Oceans

1

All I ever do is practice. Not for me, for my parents. "Go clean the house, good practice for a wife." They say. I do as they say and then, "Why are you just sitting around? You should be learning!" And when I learn, "You're piano skills are lacking. Practice." Nothing is ever enough for them.

My name is Mea, I'm from this small seaside village called Armonia. On an island called Musica. My family's name is Mattina. Mama and Papa were lovely. They taught me how to play many instruments, like ukulele, guitar, drums, piano, flute, harmonica, violin, cello, and most importantly my voice. They raised me to sing. Armonia means Harmony in Italian. Musica is music, and Mattina is morning. Mama says I am the harmony to the music of the morning.

I was outside playing my uke on the beach around the corner by myself. That's how this all started. "I've got hopes and dreams to fly away, I can say goodbye to yesterday, just take me away." I sang. Some of my own lyrics. "Okay." A voice said from behind me. I looked at the stranger in surprise. "I can take you anywhere, and it won't cost a thing." He said gently. I stood up and stepped towards him. "I have never met you before" I told him softly. "Big city." He said. "No, small village" I said. Then I noticed his clothes. Not from around here. He stepped towards me casually, but I backed away. My parents might be pushy, but they still told me to stay away from strangers. "You're voice is lovely. Do you want to leave here?" He asked again. I took a long hard look at him, while he took a long hard look at my body. His eyes had eyeliner. His hair was dyed. He had a tattoo on his forearm. He wore multiple necklaces and bracelets. I was only holding my ukulele and only wearing a sundress over my bikini. His nails were painted..... What does all of this add up to? We don't do that stuff around here.... "Pirate...." I whispered. His eyes immediately snapped up to me. "I am known as that yes, but I prefer free adventurer." He said. I was scared. Backing away he stood there and smirked. "It's free, come with me?" He asked yet again. I turned and ran, sprinting across the sand. He came after me.

I almost made it to a ladder I could climb to get up the cliff. He caught up to me and roughly pulled me to him. He held me tightly, his arms around my upper body, holding my arms to my sides. He managed to tie a scarf around my mouth. "It's not free anymore. If you'd have said yes when I asked you, this would have been free." He said in my ear.

I struggled to kick him and get myself free but it wasn't working. He picked me up and made sure to keep my uke dry when he walked into the water and put me on a rowboat. I stayed still. He eyed me. "You don't care one way or another?" He said. I shrugged. "Well, I mean, what happens happens huh." He added. I nodded. He stated rowing. I stayed perfectly still and he stopped. "Why aren't you trying to swim away? What's wrong with you? You're just going to let me kidnap you?! Try and get away! Scream! Do something!" The guy yelled at me. I smiled and started laughing. He got really confused. "Wha- jus- why?" He stuttered. I just looked at him, knowing he was freaking out. He leaned forward and ripped the scarf off of my mouth. "I'm so confused!" He yelled. I bit my lip trying not to laugh. The guy squirmed but started rowing again. Soon we got far away from the shore and a HUGE ship was anchored. I raised an eyebrow. "That's the Notte Terrore" he said. "Night Terror?" I asked. "Yeah..." He mumbled, scratching his neck. "Act like you're afraid." He said. I let a look of relaxation wash over my face. We pulled up next to the boat and the stranger stood up and onto the ladder attached to the side of the boat. He pulled me up with him and started climbing behind me.

By behind me I mean he was like straddling me. About halfway up he stopped. "Your my new servant." He said. I immediately stopped. "What?" I asked. "You're my new servant." The guy said. "And what does that mean?" I asked. "You do domestic chores. Have to be constantly at my side. We share a room." He said. "Uh no." I responded. "Why not? Would you rather sleep on deck?" He asked. "No." I said. "Keep climbing." He said. I sighed and kept going up the ladder. When I got to the top of the boat and climbed on a group of people looked at me. And then the stranger behind me.