Infernal Waters

Eight ~ Winnie

The days that passed on this ship seemed to blur together.

Apart from the one man who came down with a case of rat fever, I haven't had a job to do, leaving me with a lot of spare time on my hands.

But then again, that seemed to be the case for everyone on this ship. Almost every night you could hear the boisterous revelry of the pirates above deck. And unfortunately, they hadn't yet warmed up to me.

Every now and again, when the pirates had saved up enough of their rum rations, they would become intoxicated enough to stumble their way to my cell and pester me.

Naturally, I assumed that it was the captains empathy that possessed him to help me, because just the day before yesterday, had me moved to a proper room. This one even had a bed, and a chest where I could store my things. Though, I didn't have anything to put in it.

To avoid seeing the pirates any more than I had to, Hugo and I would often lock ourselves inside and pass the time by telling stories and playing card games.

He had even asked me to teach him French, and I'd been more than happy to oblige him.

And as we sat together on the floor of my room, I couldn't help but smile at the way in which I had found such happiness from something as simple as friendly company.

It was the light that I had found in him that had suddenly made everything - the hunger, pain, and sorrow - so much more bearable.

And earlier, when he had told me that he was only 12, I suddenly felt this overwhelming urge to protect him from the foul nature of our environment. Which, to me, seemed strange.

I had known Hugo for little under a week, yet I already had a strong attachment to him. Perhaps it was because he reminded me so much of my little brother.

Yes, I could see it now. The big brown eyes that were a spitting image of mine, and the soft waves in his dark matted hair.

If I didn't know any better, I would think that this could go on forever.

But I do. Well, at least enough to know that nothing lasts for long. Not out in the open sea.

Which, as a matter of fact, was the one thing that had been eating away at me since I had first arrived here.

The fact that I had no notion as to what lay ahead of me, much less any sort of control over it, left me feeling totally powerless.

I was completely at the mercy of the very men who ruined my life.

Just then, someone knocks on the door of the room.

I use hand gestures to quietly usher Hugo under the bed. For some reason, I felt that Hugo's little visits should remain a secret to the rest of the crew.

Once he is safely hidden away, I open the door. Immediately, I am greeted with an expression so sour, that I wanted to cower and hide under the bed with Hugo.

I didn't, though. Instead, I squared my shoulders and faced Irwin's potent scowl with as much bravado as I had in me.

"What, Winnie? Miss me?" I sneer, and his scowl only deepens at the use of my new nickname.

"Not likely, ya' squiffy wench." He snaps. "The cap'n wants ye again. And ye best quit pokin' fun now, lass, else you'll end up on the wrong side o' the plank again."

"We'll see," I say brusquely, before stepping through the door and closing it behind me, leaving Hugo to himself.

I faintly remember the way toward the captain's quarters, so I lead and half-skip all the way there.

I knock on the door, and Irwin doesn't have a chance to catch up before the captain says, "Come in," Then, with a final dirty look directed at him, I enter and shut the door in his face.

Turning my attention towards the room, I notice that the windows that had once filled the room with light were now closed, leaving the room only dimly lit by the small oil lamp on the desk.

My eyes struggle to find the captain in such darkness, though I just manage to pick his figure standing over the desk, peering down at the mess of papers.

I'm not sure whether he notices my presence in the room, because he says nothing, nor does he acknowledge me.

Instead, he continues to stare intently at whatever chart or map he was focusing on.

I clear my throat, though there is still no response. So I take slow, hesitant steps toward the desk. Hopefully, I could take a look and find out what it is that has the captain so entranced.

Though, as soon as I get near him, he snaps his head up and stares directly at me. His eyes don't leave me, even as I continue to walk toward him.

"Stop there," He says, and I do.

I can't possibly imagine why he would summon me here, and I eagerly anticipate what he is about to say next. At this point, I'm imagining the worst.

What if he's here to tell me that I'm not, as he so kindly put it, a good investment after all? What if he's going to say that I'm not worth the food rations, so he's going to kill me?

"Ana," He says, still raptly staring at me, observing my reactions. "I need your help."

I gulp, wringing my hands together to be rid of the anxious energy that fluttered in the pit of my stomach. Well, this was certainly going to be bizarre.