Time-Travel Relay Race

Swashbuckling

Scarlett darted down the street, weaving in and out of angry townsfolk.

Move, move, move! she thought in her head.

She could see the docks just ahead, maybe a few strides away if she pushed it. She dared a glance back, surprised to see the soldiers gaining on her. She looked around quickly, trying to find somewhere, anywhere to hide. She tried not to smirk when she spotted the canoe being pulled onto a large, well-cared-for ship.

Perfect.

She leapt forward, grabbing onto the edge of the canoe just before it was lifted out of reach. She was safe, or so she thought.

With a start, Scarlett looked down to see a white-gloved had grasping her ankle.

A soldier!

She kicked, a stream of curses falling from her lips, struggling not to lose her grip. The canoe rose higher and higher, and Scarlett struggled under the added weight.

She looked up, trying to see who was pulling her up, and was greeted with a rusty sword falling towards her face. She tried to swing out of the way, but it was no use. The man holding her foot was too heavy. She felt the sword graze her back, inflicting a long but shallow cut, and clenched her muscles tightly.

Do not let go, she thought.

She heard a shout, then a chorus of shouts, then utter chaos, as the weight on her foot loosened. She looked down to see the same rusty sword that cut her back firmly embedded in the soldier's head.

A pool of blood and a crowd of people formed around his body, but still, Scarlett was pulled up, up. up on the canoe. Frantically, she tried to find her way down, but quickly changed her mind once she saw the small army forming at the docks.

"Anchors away," someone yelled from atop the ship, and she felt it lurch into motion, almost making her lose her grip.

Finally, the canoe, was pulled into place, and she was face-to-face with a fat, hairy man who was missing most of his teeth.

"Who ar' ye?" he asked, poking her with his walking stick. "What ar' ye doin' on me boat?"