Chapter 23 - Away

After speaking for a long time Curtis finally took a look at his audience, taking a look around the room, everyone was silently looking at him. The Captain, as he came to know or rather presumed, didn't even bother to introduce herself, was looking at Curtis coldly. More like observing him, trying to see if he lied to her. Under her gaze, Curtis felt like a sheep staring at the lion observing him, looking for any movement so that she could pounce on him and go for the kill. The other guy, who looks like the 2nd in command in the ship was looking at him approvingly, like a dad looking at his son that did well in a test. And lastly, the scary woman that was looking at him like she wanted to flay him, and was currently nursing the back of her head with what looks like an ice bag.

Then suddenly, all the pressure disappeared, the look the Captain gave Curtis was no longer pressuring him that much. Then she laughed, "It seems like you're the one we've been looking for kid, You see kid, We took a break from the fighting cuz we got an order to go to that forest and find someone." Curtis looked confused, and that gave an even brighter smile to the woman in front of him. "See, I was getting bored waiting in this crappy little hole. But now that we have you, we can finally go back," she said happily as cheers erupted from everyone else in the room, something that brought even more confusion to Curtis.

"Wait! What's happening? What do you mean!" was all Curtis could shout as the Captain ignored him and walked straight out of the room shouting "Gear up boys, we're goin home!"

Orders were given out and the ship got lively as everyone was moving about. "Someone explain to me what is going on please!" Curtis shouted out.

"Ya better remain in yer seat kid, its fer the best." was the only answer he got from a passing pirate as everyone else ignored him.

Looking at everyone bustling about, something didn't feel right, the orders earlier didn't sound like they were for readying a ship for sea. At Least that was what it felt like, there was no mention of sails and masts which one would usually expect as they were on a ship, and looking at what the pirates were doing, they were tying down everything that seemed loose.

While everyone seemed busy, the second in command of the ship came up beside Curtis. "You know kid, just keep quiet for now. Everything will make sense once we get back." he said before Curtis could ask anything. Curtis gave him a cold stare, as he didn't really appreciate the thought of being kidnapped. But right now there was nothing he could do. They were bigger, definitely stronger as he recalled the woman from earlier, not even counting this guy and the captain, and overall there were a lot of them, trying to count them all, from what he saw earlier numbered more than 50.

Looking at the guy, he didn't seem bad. He was probably the only sensible person on this ship. After thinking about it, he was probably the only person on this ship that would answer him. "Then where are we going?" Curtis asked.

Rook, as the guy gave his name, gave him a grin and said "Get ready kid, it's rough the first time." Were the last words he felt before he felt like he was squeezing through a narrow tube.

Finally free of his bindings, Curtis was allowed to roam the ship with Rook accompanying him. "You didn't vomit," he commented as they walked through the dim passages of the ship.

"I almost did," Curtis replied shortly "So where are we?" distracting his guard while trying to figure out which part of the ship he was in. "We are on the way home, Also we are way below the deck." Rook pointed out, picking up on what he was doing.

Curtis stopped and turned to look at his guard who was just smiling at him. "I'm not stupid, kid." he just said, nodding at him to walk on."I'll answer some questions but I'm not your guide." he said with a smile that did not look like a smile. ���Let's go up onto the deck shall we?" As they walked on, the sound of them walking onto the wooden floor just sounded deafening to him. "So why am I here?" Curtis voiced out, trying to save himself from going crazy.

"You didn't throw up." Rook was Ignoring his question outright.

"Huh?"

"I said, you didn't throw up."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, you're at least better than 1/8th of the people on this ship."

...

Arriving on the deck the first thing he noticed was the portal right behind the ship. A large black portal that looked like it could swallow the ship he was on and still be hungry.

It at least helped explain what happened earlier, they went through a portal, not like he knew what that would feel, but at least it gave him a direction on how to get home.

"Up front kid." Rook said ignoring his shock at seeing the portal. Turning around Curtis headed to the bow of the ship, paying no mind to the sailors looking at him. Arriving at the front of the ship, the Captain was waiting there with the curly-haired woman. And looking past them all he could do was stand in awe.