Sound of Peril

1

Chapter 12

Akhumaten looked at his father. He was dyeing slowly. Akhumaten was being held back, being forced to watch his father die, and not being able to do anything about it. He didn’t understand why. Why was it his father that had to die? It was Akhumaten who stole Queen Shetanki’s red ruby. It wasn’t that expensive, anyway. So why was his father being punished for it? He stood watching in horror, as Queen Shetanki’s bodyguards stab his father in the chest and sides, blood spilling everywhere.3

Akhumaten was sick. They had left his father dyeing, and they threw him into the creek bed below the castle walls. He slowly picked himself up from the creek bed. Then he climbed up the concrete wall to his father. It was a sad and morally disturbing sight. His father, as old and gray as he is, was pale and withered. His small hands were covering the hole in his chest, and blood was spurting out from between his fingers. Akhumaten lifted his fathers’ head, and started to cry. His father put his hand on Akhumaten’s shoulder. 4

“Akhumaten…” his father died. His hand fell and opened a tiny bit. A glint reflected off an object in his hand. Akhumaten opened his hand wider. A blood diamond necklace fell out of his hand. It was wrapped in a folded piece of paper. He slowly unfolded it. It read: 5

Son,6

I got this back for you. You need the money, and Princess Amunalia didn’t want it after this incident. She knew this would happen. I’m so proud of you son. 7

Your Father,8

Samhauten 59

Chapter Two10

He put the blood diamond necklace in his pocket. He vowed revenge. He would punish them for killing his father. Maybe Princess Amunalia would help him. Highly doubtable, but he might have a chance. She volunteered to help him if he needed it, didn’t she? He called the princess. She picked up the phone after the first two rings. “Akhumaten, I’m so sorry for your loss. Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked. He paused for a moment, and then said, “Meet me at the clock at four. Be there.”11

Akhumaten was waiting. He looked at the clock. 3:52.She had eight minutes to get there. A woman walked by wearing a dress that was light blue and had fishnet stocking sleeves. She stood by the rail. He looked up at the clock. It was four. He looked at his phone. It was ringing. He picked it up, and answered it. “Hello?” he said. He looked at the girl. She was on the phone, too, and her back was turned. Suspicious. “It’s me, Princess Amunalia.” He looked around. Where was she? “Where are you?” “You know where I am. I’m the only other person here.” He hung up the phone. He walked over to the girl and tapped her shoulder. “Princess Amunalia?” 12

“Alright, here’s the plan. You distract the king and queen, and I’ll go for the bodyguards.” He looked at her. “If I don’t make it, take this to my mother. She could use it.” He handed her a diamond necklace. She hid it in her boot. “Here goes.” She went to the king and queens room. She stayed in there for only a few moments. Then she ran out of her parents’ bedroom and out the door, her parents close behind. The door slammed. It was time to act. He got up from his hiding place. He knew the layout of the castle. He could walk around it blindfolded. He walked quietly to the bodyguards’ room. He stopped for a moment and wondered, “Will I die, or catch them by surprise?” he opened the door, slowly. Chapter three13

Nothing. No one was there. Well, there was, but they were asleep. Axes in their hands, and they were covered with armor. It would’ve been bad if they were awake. He had to work quietly. He found rum in the cupboards. Why rum? No wonder why they were asleep. 12 bottles of rum on the table were empty, and three were halfway full. He counted the bodyguards. There were four of them. Each bodyguard had drunk four bottles of rum. Gosh, they’re drinkers. He silently walked over to the table. CRUNCH!!! He stopped, and looked down. He stepped on the top of a broken glass bottle. He heard rustling to his left. Two of the bodyguards had woken up, and were groggily walking towards him.14

Akhumaten ran. He ran as fast as he could. Then, he tripped over a statue. He fell on the concrete walk on front of the palace. He had broken his leg. He scooted down the driveway, the guards following behind him. As they came upon him, they picked him up by the cloak hood and carried him into the palace. They threw him in a 5” by 5’ jail cell. He looked around his cell and said out loud, “ I hope Amunalia id doing better.”15

Chapter four16

Amunalia wasn’t doing any better than Akhumaten was. She was running through the woods, falling over tree roots and limbs. Her father was running after her, his golden and red robe blowing behind him. All she could see was darkness. Large, blurry shadows kept popping out at her, and she would jump. She looked back, and she saw her father running faster, yelling “Amunalia, don’t!” She fell down into a pit. Down, down, down into total darkness. 17

Akhumaten sat on his bench, staring out into the darkness. It was a faintly lit hallway; he could barely see where the guard was sleeping. “ The bell has been raised from its watery grave…” a voice was singing from the right. He jumped. “A call to all, pay heed the squall and turn your sail toward home.” He started singing with the voice. “Yo, ho haul together raise your colors high. Heave, ho, thieves and beggars never say we die.” The light from a hole in the ceiling shone down on a girl’s head covered by a blue skull bandana. Her head was lying on the jail bars. He fit his hands through the bars and put them on the girls’ hand. She said, “Aye, what be yer reason here?” 18

Chapter five19

Amunalia looked up. She had no way of getting up. Her leg hurt, and there were no roots to climb on. She looked up again, and a rope fell into the pit. She squinted her eyes to see who was up there. She couldn’t tell. She grabbed the rope and climbed. Up, up, up. She hoped it wasn’t her father. No, it couldn’t be her father. She saw four figures pulling the rope, not two. Plus the figures were too small, and her father was taller. She stood at the edge of the pit, her eyes focusing on the figures. She still couldn’t tell who they were. They walked towards her. Now she could see who they were. Jasmine, Marcia, Amecialia, and, Beutrice. Just whom she wanted right now. She ran over to them. “You guys, how did you know where I was?” “Your parents told us where you where.” Jasmine said. “We were really worried about you.” Amunalia looked at her friends. Normal, except for a few things. Jasmine wore her black dress with her hair hanging down. Except she had red eyes now. Marcia was wearing a green dress with her hair down. But now she wore a jeweled headband, and she had blue eyes. Amecialia wore a lime green dress with her hair up, but her eyes were brighter. Also, Beutrice was wearing a white dress, but her hair was longer. “So, who wants to save Ambriana, Queen of Romania?”20

Chapter six21

Akhumaten looked at her. What did she say? “What do you mean, what is my reason here?” she looked at him. Her hair was long and brown, and her eyes were bright. Brighter than a cats eye. “Like I said, mate, what be yer reason here?” “I came to destroy the bodyguards for killing my father. But it didn’t work out that well.” She nodded. “ Aye, I came here to free me mates from prison, but I got thrown in her in their place. What’s your name, boy?” He was shocked. How rude of her. “My name is Akhumaten, the son of Samhauten the fifth. What’s your name?” She hesitated a moment, then said, “Me name is Ambriana.” He gasped. “The Ambriana? Queen of Romania? The woman, err, girl, that I read about that stole every valuable from King Louis the fourth, then raided 18 gold ships and got away?” Aye, that’s me name, don’t wear it out.” 22

Amunalia’s mouth dropped open. She stood like that so long, Beutrice started getting worried. “Amunalia? Are you alright?” Beutrice asked. Amunalia shook her head. “ “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that, … Ambriana is in trouble again?” Jasmine nodded her head. “Yes, she freed us from your mothers’ prison, and she got caught by the bodyguards and thrown in.” Amecialia nodded. Jasmine fumed. “If I had my way with her, I’d put her back where she came from, if you know what I mean.” Amecialia and Marcia nodded. “ Then, how do we free her?” Amunalia asked as they were walking toward the palace. They stayed silent while they walked down to the basement. Akhumaten heard footsteps coming down the steps. Apparently so did Ambriana because she jumped up and said, “Amunalia, Amecialia, Jasmine, Beutrice, and Marcia? Are ye real? Or are ye a hallucination?” Jasmine looked around the prison. “How do we pry open this jail door?” Beutrice and Marcia pick up a bench. “Leverage!”23

Chapter seven24

“Leverage?” Amunalia and Akhumaten said at the same time. Ambriana looked at them. “Aye, leverage!” They hoisted the bench and lifted the door off its hinges. Akhumaten walked out of the jail cell behind Ambriana. She wore a ripped black skirt and a short blue tank with fishnet sleeves. Her hair glistened like a waterfall with a blue skull bandana. She didn’t seem to know he was watching her. As Ambriana walked by, Jasmine said, “Do you think he likes her, or just likes looking at her?”25

“So, Ambriana. If you’re the Queen of Romania, who are your friends?” Akhumaten asked. Ambriana turns toward him. “Oh, I didn’t introduce ye? I’m sorry. Umm.. This is Jasmine, Queen of Egypt.” Akhumaten looks at Jasmine and smiles. She slaps him in the face. “And this is Marcia, Queen of Sicily.” Akhumaten gets slapped again. “And these two are Beutrice, Queen of Rome, and Amecialia, Queen of England. “ Beutrice laughs and Amecialia whispers to Amunalia. She laughs. Akhumaten looks at Jasmine again. She punches him. “So, Akhumaten. Do you believe in ghosts?” Ambriana asked. Akhumaten looked at Jasmine, knowing she has red eyes. “I don’t believe in ghost stories anymore.” 26

Ambriana and Jasmine laughs. Then Marcia and Beutrice grab Akhumaten and lock him to the wall. “You best start believe in ghost stories Mr. Turner.” Amecialia said, backing into the wall and disappearing. “Your in one.” Ghosts flew out of the wall and started flying around, making him dizzier and dizzier. Then, as soon as they came, they disappeared. The lights flickered off and he heard a voice say, “Now do you believe in ghost stories?” He fell off the chair, and everything went black. 27

Akhumaten woke up. Where was he? He rose up. He was on someone’s bright blue couch. He looked around him. Frames with awards and drawings up on the wall. Very nice, actually. A big cherry fireplace, and big French doors. Ambriana walked out of the kitchen. “Oh, I’m sorry, did I wake you?” She put soup in front of him with a drink. He tasted the soup. Good. “What’s in this?” he asked, sipping the soup. “Rum and chicken broth.” He choked and spat out. “Rum and chicken broth?!” he said. “Yep. It’s a fainting remedy used by my grandma. It kept me awake.” He gulped it down then. He got up, and he groggily walked into the kitchen. “Is there any more?” He opened the refrigerator door. Whoa. That’s a lot of rum. She had a mini fridge full of rum. He gently picked one up, and walked into the living room. Ambriana was talking to someone on the phone, lying upside down on the couch and drinking. He then ran back into the kitchen and slammed into the counter. 28

Ding, Dong! Ding, Dong! Ambriana opened the door. Jasmine and Marcia were at the door. “Come on in, mates.” They walk in. “Make yerself at home. There’s rum in the mini-fridge.” Jasmine and Marcia walk back into the living room carrying the fridge. “We decided to bring it,” Jasmine said, “So we don’t have to keep going in and out.” Two hours go by, and Beutrice walks in the door. She drops the three-gallon cooler and runs over to them. She shakes Jasmine. “Wake up, Wake up! Can you hear me?” she yells while shaking her. Jasmine wakes up and sees Beutrice. She slaps Marcia and Ambriana on the arm and points at Beutrice. Ambriana gets up from the couch. “Abandon ship, we’re being attacked!” She falls back on the couch. 29

Chapter eight30

Beutrice looks at them. She looks down at the table. 10 gallons of rum was on the table, and all the bottles were empty. She knew Jasmine couldn’t drink four gallons of rum, and she knew only Marcia and Ambriana could drink the last eight gallons. She gathered up most of the rum bottles and put them in the kitchen. While she was walking back into the living room, loud music came on. It was shaking the walls. She walked into the living room, and laughed. Jasmine and Marcia was sword fighting. Or, at least they were trying to. And Ambriana was singing “The side of a bullet,” jumping around, her hair flying everywhere. Beutrice turned the speakers down, and took the swords away from Jasmine and Marcia. “Sit down, the lot of ye, and that’s an order!” They sat down on the couch. “Yes, ma’am.”31

“What is wrong with you all?” Beutrice yelled, glaring at them. “You know better! You know very well that rum can destroy the human mind.” She looked at Jasmine. “What is wrong with you all? You drank 10 gallons of rum in two hours!” Jasmine gets up. “For your information, I only drank two gallons.” This made Beutrice even madder. “ It’s still two gallons!!” Jasmine sat down. “And you two. You drank eight gallons. Your worse than Jasmine!” she picked up a rum bottle and threw it against the wall. Her blood was boiling. How could they do this? She sat down on the couch and fumed. 32

Akhumaten walked with Amunalia along the cliff. She had asked him to go along with her. He didn’t know why. She had said “I’ve been there before, it was my favorite place when I was a kid.” Akhumaten didn’t know what was happening. Until they where walking in the forest and Amunalia pushed Akhumaten into a tree, and asked him, “Which one of us does yah like, me or Ambriana?” He gasped. How did she know I liked Ambriana? “Answer me!” she yelled at him. “I like you all as friends, no more no less.” He proclaimed, staring coldly at her, darkness in his eyes. She gasped as she fell back toward the cliff. “Amunalia, what are you doing?” Akhumaten asked her, grabbing her arm. “Let go of me!” Amunalia yanked her hand back and fell over the cliff’s edge. “Amunalia!!” he said. It was to late. She was gone. 33

Beutrice grumbled. What was wrong with them? Don’t they have any moral sense? They had better be sober now or they are going to get it. Jasmine got up from the couch and started combing Beatrice’s hair. “Everything will be alright, Bee, you’ll see.” Marcia and Ambriana nod their heads. “ How…. Oh, yeah, Ambriana this is for you.” Bee hands her a box of chocolates with white roses on top and a note taped to it. It was a big note. Ambriana was always taught to read the card before you open the gift, but on the note it said, “Look at the gifts first.” She opened the box. Three trays of heart shaped chocolates were in it, on top of a poem that read, “You can never love someone enough, to give your heart away.” She closed the bow and opened the note. It read, “Look outside.” That’s all? She opened the door, and gasped. 34

Chapter nine35

Akhumaten stood outside the door. She looked at him, confused. He gestured to look up. A plane flew by with a banner that said, “I love you Ambriana.” She looked down. He was on one knee with a box in his hand. “Ambriana Maria Romanea, will you marry me?” Her eyes started tearing. “I…” someone’s hand flew to her mouth. She felt a cold sharp blade press against her throat. “Don’t you dare say yes.” Queen Shetanki said in her ear. “She’s allowed to say yes if she wants to.” Queen Shetanki turns around to see Jasmine’s sword at her neck. “If you lay a hand on her, I’ll slice you into a million pieces!” Queen Shetanki drew her sword. “I’ll have no mercy on you!” she said. They fought and fought. Jasmine backed against the wall. She sliced Queen Shetanki’s hand, and fell over a tiki torch lying on the ground. She never remembered killing the Queen. All she remembered was them jumping into their cars, and driving off. They where running from the police. 36

Chapter 1037

Abigail woke up. She knew she was on a ship. But she didn’t remember how she got there. All she really could remember was raiding England’s gold ships, and the King’s men took her father away. Then she woke up here. All she could hear now was the rain against the window and the sound of scurrying footsteps in the cargo hold below. Other than that there was silence. She shook her head, and walked out of the captain’s cabin. She froze. 38

They were looking at her. She looked down. Yikes! She was in her under garments! She ran back into the captain’s cabin to get some actual clothes on. She found a black and gray dress. That’ll do. She strapped her sword and gun halter and wrapped it around herself. She stepped into her flats and stepped back out, onto the deck. They where still staring, but expectantly, not surprised. “Haul the anchor! We’re making port!” she bellowed. They were still standing. “Move it, yah scurvy dogs, or it’ll be your debt we pay.” They hoisted the 35-pound anchor over the starboard side. “Ready the cannons. Fire on my say so.” They readied the cannons and held the torches. They waited. The other ship, the “Mermaid,” turned. “Ready, Fire!” As soon as she said it, the Mermaid was blasted into a million pieces. “Alright mates, time to do some scavenging!” She proclaimed, pointing the sword at the ship. 39

Akhumaten’s ship was destroyed. After he had gotten out of prison, he planned to change. It wasn’t good enough. His ship was blasted to bits by another pirate ship. He waited, crushed under the mast, for something to happen. He watched the pirates rummage for survivors and treasure. He lay down as low as he could to avoid being seen. It didn’t work that way. They saw him. They grabbed him by the shirt and carried him to the ship. He didn’t see their captain. But they carried him to the captains cabin, Knocked once, then opened the door and threw him inside. They slammed the door and walked off, leaving him alone with her. 40

“So, I see you’re the only survivor.” Said the captain.” Yes, I am, but I ask, why?” He prayed she wouldn’t hurt him. “Because we are pirates, no more no less. Just cause I’m a 14 year old girl doesn’t mean I’m not a pirate.” He nodded his head. “But, my I ask you, why were you running away? You where supposed to fight.” He looked up at her. She motioned for him to sit by her. “Four years ago, I was separated from my wife and daughter and was thrown into the brig. I was supposed to be hung today.” She looked at him. “ My father was taken away from me when I was 10.” Something clicked. “What’s yer name?” he was astounded. “My name is Akhumaten Turner. What’s yer name, ma’am?” Her eyes began to tear up. “Abigail Elizabeth Turner.” They hugged each other, and the door burst open. “Captain! We’re being attacked!” 41

Abigail looked at the deck behind him. “Alright, Johnny Boy, take Mr. Turner to the guest keep.” John took her father down, and Abigail went aboard deck to see who was attacking them. She walked out, and saw her men tied up. They had guns and swords pointing at them. The captain from the other ship came on deck, swinging from the ship. It was a woman. She looked at Abigail. Then she looked at the men. “Who among you do you call Captain?” she growled. The men pointed at Abigail. “Aye, I’m the captain.” 42

“You’re the captain?” Amunalia asked. She didn’t expect Ambriana’s daughter to be the captain of the “White Diamond.” It was a legendary pirate ship that had been through many a battle, and now was being run by a fourteen year old girl that has no general knowledge of raiding or treasure hunting? She looked at the men. These men looked about 26 or 27. Very easily could they overpower her. It’s a wonder that they haven’t yet. Suddenly, the ropes fell from her men and they pulled guns on Amunalia’s crew. “Tell me, lassie, who are ye? And why are you attacking me ship?”43

Chapter 1144

“I’m sorry Miss Shetanki, but we must make port, and you must get off.” Abigail said, pushing Amunalia down the plank onto the dock. They had made it to Tortuga. Abigail’s favorite place, and the crew’s place to pick up wenches and gather rum. And maybe get into some bar fights along the way. Tonight was the drinking party, and every pirate in the brig was either auctioned off or hung. Abigail walked up to the jailhouse. She turned to the jailer, and said, “I need a great scurrier and sword fighter. Do you have any men or women like that?” 45

Abigail looked at the prisoners in the brig. Nasty, ugly, disgusting, and they smelled bad. Except for two people. A little girl, about the age of 10, and a boy, about 16. They both had what she needed, and she couldn’t let neither of them be hung. “When will these two be auctioned off?” she asked him. He nodded toward the single chain. “These two will be auctioned off together. They’re partners in crime, so to speak.” She nodded. She leaned over and whispered in his ear. His eyes widened, and he smiled. She nodded again, and handed him three gold pieces. He put them in his pocket, and she walked out the door. 46

“ You better keep your hands off me, yah bilge rat!” Amunalia said, slapping the drunken pirate off of her. “Feisty, aren’t we?” the pirate laughed. “ Yah had better stay away from her, or you’ll get yer face punched in!” The pirate turned around, and got punched in the face by Abigail. “Come on, lassie, we’ve got some auctioning to do.” When they got up there, the boy and girl were being brought upon the auction block. The auctioneer started the bidding. “Ok, we’ll start off at two pieces. Anyone? Raise?” Abigail raised her hand. “Eight pieces.” “Alright. Going once, going twice, sold to the pretty lady, err ladies in red.” 47

“So, what do you need me for?” the boy asked. Abby turned toward the boy. “First, what’s yer name, boy?” He glared at her. “Me name is Jack.” “ Hello, jack. My name is Abigail, and this is the White Diamond.” He looked around the ship. Glass paneled cherry wood doors and fresh wood and metal. It looked fairly new, but it was older than both of them put together. She led him and the girl, Aryle, to the cabin. “So, Aryle, Jack, here are yer effects.” She said. They took the two guns, 1 sword, and two multi-purpose machine guns. “So, are we gonna learn how to put the balls in the cannons or what?” Jack asked.48

“What?!” Abigail yelled. “You know, cannon balls?” Jack said. “Whatever.” Abigail said. “Just shut up jack and listen to the captain!” “You suck” “You do, monkey face!” “Belay it, the both of you, or you can stay here!” Abigail yelled. They shut up. “Alright, Aryle, you control the starboard side. Jack, yer in the crow’s nest fer now.” Aryle sticks her tongue out at Jack and runs out. “Jack, you stay here.” Jack stopped in mid step and turned around. He didn’t mind staying. She was actually pretty. Long, wavy brown hair, a black and grey dress that actually fitted her, and big magenta eyes it seemed like she was staring into his soul. Kind of creepy, but also kind of cute too. 49

“I hear yer a doctor.” She said to him. “I was, until some bloody Englishman came in with TB and got me fired ‘cause he questioned my skills.” Jack grumbled. “Well, if yah can get a wooden shard out of me stomach, yah can be my assistant or whatever.” She said to him, lying down on the wooden table. “You have under garments on, don’t you?” he asked. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I? If those men out there thought I didn’t have ‘em on, they’d rip me clothes off in a second.” She said as she laughed, then held her stomach. He lifted up her dress shirt and looked. It was terrible. Her under shirt was covered with blood. He lifted the under shirt and looked at the wound. It was deep. There was a big gash right below her belly button. “What’s the hold up?” she asked him. “Nothing.” He replied. “You might want something to hold on to?” she grabbed a pillow. “Why?” he ripped out the wooden shard.50

“Ouch!” she yelled, “what’d yah do that for?” “It’s either that, or yah get stuck with a piece of wood 3 inches in yer stomach.” She nodded. “Point taken.” They looked around the cabin. It was quiet. You couldn’t even hear the sound of footsteps. This worried her. As long as nothing bad was going on, they where normally drinking. He wrapped a bandage around her waist, and then helped her up. But as soon as he got up, her leg gave in and she fell on the floor. He picked her up, and carried her outside. The crew had a queer mood amongst them. It was almost as though they were frightened. She looked at the sky. Plain black. But her men were staring at it as if it was a monster, ready to attack at any second. 51

“What’s wrong, men?” she asked them. “The crew is terribly frightened, ma’am.” She looked at them. Indeed they were. “And why be you frightened, Master Bill?” She asked him. He swallowed, hard. “We sent a man out not too long ago. It turned dark as soon as he reached the island. The boat came back, with his skeleton in it.” He showed her the boat. “Indeed it’s him.” She said, and turned toward Joel. “Steer the boat toward the island. We be resting there tonight.” The men watched in shock as Joel steered the boat towards the island.52

“I don’t see anyone.” She said. The island was a forest-infested piece of land. Thought it was dark, she couldn’t see anyone else that wasn’t part of her crew. “Are you mad?” Bill yelled as he watched her swing from vine to vine. “Thank god for that, or this would never work.” Jack yelled as he tied himself to a tree branch and flung himself through the air. “Aahh!” The men looked at each other. “What’s wrong with them?” CRASH!!! “Aye, me blasted leg!” “There’s the cap’n.” They ran toward the direction of her voice. They found Jack first. His leg was trapped under a fallen tree. Other than that, he was completely unharmed. She was nowhere to be found. “ Hey, get off of me, yah slimy snake!” Gunshots rang out. Alarming, as it may seem, they were standing right by where the sound came from. “ Let’s go find the cap’n, aye?”53

Abigail looked at the snake headed, slimy warrior that was in front of her. She had tried to shoot him, but the bullets didn’t have any impact. He moved toward her, his green, glowing sword getting closer to her face. She was completely against the wall now, and he leaned in toward her. “How would you feel if I ran this shiny sword through your pretty little face, cap’n?” He said calmly, running his hand across her cheek. She waited a moment, waiting for what would happen next. She closed her eyes. Nothing happened. She looked up at him. He looked at her as if she was a flower. Almost as if…. he knew her. Like he loved her, even though she was the captain of a famous pirate ship, and he was a boy who was changed into a mutant fish person. If she could only see the real boy, it would be different. 54

Chapter 1255

“Cap’n! Where are ye?” Jack yelled. He ran around the palace. She was nowhere to be found. His eyes started filling up with tears. He had been to late. She was gone, and he blamed himself. Bill walked in behind Jack, after hearing him yell. He looked around the fortress. Long corridors and stairs that wound all the way too the top. She could be anywhere now. Jack started crying louder. “Stop yer blubbering boy, she’s alive.” Jack stopped crying and wiped his eyes. Bill ran up and down the corridors, calling her name. “Run upstairs, boy!! Find the cap’n.” Jack ran up the stairs, yelling at the top of his lungs.56

Abigail shook the door. It was locked. She couldn’t get out. She turned toward the boy. He wasn’t a mutant fish anymore. He was a human being! Not a bad looking human, either. Well, if you count not bad as big black eyes and a cape covering his whole body. Even though he was nice looking, he was a stranger. She swallowed her thoughts and asked him, “What’s yer name, stranger?” He looked at her and laughed. “You mean all this time you’ve been running away from me, you haven’t once thought of asking me my name?” She glared at him. “Well, I‘m asking you now, what’s yer name?” He laughed again and said, “My name is Marcus.” Her eyes became wide. No, it can’t be him, can it? “Marcus? Is that you? Marcus Kelvin?” He nodded. “Yes, it is.”57

Jack ran up too the top floor. He stopped at the top of the stairwell and took a breath. Then he looked around. Six doors were lined along the wall, leading to where? He was about to find out. He opened the first door. Not much too see. It was a room full of every rated “R” poster ever made. He looked around. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt if I took a few of these. He grabbed 3 posters from Hell Raiser, a few from Halloween 4, and two from “Queen of the ****ed.” He took one last look, and then shut the door. 58

She shook the door again. She was tired of being locked in here with Marcus. She was a little scared, but she was more tired. She started getting frustrated. “Open, yah stupid door. Open!” she yelled at it, and kicked it. As if the door cared. She slumped down against the wall and closed her eyes. She could hear Marcus laughing. Her eyes snapped open. “What are yah laughing for? I don’t see you doing anything.” He smiled. “You don’t know how to open these doors?” She thought for a moment. She smiled. Now she got it. She went to the door and wiggled the handle. It opened, slowly. 59

Jack entered the second door. Plain white walls, ceiling, and bedspread. It was so dull. He closed that door. He skipped the next three doors. He saw the sixth door open. “Abby, is that you?” he asked, a little to loudly. Abby fell out and the door slammed behind her. “Are you alright?” he asked her, helping her up. “Never been better.” She said, yanking her arm away. She was mad. She had just started talking to Marcus and he was actually acting nice for once, and Jack had to ruin it for her. She couldn’t believe Marcus was actually being nice to her, even when her brother wasn’t here.60

“What’s wrong, Abby?” Bill asked her as she stomped on the ship, and tore the crewman off of the wheel and he fell overboard. “Nothing. Tell Jack he’s working the crow’s nest from now on.” Bill looked at her, surprised. “What about John?” he asked her. “He can watch the cargo for all I care.” Bill ran downstairs to the cargo hold. “She must be mad if she’s sending him to the nest.” He ran over to Jack. “Cap’n wants you to work the crow’s nest.” Jack ran up the ladder, followed by Bill. “Why are you sending me to the nest? I can’t see a mile out into sea in this weather.” She kept her back turned toward him. “Just get the bloody hell out of me sight.” He tried to convince her otherwise, but it was useless. “Oh, well, I hope no one sleeps tonight.” He said as he climbed up to the crow’s nest.61

Abby jumped up. She had just heard someone in her cabin. And NO ONE was allowed in her cabin without her permission. She tried to adjust her eyes. All she could see was shadows and darkness. She got up from the bed. A gust of wind blew up the back of her dress. “Hey!” she yelled, turning around. She was surprised at who she saw. It was Marcus!! “Marcus?” she said loudly. He smiled. “How did you find this ship? More importantly, how did you find me?” she asked him. He smiled again. “ It was… easy finding this ship. Just look out at the harbor and there it is.” She got mad at this. “Bloody hell. Joel was supposed to steer us out.” She ran to the helm. “Joel, wake up.” She yelled. He flipped out of his hammock and hit the deck. He got up. “Yes, captain?” he said. He could tell when she was mad. This was one of those times when she was mad; you didn’t want and try to be funny. “You were supposed to steer the boat out into open sea. But did you do it? No, you didn’t we’re sitting in the harbor, floating like a dead fish, where anyone could get on here if they wanted, and you fell asleep.” “Sorry.”62

“You had better be sorry!” she yelled as he hoisted the anchor back on the boat and steered the ship out of the harbor. “I would feed you to the sharks if I didn’t have any respect for you.” He nodded. He knew to be quiet. If I just do what she tells me, I’ll be on her good side again. She sat down on a barrel when it was away from land. “I’m sorry I snapped at you Joel, but I’m really tired, and it just didn’t feel safe.” He patted her back. “I understand, miss.” He said to her. He went back up to the helm. “Good night.” He closed the door behind him. “Goodnight, Joel.” She fell asleep. 63

Chapter 1364

It was still early when she woke up. No one else was up. Heavy sleepers. She got up from the bench. Her neck ached. She went up to the cabin, to find Marcus waiting for her. Alone. She went over to the closet and pulled on some clothes. “What do you want today?” she asked him, buckling her belt around her waist. “I want… you.” She turned around. “What?!” she yelled. He got up from the table. “You are the only one that has true Romanian blood. You are the person that I have wanted to know for the last 15 years. And now, I have a reason for you to join me.” She looked around. What was it? Youth? Purity? Well, I ain’t that pure. I don’t think. He nodded. “I have your crew hostage. Somewhere. I left them in the hands of Spike and Angel.” She shook her head. “Most of my crew is guys. A little scruffy, I got to admit, but if Angel gets desperate enough…” He nodded. “Nothing bad will happen to them, if you agree to become my maiden. But if you don’t…” he pointed at the TV. It was a video of her crew, dangling in a cage over a pit of hot, boiling lava. “I will make Spike drop them into the pit. And if there are survivors, Angel will take care of them. Then she’ll electrocute them.” She looked at him. “I don’t really have a choice, do I?” he shook his head. “No.” She took his hand. He pushed back her hair as he leaned in toward her. “My lady?” he asked her, his eyes glowing blue. She nodded her head. “Yes.” 65

It didn’t take long. She fell, and crumpled up. He smiled at the TV screen. Spike pulled the cage up and opened the door. They came out. Three minutes later, they ran through the door, and Marcus lifted Abby up. “What did you do to her?” Jack yelled. “ Your captain saved you all. You should be happy she didn’t let you die. She would’ve died if she didn’t.” he said, smiling. They watched him leave, with Abigail in his arms, out into total darkness. 66

As you may have guessed, the crew never saw her again. She and Marcus did get married, and had 3 children. They were never seen again.67

THE END68