𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬 𖥸 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙨

03. Dangerous Waters

Jill didn't know how long she could stand being cooped up in such a tiny cell.

     Saebeorht hadn't come back just yet, and a part of her worried for his safety. What if they caught him sneaking back into the brig?

      It had only been three minutes.

      Nothing serious could have happened just yet.

       She ran a hand through her bloodsoaked hair, settling back down where she had previously rested with a slight frown on her face. She hated waiting.

      The back of her neck was still aching badly, but mercifully it had stopped bleeding. It couldn't be that fatal. Had it been, she would have been lying on the floor unconscious with her life draining away as she lost the rest of her blood.

      None of the men of the foreign crew had come down to torment her quite yet, and for that she was grateful. She didn't need another problem to add to her stack.

     Great wing beats filled the air as Saebeorht arrived right on time, squeezing himself through the window once more before making his way to her cell.

     He landed on the floor clumsily, folded his wings back and dropped the keys with a small squawk. The Frigatebird's chest jutted out with another squawk.

      Jill didn't waste a second. She knelt down on the grimy floor and thrusted her hand under the space of her cell, grabbing hold of the keys and standing up. Her hand groped around for the lock before she finally found it. Her smirk only widened.

      The door opened with a loud click, and she eased it open before calling Saebeorht into passive state. She didn't need him out to attract attention. The foreign crew would most likely spot him in the sky and recognize him as her own.

     And when the captain had called her by that nickname, it only brought back memories of her old life. He had called her Swan. How did he know? Was it some silly coincidence, or did he actually know her? She feared the answer.

     With mild curiosity, Jill paused for a moment as she recalled his face, trying to remember if she had seen it once before. Had they met?

      The captain of The Winged Victory heard the sudden footsteps above her and shook her head. No time to day dream and recall things. She had to get out now. If she could get to the side of the ship, perhaps she could make a jump for it and swim away. If she swam underwater, they would never find her.

     Her wounds had clotted up so there was no chance she'd lose any more blood and attract sharks, so that was another thing in her favor.

     Jill tried to keep her footsteps as soft as possible as she stepped out of the cell. Her eyes flickered to the window for a moment and she pursed her lips. There wasn't any way she could fit through that, so she searched for a different opening.

      If she used the front where they brought her, people would most likely see her and end her escape right then and there. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

      Where should she go now?

      It didn't look like there was any opening in sight. Except for. . .

      It was worth a shot. She didn't see any other options anyway. 

     Jill held her breath as she approached the opening, lowering herself almost into a crouch as she hauled it open and slipped it. She was greeted immediately by the fresh salt of the air and gentle breeze of the wind.

     The crew seemed too occupied to notice her, but she knew that moment wouldn't last long. She had to move now.

     What should she do? Most likely she would have to jump.