A battle raged in the turbulent ocean water. The flag of England snapped high above a ship in the stiff wind. It's bold red lines stood out against the crisp white background. The second ship flew a tattered black flag with a single white hourglass in the center. The cannon fire was deafening as the two ships crashed against the waves. Men shouted and screamed as they fought and died. The salty water burned the eyes of everyone fighting for their lives.
The flag of red and white was lowered and replaced with the white flag of surrender. Swords and guns clattered to the blood soaked deck as the English crew fell to their knees with their hands above their heads. An eerie silence settled over the ships, broken only by the crashing of waves and snapping of the flags.
The pirate captain strode across the blood soaked deck, the sleeve of his shirt turning red with his blood. The captain of the English ship lay dead behind him. Sweat plastered his long black hair to his neck and forehead. His cold, dark blue eyes scanned the scene before him as his men gathered the survivors into a line. His boots thumped against the boards as he walked the line slowly looking over the men. Some dared to glare back at him or simply stared at the ground. The captain eyed the stronger men who might be able to join his crew. The others would go overboard or to the brig until they could be traded off at port. His stride slowed next to a sandy haired 25 year old man who was staring at his boots for only a beat before moving on. The captain barked orders to his crew to get the men sorted. He spoke to one of the crew members with a bandana wrapped around his head and over one eye before heading to the other ship to plunder what they could.
The man with the bandana grabbed the sandy haired boy and pulled him roughly to his feet as other men were sorted and pushed to different parts of the ship. He pulled the boy to the brig along with a few other men. The last thing they saw before going below deck was their old ship going up in flames. Lightning streaked across the sky in the distance. They were shoved into the cold dark brig in the bottom of the ship.
Hours went by before the man with the bandana returned. He opened the brig and wordlessly pulled the boy out. He towered over the smaller man. His gray green expressionless eye stared into the boy's eyes for a moment before he turned on his heel to walk to the upper deck. The boy followed trying to catch glimpses of where other crew members could be, but it was too dark to see. The large man leading him had wild red hair pulled into a long loose braid that ran down his back. It stuck out around the faded bandana that wrapped around his head. The boy nervously walked up the steps trying to be tough as he walked to what could only be his death. The huge man didn't look back as they stepped into the cold rain on deck. The boy took a deep breath of fresh air as he had to quicken his pace to keep up with his guide. The silent man led him to a large door and slammed his huge fist against the door twice. The door opened to the captain's quarters. He paused before shoving the boy inside the door. The boy looked up at the hooded gray eye before the man turned and walked away.
The captain regarded the boy with his cold blue eyes as he shut the door. He was wearing fresher clothes, his arm wrapped in crude bandages with just a little blood soaking through. His straight black hair hung to his shoulders. He was not as tall and broad as the man who had led the boy in. He was lean, but still strong and battle hardened.
"Move against the wall, boy." The captain commanded. His dark blue eyes bored into the boy's dark brown eyes. The boy dropped his gaze and moved to stand against the wall. The captain waited in silence as he looked the boy over. The boy was smaller than the captain, but not by much, with a slight build. His shaggy sandy colored hair hung in his eyes as he looked to the ground.
"What is your name, boy?" the captain finally said. Breaking the endless silence that had enveloped them.
"M...Mathias," he said, clearing his throat as his voice cracked.
"I am your captain now. If you do as you are told you will be allowed to live." He paced slowly back and forth like a wild animal sizing up his prey. He watched as the boy stared at his boots once again.
"Wash your face there boy," the captain ordered, gesturing towards a bowl of water sitting on the table. The water shifted back and forth with the gentle rocking of the ship in the cold night.