The Charlotte Series: Book 1: The Pirate's Treasure

Chapter 35

Up close his face was a bloodied pulp. He clutched at the blade that impaled him and made a gurgling noise as a bloody froth bubbled through his lips. His eye glazed over and he toppled over onto her. She turned her face away but felt his blood on her face and neck. She fought her panic and his dead weight as she tried desperately to wriggle free.

Suddenly her breath caught in her lungs. Panic crushed her as she wriggled frantically to free herself from the weight of the dead man. With arms and legs pinned beneath the corpse his weight seemed to increase with each second that passed. In a desperate move she twisted and lifted with her shoulder. Pain burned through her back and bile scourged her windpipe.

At last she freed one arm and managed to roll him off her. Desperate to get away from him her fingers clawed the deck as her heels propelled her backward. His dead eye glared at her from a bloodied face. Her shoulders slammed into the rail and a shriek passed her panicked lips. Willing herself smaller she hugged her knees to her chest. He was watching her.

Her breath came in short gasps as her skin began to crawl and a shiver shook her body. She rubbed her arms and yelped. Staring at her palms she realized it was blood... all over her. Frantically she scrubbed at it trying to wipe it away. There was so much. A wave of nausea swept over her making her head spin. Glancing up the light played a nasty trick on her.

The one glassy eye glared accusingly and she swore she saw the corner of his lips twitch into a smirk! Bile burned. Gagging she clawed at the rail scrambling to get to her feet. With a gasp she stood on tip-toe and leaned over the railing just in time to heave. Suddenly very aware of the roll of the deck her eyes clamped tightly shut.

Cannons boomed. The reverberations shivered the ship and into her bones. STU! Tense tired muscles lifted her chin as she peered toward the Loxley. Night fell quickly. Moonlight filtered through the smoke that billowed from the cannons. Her view was partially obscured but they were still close. Water carried the sounds. Splintering wood. Tearing canvas.

Screams of pain and fear. Smoke burned her nostrils and she knew the smell of panic, of death. A ripple of fear shook her. In a moment the Loxley would be over the initial shock of attack. Survivors would scramble topside and try to return fire from the bow chasers. Pounding sounded behind. It would be Masters leading the men aloft to swarm the sails.

They needed every inch to escape the Loxley! Another shiver shook her as a wave of nausea squeezed her stomach. The sea rolled and her stomach lurched. On her tip-toes and over the edge again she clung for dear life as her muscles clenched form crown to toe. She felt the breath being squeezed out of her and began to shake. The shakes rippled through her body.

Was it fear? Was it weariness? Was it remorse? Was it relief setting in? Relief to have survived...him. James voice boomed behind her. Her head lifted slowly. Even more slowly she turned her body away from the rail. Stepping forward she stumbled on unsteady legs and leaned back for the support of the rail. Pain lanced through her body and her knees gave out.

Grasping at the rail she kept her feet as she stumbled forward away from the rail, away from the pin. James. He pushed a man away as another figure rushed toward him. Was it the ship that swayed or was it her legs? Grubby fingers swiped at her eyes trying to clear them. Blinking she tried to focus. Another boom rumbled through the boards and her unsteady legs trembled.

The ship swayed and her head whirled. Her shaking hand flew to her head. Behind her the Loxley exploded anew. Smoke billowed and hung thick in the air. Splintering wood and creaking timbers echoed across the water. Splashes sounded as the Loxley lost bits and pieces to the sea. A loud splash sounded exceptionally close and she swiveled her head.