Hi Readers - first time poster here so I'd really appreciate your thoughts and feedback. All characters are over 18 :)
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Fixing her eyes on the thick black clouds in the distance, which were rapidly growing closer, Fia's raven hair tangled - whipping at her face with each angry gust of wind. From the ship's deck she could see an endless vista of inky black water reflecting a bruised purple sky. Twisting her wrists against the frayed rope, she kept a placid expression on her face - steadying her eyes on the horizon as to not alert suspicion.
One of the men leered at her from the ships portside. Although she didn't dare meet his gaze, she could feel his greedy eyes scanning her body. She kicked herself for not dressing more conservatively - wishing at this moment that she had worn a baggy garment that would hide her well, rather than a fitted white dress that fell to her knees. She had of course not known she would be in such a predicament when she had risen that morning.
When the town bells had rung with chilling urgency and she had seen the telltale flags fluttering on the advancing ships she knew that today would not be like the others- in a strange way it had excited her. With no living family, and a modest position as a bar maid in the small seaside town she had longed for adventure and starting her life anew. Now that the adventure was upon her, she felt shame for romanticizing it. Having seen the destruction and torture these men had delivered to her town she had resigned herself to death.
Watching the dim scarlet flames disappear as they moved further and further from the shore, she had promised herself she would take her last adventure in the form of causing them as much trouble as she could, until they disposed of her.
As the leering man walked towards her with a pronounced limp, she took her gaze from the horizon and fixed it on the wooden boards beneath her knees. The rain began to fall in small drops on the timber beams. She could hear the lopsided metronome of his steps grower closer until he stood a foot from her, looking down at her face.
"Do you know what we do to girls like you?" he sneered.
She kept her gaze on the boards, twisting her wrists with more urgency now to loosen the rope. The rain started to fall more heavily, leaving streaks on the wood planks and wetting her wrists.
"By the time were done with you, you'll wish you'd died back there." he said pointing in the direction of the town.
With the rain now pouring, her hands began to slide more easily. Suddenly, her wrist slipped from the rope- grabbing it with both hands she swung it above herself and tightened the loop around the man's neck. As lightning illuminated the scene, the men on deck rushed to the aid of their lassoed comrade. A door swung open from the ships center stopping all movement from the men on board.
The captain appeared in the door frame, locking eyes with Fia. As the limping man began gasping and twitching for air beneath her grasp, the Captains expression was not one of displeasure but amusement.
"I'll kill him you know," Fia threatened, feeling her voice tremble so slightly that she hoped no one else had heard.
The captain smirked once more.
"Bring her to my room," he ordered, turning on his heel and returning to his chambers.
Enraged and confused, Fia began to squeeze the rope tighter still - determined to kill him and felt the leering mans body start to go limp right as strong arms pried the rope from her and lifted her from behind- knocking her on the head with something hard.
Then, just black.
...
Hazily opening her eyes, Fia surveyed the cabin as her eyesight began to sharpen back to normal. A luxurious room appeared before her - a dark wooden desk, leather bound books, a large bed with blankets and furs, footed by a leather trunk. Tudor windows hung above the desk with hard streams of rain shimmering against them in the moonlight.
Coming back into her body, Fia could feel the rope was tighter this time and held her to a wooden beam at the back side of the cabin on her knees. She writhed against the beam testing the rope and found no give- she had made sure they would never trust her that much again.
Just then, the door creaked open and the captain entered striding smoothly across the room without so much as glancing at Fia. She watched him closely as he passed the desk and stopped at a small bar cart, pouring himself a drink of dark liquor into a small glass.
"Are you going to kill me?" the words left her lips before she even realized she had spoken.
"Now why would you think that?" the captain replied, without turning from the cart.
Fia looked down, wishing she had stayed silent as she heard his steps move closer to her.
"Look at me." he directed.
Before she had a chance to think, her hazel eyes flicked upward, meeting his. His eyes were glinting and dark, like the hopelessly inky sea she had stared at waiting for the storm. His face was handsome, if a bit rugged, with scars and marks that marred what looked to be a young man.
"Pretty thing like you," he said "would be a waste to kill you."
Fia's eyes flicked downward, mortified that she had held his gaze so long.
