Forever, You Are My Star

Chapter 6: The Cleansing of Wounds

Night began to fall as the REVENGE docked at Tortuga. The crew cheered as the gangplank was lowered, and they were met with dry land. Two were left on ship to watch Hongjoong and the rest that had been locked in the brig for the remainder of their journey. There were no port holes near the brig to keep an eye on Mey which concerned them even more. They had not seen or heard about her since the day of the beating which was now two days ago. Laughter was heard from Tortuga causing the two pirates to groan.

    "Just wish Yang would kill them already. We are missing all the fun." One said.

    "He will probably dispose of them once he disposes of the girl. If he can get a decent price for her that is." The other replied laughing. They then began to drink themselves into the night until they passed out from all the rum they consumed leaving Wooyoung the opportunity to lift the keys from his belt. He steadied himself as he picked the keys up quietly and placed them near the lock. Hongjoong also reached out his hand and kept the other keys on the holder quiet as Wooyoung opened the cell door. They then all quietly stepped out of the brig watching the two unconscious pirates making sure they didn't wake up.

    "Jongho, I want you and Yeosang to stay back and watch these two. If they wake up before we are done, you both know what to do." Jongho and Yeosang both gave a nod, and the others made their way to the main deck. There they found Mey still tied against the main mast. Her shirt was ripped to shreds from the flogging and the blood had now dried, making all of the wounds appear worse than they were. Her skin was much more pale, and her hair hung in strands. Seonghwa walked up to her and gently lifted her head. He gave a sigh of relief then turned to the others.

    "She's alive." San could feel his entire body relax and his hyung's words. He walked up to them and stood directly behind Mey. "Mingi, I need you to cut the ropes." Mingi nodded and made his way in front of Mey bringing his dagger out. "San, when the ropes are cut, I need you to catch her. But be gentle; we don't want to open up any of the wounds. They are thankfully all closed." San nodded. Mingi raised his dagger to Mey's hands that were still bound above her head.

    "Are you ready, San?" He asked. San nodded once more then Mingi cut the ropes. Mey gently fell back as San scooped her up into his arms. She was cold and her face had no color, not even her lips. San felt his heart sink again scared she would die in a matter of minutes. Seonghwa led them down to sickbay where they were met with Jongho and Yeosang.

    "I thought I told you two to watch the guards." Hongjoong glared stepping forward.

    "We bound and gagged them in the brig. Thought we would be more help here." Yeosang replied.

    "That you would. Yeosang, I need  bowls of hot water, as much as you can make."Seonghwa said gathering all the items from the shelves.

    "Right away, hyung." Yeosang left the kitchen with Wooyoung and Jongho following behind in case he needed help.

    "Set her on my bed, San, but make sure she is laying on her stomach." San scrambled into sickbay and placed Mey on Seonghwa's bed then sat beside her. "Yunho, I used the last drop of rum; I'll need more."

    "Of course, hyung." Yunho then left to head down to the cellar to grab as much rum as he needed.

    "Do you have enough herbal remedies?" Hongjoong asked helping Seonghwa find the things he needed.

    "I hope to have enough. I am very low on a lot of things." Seonghwa tuned back to the bed and set some items on a table. "Mingi, we will need to borrow some clean clothes preferably the biggest shirt you have."

    "Don't have to tell me twice, hyung." Just as Mingi left, Jongho and Wooyoung returned with two very hot bowls of water.

    "Place one on either side of the bed, and, Jongho, I'll need your help." Jongho gave a nervous nod and sat on the other side where San had now moved from and was sitting at the end of the bed. Seonghwa began to dunk the rags in the hot water, and Jongho followed suit. "Don't worry, Jongho, I have faith in you. Just follow what I do, and you'll be fine." Mingi finally came back in with some clean clothes then began to help Hongjoong and Wooyoung prepare bandages mixed with rum and herbal remedies. Seonghwa and Jongho began to clean off as much of the dried blood as possible making her wounds more apparent. Jongho felt his stomach turn remembering what happened.