characterless and has no imagination! Look at your Thomas! All he can think about is farming and the blacksmith shop and I'm only fifteen!" I proclaimed, vehemently. Olivia looked at me and sighed.

"What do you want to do, Viola? Hunt for buried treasure? Fight a pirate? This is your life! Not a novel! Not a play! I've been your best friend for over five years now. I know you. I'm married. I'm scarcely one year older than you!" I looked at Olivia, aggravated.

"You wouldn't understand? Would you?" I said and I made a move to walk down stairs.

"Wait, Viola!" Olivia called from her place on the floor. I turned around and her deep brown eyes started to well with tears. Slowly they trickled down her pale face. Her silver and white dress falling down her skinny body, making her look like an angel. I immediately felt guilty.

"I'm regretting what I said to you." I remarked under my breath. I loathed being wrong and I knew that Olivia was right. "Tis not a novel or a play, 'tis my life. She looked more at ease and her delicate and frail finger passed me the sampler. Delicate finger that used to play shuttlecock with me. Delicate fingers that used to steal little candies from the local store. Delicate hands that fastened my ice skates.

"Take it. You can say you made it." Olivia said. I smiled and helped her up. "You're a good mate, Olivia Pittman!"` I said hugging her. She gave me a sweet smile showing off her white teeth and suddenly I felt a little pang of envy for Olivia's angelic blonde ringlets and her innocent aura. She would always make a stunning impression on anyone.

"I shall have to be going, Viola. You will do stupendous if you let your self." I grinned and ran down the stairs.

"You should not jump down the stairs, Viola! It's unladylike." My mother, Mrs. Scarlet Hawkins, said and she grabbed my arm. "What have you done to your hair!" She said under her breath. I tried not to raise my voice and tell her that this was how I always wore it but I should have known that everyone expected something more than what I am right now.

"It's how I ALWAYS wear my hair, mother." I snapped and she rolled her eyes and glistened a smile.

"I know, dear but we only want the best for you." She said and walked ahead to meet my father but not before muttering: "And I DID ask you to curl it." My father, Jim Hawkins, met us at the stairs.

"Viola, did I not tell you to wear the red gown your mother made?" My father growled in my ear and pulled me into the Inn. I could tell that they wanted me to behave and that they did not have patience for my stunts today. As I walked in I smelt the pungent aroma of fresh black coffee, pure rum, exotic fruits, and oven baked biscuits. I inhaled and swore with all my willpower that I would be kind to this strange man and that I would do it for poor Olivia who lost her identity and willpower to Thomas and samplers.

When I walked over the group of chairs I saw Dr. Livesey, Captain Smollett, and Squire Trelawney all sitting in a group, smoking and talking with each other. Must father always invite these men to the inn? I don't like having to reject people in front of an audience. I thought. Next to Squire Trelawney was a young man about seventeen years of age. Jim put a hand on my back and smiled at the young man.

"Viola, this is Gabriel Hoffman." my father said pushing a little harder on the small of my back as if her thought that he could hold in the mean spirit that always bit out at the young courters. "He's interested in working at the Inn. I thought that we could let him do an apprenticeship at the Admiral Benbow. Gabriel nodded enthusiastically. I smiled and curtsied, holding up the raged blue and white dress.

Gabriel pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit. I might be trying to nice but I was NOT going to be treated like a little girl. I made no motion to move for the chair. God save me this man was not for me.

"Sit, Viola." My mother hissed in my ear and then in a more despirate voice she added; "Please, dear. For yur own good." I did. I should have been given a lot more than a small cup of tea and a sweet biscuit for I sat there listening to them men talk hour about three hours. I got tired and I could feel myself drifting off to a land filled with mermaids, pirates, treasure, fairies, and other adventures. Some place without Gabriel and without samplers and mothers who ask you to wear gowns with lace and curl your hair.

I, to be frank with you, do not know how long I was there when Gabriel touched my arm. I jerked awake and wrenched my arm away from his hand like it was a rattlesnake. My deep sea green eyes were wide-awake now and my coffee colored chestnut hair was now hanging limply from my shoulders.

"Viola, did you fall asleep there?" Squire Trelawney asked in a booming voice. That arouses many looks from my mother and father. I wanted to punch that good for nothing dog in his to big mouth!

"I'm sorry, Gabriel and company. I must have fallen asleep. It's been a busy few nights at the inn." I said as sincerely as I could muster. My mother snorted and turned to look at my father. Captian Smollett rolled his eyes and turned to Dr. Livesey who shared his same look of amusment and exasperation. Gabriel looked pleased to be important enough to be the primary source of my apology.

"Well, Viola, you missed the story." Captain Smollett said. I immediately perked up. I loved Captain Smollett's stories.

"Oh, do tell it again, Captain! Please!" I begged. The doctor chuckled.

"Viola, this was no story about sea maids with golden hair or knights with shining armor. This was a real story. Not of interest to you, my dear. Your father and us shall be leaving for a while." My face wrinkled. I despised when they kept secrets from me.

"Do tell me why, good doctor." I said, quickly letting my face perk up, I could tell that it was exciting. The doctor looked at my father and then the captain. My father shook his head and I was about to protest when I had a better idea. I turned my head to young Gabriel.

"You'll tell me won't you?" I said batting my eyelashes even though it made me ill and probably made me look green as the trees. He looked at my father then into my eyes. My mother got up to leave. She always got up to make coffee when things got interesting. It was as if she had some deep wedged secret that she'd never tell me. Unlickley. I thought. My mother and father are the most boring people in the world. I looked at Gabriel more. He cleared his throat.

"We will be leaving. When we come back you shall be married to me." He said, any man that thought that I couldn't handle news like this was nothing. I could tell that Gabriel was not someone I would like. He cared more about pleasing my family than about loving me.

"Can I come?" I asked. "I do love to travel, Gabriel." I said, completely ignoring the fact that he said I'd marry to him when he came back.

"No, Viola. You might be pretty and smart and as many of your virtues I will appreciate. This is for men." He said.

"I'm going to ask you again. Just tell me where you're going!" I pleaded.

"Treasure hunting, for crying out loud, Viola!" he said. My mouth dropped open and my eyes filled with glee.

"Captain Jacob Smithson left his treasure on an island called Treasure Island. You're father's-" Gabriel started but I interrupted not caring what anyone said anymore.

"I want to come! I said. This is a dream come true for me, father!" I said knowing that my strong willed protests were to no avail. The men shook their heads. I stood up and having a temper more fiery then the abysses of lava and more hot than fire and brimstone I knocked the chair over and stormed up to my room and when I was sure the door was shut and everyone was downstairs I started to weep.

"Now I'll be here forever and I'll have to wed the stupid, stupid, buzzard Gabriel. I'll rot in this Admiral Benbow inn." soon the tears were falling out of my eyes like a waterfall crashing down the rocks. Just as I was about to change into my nightgown a knock at my door made me jump.

"Go away!" I called in the most obnoxious manner I could muster.

"Please open the door, Viola." Squire Trelawney said.

"I hate you for not helping me! I positively scorn you and your stupid crew!" I yelled. The squire knocked again.

"Please, Viola, let me give you something that will make you feel better!" he yelled. I sniffled a little and opened the door. He stepped in and closed the door. I sat down on the floor and he sank down to my level.

"What do you have?" I asked, trying to hid my curiosity. He pulled out a little book about the size of a pin box. I looked at him.

"Before you were born, when your father was little as you he went on a voyage to Treasure Island with us." the squire said. I scoffed at the squire's inaccuracy.

"MY father. Jim Hawkins on a voyage for treasure? That's just plain outright absurd!" I laughed. The squire frowned.

"I swear over my mother's dead body. God rest her soul. It's all true, Viola."

I smiled and opened the book. I started to read. Squire Trelawney, Dr. Livesey, and the rest of the gentleman have asked me to write down….. I smiled at the squire.

"Thanks you, good squire." I said. "If I die here as you good fellows are gone it shall not be of dreariness and there will be no more restless hours of trying to find different ways to sneak out of the inn."

"Many more to come when we return, Viola." He smiled and I sighed. There was another knock on the door. This time it was my father. I quickly concealed the little book under my pillow as the squire was leaving he grabbed my hand.

"And Viola, dear, do me a favor?" the squire asked. I nodded. He squeezed my hand harder and I felt him slip something into them right before my father walked in. I tucked it into my dress pocket and he said.

"Do be careful, Viola and don't do anything foolish." He said and quickly walked out. My father approached the bed that I was now lying on and smiled at the squire.

"I'll be seeing you soon, Trelawney. If you get the ship ready and talk to Captain Smollett about the crew we can set sail soon!" my father said.

"That's if we can get there before Captain Michael and his good for nothing crew!" The squire joked and I groaned. They were competing with one of the most famous privateers in all of England? Did they really think they were that good? I eyed the squire as he walked out and I could not wait for my father to leave so I could find out what the squire had given me. My father went on and on about etiquette and grace so finally I had to end it and I said.

"Father I'm feeling quite sick and very tired much like…" I struggled to find the words or to think of something convincing and valid. "I'm feeling very fatigued and like I might be ailing." I said. He looked at me funny. I held my breath and prayed to the lord with all my heart. I coughed for good measure.

"Maybe Dr. Livesey should look at you."

"No!" I said a bit to suddenly. "I just had a bit to much… much….ale." I said witch was probably the worst fabrication in the whole seven seas because I've never drunk in my fifteen boring years alive. Jim looked at me dubiously but I started to sneeze and cough and make noises that I didn't knew if they would send Dr. Livesey up here now or make my father leave. My father kissed my forehead.

"Good nigh, Viola. My impossible, rebellious, arrogant, darling, daughter." He said half joking. I smiled at Father.

"Good night, father." I said. He walked out of my room and I stood up grabbing a candle and lighting it. I quickly retrieved whatever it was from my pocket and when I held it out to the candle I almost ran downstairs to hug the squire. A map

I knew exactly what I was going to do and I knew that I at least, if anyone, I had the squire's support. Then I climbed out the window to get everything that I needed.