The Stolen Soul Key

Kidnapped and Caged

Crimson blood runs down the metal bars of her cage. The room was dark, smelling faintly of sweat and seaweed, sending chills down her spine.

Amaya had just watched as the man in front of her was killed. There was nothing she could do to help him, as she herself was also currently trapped. If she was up next for the sword, there would be no stopping it.

The pirate in front of her smiled as he wiped his sword on his pants. He turned to look at her with a fierce expression that made Amaya scramble to the back of her cage. They stared at each other for a moment, each sizing the other up.

He couldn't kill her yet. They both knew this.

Kai walked to her cage, crouching so that they were now at eye level. "You can either tell me what I want," he says slowly. "Or you can meet the same fate. I have no issues killing girls, you hear me?"

She nods, knowing that he would not hesitate to hurt her. But she also knows that he won't kill her until he has what he wants. Something that he would never be getting from her.

Kai sighs as he stands. "Let's see if you feel more giving after you haven't eaten for three days. I will just starve you out. We'll see who cracks first."

Amaya doesn't say anything as he walks out of the room. The sound of the lock clicking repeats in her ears, telling her that there truly is no escaping this. She falls back against the edge of her cage and puts her head in her hands. There was nothing she could do. Hopelessness threatened to crush her from the inside out.

What she didn't know is that just outside this room, someone was waiting for her.

~~~~~

Strong hands pushed on her shoulder as she gasped awake. Amaya put up her fists to defend herself against her attacker as she met eyes with the boy across from her. The boy held up his hands, his purple eyes calm as he watched her. She knew that she didn't match his level of calm and so she worked to relax herself. Slowly, she lowered her fists.

"Hello." He smiles softly, "I see you're our newest recruit." His teeth were so white, which was odd compared to the rest of the pirates. Normally, they were all kind of musty looking. This boy was not ugly at all. He was probably about her age too, maybe seventeen years old?

It took a moment for Amaya to realize she was still staring at him. "Oh, no." She averted her eyes, choosing instead to stare at the floor. "I'm not a recruit."

"I know, I'm just teasing you." He sits back on his heels, watching her thoughtfully. "You don't look like a pirate."

"Neither do you."

He laughed, the sound loud in this quiet space. "You probably won't think that for very long. What's your name?"

She sat up a bit straighter, "Amaya Marina."

"Nice to meet you, Amaya. I'm River." He continued to watch her with those unnerving purple eyes. There was no way that was natural.

"It isn't very nice though, is it? I'm in a cage, and you're sitting in a pool of blood." Something that he didn't seem to notice.

River shrugged, completely at ease with their situation. "I always enjoy meeting new people. Especially, when they look as you do."

"And what does that mean?" Nobody had ever commented on her appearance before, so she didn't know whether or not to take this as a compliment. However, she knew she was pretty. Her appearance had never been something she was self conscious of. 

"Oh, nothing." He glanced around their room before setting his gaze back on her. "What does Kai want from you?"

Amaya scoffed, turning away from him. "I'm not discussing that with you."