Strange rumors about the combatant's preferences ignites in the galley the next morning.
After what happened the night, Argus who disagreed first about losing his own bed, left to find the comfort of Felix and Draco's room. But not leaving before making sure that the malicious and and teasing thoughts in his head got into the stowaway. Argus finds the situation funny.
At the early hour of morning, where the pirates heads the galley and eat Elijah's cooked meals. Argus is already there, laughing his ass off as he delivers the newest gossip for his crewmates. Everyone makes their contributions, by narrating and analyzing what they had observed from the combatant for the last few days. Spreading the gossip about why in the long run of being together in the ship, they never once seen the combatant look at any woman because he actually fancy the opposite.
When all of these had reach Calev, results only makes Argus have the most fun as the thrill of being in the combatant list of kill commence. Calev chases him around the ship, wanting nothing but to shut his mouth.
For the people in the Mad Treasure, such news especially about the mysterious combatant—it is indeed worth to be discuss. After all they all witness the shift of his attitude towards the stowaway. But if they are being honest, it's just ther favorite pass time.
Considering pirates spends of their days in the ocean with no mean of entertainment, gossiping is a way of coping.
But there is one person who doesn't like any of it.
The stowaway herself.
She is and still reluctant about the way Argus left the cabin for her. Instead of taking his room back, he told her he understands Calev's decision, she has reckoned that she feels safe at the proximity of the combatant after all he is the only one who knows who she really is, but this is not what she wants.
She has heard enough in the galley, and even if she doesn't understand herself that much she knows she doesn't like how they are talking about Calev that way. Maybe it because she feels she is in debt with the man, that is why she is concern about it.
[ Or maybe because I am also part of the gossip itself. ]
That kind of justification fills her head. No clue of where she has gain the courage to actually think by herself. Feeling guilty that the man she thinks her savior is in the midst of being a laughing stock because of her.
[ Maybe I do feel guilty about it. ]
Alone with her thoughts, the stowaway roams the main deck. While the fast wind carress her, her mind abuses her. The loud conversation she have with herself makes it hard for her to enjoy the sight in front of her.
The day is still young with its morning breeze, the sea is quiet and nice. The touch of the warm and soft sun feels home in her skin. With the sails above her, creating the sounds that reminds her the power of the wind. Yet nothing stop her mind from thinking. The weather is nice, but her mind is not.
Looking up at the main mast, she reluctantly wonder if Argus is there. Aside from thinking about Calev's, the flirty purple ash hair of that man somehow makes its way to her mind. Last night suddenly coming back into her, still uncomfortable about what happened.
She knows Argus is in the crownest, that is his turf. Wanting to talk to him, she hesitantly approach the shrouds in the port. Her small hands touching the railing as she glance at the waters below. Although the waves are kind today, the ship smoothly sailing along its threads of waves.
In her perspective, the huge body of water almost dizzy her. Her hinds gripping the railing as if to steady her grounds, fearing that the water might swallow her.
Even so, she shakes her head purposely in an attempt to take shake off her fear. With her hands that is now sweating nervously, trembling at the touch of the ropes. She wonders if she is going to be alright. She never really climbed the shrouds all alone, it was always with Argus or Calev, and everytime she is in their arms.
Looking back at the sea, she hopes she slip and fall. The wind slaps her hard, climbing the web of ropes slowly like it is something she was forced to do as a punishment. The stowaway closes her eyes tight, not liking the fact that she can see that ocean underneath.
She can see the waves moving, the motion making her feel nauseous. Tentatively tapping the ropes while her eyes closed, hoping she is doing the right thing. Grasping it the moment she feels the rough texture of the strings, grabbing it like her life depends on it.
She probably look so stupid, moving in the slowest pace she can think of. While her trembling hands holds the fate of her life. Is she misses, either she is going to land in the deck or meet the waters down.
[ Do I even know how to swim? ]
She feels the regret rushing over her when she realizes that she doesn't even know if she can survive in those waters. However its too late for her to even stop and leave. When she opens her eyes, she found herself in the middle of the shrouds. Too high to even climb down, yet too low to climb further. Her knees shakes, feeling the warm air of morning turns cold. Seeping into the fabric of her garments, all she can think of is why did she even do this.
" A....Argus."
She calls hoping she can be heard by the person she wanted to speak with. When there is no response, she starts to contemplate if there is someone in that crwonest from the start.
" Help me."
She calls once again. Feeling her knees give up, making her yell so loud when she started to dangle in the air. Her two hands desperately clinging in the ropes.
[ This is where I am going to die. ]
" Argus."
She yells once more, almost bursting out crying. Her eyes closing tightly, now looking down and missing the fact that she just created a scene by screaming that loud.
Below her are few of the crewmates who are in the deck, witnessing all of her action.
They are even worried about her, but too scared to rescue and touch her because of a certain rumor.
" What are you doing here!"
Argus peeks below the crownest, when he heard her names being called many time like a mantra. Wondering who has been screaming his name like he owes them something.
Upon seeing the poor state of the stowaway, he feels bad for almost laughing. He just can't help it.
The way that she is dangling like a leaf, so light as the winds almost carrying her, she looks so funny in Argus eyes. Her hands tightly holding the ropes as she wishes for the gods that can hear her that she won't fall. She forces herself to climb through the shrouds despite of how dangerous it can be.
" I'm sorry." She said, her breathing becoming uneven by her uncomfortable situation.
" But can you please help me, I think I'm going to fall." She begs.
" You are probably the most coward of a guy I have ever met."
He chuckles before expertly climbing down and meeting the stowaway in the middle.
Argus snickers at her desperate plea, before pulling her by the waist securely and letting her step in the cramped crowsnest. Argus can't help but think about how the shape of her body against his hands, despite the clothes around her he feels the softness of it-so far from being a man.
In a matter of seconds, the stowaway is already in his shoulder. Dangling like a corpse as he climb back to the crownest. The people below starts to disperse, leaving the main deck almost empty as they go back to their duty.
Meanwhile in the crownest, the stowaway breathes heavily. Almost losing her life with her poor decision, she feels her heart beat on her sleeve. Clutching Argus tunic and shoving herself closer to him. Forgetting the fact that she is not suppose to do that or else her secret will be busted. However she got so traumatized that even that thought left her mind.
" You know, Calev's going to get the wrong idea." Argus chuckles, teasing her.
" I...I'm sorry."
She composes herself, stepping away from the man.
" Calev's going to think I'm tricking you again."
Argus rolls his eyes, he pretends to be desperate as he scans the deck below them in hopes that there is no combatant around.
" I wanted to see you."
She whispers, suddenly feeling embarrassed by her words.
Argus smirks, a mischievous glint in his eyes directly looking at her.
" Oh, really? Am I that attractive that even a lad had fallen for me."
She look at him uncertain of what reaction she must give. For all the days that she had come to like his company, she sometimes can't still stand how flirty he is. But the stowaway will never voice that out, he is still a pirate.
" No."
She kindly denied, which made Argus' expression fall playfully to tease her.
" Its… I mean-I uh."
Argus laugh loudly at her reaction, the redness of her cheeks can't be hidden by anything even if she desperately covers her face with her two hands. The rich and loud voice of his laughter is probably heard towards the decks.
" You don't have to reject me so seriously, I know my mate has put a mark on you." He wink at her.
" No."
She repeated, this time lowly, unsure of what Argus meant with his statement.
" I came to apologize for taking your cabin."
She gives him a sincere look, hoping that what Calev has decided won't tarnish the growing friendship she has with this man.
The laughter in Argus reaction only erupted loudly, telling her that there is nothing to be worried about and he rather found it amusing. If he is being honest, Calev's interests, interests him too.
" It's alright, savvy? Besides, this is the first time I have seen Calev show any interest to anyone besides murdering them."
He said nonchalantly, making the stowaway flinch at the mention of violence. Her mind can't even fathom to visualize how Calev would look while killing people.
" Are you always that close with him?"
She asks without thinking. Before she can take back her question, Argus gives him the biggest smile she has ever seen from him.
Argus didn't hesitate to tell her about his friendship not only with Calev, but to everyone in the ship. Highlighting the fact that not only he is the favorite crew member of everyone—coming from his own words and proclamation.
But also Calev's—the stoic, brooding, and said to be the most dangerous one is his best friend. In which she can't deny, proven by the scene she has witnessed from them.
Despite how much Calev tries to push him away, scare him, or treat him brashly. Calev still lets him annoy him regardless of his reaction to Argus, he will continue to chase him down if he gets too annoyed but he will never do anything to actually stop the man's pestering.
Argus shares how he values human relationship, how camaraderie has always been his priority especially in the ship where she lives with men that shared the adventures he too took.
For him trust and loyalty is the biggest thing that he can offer and receive. As big as the trust the people in the ship has given him, no one can measure how big he gives those back. Argus always gives back double, in friendship, in loyalty, in trust, he gives more than what is needed.
There is something that is hiding in his eyes however while he is telling her all of these things. As if, there are the things he wishes not to show. The darkened color of his once gray purple eyes catches the glimpse of what the latter he can give.
She doesn't recognize what could it be, all she knows is despite how excited he looks as he is telling her all of these there is a hint of sadness in his voice.
Yet, just like always she doesn't say anything about it but just wonders.
Argus seems to be a wonderful friend based on what she heard from him. The way he can share a lot of of his beautiful memories just mean how much he treasures those. Its like he remember every single thing about his life with the people he likes and values.
Someone who doesn't forget easily, someone who remembers the exact things from his past. And she thought for a moment, if a friend like that exist. Someone who remembers every single thing that had happened between them, is it a good thing or not.
Is it a good thing to remember too much?
The stowaway has no answer for that questions, knowing full well she can't answer. She has no memories unlike Argus whom is filled with them.
But sometimes, remembering too much never rooted in a better past. That's what Argus eyes is telling. Despite how happy his memories sounds like, there is a hint of bad tone in the sound of his voice while he remembers the everything in his life.
" Argus, a meeting with the captain. Vast ahoy!"
The loud voice of the quartermaster that comes from below surprised them both.
The two of them looks at one another, a laugh coming out his lips before helping her up. They both climb down the nest, with her in his arms as she tries her best not to let his hands wander into the place that can identify what she is hiding.
In the deck awaits that stern quartermaster who looks at her with cold eyes, as always. Immediately, she lost her courage and feels small under the eyes of the man. With nothing to say, instead of ordering her around, she bids herself from Argus when Elijah has given her another job in the heat of the afternoon.
She watches them walk towards the quarterdeck, entering the captain's cabin into the office. The look in Argus' eyes remains in her mind, the sound of his voice is still heard from where she stands. In the breeze of the sea wind, she feels the riddle it carries towards her.
The enigma that surrounds not only the combatant that she wishes to solve, this ship she boards with the men she watches everyday. They too have their own riddles, the Mad Treasure and its people are mysterious.
...
The mystery of the Mad Treasure flows through the quietness of the night, the sound of the ships running through the currents of the waters. Even with nothing in sight but the thick blackness of the blanket sky, and the carpeted void in the ocean floor.
The moonlight reflected in the sea, with the twinkling stars that generously offer itself as an illuminating crescendo that makes the dimness somehow tolerable.
She looks ahead at nothing but the horizon of what she doesn't know. Her eyes almost mimicking how the luminescence of the celestials above, in her hazel eyes shines the tears that are threatening to spill.
In every moment that passes, tightens with her grip over the railing as she stands right at the edge forecastle deck. As if the moment she loses the grip, she will lose the tiny hope that she has kept inside her.
Exactly one week had passed since she had stowed away in the ship full of pirates. In the expectations of terror, she didn't see that these people would actually welcome her as one of them.
She did her best to live with their rules, to live according to what suits her safety around them. She did her best as she tried to live the life of pirates, pushing all her fears and anxiety that continued to hold her down. Not even the exhaustion of her daily tasks, the horrifying scolding of the quartermaster, and mystery that surrounds the ship that stopped her from wishing to survive this expedition of her new life.
Yet despite the bravery and courage that she continued to force herself to take, she always found herself alone in the forecastle as she looked at the horizon. Just like that day one, she had nothing to do but stare at the wide stretch of ocean and sky as if there is something she had been searching and waiting for.
Every night right after supper and the crew had slowly found their way to their slumber, she came to the same place did the same thing.
[ In this vast ocean, will there be a place that is waiting for me? ]
In the calmness that she gets around the dead of the night, follows the sound of soothing waves that travels the breeze of the salty air. The coldness feels like a ghostly touch in her skin, the airy atmosphere caresses her face like a person who has been wanting to offer gentleness for her.
Through the feelings she catches by the surrounding presence of nothing but the night sky and the ocean, she feels like she is being called.
A name that she hears in the currents, a name that she can't remember but she hears it. Calling upon her whenever she sets her eyes at the wavering ocean, feeling the certainty of something that is waiting for her return. Unexplainable and unknown, the sea continues to call her.
The identity that she can't remember, the life she has no idea what she had led. It comes in the strings and streaks of tears that she can't stop every night. There is longing inside her, for something that she can't remember.
But it hurts, a pain right in her heart that gets heavier as she feels that she is moving far from the reach of wherever she must be.
She weeps, in the darkness and hidden away from everyone else.
And the tears that she tries to keep away from the vision of anyone else, did not escape the combatant. In one of those nights where she hides away, unaware of how the man that follows her steps has been feeling the sorrows he sees in her. As always, he can't explain it but he feels for her.
It's like there is a connection between them that allows him to bridge her emotion towards him. And by the many times that he has watched her cry herself in the quiet night, fuels the rage inside him.
He doesn't like the sight of her broken and hopeless, it feels wrong and against nature. The incomprehensible desire that he has, burns through his being at every moment she weeps.
Apprehensively yearning the day that she will stop the nights of her sorrows, longing for the days in which he can make her feel the safest. No one, not even him can explain why he gets these impulses that are unusual about who he is, but he does nothing to question it-it feels right for him to do so.
However the hesitation in his heavy feet renders him in his distance away from her.
Continuously watching over her like a night owl on service. He wants to go but the dubiety he has over the being that is inside him worries him. Finding it difficult for him to restrain the vital force that is begging to come out whenever he sees her.
Two people, bearing no idea of their past. Carrying many questions, feeling the difficulty of uncertainty right in from of them.
The stowaway and the combatant, stands meters away from each other. The other one stares at the universe in front her while the other stares at what seems to be an another world he must have in, in the figure of this woman.
Unbeknownst to him, his unusuality has become obvious through the days he spends with her. This sight ignites an idea to a man who can tame the demon. Seeing a tight rope he can use against that very thing, wanting full control of Calev and what is inside him.
Axel who had been seeing the look in the dark eyes of the combatant had come to the conclusion that allowed him to reach the assurance. He can't find the exact identification of the descriptive eyes that Calev possesses at the sight of her, but he recognized the use of her in significantly possessing a beast like him.
He intends to use his observance over the dirty path of claiming the demon's in permanent shackle, he needs a leverage that will keep that man at bay and he needs an assurance to keep the people in his ship safe.
" Those two."
He said, all while his eyes still looking at the two figures at the forecastle. While standing a top the stern deck, he has a clear view of the only two people at the front.
" They has become closer."
Axel stated, not intending it to be a question, it is something obvious in everyone's eyes.
" Aye."
Hakim's deep voice fills the night. He too can see the two from where they are, whilst he mans the helm.
" I heard he's been stayin' in Argus bed, Argus be in Felix 'n Draco's cabin."
He added with a hint of amusement in his voice, his eye never faltering at the sight.
Axel frowns at the information, finding it unbelievable that the combatant will let this stowaway in his cabin-so much that he made Argus leave. Certainly, his assumptions about using the stowaway as a grasp that will restrict Calev and his demon is perhaps a right notion he has concluded.
"Say. Perhaps. You see femininity in him?"
Axel voiced his suspicion. There is nothing he sees in the stowaway that can convince him that he is a man.
" Who?"
Hakim confusedly asked, stepping away from the helm and standing next to the captain to get a better look at the two.
" Calev? His body says the latter."
Still confused, Hakim thinks hard. Reminding himself how Calev look, physically then cringing when he catches himself having the visualization of the combatant's manly physique.
" Aye, Calev has no femininity, aye for sure."
He grimaces, erasing the images inside his head.
" Idiot, stupid, imbecile!"
Axel rolls his eyes, almost losing his cool in response to the taller man.
" I meant him!"
Axel frustratingly points to her direction, almost raising his voice as he feels himself boiling.
" Oh."
Hakim replies, his voice getting smaller. Obviously letting the gears in his head move.
" He is beautiful."
Axel stares at his gun master dumbfoundedly, unable to process the words he just said.
" Some men are beautiful, savvy? What's so shocking captain, have you not noticed it in my face?"
He continued, showcasing the playboy smirk in his plump and rosy lips. He proceeds on annoying his captain further by striking a pose, showing the other side of his face with a smile—irritatingly good.
" I shall use that loved pistol of yours to fucking shoot your face! Now leave! You're no help with my thoughts. I will man the helm by myself! "
He pushes the man out of his space, getting annoyed at the cheekiness of Hakim and his laughter that echoes through that night.
Echoing through that night are also the thoughts of three people, standing on the decks with the moon and stars that reflect their loud notions. All in a different train of thoughts that they all drown themselves in.
The captain weighs heavily on the decision of using her existence as a now valuable piece that can serve as his tying rope in successfully having a full grasp over his docile combatant. Or choosing not to as he wonders for the consequences he will get for using another person for his gain.
The combatant who stares right into her, wondering the identity of the woman that made him feel the strangeness in his actions. In the oddity of all that he feels when he has the sense of wanting to keep her safe, is the feeling of righteousness in it.
Like a duty that he remembers in the past that his demon has erased for him.
The stowaway who let her tears flow, matching the motion of the waters below her. Letting her mind travel to the different dimension of where she can only hope to catch something that will allow her to remember.
All while telling herself over and over again, that her tears contributes nothing but sadness. Always getting to the conclusion that all she can do is live without knowing who she is, and try her best to live by these fearful men.
Three people, sharing the the same weight of the heavy and different notion of thinking.
Setting a new cascade of riddles they need to understand in hopes to lift a certain feeling put of them.
Their wild and bothersome thoughts overlaps the night, the slumbers that their mind and body has to take are forgotten and ignored. In the voyage of the Mad Treasure lies the many things that are to be answered by fate.
The mystery in the people that took shelter under its sails. Louder and louder, those mysteries becoming an allure that needs to be known. The questions that settle in the mind of curiosity, seeking the resolution of deprivation.
In that sea where they all sail, three people found themselves lost in the hole and void of perception. Sailing in their minds are the different, yet fate sees the threads that connect them, even at the midst of the wavering oceans.
...
{ Somewhere arcorss the ocean }
Fate; it is uncertain whether it is fate that stitches an individual into a rowing madness that one calls life.
Or is it the poorly made decisions that are to blame in the scenario of defeated war against oneself that resulted in a sorrow living one had become.
No matter what it could be, life surely is an enigma of calamity waiting to happen. Like the hurricanes that destroy the land, the cyclones and typhoons that move the once calm ocean.
The destroyer that everyone has heard of but no one will ever see it's coming. Life will find its way to create a fate that will strike someone down, no matter how hard they will run away.
At the same ocean where sailors try to find their dreams, a life of freedom they seek in the warm and cold touches of the salty sea.
The face of summer, sunlights at the rims and bubble air, settling in the timid motions. Only to erupt in the beauty of paradise by the coast as it travels to the sandy beach. The tropical nights in which the coldness of the whispering zephyr tries to apologize by giving the embrace of gentleness and familiarity.
The ocean has always reminded everyone of what summer is. Emerald by the shore, the deepest blue at its depth, the flaps of the sails, and the laughter of those who fell in love with the sea. But just like everybody and everything else, the sea is never a one season sight.
In the summer of it lies the coldness of winter that no one would have ever thought. Only the sailors who had ventured the majority of the seas, sailed through the various storms, saw the darkest colors of its waters.
They are the only ones who truly see the different seasons the salty water tries to hide. Waves that weave the dreams of people who ride the boats, are also the power that waver the threads of crimes that are sewing their ways into the brightness of the sea with their darkness.
In the other side of the ocean, is another sight in which the stowaway remembers what pirates are truly are.
"We are fucked!"
If the night can possibly become darker, in his rugged and grit tone of voice is a reminder of how there is always another side that is ugly in the beauty of what people see.
In the beautiful ocean, he travels with nothing but a displeasing voyage.
" Round yall scallywags or I will let you travel to the locker me'self!"
The ship, just like the people who has nothing but the complete coldness on their eyes-dark and terrifying.
The dark interior of the ship personifying the men inside. Big and sturdy, with many scars in their skins that reminds people what brute of force they can reckon. The vast amounts of weapons that comes with them, the sound of nothing but implication of disaster in their every move.
They all stand at the main deck, awaiting for the next words of the man. Standing in at the top of the quarterdeck, almost pissing himself with rage as he looks at his men that all he can blame for.
His blue eyes, icy at every pierce like a thousand knives trying to stab everybody else.
The anger in him, visible at how he breathes and moves.
" One single bitch!" He roars in anger.
The days of failures and murders he had executed to the numerous towns and ships he and his crew had come across to, he has reached his last straw.
" She isn't anywhere to be seen around Grimsahde."
Someone clarified the obvious mishaps of their job, only making the ice blue eye of their captain turns freezing.
" You bunch of fucking rotten fucks! One more day of no news of her whereabouts and one you buffoons will meet Davy Jones."
The crew erupts in a series of whispers and secret whines as they try to hide their fears over the tyrannical captain. Agreeing to every word he said without comprehending the possibilities of his demands.
There is desperate passion that run through them in thought of the consequences they will all see. They can see their life flashing at the huge gladiator sword that the captain possesses. Through the shiny iron of the blade, they see their beheaded self.
No cry for mercy, but the speed of death that they race with is outrunning them.
" Captain, a wench like her wouldn't have made it by herself, right lads!" Someone in the crowd bursted out, his desperate voice trying to convince the captain.
" Are ye mistakin' someone as a fucking tard to betray us!" Someone answers aggressively.
The crowd started to get louder, their voice covering the night sky. Thunderous and angry tone masks with laughter that has no harmonious joy—but just pure evil. The argument turns into a dispute, with each of them pointing their weapons at each other as if they are not part of one crew but rather enemies.
" I shall take this statement as matter of raising mutiny against Master Hardin!"
" Your loyalty to the quartermaster proves you to be an retard best to be thrown! If the quartermaster posses the inability to think rather than letting his cock speak—"
" Enough!"
The thunderous voice of their captain interrupted the commotion.
" There shall be no point of questioning each other, you have no idea what wench we are dealing."
That came out like a dark warning, as if the captain's careful words lays the deep secret of what their life could hold if she will never be found again.
" She is not to be underestimated."
Though his presence is enough to temporarily call off the dispute, his men are still hungry for some violence. The camaraderie never existing in this ship, the sole darkness of selfishness and greed moves this rocky journey.
However no one seems to mind, there is no single one in the ship that is bothered by the fact that this crew is not a crew at all.
" Fightin' amongst us won't bring the wench back. Ye' can kill you lots outside my ship., but for now we ought to get her head!"
Though his voice is lace with his terrible anger, his mouth curves into the most sinister smile a man can make. His blue eyes masking the haunting lore of it, cold and dark he glares at everyone.
Yet that glares speaks more than what it can tell, behind it is the great terror for the reality that will settle if that woman will manage to survive.
" Stoppin' be no option! Thar be more t' fear than me!"
The captain's voice, still at the height of its terrorizing tone, manages to set itself lower.
As if it is a warning not only for everyone in the ship but also for him. There is no denying that they all see the fear that was glinting in his blue eyes when he spoke.
Fighting against the look of despotic gaze, orbiting in his pupils are instead the effect of the failure of keeping his job.
" Its either he or she that will end us."
He whispers, as if he has already seen the ending of all of this.
" She?"
One of them confusedly asks, looking straight at his captain who now bear the face of not the predator but a prey.
" Haven't you heard thar' rumor? The wench is less merciful that he is."
The word hangs the air, only the truth of which the rumor evokes the suspicious wind.
Their imaginations loudly buzzes, trying to understand what their captain meant.
However the face of a tyrannical man whom they all follow with fear, slowly crumbles with the realization within his own words. If by any chance, that woman survived they will all soon meet their end.
" Find me that woman."