Kingsley's Bride

Chapter 20: A Touch

I opened my eyes, my tongue dry and rough against the roof of my mouth. My head throbbed, and I felt the sway beneath me, realizing I was on a ship. Panic surged through me as I struggled to move, only to find my hands and legs bound tightly. My heart raced, and I frantically looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

The events with Meredith and Nikolai flooded back into my mind. I must have passed out after they left me. The betrayal, the pain—it all came rushing back. I tried to gather my thoughts, but the murmur of voices caught my attention.

A group of men nearby, laughed and talked boisterously. 

"Did you see the jewels on that lady?" one of them said. "We'll make a fortune off them!"

"Especially that earring and neck chain," another chimed in. "Not to mention the revolver. Who'd have thought she'd be carrying something like that? And just a stupid diary."

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. They had taken everything—my bag containing the diary, jewelry, including the earrings and neck chain, and even Mr. Albert's gun. I must have been found by these men and stripped of my valuables while I was unconscious.

Desperation clawed at me. I had to get out of here, but my bonds were tight, and my body ached. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I needed to think clearly. There had to be a way to escape, a way to survive.

I glanced around the dimly lit room, looking for anything that could help me. The ship's creaking and the waves crashing against its hull filled the silence between the men's conversations. I shifted my wrists, testing the ropes that bound them. They were tight, but maybe with enough effort, I could loosen them.

"Hey, you hear that?" one of the men said, his voice suddenly serious. "I think our little guest is awake."

My heart skipped a beat as footsteps approached. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to still be unconscious. The footsteps stopped beside me, and I felt a rough hand on my shoulder, shaking me.

"She's out cold," the man said, sounding disappointed. "Guess we don't need to worry about her for now."

"Good," another voice replied. "Let's keep it that way. We don't need any trouble."

I waited until their footsteps retreated before opening my eyes again. I had to act fast. Every second counted. Summoning all my strength, I began to work on the ropes, twisting my wrists and straining against the bindings. The coarse fibers bit into my skin, but I didn't stop.

Minutes felt like hours, but finally, I felt a slight give in the ropes. Encouraged, I redoubled my efforts, ignoring the pain. I couldn't let Meredith's betrayal and these men's greed be the end of me. I had to survive, to find a way out of this nightmare.

As the ropes loosened further, I glanced around again, ensuring no one was watching. The men were still engrossed in their conversation, oblivious to my struggle. With a final, desperate tug, I freed my hands.

I quickly set to work on the bindings around my legs, my fingers trembling with urgency. Once I was free, I carefully rose to my feet, my body protesting with every movement. I needed a plan, a way to escape without alerting the men.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. This was my only chance. I had to find a way off this ship and get back to safety. With determination burning in my chest, I started to move, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

I crept out of the small room, my heart pounding in my chest. The dim light of dawn filtered through the narrow portholes, casting a faint glow on the wooden deck. I moved cautiously, my senses heightened, listening for any sound that might indicate someone was nearby.