The woman's sharp smile lingered as she took a step closer, her boots clicking against the wooden floor. Alric didn't move, his mind a storm of thoughts. Every fiber of his being told him she was dangerous, but there was something else—something deeper—hidden behind those predatory eyes.
"Not a threat, hmm?" she said softly, tilting her head as though considering him from every angle. "You're quiet, calm. That's unusual for someone on a sinking ship."
Alric forced himself to breathe evenly. "Panic doesn't help anyone."
Her smirk widened. "Smart. I like that."
Before he could respond, the ship rocked violently again. A distant explosion rattled the air, and the faint scent of gunpowder drifted through the corridor. Shouts echoed from the deck above, accompanied by the unmistakable clash of swords.
The woman's smile vanished. She turned toward the noise, her movements smooth and purposeful, then glanced back at him. "Stay out of the way, little shadow. You'll live longer."
Without waiting for an answer, she strode forward, disappearing into the chaos.
Alric leaned against the wall, his knuckles white as he gripped the dagger hidden beneath his robes. His mind churned, each thought colder and sharper than the last.
Who is she? A passenger? No. She doesn't move like one.
Another scream pierced the air, and Alric flinched despite himself. He couldn't stay here. He had to move, to think, to act.
Pushing off the wall, he slipped through the narrow corridors of the ship, his footsteps silent. He avoided the main paths, sticking to the shadows, his lean frame easily blending into the darkness.
The closer he moved toward the heart of the ship, the louder the chaos grew.
Through the cracked door of the grand dining hall, Alric caught his first glimpse of the carnage.
The room was unrecognizable. Bodies lay strewn across the floor, some slumped against the shattered remains of lavish tables. Blood pooled in grotesque patterns beneath the flickering light of the chandeliers. Pirates moved among the dead and dying, their weapons dripping crimson.
Alric's stomach churned. His grip tightened on the dagger, but he didn't move. He couldn't.
At the center of the room, a group of passengers knelt in terrified silence. A hulking pirate stood before them, his scarred face twisted into a cruel grin. "The safe," he barked, his voice like gravel. "Where is it?"
No one answered.
The pirate growled and grabbed an elderly man by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. "Talk, or I'll—"
A calm voice interrupted him. "Enough."
The scarred man froze, turning toward the source of the command.
Alric's breath caught as the woman from before stepped into the light. Her demeanor was completely changed—every step she took was deliberate, her presence commanding. The pirates straightened instinctively, their earlier bravado tempered by something unspoken.
She approached the group of passengers, her sharp gaze flickering over each of them. Finally, she crouched in front of a trembling young woman clutching a child.
"You're scared," she said, her voice soft. "I understand. But I need you to be brave. Tell me where the safe is."
The young woman sobbed, shaking her head frantically. "I—I don't know!"
The woman sighed and stood, brushing nonexistent dust from her coat. Her expression hardened. "Pity."
Without another word, she turned to the scarred pirate and nodded.
The man didn't hesitate. His blade flashed, and the young woman's scream was cut short.
Alric pressed his back against the wall, his breath shallow. Every instinct screamed at him to act, to stop this—but logic held him in place. He couldn't fight them, couldn't save anyone. Not yet.
He forced himself to focus, to watch.
The pirates weren't just looting. Their movements were too precise, their leader's actions too calculated. This wasn't a random raid.
They're making a statement, he realized. But why?
As if on cue, the woman turned, her piercing eyes scanning the room. For a moment, they landed directly on him.
Alric's heart stopped.
She smiled.
"Bring the rest," she commanded, her voice slicing through the room. "We don't have all night."
The remaining passengers were dragged to their feet, their cries muffled by fear. The woman strode toward the doorway, her sharp gaze flickering briefly in Alric's direction before she disappeared into the corridor.
Alric exhaled slowly, his fingers trembling. He had been noticed, but she hadn't acted. Why?
He didn't have time to dwell on the question. If he stayed here, he'd die like the others.
Slipping deeper into the shadows, Alric moved quickly and silently, his thoughts racing. He didn't know who she was, but he needed to find out.
Because somehow, in the depths of his gut, he knew this wasn't over.