Mors Per Mare (ATEEZ FF)

21

The pain ceased immediately. Your vision returned to you as the water around you seemed to bubble up like it was boiling. The witch smiled at you as you felt your strength return. She reached out from the cell, and the water rippled against an unseen barrier as she filled her palms with it to pour over her head.

She closed her eyes with a satisfied smile and when she opened them again, she nodded at you. "Just keep your end of the bargain now, and then we'll be free." She said. A rather cryptic choice of words, and then the cell was gone and there was only water.

It was then that the world around you resumed its movement. You could hear the noise of the ships above you again, and you swam up towards the Hole in the Navy ship's brig. The Brig was already underwater, and you swam through it towards the hatch up into the ship's storage. Breaking the surface, you took your first breath in what felt like years. And yet, when you'd been under the water, you'd felt perfectly at home.

You heaved yourself out into the shallow water already starting to flood the next level. The ship was sinking and you had to get to somewhere that you could get to the Journey before it did. The ladder to the next hatch wasn't too far and you heaved yourself up quickly without the hindrance of broken ribs. Another level and you were up the main deck into chaos.

There were men everywhere, shouting across the boat to each other in a frenzy. Panic was in the air, and you wagered that they had figured out that their boat was sinking. And then you realized that there were still pirates here, tied to one of the masts as the navy sailors tried to grab others that were retreating to their ships.

They were faces you'd never seen before, but you made your rush through the men either way. Dodging and sidestepping as the Navy sailors only now realized you were there. You unsheathed your rapier to parry a swing from a navy sailor's cutlass as you moved across the ship with an ease that seemed far too natural, even to you.

Turning on your heel to roll across the back of an unsuspecting sailor, you got to the mast and used the sharp end of your rapier to cut through the ropes quickly. The three men that had been there didn't say anything, only thanking you with their eyes as they sprinted for the rigging to escape to one of the other ships.

You really didn't know how you were going to do the same as the rigging was crawling with Navy sailors following the now escaped prisoners.

You decided that now was not the best time to think about it as one of the sailors came at you. Using the slightly longer range of your rapier, you hooked the handle of the cutlass and pulled the cutlass straight from his hand. You misjudged the force by which you'd yanked it and the sword flew from your rapier and into the water.

"Oh, shit." You murmured as you heard the splash, your eyes coming back to the Navy sailor in front of you. He didn't seem pleased.

"Y/N!" You heard Wooyoung shout and you both turned to see him swinging toward you on a rope. Giving the sailor a shove, you shook your head, realizing that this was the second time Wooyoung had been your saving Grace.

You sprinted to the gunwale, dodging another navy sailor who tried to grab you. You jumped, using the wood to push off so that Wooyoung could catch you. His arm snagged you around the waist and you clasped your arms around him as he swung the two of you over to the Journey. "Well look at you, miss hero." He nodded towards the mast with a smug smile. You just shrugged, but inside you were swelling with pride. "Captain saw you go under, but I'm guessing after that show you're alright?"

"I'm great, actually. Just a bit wet." You answered as you both landed on the main deck.

"I can tell. I'm already soaked through." He agreed with a shake of his head. "Yeosang is gonna want to see you as soon as he gets back to the ship."