The Life Of Pirates

Chapter 4

The next few days passed in a blur. The whole ship was cleaned from blood and bodies and the wounded were beginning to heal.
Jasmine was sat with her back against the ledge, a big book in her hand. As she read, she mouthed the words. She had been taught to read the basics by her father but she still struggled.
"You don't have to watch over me" A grumble came from behind her and she looked round to the captain with a hand over his face.
"I know I don't have to" She replied but stayed sat down, continuing with her reading.
There was silence for a few seconds except for the captains deep pained breaths.
"I don't think we ever properly introduced ourselves" the captain said thoughtfully.
"No I don't think we did" She agreed but without looking up from her book.
"My name's Darren" He told her.
"I'm Jasmine" She looked up and smiled and then looked back down.
"Jasmine's a nice name, sounds peaceful" He suggested.
"And yet nothing peaceful happens to me" Darren chuckled and began to sit up so he could see her better. Jasmine turned round to make sure he wasn't hurting himself.
"You shouldn't keep doing that, it's not helping you heal" She told him but he ignored the warning.
"You've become much more talkative" He acknowledge, looking thoughtfully at her, "what happened?"
"I guess saving someone's life and taking another changes a person" She grumbled, she didn't think she was ever going to get over that.
"Do you still have the pistol?" He asked. She had it hidden behind her and took it out, waving it in his direction and then put it back.
"I'll teach you how to use it if you'd like, not that you need teaching" He laughed again.
She looked up now interested, "really?" she asked in excitement, she did want to learn because if she was going to be stuck here she may as well try and adjust to this cursed life.
He nodded and gave her his infamous smile, "That way you can defend yourself if needed".
"Thank you!" She grinned back and closed her book.
"No need to thank me, you saved my life. Just repaying the favour" He nodded at her without letting his smile fade.
She got to her feet and stretched out her numb body. She'd been sitting there for hours, not letting Darren out of her sight.
"Where're you going?" He asked, sounding slightly worried.
"I just need a walk, might get some food" She shrugged just wanting some fresh air. He nodded looking slightly crestfallen.
"I'll be back soon don't worry" She assured him and walked out the door. As she walked out she got a few smiles from the crew who had now started becoming nicer. She smiled back and started to pace around trying to clear her head. After a few rounds of the ship she went below deck to get some food.

She'd hardly been down there because Darren would always bring food to her, but now it was the other way round. The Cook was scarily intimidating at first but turned out to be one of the friendliest people on board. Whenever he saw her he'd pile up food, always commenting on how scrawny she was. Today she walked in and he immediately started plating up food for her and Darren. She made sure to smile and thank him a lot before going back to the cabin.
As she got to the cabin door a crew member walked out and held the door open when he saw her.
"Thanks" She smiled and he nodded back at her.
She walked in and handed over one of the plates then climbed onto the other side of the ledge, crossing her legs. She began to tuck into her food, feeling quite hungry. But he ate slowly, looking up occasionally to check on her.
"So what were you talking about with the other guy when I left?" She asked, curious about the conversation.
"Eh, very little. He was just advising me on my health" He shrugged.
"And does he reckon you're alright?" She stopped eating.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine" He reassured her.
"Well that's good then" She said and went back to her food, but now eating slower than before.
They continued eating but now in silence. Jasmine watched the waves from the window. They'd not yet had horrible weather since she joined which she was thankful for. She didn't know what to do if bad weather did occur, she hadn't been over any kind of procedures or anything.
"How's the crew treating you?" She turned to see Darren watching her, worry once again in his eyes.
"Better than before" Jasmine told him, "they smile now, which is something I thought they couldn't do"
He laughed quietly "I'm glad you're beginning to settle" he gave her a small sympathetic smile as though he thought she never would, which she didn't really think would happen either.
She looked down, the memories of her dad becoming unlocked again. But just as quickly she pushed them away again, she wasn't going to unravel all the work she'd put in.
"I don't think I can ever say I'm sorry enough for what happened" He told her, sorrow appearing across his face.
Jasmine said nothing, she didn't want to think about what'd happened. She picked up the empty plates and left the room. She started heading towards the kitchen but abruptly stopped. She put the plates down and ran up the stairs towards the helm of the ship to where there was a small crowd gathered.
"What's going on?" She tried to push past to see what was causing the commotion, "is there-is there something in the water!?" she gasped to see a bag floating, and something inside wriggling. She made a plan immediately, grabbing the spare rope form the other side of the boat and raced back.
"Throw it to me in a second" she told the others before climbing onto the ledge and leaping off.