The Pirate Princess

The Captain

As the two hours passed slowly, I paced the room filled with nervous energy. I'm sitting on my bed wondering what the Captain looks like when the door opens slowly. In walks a short, stalky man. His head shining with sweat. His eyes hidden under bushy brown eyebrows and his mouth pursed into a scowl. His build, strong and intimidating, contradicted by his size. I think to myself,'Oh my gosh. If this is the Captain then I'm screwed.' The man comes in and pulls a cart in behind him. He puts the cart next to the table, then sweeps up the splinters of the other chair. He then exits the room and re-enters barring a new chair. He puts it across from the other chair, then exits the room without a word. There's a few minutes of silence before the door reopens.

A new guy with shaggy black hair and a gold ring in his ear enters the room. He looks about 18 or 19. His eyes, a shockingly icy blue, scan the room, hidden behind long eyelashes. He's slender, but there's evidence that he works out under his black jacket. His jeans fit him well but aren't too tight. His nose small, proportional to his face. His lips chapped. His muscles tense under his jacket as his booted feet stomp towards the table. He sits down, slumping his shoulders and putting his boots on the table. Leaning back in the chair he puts his hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers making a small net like catcher for his head to rest in.

He's chewing gum, the smell of fruit evident on his breath. He makes no move to talk, he makes no gesture for me to move. He just sits there, like a cobra lying in wait, calculating the precise moment to strike. His gaze falls on me, starring me down, sizing me up, seeing of what use I could be to him. How much he could get from my father to have me back. Even though his facial expressions are analyzing and annoyed, his eyes show something more. They reveal his thoughts, feelings, and most importantly how his mind works to me. I start to fidget under his stare, it's like he's trying to stare into my very soul.

Finally he speaks,"Well are you gonna get up and move over here or am I gonna have to pick you up and carry you?" his voice demanding obedience while it was hardened with the right amount of venom in the undertone. I hesitate, which is a mistake. He jumps from his chair moving with a swiftness thought impossible given his previous position. His chair topples to the ground just as he reaches the side of my bed. I roll to the other side, trying to evade him by putting distance between us. He anticipates the move and is already on the other side. He grabs me by the hair and throws me to the ground. I try to crawl away but he grabs my ankle and pulls me back. He sits on my torso placing his knees on my shoulders holding me down. He pulls out a dagger and holds it to my throat.

"Now are we gonna behave and be a good little wench or do we need a little reminder?" he says, pushing the blade of the knife into my throat. I grit my teeth and stop myself from saying something nasty. "Good girl," he coos, getting off of me. He stands and I stay on the floor. I glare up at him as he plays with his dagger mindlessly, waiting for me to get up. I realize that if I want to survive this I have to forget my proper bringing up and unleash my true reckless, impropper, and strong self, rather than hide and pretend that I need protecting. I get up and sweep off my dress.

"I'm not a wench and I'm not your servent. I don't take orders from you or anyone else. Remember that in the future" I say turning my back on him. From behind I hear footsteps as the Captain lunges at me. I side step his attack and he falls to the floor. I grab the sheet of the bed and wrap his arms tightly behind his back. Then I grab the other end of the sheet and tie his legs together. He spits out insults and curses at me. I click my tounge and say,"You shouldn't talk like that in front of a lady." I gag him.

I run to the door, expecting it to be locked, but it opens with little resistance and I rush into the hallway. It takes me less then 30 seconds to make up my mind of which direction to go. I head lower into the ship thinking that the men will check the decks before the storage compartments and sleeping quarters.

As I turn left and run down the hallway I pass three sleeping chambers and a small cramped storage room. I run down two sets of stairs and into the very last storage room. It holds barrels, crates, and sacks full of food and supplies for the crew. I hastily check the barrels, but all are filled with either wine or rum. The crates full of food. I find one with a cracked lid and see that it's empty. I slip in and place the lid on top, leaving enough space to per outside.

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On the upper decks I hear the footsteps of rushing men, stomping around the many layers of the ship. I hear the thuds of heavy things being thrown, and landing roughly on the deck again. Thundering footsteps rattle the stairs in front of me. I back away from the opening, hiding my face behind the dark color fabric of my dress. I can hear the men opening barrels, crates, and sacks. They grunt as one carte refuses to open, and I hear a thud. I risk a peak from behind the fabric to see a big, burley man sitting on the floor. Then out of no where a wide bloodshot eye peers into the box. An unintentional gasp escapes my mouth and the man grins wickedly.

"Ay Johnny, looks like we got us a stow away, and a lovely one at that" says the man looking at me through the crack. He smiles again revealing blackened gums, and missing teeth. A rotten smell wafts from his mouth as his breath enters the crate. I squirm to the very back of the crate desperately trying to get away from the men. Johnny comes over, lifts the lid, and tries to grab me by the dress. I stab his hand with a wooden shard, and he recoils, his hand bleeding from a big gash. He cradles his wounded hand, as I wield the shard protectively.

"I don't think she's coming out George." says Johnny.

"She be a feisty one" says the one who's now George, an evil and creepy grin playing across his lips, "If she ain't coming out then we'll just carry her up there." George slammed the lid shut. The crate starts to sway as it is lifted into the air. It swings with the movement of someone going upstairs, and I become nauseous.

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I smell fresh salt water and know that we have reached the top deck. I become weightless for an instant, then the crate crashes to the ground, splintering into a thousand peices as the light blinds my eyes.

I glare into the sunlight and see the crew staring at me. I'm laying on the ground surrounded by wood and covered in bruises. The men look at me with greedy eyes, each one thinking of what they would do with or to me. I decied that the best plan of action is to play innocent and girlish. I bring my knees closer to me and and skillfully show off a little too much skin without making it seem like I mean to. I inch backward until my back hits something. I look behind me and see the Captain standing right there, his wrists bruised from struggling against the improvised bonds and his hands clenched into fists. I scramble away from him, but I trip and fall into the pool of men. They paw and grope me as they shove me back at the feet of the Captain.

I fall into a kneeling position at his feet and glare up at him. In one swift move the Captain slaps me across the face. The blow stings my face while the force sends me to the deck. Tears well in my eyes, but I refuse to let the Captain see me cry, no I won't gov him the satisfaction of him seeing me cry.

The side of my face stings, but the tears have subsided. I glare at the Captain through my greasy hair. I spit at his feet and his smile vanishes from his face. He looks to Scar.

"Get the cattails. Tie her to the main hall and year out the back of her dress." he says, his voice grim yet firm. He turns to me, his eyes sad but loving I think. "39 lashes. Maybe that will teach you respect girl." he says, as he turns his back on me and heads to his quarters. He slams the door and I am seized by the crew as they carry out his orders.