Piracy

23. Waiting For Him

When I awoke hours later, my head was throbbing. I forgot where I was for just a moment. Then I tried to open my eyes and remembered I was blindfolded. The smell engulfing me reminded me that I was in some dank room, most likely a storage room, in the bowels of an enemy ship. My first instinct was to cry again, but I had to control myself. I had to keep my head clear. I had no doubt that Harry was pursuing this ship at his fastest pace. I needed to get my hands free so that I would have some chance of escaping when the Rebellion made contact again.

But....

What if Harry wasn't pursuing us? What if I'd hurt him enough that he thought better of it and decided to let me go? Maybe he was beginning to see that I was just going to cause him trouble by talking about love and commitment.

Or what if he thought I had purposely run away again? I had still been angry when the battle started and I'd just told him I was leaving the ship at the first chance I got. Oh my god, what if he had let me go and had no intention of trying to get me back? 

No, I'd heard him calling for me as we left. But still, I'd been so stupid - why had I said all those foolish things? I never really wanted to leave, I just wanted to hurt him so he knew what it felt like.

The thought of him abandoning me left me feeling hopeless. I couldn't bear not to see him again. The only solution I could see - if Harry indeed decided not to rescue me or never found me - was to throw myself overboard once again and let myself drown this time.

But somewhere deep inside, I knew that Harry wouldn't forsake me. I knew he had feelings for me, even if he denied it. There was a connection between us that would compel Harry to stop at nothing until he found me.

At least I hoped so.

The blindfold was becoming loose so I peered out through the bottom, trying to see anything I could. A lamp was lit, but I had no idea whether it was day or night. All I could make out besides the dim light was that there were a few chests in the room and maybe a table. I dragged my head up and down the rough wall, trying to loosen the blindfold even more, but the pain in my head only intensified.

Instead, I focused on freeing my hands. I wondered if there was anything sharp nearby that I could use to rub against the fabric. Again, I tried peering through the bottom of the blindfold, searching the area for anything shiny, but I had no luck. I started twisting my hands against each other, hoping the fabric was something that would stretch or fray; it didn't feel like rope or anything that heavy. If it became loose enough, maybe I could pry one hand out of the binding.

I twisted and tugged and struggled for over an hour until my head was pounding so hard, I thought it might split open. I felt certain I might vomit from the intense pain behind my eyes, which surely came from lack of water as well as the injury on my face. I stopped trying for a while and dozed against the hard wall once more.

I was awakened by the sound of the creaking wooden door, opening and scraping against the frame. I tried to pretend I was still sleeping and maybe the creep would leave me alone. But when I felt a kick against my thigh, I knew he didn't care.

"Wake up, girlie," he said gruffly.

I felt something against my lips. A tin cup. He tipped it without warning and most of the water dribbled down my face before I had a chance to drink. He just laughed while I greedily tried to get the last drops. "More, please," I said in a hoarse voice.

"No luck, little lady. Ye wasted it. Ye'll have to wait til the morn."

Tomorrow morning? I could die by then with no water. It was getting hotter by the moment in these parts, and there was no cool breeze from the ocean in these lower, humid levels of the ship.