prologue

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door sn1vye

door sn1vye

"I got a present for you on my ship, Kim Hongjoong!"

The whole tavern fell silent. I took sip of my drink before setting my glass down on the table, keeping my focus on my men in front of me. "I don't want anything from you Blackburn." I answered. Blackburn let out a hollow laughter, "Trust me when I say you don't want to miss this." I felt him getting closer behind my back, until his breath was in my ear, "I got a very special lady for you.."

The stairs of his ship creaked under my shoes. My quarter master and master-of-arms walked behind me. Part of me wants to believe he is talking about her, the other part of me knows he isn't. And even if he is, I doubt that Blackburn would be nice enough to actually give her as present.

"The deal is very simple," Blackburn said "You will give me the Cromer and you get your girl, if you don't.. I'll kill her. "

My master-of-arms drew his sword right away, while I was still processing what he said. Dozen sounds of metal clinking was heard around the deck. We were severely outnumbered. I told Jongho to retreat his sword and he did as I said. I don't want to believe that he is talking about my girl. He isn't talking about my girl. My girl is dead. She's been dead for years.
But I should have known he wanted the Cromer. The Cromer has been in my possession for years. I saw what the Cromer could do with my own eyes. It made my father obsessed. Mad even. I swore to never let it get in the wrong hands. But all I could think about was my girl.

"How do I know you really have her?" Blackburn chuckled and waved his hands at his crew. I could feel the confused looks my men gave me behind my back. "Hyung, who is..." I heard my quarter master start, but at that moment two men walked upon the deck dragging a girl along with them and I could only focus on her. Her hair plastered to her face, shackles around her wrists, covered in bruises and it looked like she hadn't eaten anything in weeks. But I could never not recognize her. It really was her. And if I didn't do something, she would really die.

"Well now you know I have her!" Blackburn walked closer to me until his shadow overtook me, his footsteps sounding like a faded echo in my head, "So what will it be Captain?" My eyes wandered to the girl behind him and back to Blackburn. Back to the girl. And back to the captain in front of me. I couldn't think straight. I couldn't move. I couldn't think about a stupid plan to get out of here. All I wanted was to get my girl safe. But I couldn't give up the Cromer that we protected all these years, right? Especially not in front of my men, who didn't even know this girl existed. This girl who even I thought was dead.

My quarter master whispered in my ear, "We can get the Cromer back, but you'll never get her back if we leave now."

Mingi always comes up with a logical answer. In this moment I couldn't be more grateful for that. And if even my men are willing to risk it..

"Get the Cromer."

"Remove her shackles." I demanded, "Than you'll get your Cromer."
The two man holding her up removed them and she instantly collapsed to the floor. I gave Mingi a sign he could give Blackburn the Cromer as I walked as fast as I could towards her while trying to keep my composure. I kneeled down to her and scooped her up in my arms, "I got you alright?" I ran my fingers through her hair, "You're gonna be alright." I told myself more than her. She felt so cold. Lifting her from the ground was way easier than it should have been. I walked to Mingi and Jongho with her in my arms, "We need to get her to San right now." They both nodded. And while finally leaving this wretched ship, the voice of Blackburn spoke up once more

"Oh, one thing I forgot to mention! I doubt she will remember you, Captain."

a/n this is like a little introduction to the story so i hope it was enjoyable. i'll try to update at least every week :) i normally don't do authors notes btw unless i have something important to say! hope you guys will enjoy the rest of the story x