Kilmy: The Indomitable

2/ Captured by Pirates

Is Annelide home? Is it the fire?

I swallow, trying to decide what to do when I hear footsteps creaking on the floorboards in the hallway.

The sound is heavier than our shoes. It can't be my sister.

I dart for my closet, closing myself into it as the bedroom door smacks against the wall. I press a hand over my mouth, trying to quiet my breathing.

It's so dark in here, but I crouch lower, trying to blend in with the darkness. I'm slowly working on hiding beneath my clothes when the door swings open and light shines into the closet.

Someone grabs me roughly, pulling me out of the closet.

I screech, swatting at his hand, but he tightens it on my arm in response.

"What do we have here?" His head tilts as he regards me. "Looks like a prisoner."

Is this a pirate?

Why didn't the government warn us about the pirates? They had to know...

Did the pirates set the fire? Why would they do that?

Did they have to do with Dyna's disappearance?

I've never seen one in person, but I don't like the sound of being a prisoner.

He has a large face, yet frail looking body. His brown eyes pierce through me.

"Let go of me," I demand, glaring at him. I'm not supposed to talk to men, but...what do I have to lose? "And get out of my house."

He laughs. "Or what?"

"I–I'll—"

"John, are we almost done here?" another male calls.

"In here! I found something of interest."

Fight. Fight. Fight.

I claw at his hand, ramming my body into his, trying to loosen the grip on me. But he doesn't bulge. I pound on his booted foot with my bare one, but all that does is cause pain to shoot through me.

"Let go of me!" I scream, hoping someone hears me. Hoping someone will save me.

More footsteps echo through my house.

"What are you doing, Jack?" the man questions when he enters the room. His eyes narrow in on me. "We can't take a prisoner!"

John shrugs, dragging me to his partner. "And why not?"

"It's not part of the plan!"

"Oh hush, Jack! This is better anyway. Keep quiet and do what I say."

John shoves Jack out of the way and drags me through the house, toward our backdoor. I dig my heels into the wooden floor, but all I get is splinters. I try throwing myself onto the floor to loosen his grip, but that doesn't work either.

"You'll regret this!"

He ignores me.

"Come on, Jack! We're done here."

My stomach plummets when the black ship comes into view. I swallow, turning my body to glance behind me.

Even more flames devour my city.

"Keep walking!" John barks, digging his nails into my skin.

Will I ever see Valencygne again? What's going to happen to me? Will I be sold? Or worse?

The headless women flash through my mind and a shiver races along my spine.

Will I see Dyna again? Do they have her on their ship or did they already dump her?

That is, if they're the reason she's gone.

I hesitate at the edge of the sea, staring into the clear water. Do you die immediately when you're poisoned? Or do you suffer until someone puts you out of your misery? Is that what happened to all the murdered girls?

My eyes travel up the black ship, and I gulp as I'm forced onto it. 

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