I've got a horrible headache. I groan, rubbing my forehead with my fingers. What time even is it? I'm going to be late to work, aren't I?
Why is my back so sore? Why am I lying on the floor?
I sit up, rubbing my eyes, and take in my surroundings. Oh.
Oh yeah.
I'm in a small room that I assume is probably still on the ship that I was taken to. There's not much except my potato sack that I'm using as a sleeping bag, and a small stool near the door. The man with the eyepatch and earrings is sitting on the stool, close to where I'd been sleeping.
"Oh!" He says when he sees me awake. "Captain! Blondie's awake!" I recognize his voice as one of the men who kidnapped me, the one called K.O.
"I have a name, you know," I groan.
"Right, of course. What's your name?" K.O. asks. For a large man with an eyepatch and a hook hand who is nicknamed K.O., he's pretty unthreatening.
"Scott Hoying," I reply, standing to my feet slowly. "And I'd like to know why I've been kidnapped, thank you."
As if on cue, the door to my little room opened with a loud creaking, and in stepped the man with the big hat and the fancy coat. The Captain.
"Thank you, Kevin, now leave."
"Yes, Captain," K.O. replies, standing up.
I almost laugh. K.O. looks like a giant compared to the Captain, and could probably easily take him out. I wonder why he doesn't. Too polite, I guess. A polite pirate. Go figure.
When the Captain and I are alone, he begins to speak.
"Tell me what you know," he says abruptly.
"About what?" I scoff. "Nice boat, by the way. And I'm Scott Hoying. What's your name?"
"Mitch Grassi, but that's Captain to you," he spits. "Look, we both know what I'm talking about. Tell me about the princess, and I'll be on my way."
"Princess?" I ask. "I don't know anything about a princess."
"Oh, don't play dumb with me. You lived in her room. You're the one who kept her hidden from everyone all this time. Where is she?"
"Sorry," I say, shrugging. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Fine then. I guess I'll have to find a way of making you talk."
"I swear, I know nothing," I say, growing defensive. "I didn't even know where I was living, or who the princess is, I swear it."
"I think you'll think differently with a little..." Mitch draws a sword from his waistband. "...persuasion."
"Captain! Captain!" K.O. says, bursting into the room. "I'm very sorry, but I was listening to your conversation. He's not lying, Captain. I can tell."
"Kevin, what did I tell you about listening in?"
"I'm very sorry, Captain. But please, let him live."
Mitch looks back at me, squinting at me, his grip tightening on his sword. "Why should I?"
"I can help, Sir," I say.
"That's Captain to you, smartass," Mitch says, raising his sword even further in the air.
"Keep 'im around, Captain," K.O. says. "He can help find the Sapphire. He might not know much about the princess, but another body on board is always helpful."
"You take responsibility for him, then, Kevin?"
"Well, I..."
"Very well," Mitch interrupts. "He can live for now. But if he steps out of line, even once, let me know. And you're both done for."
YOU ARE READING
The Clockmaker and the Pirate - EVERMORE BOOK 1
Fanfiction"The only thing I've wanted my entire life was to die, to die, to die. But then -- by a twist of fate you found yourself onboard my dinky little ship and you flashed your stupid smile and you gave me the opposite," he tells me. "What's that?" I...
