Tainted Tides

Chapter 1

Ant's POV

*SLAP*

My face seared with pain as I fell to the deck of the ship. "Sorry sir," I said through grinding teeth, to the man towering over me.

"How fucking thick are you?! You missed a spot!"

I pulled myself to my knees and began reaching for the soaking sponge. "Apologies sir; won't happen again," I spat out, hiding my malice as best as I could. I wished I could slash his throat where he stood, but that would have given me away. I had a job to do, and I wasn't going to let some dense moron get in the way of it. I just had to lay low until he got bored of me. As I turned to dip the sponge in the bucket of murky water with residue of soap, I felt the mans dry and crusty hands reach into my hair and pull harshly. Grimacing with pain, I stifled a groan, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

"Don't turn away from me when I'm speaking to you! Do you realize who I am?! I am officer Morgan! You're not dismissed to continue your job until I SAY you're dismissed to continue your job! Understood boy?!" the man spat at me, pulling my hair hard enough to just barely lift me off my knees. My heartbeat pounded in my ears and I bit my tongue behind closed lips, as I felt the bubble of rage inflate within me.

"With all due respect officer Piers, your fat ass being in that spot was the reason I couldn't clean it anyway," I gritted through my teeth as I felt my restraint slipping away. A few more seconds of this and I would have his limbs on display at different corners of the ship.

He threw me to the deck in rage and began to kick me, hindering my ability to stand.

*Kick*

If only he knew who he was talking to...

*Kick*

If only he knew what I could do to him...

*Kick*

Oh, how I hoped he would push me just that little bit further.

*Kick*

I was Itching to snap.

"How does a thick pig like you even end up on a navy boat like this?! I heard you didn't even know what our mission is!" He pressed his boot against my face, pushing me against the deck. Rage swelled within me and just as the bubble within me was about to pop, a young yet commanding voice interrupted the movement on top of me.

"OFFICER MORGAN, STAND DOWN. THAT IS AN ORDER." Said the young voice. Surely a voice too young to be giving this man orders! The oaf immediately complied.

"S-Sorry Captain Donnelly. H-He missed a spot..." said Piers with an undertone of malice.

I brought myself back to my knees, groaning in pain as my newly formed bruises throbbed. I dragged my anger-induced-blurred vision up to see a handsome man with brown hair and emerald eyes, who looked to be in his teens, but was dressed in a full captain's outfit of the royal Navy. I felt my rage abruptly stop rising as I stared into his eyes. They showed his youth and his maturity all at once, in a confusing cacophony of emotion. I'd seen those eyes before; I'd seen them on myself.

He glanced at me sympathetically before turning his attention back to the trembling man of double his size and glaring. "He missed a spot?! You're one to talk, you filthy arsehole! Get out of my sight!" Screamed the young man. Piers scrambled away with a scowl and the young captain approached me.

"Are you okay there? Come with me sailor, I'll get you cleaned up to apologize for my cunt of an officer." He said. I was incredibly thankful for him. Not for saving me; I would have been fine. But for keeping me from blowing my cover, even though it would've helped him the most to know who I truly am.