Sham of the Sea

Chapter 17

For the second time in two mere weeks, Y/N was startled by gunshots upstairs.

Today she was sitting alone with the powder monkeys at the canons, cleaning the heavy metal dutifully. They were utterly dead to the outside world. She did not feel them switch courses, did not hear any canons being fired or a warning being yelled.

But they were in the middle of the ocean. Of course, there had to be some kind of vessel in their close vicinity.

When the first shots fell, Y/N immediately lifted her head, however, scrambling to her feet. The kids looked not nearly as confused as she herself, instead exchanging quick gazes.

"Ye should stay down here, royalty. They can-"

A lot of shouts from above made Y/N flinch, looking at the steady wood with big eyes. Feet were hurriedly stomping about, something she had not heard earlier as it was common after all.

"They can take care of themselves. Come on, we should hide."

Do we have to hide? Was there a possibility for us to be attacked down here? What kind of fight is this? Y/N did not voice those questions aloud, but they must have shown clearly in her panic-stricken eyes.

"Normally other pirates try to board us and kill the crew to get goods. That be also why they don't shoot at us. They wanna sell the ship or keep it." One of the girls hurriedly took Y/N's hand, pulling her downstairs while the fighting above them still sounded.

Y/N kept worrying more with every shot, with every body thumping on the deck that it was one of the crew members, that it was Jennie bleeding out somewhere. Y/N would be mildly inconvenienced if it was her.

The girls took her deeper through the ship, distracting the fast beating of her heart with their hasty explanations, with their assurances that everything would be alright.

Y/N could not see anything in the darkness of the very lowest place of the ship, no natural light falling in at all and they were too hurried to light a lantern.

"It be here. Captain built us a secret room to hide in, come on, ye'll fit too!"

Y/N barely functioned when she climbed in after them, one of the girls, Asa shut the secret door after they had all huddled in.

The stale air felt suffocating, the space claustrophobic, but it was fine. Y/N did a quick headcount, finding all six of the girls beside her and letting them huddle together tightly behind her. If anybody opened the compartment, she might have been able to surprise them so the girls could flee.

Y/N was wildly protective of them, not thinking twice about any consequences of her attacking people. At least she could protect the children.

She could hit dough now, could she not? She would just pretend whoever attacked them was a gingerbread person.

Their flat breaths sounded deafening in the room, no more sounds from above getting through.

"Sometimes Nayeon is here with us to protect us... Ye can protect us instead, right, yer highness?" It was one of the younger ones speaking, some shy kid with big starry eyes and Y/N's heart clenched at the nickname. She was feeling nauseous with responsibility, quickly summoning up some soothing words for them.

Y/N clear her throat, forcing a smile. "Of course I can. I will not let anybody harm you guys."

They seemed satisfied with that, the whispers soon dying down in favor of listening to any possible sounds getting through to them.

Y/N absolutely loathed the minutes ticking by much slower than an hour ever felt to her. Their restless hearts were beating fast and scared, expecting to be found anytime. She actually felt some of her muscles clench while standing too still.