COAST - Luffy x Reader

CHAPTER EIGHT

I am so sad.

College has started again. I'm going to do my best but my activity may lessen from now on, since my commute is a pain in the ass, and I'm working too :(

ALSO; I injured my hand, lol. Accidentally broke a glass while I was polishing and got a deep gash with some stitches, so we are absolutely vibing. 2024 is going well LOL!

I appreciate all of your kind, fun comments, though. It makes my heart warm to open my notifications and see y'all.

It's crazy to think we've reached 2.6k reads already.

There's a little more fluff for you guys in this chapter, as a thank you :)

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"Here she is!" The cheery voice of the directress seemed to bounce off the walls of the brightly lit hallway. She was holding my smaller hand in hers, but I couldn't feel it.

A couple, a man and a woman, stood side by side with smiles that gleamed like pearls against the yellowed paint. The ceiling above their heads chipped and cracked.

A gasp, I flicked my eyes back to meet the woman. I had met them once before. Her eyes were blue.

"Hello, (Y/n)!" She crouched, reaching out a hand. I shied away. She laughed.

"We're taking you to your new home today, honey."

The stairs creaked lowly beneath my feet as I clung to the weakly hung railing. The lights were dim, the wallpaper a dull gray, striped like thick prison bars. It smelled like dirt, and must. It was cold.

"Here's your room!" The man pushed open the pale door in front of him, "Let us know if you need any help getting settled, okay?"

Tip toeing around the door frame, a couple of children from inside skittered away when we met eyes. One hid beneath her bed sheets, another in the closet; they reminded me of the rats in the walls of the orphanage. A soft hand pushed me forward. The lights flickered.

"We'll come up to get everyone for dinner in a little while..."

I turned, the light dwindled in the room and shuddered, before it went dark.

The sliver of light from the hallway dwindled, squeezing smaller and smaller as the door rasped.

I could hear the rats squeaking from behind, getting closer, closer.

'Thunk.'

It was dark.

I gasped, back lifting from the hammock and arching forward as I wheezed. Gripping the sides for stability, I nearly swung over the edge and onto the floor. The ropes squealed in disapproval at the movement. I couldn't see them. It was still dark.

Breathe in. A wave crashed against the hull, right on time; I was on the ship. That's right. I was on the Going Merry.

I kept listening, eyes adjusting in the dark. Nami slept soundly on the bed. Robin's hammock was empty. The little candle in the corner was melting wax all over the table, nearly snuffed out now. Another wave sloshed against the boards. I breathed out.

Up and out of bed, I moved as quietly as I could. Every groaning floorboard had me wincing, sneaking over to the bureau and opening the drawers so quietly that I'm sure even Nami would be impressed.

Clothes in hand, I felt the sweat stick my shirt to my back. A late night shower would be good, probably. I wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon, anyways. But, maybe it would help make me drowsy, or something. I felt too gross to go back to sleep either way.