Bloodtide

Part 25

"We need to find a way off this ship," I spoke to Henry as I began packing our bags around the cabin.

"How, Ella?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry. I didn't really have an idea for sure.

I paused, looking out the small, grimy porthole at the vast expanse of ocean. The ship creaked ominously, a constant reminder of the danger we were in. "I don't know yet, but we can't stay here."

Henry ran a hand through his hair, pacing the cramped space. "What if we get caught? They won't hesitate to throw us overboard."

I nodded, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. "I know. But staying here isn't an option. We need to come up with a plan."

He stopped pacing and turned to face me. "Maybe we can slip away during the night when most of the crew is asleep. We could take one of the lifeboats."

I bit my lip, considering his suggestion. "It's risky. They'll have to port soon during that time we will sprint for it."

Henry nodded, determination replacing the fear in his eyes. "I'll see what I can gather without drawing attention. You keep packing."

As he left the cabin, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. We had no guarantees, but I knew we had to try. I wasn't going to stay on this ship with them. I had Henry, and together we could find a way to return home safely.

There was a knock at the door, and I went to open it, assuming Henry was back. Opening it, I was shocked to see Davy Jones standing in front of me. His presence was imposing, his eyes piercing as they locked onto mine.

"What do you need?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as he walked inside with an air of authority.

"Is Henry around?" he asked, his tone deceptively casual.

I shook my head, my heart racing. "Outside," I replied sharply, hoping he couldn't hear the tremor in my voice.

Davy Jones narrowed his eyes, scanning the room with a suspicious gaze. "Funny," he said, a hint of menace creeping into his voice. "I thought I saw him heading this way."

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "He was here, but he left to take care of something. What do you want with him?"

A slow, calculating smile spread across his face. "Just a friendly chat," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. "You know how it is on these long voyages. We all need a bit of company now and then."

I nodded, trying to mask my unease. "Of course. But he's not here right now."

Davy Jones stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "And what about you, Ella? Are you enjoying your time on this fine vessel?"

I forced a smile. "It's... an experience," I said, choosing my words carefully.

He leaned in, his eyes narrowing. "An experience, indeed. Just remember, there's no escaping the sea. It has a way of claiming those who try to run."

With that, he turned and left the cabin, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew then that our plan had to work. Failure was not an option.

Finishing packing, I walked out and looked around. Everyone seemed busy tonight, which was good. Our planning would be easier with everyone preoccupied.

Henry was with Bo, engrossed in something. Curious, I walked over to see what they were up to. "Ella, look," Henry grinned, holding up a makeshift contraption.

"We're creating weapons," he explained, his eyes shining with excitement. I nodded, though my expression remained skeptical. We were supposed to be planning our escape, not playing around.

"Cute," I fake smiled, trying to mask my frustration. Henry continued, oblivious to my unease. He should be gaining information not playing around.

"Do you want to help?" He asked as I looked around everyone seemed happy and it would give me something to do

"Sure," I smiled, taking a seat and picking up the materials. The materials were simple but intriguing, and I quickly found myself engrossed in the activity, my earlier frustrations melting away.

Henry glanced over occasionally, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Despite my earlier annoyance, I couldn't help but feel a bit of his lightheartedness rubbing off on me.

"Ella, we haven't seen you in a while," Knuckle spoke as I smiled lightly.

"Busy trying to save Henry's life," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Cap said you and him were stranded on an island," Limb added, raising an eyebrow as Henry looked at me with concern.

"Stranded? You didn't tell me that," he asked, his voice tinged with worry, as I grew warm under his gaze.

I chuckled nervously, shifting in my seat. "It wasn't as dramatic as it sounds," I said, hoping to downplay the situation. "Just a bit of an unexpected adventure, that's all."

Henry's eyes searched mine, clearly seeking more information. "An adventure, huh? You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine," I assured him, my smile more genuine this time. "We found a way off."

Knuckle grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Sounds like quite the story. You'll have to tell us all about it sometime."

"She can't say much about it," John spoke, interrupting our conversation. His sudden appearance caught everyone off guard.

The men all looked up, shocked to see John. "In what ways?" Henry asked, his defense going up instantly. His eyes narrowed, sensing something amiss.

John's expression remained unreadable, but there was a tension in his stance that set everyone on edge. "It's classified," he replied, his tone leaving a playful aura.

"Shouldn't you be steering a ship?" I questioned, glancing at him.

"I like to do my rounds and see what everyone is doing," he shrugged, looking further over my shoulder. Henry seemed to notice my discomfort and cleared his throat.

"Thank you for checking on us, but we're doing fine over here," Henry spoke up, landing a soft pat on my leg. His touch was reassuring, a subtle signal that he had my back.

John seemed to eye him as he smirked. "I think I'd rather stay," he said lowly, taking a huge seat next to me. His presence felt imposing, and the air grew tense again.

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling the pressure of John's scrutiny. "There's no need," I said.

John leaned back, his gaze unwavering. "Have you men ever been to Singapore?" he asked, ignoring my comment.

They all shook their heads, earning a smile on his face. "Well, it's a beautiful place, actually, outside of the pirate stuff," he joked, and the men laughed, nodding in agreement.

"How many times have you been, Cap?" Bo asked, curious.

"Too many to count," he smirked, and they all laughed, though I found it less entertaining.

"Henry, we should head to bed," I suggested, feeling the need to escape the tense atmosphere. Henry nodded in agreement.

John stared at us, uninterested in our departure. "Already? The fun just began," he laughed as more men crowded the deck.

"Ella is a lady and should rest. I'll come back out," Henry said firmly, dragging my arm away from the crowd. His grip was gentle but insistent, guiding me away from John's prying eyes.

As we walked towards our quarters, I could still feel John's gaze burning into my back.

"Are you alright?" Henry asked softly, his concern evident as we reached the door.

I nodded, though my thoughts were racing. "Yeah, just... glad to get away from him."

Henry squeezed my hand reassuringly. "Why didn't you tell me you were strained on an island?"

I shrugged not wanting to relive that moment, "it wasn't important but just watch your back around John... he can't be trusted" I whispered.