Celeste

8.

In all fairness, I did scream.

But I found myself on the ship anyway, wide - eyed and struggling on the creaking boards as I was shoved into the belly of the beast...
Dirty hammocks swinging with every lap of the waves below, hung haphazardly about, some pirates gawped and cattcalled as I was shoved along, squealing angrily.

They continued the trek, going past ale barrels, some drunk pirates singing sea shanties that made my cheeks burn.

"Let me go you cad! I'm a lady, damn you! Filthy stinking pirates!" I shreiked as the door, a rusty clash of bars that looked like it had taken a beating on more than one occasion, slammed in my face.

They left, laughing, leaving me with only the stench of rotting wood and the rats for company.
I let out a short scream as one ran past my foot, small and wet.

Then, with a lurch, the ship gave a reluctant judder before moving. The sea churned instead of beating steadily against the bow, bubbling as we moved.
I sat next to the bars, scowling, my dress gladly accepting the wet of the floor. Grumbling, I shift, shivering with the cold, as my brain caught up with what had happened, wiping away my shock like chalk from a blackboard.

I'm not one to sit quietly, so I stand, looking for an escape. I jiggle each and every bar, look in every knot of wood, looking for something. And then I found it. A bottle. I cautiously uncorked it, sniffing, before winking my nose.
Rum.

I wasn't going to drink it. I tried a shot when I was sixteen, and let's just say it didn't go so well. Besides, I wasn't going to get drunk on a pirate ship. That was asking for trouble.

"Huh. You didn't strike me as a party girl." I jump, heart racing, turning to see blue, bag in hand.

"Well, I am about to be killed by pirates." I resort, re corking the bottle, crossing my arms.

"Not if I can help it." He smiles, stepping into the lantern light. I raise a brow in surprise.
"How do you mean?" I ask, watching his face as he walks into the light.

He looks worried, clutching the bag with white knuckles. Blowing out his cheeks, looking nervously at my face, he speaks.
"Every few weeks, the captain kidnaps someone, most pirates do in any case. They... take them."

My brows crash down in confusion. "Take them where?"

He gives a dry laugh, "You are an innocent one, aren't you? I mean he takes them to warm his bed, and not willingly." He says the last part through gritted teeth.

Everything drops to my toes, and I feel panic choke my lungs.
The bottle falls with a crash to the floor, and I feel the same, splintered.

"Woah, woah. Sorry, lass, I though it would help..."

A sharp spike of anger lurches in my gut. "Help me be willing? To crawl into bed with a dirty stinking pirate?" I sit on the only wooden plank, taking deep breaths, wrapping my arms about myself.

"Help you escape, sweetheart. I've bought boys clothes. You can change yourself into a broom boy, and get off at the next port" I hear him say. I'm looking at the floor, at the dirt. I turn my eyes upwards to meet his, so much darker in the half-light of the room.

"Why would you help me?" I ask, feeling hollow and seasick with every lurch of the waves.

The door creaks open with a rusty sound. He walks in, sitting beside me with a slow hesitation. I watch his face again, like it's the best book I've ever read.
He watches me too, mouth opening and closing like a gaping fish.

"Me names blue jay. When I first volunteered to be on a ship, it was because of my sister, jay. She was sick and I needed coin. She, the stubborn headed mule, snuck onto the ship to try and stop me, despite the fact she could hardly stand. The captain found her. I could hear her screams from inside the cabin... they beat me sumthin awful when I tried to stop him. I saw her body as they shoved her over. Blue bruises. The captain laughed at my tears. And gave me a new name."

I can only stare mouth gaped open.
I had always thought pirates were motivated by glittering gold coins, powered with glazed lust that dulled all other rational thought. My mother's death was evidence enough.

I wet my lips, "I am sorry for your loss." Is all I can say.

He lets loose a sharp grin, worthy of a shark. "It's thanks to her so many women escape. My little revenge. Ol' red face ain't got any for months!" He laughs, but it's a hollow sound.

His laughter, no matter how forced, dies as a clap starts up from beyond the bars. Blue moves to escape, but the door slams in his face, a skinny sweaty boy grins up at him. The person moves into the light.

I can now see why he called him 'red face'.
A huge bulbous nose, shifty light eyes, and booze red cheeks accompany this hulking figure who lurches with every step. Big, hard hands clap to a calm pace.
"I was wondering where me women went. Why dey vanished intu the night without anyone seeing." He shook his head. I 'ad high hopes for yah, blue jay.

Blue stood, face flushed with anger. "Then why rape and kill my sister?"

"Pirates have tah be tough. Have tah see sad sights to harden teh heart." He said mysteriously. "But nah I see sumthin real sad, boy. Betrayal." He spoke to the skinny boy, who grinned in the glow of praise.

Then, the captain walked right up to the bars. "There's still 'ope for yah lad."
He turned, as if in thought. "Get the crew." He said to the boy, who scampered away eagerly.

It wasn't long before others returned, filling the small space with leery eyes and glazed temperament. I crossed my arms about myself.

The captain filled them in, big voice somehow echoing loud in the room.
"... so I've come up wit a plan, lads! Harden 'is heart even more! Throw the girl over!"

Cheers echoed, orders were yelled, and I just stood there. Throw me overboard? To die?
Goosebumps shivered up my arms.