When The Storm Comes (When We're Older alternative ending)

across the land

part 2 of the double update

Newt

I scrambled out of my bed, grabbing only my book and my journal and sticking them in the pocket of my jacket.

Everyone ran to find a place to hide while Vince sprinted back up the stairs, beginning to scream profanities. I could hear new voices along with the crashing waves, and sounds of yells mixed with muffled grunts from someone being punched in the face. I winced every time I identified the sound of someone's fist making contact with someone's face.

I hid behind a few barrels, Thomas and Brenda in a dark corner while Minho stumbled about aimlessly, eventually getting pulled behind the staircase with Frypan, Teresa, and Gally.

My breaths were unsteady as the fight calmed down upstairs, heavy silence following. Trying to peek at the deck from my hiding spot, I could barely make out a man with long black hair and a funky hat and a few other strange people walking around, their voices muffled by the sound of the rain that had started.

"It's the pirates!" Minho slurred, whisper-shouting to all of us. "I told you all that this
was—"

Gally clamped his hand over the drunken boy's mouth. I had sobered up the second Minho and I started fighting, it was like I hadn't even touched alcohol while Minho stumbled over his own feet and spoke anything that came to his mind.

As mad as I was at him, he was right.

I suddenly remembered Apio warning us about some people who might be after us because of an overdose that happened while their friend was on Apio's drugs. It wasn't his fault, but I knew they didn't care whose fault it was. They wanted revenge and they'd blame whoever was first on their list. In this case, it was Apio and whoever his accomplices were. Us.

The storm raged on, the boat now beginning to rock from side to side. My focus on what was happening above was broken as a barrel came rolling in my direction from the other side of the room. I quickly braced myself as wood clashed against each other, creating a loud crashing sound the pirates couldn't have missed. I pinched my eyes shut as I made myself smaller in hopes they'd miss me. We had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

The sound of footsteps and creaking wood ripped me out of my daze. I ducked down just as a body emerged from the deck, a man walking down the stairs slowly, glancing at the barrels around the room.  I peered out from a crack in the wall of boxes and barrels, my eyes darting to the places my friends were hidden.

"Hey, Captain!"

I flinched at the sudden shout, a small breath coming from my lips.

The man heard the quiet sound, his head moving to where I was. I quickly covered my mouth and ducked down farther, my eyes pinching closed as I prayed that he wouldn't find me.

Another set of footsteps came down the creaky stairs.

"What?" A loud, gravelly voice said. He sounded out of breath. I peeked through the barrels again and noticed that his ring-clad fingers were bloody—his knuckles were starting to bruise. He must've been the one who was fighting on deck.

He had long hair, longer and curlier than Vince's. He had a mask over his face as well—a dark piece of cloth that covered the area from his eyes down. But his entire face was almost hidden in the darkness provided by his hat. He was big and cruel-looking and I never wanted to speak to him if I could help it.

"Found 'em. The barrels are full of Apio's shit."

The Captain looked my way and slowly made his over to the barrels I was hidden behind. He placed a dirty hand on one, his fingers gently grazing the wood as though he were trying to feel the contents inside. He was silent for a few seconds, my chest was beginning to burn from the lack of oxygen.