"Adam, this is utterly scrumptious, you should try it!"
She threw a fruit, landing on my palms. It was white like the robe father wore. I caressed it with my arms, it was gritty. I pressed down on it, it didn't even budge, it was hard.
"I- I don't think we should-"
My eyes shot up as a sharp sting suddenly echoed throughout my body. Everything was still blurry, but one thing was clear: the pain had come from a kick to my knee.
I howl in pain and cup my knee with both hands as if that will cure the pain
"Get up, the captain wishes to see you"
"Did you *have* to kick me?" I curved into a ball, as if that will ease the displeasure
"Oh, quite precisely. I'd say it was necessary for me to tolerate your existence"
A second later, the pain subsided. When my vision had cleared, I saw Lilith, hands crossed like a little child impatiently waiting. I wanted to pretend I was still in pain so she would grow more impatient but I wouldn't want to give the captain time to change their mind.
"So" I adjusted into a sitting position, my feet crossed together " I expect I won't be going into the captain's quarters with these chains." I showed her my cuffed wrists
"Yes, that's right" she showed a set of keys and began to work on my chains
Something clicked, and alas, I was free. Like a dam that exploded, the warmth of blood spread throughout the veins of my arm.
I caressed my face with those warm hands. Have I gone crazy that the sensation of a warm touch was actually bringing me joy and pleasure.
I continued to do my business when a voice interrupted the warm reunion with my hand.
"You won't be going with *those* chains." She paused " You'll be going with these" in my dread, she had a new pair of cuffs waiting to surround my bony flesh.
"Is that really nece-" before I could finish, my wrists were already cuffed. The freedom was nice, but nice things have an end, I just didn't expect it to end 1 second after.
Her eyes narrowed and looked me directly in in the eye. Those abyss-like pupils were entrancing but scary at the same time.
"Don't forget your end of the bargain"
***********
The upper deck wasn't the paradise I envisioned but it certainly was paradise compared to below.
Sweaty men were running about, likely fulfilling orders given to them.
I took a deep breath. The fresh air immidiately made its presence known in my lungs. It was Marvellous.
I kept breathing heavily to get as much of that sweet fresh air into my system. It could have been fresher if it wasn't combined with the smell of fish, sweat and pine tar, but it was certainly an upgrade to the hell hole down there.
I look around. The vast sea surrounded the ship from all directions, it seemingly had no end and stretched all the way to the horizon. It was scary to think about, this vast emptiness, devoid of any human society. I let the thought go.
I looked up. A web of ropes, sails and wooden poles filled the sky.
I looked down, the wooden surface was wet, recently swept I suppose.
I looked left and right. The outer edges were lined with cannons, and a small trench in the floor held the ammunition and wooden boxes, no idea what those held, nor did I care.
It was buzzing with men. From the sounds of their boots hitting the deck, to the refreshing sounds of laughters and the ear shattering shouts of orders. I even catched a glance of two men roughing up eachother. It was a symphony of chaos that.
I look behind, a hand of a man pushing my head to look forward.
Two vigils stood behind me
From my peripheral, the one on my left was willowy while the other was more of the normal healthy body type, not too thin, not too fat and not too muscular. Both were equally tanned from the hot sun.
They wore black trousers, a pale red tunic lined with black stripes on its edges, a black bandanna, a leather belt strapped on their waist and they were armed with a sheathed cutlass. The crewmen also wore similar clothes.
Ahead of me was a set of stairs leading to a platform at the front of the ship. Under that platform was where we were directly headed.
I walked along the smooth wet wooden deck. It was nice to feel my legs again, although it wasn't at its best condition.
******
Beyond the door revealed the captain's quarters.
A certain scent filled the air, booze mixed with pine tar perhaps?
The walls were empty except for a painting of a family loosely hanging, swerving as the ship commands.
On the corner was a fairly big bed, In my current state, two of me could fit in there. It had a white mattress with a red blanket. It looked so comfortable from the cold hard wooden floor I've been sleeping on, it was tempting to just ignore everyone here and lay down there, but I'm afraid that would lead to my permanent sleep.
Beside the bed was a wooden box with a lock. I'm willing to bet that it would be easier to break the box than pick the lock.
And at the center of it all, a wooden desk and chair painted in brown. Someone sat there, the captain.
Lilith moved beside him, her head low and hands behind her back. A rare sight to see, well, I've only seen her a few times.
It wasn't time to look at Lilith, there was a person of more interest right now.
I adjust my line of sight to the captain.
He was reading something written in parchment, hunched back in his seat.
From observation, I could tell that he was a fairly large man. Biceps bulging, neck thick, shoulders broad. All the qualities of a man I wouldn't wanna mess with.
The door clicked behind me and he abruptly raised his head to attention. The two vigils that closed the door now stood by my side.
He eyed me head to toe.
His skin was that of the flesh of an apple. He had charcoal eyes and a contrasting white thick beard, thicker than the bulge forming in my throat. He looked to be in his 50s.
He put the parchment down on his desk and leaned forward. His elbow resting on the table and thick hands clasped together.
His gaze locked with mine but his face was calm and collected.
"Tell me where the pirates are, and you will live." His deep raspy, but calm voice filled the room.
The vigils beside me kicked the back of my knee, forcing me to kneel. And in one swift moment, a cold sharp steel was pressing against my neck.
Right there on my throat is death itself, and it wasn't welcome.
I took deep breaths as I stared death in the face. At any moment my heart could come bursting out of my chest. It was all I could hear, loud thuds of my beating heart. A single drop of sweat scoured the skin of my face and dropped to the wooden surface below.
The vigils pressed the blade harder, it pierced my flesh but not deep enough to kill. Warm blood trinkled down from my neck.
Lilith lifted up her head and looked at the captain and me alarmingly. The captain wasn't looking at her however. For a brief moment I saw her foot take a step forward, but abruptly stopped and took her original position once again.
The vigils were pressing tighter or perhaps it was just my imagination but it was clear these people didn't consider patience as a virtue.
I swallowed a burl in my throat. Bad idea, that hurt but dying would hurt more. I had to choose my words carefully; the next few words could determine my fate.
"If y-you kill me, the pirates will know of the location of this ship"
That was a lie, I am in no position right now to use my mark.
"They'll know nothing if you are dead" the captain retorted
He was right, but he didn't know that.
"You don't know how my mark works, maybe I could still use it seconds after you slit my throat"
Another lie, or perhaps the truth, but I wasn't willing to find out
He massaged his bearded chin and narrowed his eyes. "How many are there"
With the little flexibility of my neck, I looked down slightly at the blade. "I'd love to tell you but these blades here are distracting. If I'm distracted, then I might accidentally tell you the wrong information."
He gestured towards the vigils.
Their blade were still threatening death but atleast now I have a little more room to not slit my own throat.
A cough came out of me but I quickly regained my posture, still kneeling however.
"I would tell you but... I have a bargain to strike here"
The captain doesn't seem to be pleased with that. Obvious from the scowl he has given me.
Just for a moment I saw Lilith's feet preparing to run towards me.
"Kill him"
My heart dropped at that and I had to say something, QUICK!
"I'LL WORK FOR YOU!" I shouted with all the strength I could muster
The blades stopped just short of my neck
The captain widened his eyes out of surprise.
Lilith, a meter from her original position, widened her eyes out of anger. She was looking directly at me with disbeleif. Her jaws were tightened and fists curled into balls, with how tight it was, I'm guessing her nails were being driven into her flesh. It was a scary sight but I had something I need to be scared of more.
"Pardon me boy?" The captain asked, still confused and had to clarify what I had just said
"I'll work for you" I repeated.