Arabella

An Unwanted Rescue

The Captain's eyes widened in disbelief as the girl jumped overboard, her body plunging into the churning waves below. His cheek stung from her parting slap, but he barely registered the pain. Crew members rushed towards the railing and shouts of 'man overboard' filled the air as he stood, looking at where the princess' head had disappeared beneath the waves. He could not believe she had just done that, all for some silly little locket.

She's even crazier than I thought.

He waited, the rain that streamed down his hair and face almost blinding him, for her to resurface. His hands gripped the wooden railing in anger as a whole minute rolled by, still no sign of her.

Fuck.

He cursed mentally as he realized that he was going to have to jump in after her. He had half a mind to just let her drown, but knew that was out of the question. He needed her if he was ever going to find Jack Flynn's treasure, not to mention the huge price he had placed on her head.

That girl is going to regret ever stepping off of my ship.

Tossing his hat, boots, and shirt to the side, he unstrapped his cutlass and twin pistols. The Captain swung his feet over the railing like the princess had done.

"Get a rope ready," he yelled over his shoulder to no one in particular.

Without another thought, he dove into the raging sea.

                                                                                             ~*~

The water engulfed Arabella instantly, swallowing her whole. It filled her ears and her mouth, taking her air as it rushed around her body, pulling her this way and that. She thrashed around, searching for her locket, knowing it was almost impossible that she would find it among the violent waves.

Air. I need air.

The princess struck out with her arms, unsure if she was doing it right.

Which way is up?

Her attempts were futile as her heavy dress only dragged her further from the surface.

No! I will not die like this!

Panic set in as she clawed at the water in desperation, to little avail. Salty tears slipped through her closed eyes, mingling with the salt of the ocean water.

She suddenly felt overwhelmingly tired. Her body felt as if it were a giant weight, dragging her down to the depths. She went limp against the pull of the sea, having no strength to fight back. Her lungs' screams for air were cut off as water began to fill up in her chest. her mind went blank as she hovered on the edge of the waking world.

Something brushed against Arabella and she thought she had imagined it, but suddenly it wrapped itself around her waist. She kicked and struggled against it, but it only held on tighter. Then she realized that it was an arm. Joy filled her as she realized that someone was going to save her.

Arabella was pulled against the person's chest as they attempted to swim upwards, her dress still weighing them down. The person stopped swimming and the princess felt fingers against her back, fiddling with the strings on her dress. It must have been taking too long, because the person gave up and just ripped the dress down the middle, releasing Arabella from its weight. She was still in her shift, but that was lighter and much easier to try to swim in. The person pulled her against themself again, this time managing to reach the surface.