Moonlight Waves

Captive

Callum Roman

   The Widower sways and creaks beneath me and the cold night wind bites at my cheeks, the only clothing for warmth I have on a thin tunic.
I lean back and rest my head against the mast, my binds cutting into my wrist. They've tied me to the main mast with my arms stretched behind me and I've begun to grow stiff and my shoulders are protesting in pain. The only time I've been cut from the ropes is to use the restroom and that only happens twice a day. Not only are my arms sore, but try sitting for hours on end trying to hold in your bladder, it's not a lot of fun.
I let my gaze travel up to the first mate standing at the helm and steering the ship towards the trade route I told them about yesterday.
It's the only reason they've kept me alive, the map of trade routes the merchants use to avoid pirates and the unknown I have memorized in my head. But now I'm revealing all their secret paths and leading the very pirates they're trying to avoid right to them. I only tell them one route at a time, being sure to insure my life with not telling them too much. They always attack a few ships, then take their plunder to a port to sell or hide it on a tiny island to come back for later, before asking me for the next route. I feel guilty every time I watch the ships sink, the pirates always hit the ship in just the right place for it to sink slowly. They enjoy watching the crew scramble around to try and patch the ship while we sail away. Only a few times have the sailors been able to save their ship.
I tear my eyes away from the stoic first mate and turn my eyes up to the stars, shining so bright tonight.
The stars and the sea, they always remind me of my Sitara. My beautiful Nereida Sitara Caldwell.
I was going to marry her, I bought her the ring and when I returned I was going to fall on my knee and propose. That's never going to happen now. She's probably found the ring with my belongings by now, The Moonlighter would have returned to Crescent Island months ago. She's probably heartbroken and mourning me, but knowing Sitara she'll still go to the beach everyday to wait and watch for me. Her one blue eye and her one green eye forever scanning the horizon. Because I told her to watch for me, I always tell her to watch the horizon for me and she always promises me she will. Never once have I returned and found an empty beach. It pains me more than anything that she thinks I'm dead, that she'll bury an empty coffin. Unless she does something stupid, which is more likely than her just accepting my death. I've yet to figure out what that stupid move will be though. I know for sure that Ian, Robby, and Charlie will stand by her no matter what and they'll probably get Captain Dax to go along with the plan too. But they already know that The Widower and her pirates are more skilled at the sword then they are and has more fire power. What The Moonlighter lacks in fire power it makes up for in speed, but they're going to need some good strategizing if they're going to beat The Widower. And that's where I get stuck, not knowing who they'll seek out for help.
  But who am I kidding? They have no clue where I am and Captain Dax surely won't risk the lives of everyone on The Moonlighter on a slim chance they could rescue me.
  It's wishful thinking.
I struggle against my ropes for the thousandth time and bite back a frustrated growl—just as tight as ever. I bonk my head back against the mast and tilt my head back up towards the poop deck where the first mate still stands.
  "Hey!" I call up to him, "When do I get my supper?"
"You already did." He responds without even looking at me.
  "I would hardly count one slice of bread as a supper." I answer.
  He guffaws in response.
  "You know," I continue, "it's a proven fact that food helps improve the function of the brain, and seeing as how you want the information in said brain. I'd suggest feeding me a little more."
  "You don't nee—" the first mate starts but is interrupted by Captain Nico sauntering out of his cabin with his hand resting on his sword.
  "What's the yapping out here about?" Captain Nico asks, his blonde hair sticking out from under his captain's hat in knotted swirls.
  "The prisoner believes he's not getting enough to eat." The first mate informs him.
  "Yes," I speak up, "as I was just telling your sunny dispositioned first mate here, it's a proven fact food helps improve the functioning of the brain. You could greatly improve my memory if you'd be so kind as to give me at least two slices of bread."
  Captain Nico gives me a sly smile before stopping a young boy with his hand, "Go fetch our honored guest a loaf of bread."
  The boy runs off immediately, disappearing below deck.
  "A whole loaf?" I ask, " You're a saint, really."
"You're lucky I like you." Captain Nico responds, leaning against the banister on the stairwell. "Otherwise you'd be fish food by now."
   "I'm flattered." I deadpan.
"Si, seemed to like you too. That's only part of the reason you're still alive."
  I clench my hands into a fist, her name bringing up so many emotions. I don't know if she made it back to The Moonlighter and if she did, did she return with the crew to Crescent Island? And if she made it to Crescent Island, has she meet Sitara?
  I push away the mixture of feelings and try to focus on anything but what I don't know. The 'unknowing' is what's really getting to me.
  "What do you plan on doing with me when all the trade routes are made known?" I ask him.
  "Oh, I don't know." He answers, "I think we have quite a while until that happens. But when it does, you could always consider joining my crew."
  I screw up my face into a thoughtful look before meeting his eyes, "I think I'll pass."
  "Suit yourself, "He says, standing up as the boy comes back with a loaf of bread in hand. "just a suggestion." He then turns to the boy, "Make sure you tie him up nice and tight when he's done eating."
  "Aye, Captain." The boy responds and Captain Nico climbs the stairs to the helm.
  The boy goes around to the other side of the mast and starts to untie me, as soon as I feel it loosen I pull out my hands and start massaging my wrist where the ropes were rubbing. I roll my shoulders a couple times too, trying to work the stiffness out of them.
  "Thanks, kid." I say, grabbing the piece of bread he hands to me. I tear off a piece of bread and shove it into my mouth, chewing slowly and trying to stretch the few minutes of freedom my arms have.
The young boy backs away from me and sits crossed legged a few feet in front of me, looking like I might lash out at him at any moment.
  "I'm not going to hurt you." I tell him.
"I know." He says, even though he still looks doubtful.
  "Where you from?" I ask, shoving another bite into my mouth.
  "Layshmen." He answers.
I let out a breath, "That's a hard place to grow up in."
  "I couldn't wait to get out of there." He says.
"Captain Nico and The Widower was your escape then?"
  "They sure were. Captain gave me a chance when no one else would."
  "That was very nice of him." I respond, not even trying to hide my sarcasm. "How old are you?"
  "Eleven." He answers, and by the pride he shows in his age I can tell he only just turned his age. Poor kid, born among pirates and destined to become a pirate himself.
  I shove the last bite of the bread into my mouth, amazed at how quickly I ate it, and roll my shoulders one more time before settling back into place with my arms stretched behind me.
  "All right," I tell him, "you can tie me back up now."
  The ropes tighten around my sore wrists once more and I turn my eyes back up to the stars.
  Watching for any sign from God that I'll be rescued or that my Sitara will be happy once again. A shooting star flies across the sky, but I have no clue which prayer the star was in response to. 
  I hate not knowing.