Deepest Desire [NaLu AU]

Chapter VIII

I sighed, sitting up groggily. I rubbed my eyes free of the tired haze coating them. I hadn't been getting much sleep before now, but now that I was on an enemy pirate ship with virtually nothing else to do, it seemed that all I really did was sleep. In fact, lately I felt more rested than ever, but it didn't help solve my dilemma.

And the problem was this: I was currently being held captive on an enemy ship filled with conniving sea rats—plus Wendy—out in an isolated part of the vast ocean where no one could find me. I was pretty screwed right now.

No, I thought. There's always a way. First step, I grimaced, is getting out of this stupid room. I examined my surroundings, looking for any possible thing that could prove helpful in my situation. First thing I took note of was that I was in a room. A decent, relatively clean room. When I'd been captured, I'd expected a filthy cell. That's where I would hold fugitives, however, not before arranging their beheadings, of course. There were very minimal things in the room, only enough for basic survival. A small, thin mattress, an empty tray that had once held food that I'd immediately devoured, and a chamber pot, that was periodically emptied for my sanity. Other than that, the room was spotless, a few old spiderwebs being the only exception. The room seemed designed to hold captive prisoners, though I couldn't fathom why anyone would choose to put enemies in a room instead of a cell.

There was also a wooden door sitting right in front of me as though mocking my inability to do anything about my situation. I assumed the door was locked and didn't even bother trying to open it. The ship swayed, and with it my stomach. I'd always had a weak stomach and could usually contain my vomiting with a medication, however, I hadn't had access to it in days and the effects were slowly wearing off. I rushed to the chamber pot, sweating, waiting for the feeling to pass before continuing my efforts to escape.

I spent hours attempting to leave the frustrating and insanity inducing room. Now I understood why this crew put me in a room. It was much more frustrating when you couldn't find the means to escape. Finally, I glared at the wooden door, willing it to open. I banged my fist on it and rested my other hand on the knob. I jerked my hands away, and when I did, the handle turned ever so slightly.

I paused. Are you fluffing kidding me? I twisted the knob and felt the door give way as I shoved it open, exposing the deserted corridor below deck that I was all too happy to see.

I noticed that they hadn't even felt the need to post guards around me. Cocky bastards. I didn't want to push my luck, and dashed down the corridor without thinking of what I needed to do next. Then I paused. Wait, I came up with step one and didn't even bother to make a step two? I asked myself. My brain really did confuse me sometimes.

I heard someone coming down, whistling quietly in the silence. I assumed they were carrying my lunch, seeing as there was little other reason to be down here, and I knew as soon as they saw I wasn't in my room, I was busted. I spotted a nearby barrel, and dove in without hesitation. I smelled rotting fruit and fought the urge to gag as I remained entirely still. The whistling passed me, and when it did, I exited silently, dashing for the flight of wooden stairs I saw before me that were probably extremely creaky.

Just as I predicted, the stairs creaked obnoxiously. I tried to be as light footed as possible, but cringed heavily every time a noise rang out. The noises sounded impossibly loud to me, but obviously not to the other person seeing as they didn't even pause in their strides. I heard a knock on the door, and rushed faster. "Heartfilia, you decent in there?" He shouted through the door. When he didn't receive an answer, he assumed I was and entered quickly. I knew I was done for when I heard him shout. "Hey! Captain!"

I ran even faster, not even bothering to try to cover up my footsteps, and I heard as he gained on me from behind. "Hey!" he shouted. "Get back here!" I knew I couldn't outrun him, he was a pirate, running wasn't exactly foreign to them. I ducked into a narrow branch off of the main corridor I had emerged into, and sat there panting. I watched as he ran straight past me and snickered, proud of myself for having escaped my prison. I observed my surroundings again. At the end of the hallway was a small door. I didn't think I was below the main deck anymore judging by the dramatic decrease in footsteps overhead. If I had to guess, I'd say I'd managed to run to just below the head of the boat. The helm, I believe it was called. As I heard panicked shouts above deck, I decided there was nothing to lose—except my life. Shut up, thoughts—and ducked in.