The Weight of Scales

Chapter Two

Darkness, compact, and little of light. Pain throughout the entire of the body. A blistering sharp pain in the head. Stiff like body sense. Curled up. Head in between both knees. The smell of rum, and maybe the pungent smell of vomit. The only noise was grunting in discomfort. The night before was a blur. Most likely from drinking too much alcohol. Or being too daring to drink more.

Green eyes started to flutter open. Checking its surroundings. Slowly trying to understand where it's at. Then the realization that the space is not on the ship.

Nikolai comes out of being sober from the night before, and notices that he's in a very tight box. He's not sure if this is a prank from his crew members. Or his self accidentally had the audacity to think that sleeping in a box would be a great idea.

The sound footsteps were faint, but near by. Followed with voices leading a conversation.

"Lady Rosé, what should we do with the bird?" a deep masculine accent raised a question to an unfamiliar woman. The woman scoffed at the question, along with a smirk to go with it. Her footsteps grew closer to Nikolai's box. Patting the top, she turned her heels back at the man. "Well, get it ready to be drowned." Lady Rosé answered the question, "Have the little ones get it set up and ready." She ordered the man, as she looked down at the box. Then walked away with the man; or it sounded like they walked down a flight of stairs.

To Nikolai, panic sank in, as he just sat there. Trying to figure out a plan to get free. Checking every inch of himself, his sword was nowhere to be found on his person.

Plan B, try to use every bit of strength he's got to push open the box. No use. But still not giving up.

That was until, he heard little scurried feet running up the stairs. Along with small and tiny voices. Which led to childish giggles. Two small little children ran up to Nikolai's box. Now was the time to talk, or at least make noise. He started punching the box. To which startled the pair. Both sitting in front of the box.

"Hello?" one of the small children spoke.

"Ah, yes! Hello! Please help me get out of here!" Nikolai started to plead with the children.

"How are you stuck mister?" the other child questioned Nikolai.

"I'm not quite sure," he answered, as he peaked his eye through a small hole to see outside, "At the moment, I'm a bit weak, so I can't get this open on my own."

The two children looked at each other. They wondered how to help the man that's trapped inside. Knowing that they aren't strong enough to open the box as well.

"Mister, we'll be back," the first child spoke, "we're going to get someone who will help."

"Wait, wait, no......" Nikolai pleaded, as he heard the two children run off down the stairs. Fear instilled into his brain. Thinking that those little pests went to get the lady who's in charge. The next he knows, he is being lifted up and hulled off to somewhere. This point he might as well give up. And let his fate be decided by his captors.

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A loud ovation roared through the port of this small seaside village. Bickering here and there. Whaling in corners. Most of the village knew what this event had in store. It wasn't an often event; but became more and more frequent over the past few weeks.

A large wooden platform stood over the waters, as there was a post that an arm sticking across. And on that arm had a metal hook attached to rope. Which was on a pulley system on the arm. For when to drag something or someone over the water to be dumped in. The end of the rope was wrapped around the post. But it wasn't too tight or too loose.