Follow The Current

Chapter 12

Lux walked on the island, canvassing the area. Something was off about the island and their people. He found it unsettling. It wasn't just that they hated men or what happened. Something was stabbing at his instincts. It was why he was walking about on the island after sun down. He was going where his instincts lead him.

Scarlet flew above and landed quietly beside, "What's got you lurking about?" "Something isn't right," he asked her. "Like how there are young children running about despite the island being free of men," Scarlet asked him. That was it, he thought. There were young girls and there was even a pregnant Amazon, yet no men anywhere.

Scarlet and Lux shared a look. "Snooping is going to probably get us killed," he told her. "We live for that kind of danger though," she said. "Be careful," he told her as she made her wings appear. "I will be as careful as possible," she told him. He gave her a quick kiss before she flew off to investigate the other side of the island.

She landed on one of the trails that was often traveled, but it went away from the village to the mountain. Scarlet followed the trail, hand on her swords. She got to a cave that was well lit with torches. She made her way down the tunnel and found that rooms had been put in. "What the hell," she whispered. She got to one of the rooms and saw it was opened. She peeked her head in and saw a bed, a shower, a toilet, and a sink. She walked over to the bed and saw chains on the head and foot board. Ice filled her veins at the sight of them. She left the room and went over to one of the closed doors and found it locked. Scarlet checked her hair for a pin and picked the lock. The door opened quietly and she saw a man sitting on the bed, fully naked. A scar ran over his left eye.

"You're not one of those Amazons," he said as he looked over Scarlet. "No, I'm not," She told him. "I'm a member of the Shadow Pirates, pirate crew." "You and your crew best get out of here," he told her. "Before they use your men for breeding." "Breeding," Scarlet whispered, horrified. He nodded, "They only keep the males that pass their inspection. After that, they chain us to these beds, then give us medications to make us uncontrollably horny, and use us. If they give birth to a girl, they raise them as one of their citizens. If they have a boy, they put them in a special day care where once they hit adulthood, they groom them to their specifications for a good mating partner."

Scarlet went over to his chains. "What are you doing," he asked her. "What does it look like I'm doing," she hissed as she began to try and unlock his chains. Her pin snapped and she cursed softly. She stood, "How many of you guys are here?" "I don't know," he told her honestly. She nodded, "Give me a couple of days." She then left quickly to continue searching about the mountain.

She found some of the men, dazed, and in need of a shower after being used. Scarlet felt her stomach clench at the sight of it all. Unable to handle seeing anymore she left and flew back to the cove. The crew watched as she landed on the rocks of the cove and puked her guts up. Someone pulled her hair back. "What did you find," Dio asked once she finished. A cloth was presented with some water to wash her mouth out with. She swished the water in her mouth and spat it out on the rocks.

"We need to wait for Lux," she told him. She wanted to compare notes with him first. They waited for him to get back. It was sunrise when he finally returned and he had a look of dark anger in his eyes. "What did you find," he asked Scarlet coldly.

She told him about what she found in the mountain. He nodded, "I found much of the same." "That's fucked up," Lance said. "There are only a few things that give those effects to the body and all of them have deadly side effects if used too often. And if they're starting on those who are eighteen, its even worse." "We need to put a stop to them," Dio said.

"But what are we going to do? We can't get the Marines involved, it sounds like many of the men were once pirates and possibly have a bounty," Trish said. Lux looked at Scarlet, "Think Tenshi Island would welcome them?" "Without a doubt," Scarlet told him. "Tenshi Island," Trish asked confused.

"Have you been outside of the Forbidden Lands before," Brian asked her. She shook her head, "Never." "We all came from different islands outside of the Forbidden Lands. Tenshi Island is one of the few that welcomes pirates with open arms," Dio told her. She nodded, "I see."

"It's just gonna take us a couple of months and a lot of resources to get there," Scarlet told her. "And who knows how many run ins with the Marines." "The Marines aren't a problem," Lux said with a shrug. "We have some much needed scores to settle with them anyways." "But do we have the space to carry them all," Brian asked Lux.

"Not on our ship, but I'm sure one of those is in good condition," Lux said while pointing over his shoulder to the other ships. "You have the time to inspect them," Lance told him. "We can't cause any hell until Sunny is healed enough to be moved so we have to pick a ship and see what we can do."

Lux nodded, "For now the plan is to find another ship that is in good shape to sail." "Aye Captain," they said in unison.

In their bedroom Lux sat on the bed, elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. "Those men," Lux whispered. "I hate that we have to wait a few days. If it wasn't for Sunny..." "It will be worth it in the end," Scarlet assured him. "We have the time to make a plan, gather the supplies, and find a ship to sail with us." "Seeing them, brought me back to when I was being held prisoner by the Marines," Lux told her softly.

Ever since he and the others were freed, none of them talked about it. They offer each other silent support, but they refused to talk about it. "What happened Lux," Scarlet asked him. She wanted to know, to see just how much hell the Marines deserved.

"It doesn't matter," Lux told her. "What matters is helping them." She nodded and didn't push it any further.

Brian sat on the railing, cigarette between his lips. It was rare he smoked, but things were reaching the edge and he didn't know what to do. Dio leaned against the railing, a cigarette in his hand. "How did things get so fucked up," Brian asked him. "They've always fucked up," Dio told him. "We were just ignorant to it all and were enjoying the joys life was offering to us." Brian ran a hand through his hair, "Don't get me wrong, I would lay my life on the line for this crew. You guys are my family, but this shit is making me question whether or not I still want to be a pirate."

Dio shrugged, "I will be a pirate until the day Lux disbands the crew." "I'm not surprised," Brian said softly. "You and him have always been pretty close." "I owe him my life, and let's just leave it at that," Dio told him. "Does he hold you to that," Brian asked him curiously. Dio shook his head, "He doesn't want my life, just my friendship."

Brian nodded with a sigh. "No one is going to hate you if you left," Dio told him. "We'll even take you home after we get to Tenshi." Brian sighed softly, "I don't know what I want to do." "You've got plenty of time to think on it," Dio said as he put out his cigarette. "So don't stress yourself." Dio then walked away and Brian was left with so many questions on what he should do.