Sham of the Sea

Chapter 10

After gaining the post of the ship's designated cleaning-fairy (or Prince Swab), Y/N spent most of her time onboard scrubbing at stains that had soaked into the wood for ages.

The pirates could not complain and trusted her with the ship. Not seldom, random thoughts about poisoning their food crossed Y/N's mind. Her patience had paid off, and her new freedom offered new ways to consider an escape.

It was one of these days when Y/N perched on a barrel inside the storage area, scrubbing away at her salt-caked shoes. The pirates would go ashore today, and they planned at the port for a few days so Jennie could consult some friends about important pirate stuff. Y/N was not involved enough to know if the pirates had a goal they pursued currently and where said goal was. Still, she had spent her days planning escape routes and tried to peek over Minji's shoulder whenever the navigator studied the maps.

However, apart from their location, Y/N also did not know where to go. She needed to find somebody, preferably that mysterious woman who spoke to her on her very first day, who could help her get home. She needed a sailor.

Y/N's mind brimmed with ideas while she scrubbed away aggressively; about what she could offer and what people could want from her in exchange for their cooperation. Most folk out at sea were rough scoundrels whose tricks she could not fall for.

Y/N was so caught up in her stress that the sudden deafening gunshot outside startled her out of her mind. She flinched so violently while ducking to protect herself that she fell from the barrel and hit the ground with a groan. For a second, she lay still in terror, her ears ringing from the crash.

When nothing moved, Y/N dragged her body off the ground. On her hands and knees, she inched closer to the scuttle. Her heart pounded in her chest.

Up on deck, the same patterns of steps walked without hurry. The low voices of the pirates sounded dull through the rushing of her blood in her ears, but they conversed without change. Y/N doubted they would remain so placid if boarded by enemies. No other trigger got pulled, so she breathed in the wet and mouldy air of the ship's belly to calm herself.

Slowly, Y/N opened the scuttle. She cradled her boot and rag still in her other hand like a lifeline as she stretched her head out.

Every single hair on Y/N's body rose as she stared into the wide and terrified eyes of a stranger. The woman looked right through Y/N and the big puddle of blood around the woman's head penetrated the wooden boards. Bile rose in Y/N's throat as she stared at those lifeless eyes in terror.

A dead body.

Y/N slipped from shock. She fell down the three steps leading up to the scuttle and hit her head on a barrel. The pain that erupted was nothing compared to the image that her brain had memorised; those haunted eyes staring with no more help available.

She gave a weak cough when something landed on her chest. No harm came upon her as a blood-stained piece of paper floated from the scuttle. With trembling fingers, she lifted it to stare at it.

Y/N could not read the text, but she could study the image taking over most of the page.

The scribbled ink showed the crew's Jolly Roger, but the colours were reversed.

While Jennie's black flag had a white skull encircled by a just as white whip and with a thick white stripe behind it, this one was reversed.

The inversion made sense since the paper was white, but it still looked misplaced in Y/N's eyes that were used to the black flag looming above their heads. Why would the pirates shoot someone carrying their symbol?

Y/N stared at the text and pondered if it would be important. Should I ask questions or remain passive?

Bright light hit her the next second when the scuttle above her opened. More blood dripped down the stairs from the body that was still in sight from Y/N's corner. The view of the blood both disgusted and fascinated her. The thought of cleaning it up disappeared for a second.