The Black Ale

Failed Calculations

*Image of Captain Masa of the Black Ale*

Evilin, Rachael and Caroline huddled in the corner of the Captain's quarters. The door pounded as loud noises came from the other side. 

No matter how loud the noise was, Evilin could hear her heart in her chest pounding louder and louder. The air in her chest locked into place as her hands wrapped tightly around her book. 

Henry stood in front of them with a sword drawn and ready to fight. He didn't have to say it, but one could tell he was terrified. The sword rattled in his hand as Rachael pulled Caroline and Evilin closer to her. Wrapping her arms around them, trying to cover them with her body as much as she could. 

When the door busted open, Evilin felt the world around her fall silent as men with swords and weapons rushed into the room. Their battle cries vanished to the sound of her heart beat. She couldn't move, she couldn't breath, her heart felt like it would burst in her chest. 

Evilin watched shocked as Henry fought to keep them safe. Her eyes glued to the swords clashing together and yet still no sound. 

A whistle broke her silence followed by Henry's cry of pain. A black arrow had zipped through the door and launched itself into Henry's forearm. His sword dropped to the floor as he fell to his knees holding his arm. 

Evilin felt Rachael let go of her, only for Rachael to grab hold of Caroline with two hands. A pirate had a strong hold on her cousin and was trying to pull her away from them. 

Before Evilin could even blink she felt two hands wrap around her waist and pick her up in the air. Her book fell to the floor as she struggled. The man tossed her over his shoulder and started to make his way out of the room. 

Evilin kicked and screamed to be released. 

She was dropped hard to the floor in the center of the main deck. Rachael was tossed next to her after being dragged by her once well done hair. 

Rachael took hold of Evilin and watched as they pulled Caroline over to them. A tall man shoved Caroline towards Evilin and Rachael. Caroline tripped over her own dress but found Rachael's arms waiting to catch her. 

"Con-kwa, no des." a deep voice spoke as Henry was placed in front of who they would guess was the Captain of the pirate ship. 

The tall man rose a brow and turned to a smaller man standing next to him. An archer, dressed all in black with his face painted like a skull. 

The archer nodded slowly to the Captain. He held up four fingers, "Tray niwa jet-su." He stated. 

The Captain motioned with his head to place Henry with the others. 

Henry now stood next to them as the ship quieted down. 

Evilin could feel Rachael's grip on her tighten as the Captain and pirate crew looked them over. 

"Sorera o musubitsukeru." the Captain stated. "Sentai o soji suru." He added in a commanding tone.

The men were quick to act as another pirate repeated the Captain's words even louder. He pointed and shouted in a language that Evilin had never heard before. 

She was shocked as a man came over to her and the others, quickly binding their hands with ropes. 

They pulled her to her feet and shoved her along as the Captain turned on his heels and started to make his way back to his own ship. Evilin looked over her shoulder to see that they were pulling the others along roughly. 

Evilin froze as she was brought to the plank that connected the two ships. There were no ropes to help her cross. Just a long drop to the water if she were to fall. The pirate shoved her and she stumbled two good steps onto the plank. 

She almost lost her breath and footing but was able to catch herself before falling. She gulped hard within her throat, looking down at the black waters below. Her eyes slowly looked up to the ship before her. 

She was quick to take note in small details of the black sails. They weren't dyed black, no, they were black from ash or fire. The seams looked burns a little and there were a few holes from what looked like fire damage. 

She felt a hand shove her again, this time she now stood half way across the plank. She looked back to see the pirate wave her on. She turned back to the pirate ship and slowly took another step. Before she could take another a man grabbed her from the pirate ship and pulled her on deck. 

"Ikou!" the pirate yelled. Holding his hand out for the next prisoner to be sent over. 

That's what they were. Prisoners. 

Evilin stood where she was, not wanting to move an inch if possible. More pirates roamed about around her. Her eyes stuck to the floor, but would slowly look up and around at the world around her. She had never been so scared in her life. What did they plan on doing with her and the others?

Once the others were finally on the pirate ship, they were shoved to the front of the quarter deck where the Captain stood tall next to the helm. 

"My name is Captain Masa. Welcome to the Black Ale." He stated in a deep voice.