The Silent Thief

VIII

VIII

       I nearly screamed but managed to hold it in. “You frightened me, Sir William,” I said trying to pretend what he said was not true in any way.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how scared women could get sometimes,” he said still determined.

“Me…a woman?!” I tried playing it off just like I had with Jake yesterday. What a coincidence, actually, that I would have to defend myself twice now. “What would make you think-” I gasped, “Where you watching me bathe?!”

“How lowly you think of me. As a Sir I would never do such a thing,” he said looking sincerely shocked by my accusation. “I know you are a woman not because I saw you bathing but because I know a lot about you. In fact, I might know more about you than you do yourself, Ace. Or should I call you Grace?”

I was so shocked, I couldn’t say anything. It was like my mind couldn’t believe that Sir William actually said what he said.

Finally, I was able to make a sound but it sounded something like, “But…You…I…How?” I paused bringing my thoughts together. “Who are you?” Suddenly, I had a memory of the day my father left. He boarded that yellow and white ship waving goodbye to me. Behind him, the captain stood with sorrow in his eyes. That captain was Sir William. I looked up to see those same sorrowful eyes I had seen twelve years ago. “You knew my father?” I asked-my voice cracking. I couldn’t help but sound like a woman now.

“That does not matter,” he said sternly. “What matters is, you will find this treasure and you will bring it to me,” he paused, “Or else word will get back to Spain saying a group of sailors executed a woman who tried to steal from their ship. And who knows what that group of sailors did when they found that their thief was a woman.”

What an obvious hint that he was black mailing me. Couldn’t he just say it out straight forward, and why would he go through so much difficulty just to find this treasure. What was the treasure?

“What is this treasure?” I asked coldly.

He grabbed my neck pinning me to the tree behind. He was slightly chocking me.

“It is none of your concern,” he said gritting his teeth. He obviously wanted to look fierce, but in his eyes I saw so much fear. What was he so afraid of?

“Let…me…go,” I said as best I could. His grip loosened but as he started to let go, he spotted the necklace my key hung on. He pulled it out from under my shirt and cut the string with a knife from his pocket.

He said one last thing to me before he left, “I’ve warned you.”

As a Sir, he wouldn’t watch a woman bathe but he would strangle her to death, I thought to myself. What an asshole.

Now he had my key.

I watched him walk away. I had to get my key back somehow. I was too shocked to do anything about it when he was standing right in front of me. What’s wrong with you, Grace? You know how to fight so why didn’t you punch him and run away with your key? I thought furiously to myself. I had a sudden feeling that something was watching me. I quickly turned around but saw and heard nothing. Probably just a bird, I thought.

Walking toward the smell of fish cooking and men laughing, I planned how I was going to get my key back.

*******

       After the men finished eating, getting drunk and passing out in various places, I was able to lie down. I trusted Jake-of all these men-so I decided to sleep near him. I waited for Sir William to fall asleep but his breathing never slowed. Then I realized that he was waiting for me to fall asleep.

Ha ha ha, never gonna happen, I thought certain to stay awake.

Twenty minutes later, I heard Sir William role over which meant he still wasn’t asleep. I could barely hold my eyes open. The fire started to die and smolder. Just when I thought that I couldn’t stay awake any longer, a man about five yards away, stood up. He grumbled something about headaches and pee, and then he walked into the forest.

That had startled me leaving me fully awake again. I decided that I would just have to get my key tomorrow and make sure that tonight, I would keep my mask safe. When I rolled over to finally sleep, I heard the bushes rumble. I held my breath hoping that it was that same man who went to go pee. Nothing came out, but instead the bushes shook more. I have to admit that I was a little scared. Just then, the bushes stopped shaking and the night was a silent as could be. Suddenly, a deep fog rolled out of the forest.

This is nothing to be afraid of, Grace. Fog usually comes out at night, doesn’t it? I thought trying to calm my fast beating heart. I looked more closely at the fog and noticed it was green. But I’m sure fog isn’t green, I thought again. It seemed to wash over the men. Completely covering them, going into their nostrils and seeping into their mouths. I don’t know why, but I counted.

One…two…three…four…five—at five, I nearly peed myself for everyman except for Jake, immediately stood straight up. They all started walking toward the forest. They were stiff and their eyes were foggy, like the fog had infected them somehow.

I quickly turned to wake Jake, but he was no longer there. Instead, he was walking too. I noticed that the fog had completely surrounded me; but why wasn’t I infected? I was still lying down so I reached and grabbed Jake’s ankle. He dragged me through the sand.

“Jake!” I called to him. I even pinched his foot, but it was like he was dead.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my foot and I instinctively kicked with the other. I heard someone grunt and then two strong hands clasped my ankles together bounding them with what felt like rope. Before I knew it, my hands were bound as well, and my mouth was gagged. I was hoisted onto a tall man’s shoulder. The last thing I saw was the smoldering fire before they took me into the forest.