Daughter of Freddy Kidd

Chapter 2

I was walking on deck when I saw Shawn adjusting the sails.

Jessica: Can I help you?

Shawn: Oh, this job isn't for a…-he looked at me confused-so you.

I bowed my head sadly.

Shawn: Ok, I’ll show you, come on.

Shawn: In fact, it’s all that if the wind is favorable, we turn the sails in the direction of the wind. Come take it, but hold it tight!

I had no chance to hold the lower sail pole, the wind immediately knocked it out of my hands.

But before it could plow through the deck Shawn caught it and laughed.

Shawn: Maybe we should try together.

Then he stood behind me and together we turned it in the right direction.

As I felt his strong body behind me, I felt safe, at least for a moment.

Shawn: If you could stay with us for a little while longer, you’d be strong enough that no guy would dare to date you.

Shawn: Not even me.

He said, laughing, and I laughed too, as I accidentally looked back and saw the captain standing at the steering wheel, looking at us.

I looked back at him for a moment, then on a sudden thought I reached back to Shawn’s face and caressed it, then I turned and whispered in his ear:

Jessica: Thanks Shawn!

When I glanced at the captain next to Shawn, he looked at me one last time and then turned his head away.

Shawn hesitated in surprise.

Shawn: Er, nothing, really.

I was about to get off the deck when I saw James sitting at the end of the ship. He was staring at the water passing by.

Jessica: James, are you okay?

He looked back at me and smiled kindly, but his eyes were sad.

James: I’m just wondering how suddenly my life has changed, from one day to the next.

He motioning for me to sit next to him.

Jessica: Well, I can say the same about myself.

Then it dawned on me that I shouldn’t be talking about myself.

Jessica: What kind of life did you have, you know before that?

James: A few days ago I was in command of the most prominent ship in the Royal Navy. My people respected and loved me.

James: The king considered me almost his friend. When we were in town, I was always an official at the royal gatherings.

James: The girls loved me.

He laughed

And now, here I am sailing with Lockheart and his i***t crew.

Jessica: How do you know each other?

James: That’s funny. More than once I was tasked with catching him, but he always slipped out of my hands.

James: Actually, somewhere I admire him, but at the same time I feel sorry for him.

He had beaten me several times and could have killed me, but he didn’t.

Jessica: I’m a little afraid of him.

James smiled again, then put his arm around my shoulder and stroked it gently.

James: Don’t be afraid of him. Just try to influence his sanity when he has it.

James: If you manage to impress him with something, maybe you will gain his appreciation and change his mind.

James: But you won’t be in trouble, I promise. I am protecting you.

It was then that I understood that James was jut as lost among the pirates as I was.

I rested my head on his shoulder, hoping he didn’t mind.

James sighed heavily and rested his head on mine.

So we stared into the receding nothingness for a long time.

Then I returned to my room.

It is tiring to adjust the mast all day in the hot sun.

As soon as I got to my room, I thought I would wash myself up.

I filled water and changed into underwear, then I went to the wardrobe to look for something to wear.

But when I opened the wardrobe door, a rat jumped out.

I held my off clothes in front of me and I ran screaming into the corridor, and the rat followed me.

People were lined up in front of the kitchen, laughing at me, but they cleared the way for me to run when Dwayn came down the stairs and I bumped into him.

Jessica: A rat! A rat!

I yelled, desperately climbing onto Dwayn.

He laughed like the others.

Pirate1: Is that what you should be scared of?

He caught the animal and swung it in front of me, and I turned away in disgust and buried my head in Dwayn’s chest.

Dwayn: Well, get off me.

He put me on the ground.

Pirate2: It’s not an everyday sight, for sure.

The pirate were gazing at me.

That’s when Shawn came over and spread a blanket over me.

The other pirate was still dangling the rat in front of me and wanted to put it around my neck while having a lot of fun.

Shawn knocked the rat out of his hand and it fell in front of Dwayn, who picked it up.

Dwayn: Are you normal? Why are you scaring the poor girl?

Shawn hugged me

Shawn: It’s okay.

He stroked my head.

Pirate1: Well, captain, who’s afraid of a rat?

Dwayn: So you’re not afraid of them. Do you know how many diseases they spread?

Pirate1: Me? Stop joking. My favorite treat!

Dwayn: Really? Then just eat it! Let’s see!

The captain shouted angrily. I was scared of him.

Oh no, what a terrible idea! But the captain wasn’t kidding.

Dwayn: Come on, let’s see, let’s have fun too.

Disgusted, the pirate raised the dead animal to his mouth.

Sigh, I don’t want to see him eat it.

Jessica: Dwayn, there’s no need for that.

Everyone go to work!

Dwayn: Oh, I would have looked it up.

Whatever.

Dwayn: You heared her, get to work!

I was surprised that the captain listened to me so easily.

Maybe he’s not as much of a monster as I thought.

I was very tense, I went back to my room crying.

I gratefully thought back to Shawn, who had spread the blanket over me.

But this crew… I just can't stand them. They think they can do anything on the water.

It's a good thing that Dwayn just came, who knows what would have happened if...

Then there was a knock on my door

Dwayn: Can I come in?

Jessica: Of course.

I was still sniffling, sitting on the bed.

Dwayn came in and sat next to me.

Dwayn: What's wrong? Is that a rat?

I shook my head.

Jessica: Everything. I want to go home. I hate your crew and you're just like them!

I said recklessly, annoyed.

Dwayn: You really think so?

I thought for a while and then I cried.

Jessica: I don't think so.

I shook my head.

Jessica: I'm just confused and scared.

Dwayn: Okay, come here. I hate it when a woman cries.

I sat closer to him and rested my head on his chest while he hugged me and stroked my back comfortingly.

Jessica: Dwayn?

Dwayn: Huh?

Jessica: How much should I pay you to take me home?

Jessica: Aaron has money, he would definitely pay, just don't give me to my foster father.

Dwayn didn't answer.

Jessica: Dwayn, say something.

Dwayn: Let me think for a while.

He still holding me in his arms.

Jessica: We will pay what he recommended.

Dwayn: That's not the point. We don't have enough food for the return journey, and what's worse, we're running out of rum.

Dwayn: Another rebellion would be too much. We need money as soon as we land. I'm sorry Jessica.

I pulled away from him in frustration.

Jessica: Then at least look through my wardrobe!

Dwayn: What?

Jessica: I wonder if there are more rats where this was.

Dwayn: Aye.

And he opened the wardrobe door.

Dwayn: You see, there's no sign of a rat.

I was relieved.

Dwayn: But wait, like .. there's something there.

Dwayn: Yes, I got you, my friend. "Say hello to Jessica."

Then he pulled his hand towards me, while I screamed and crawled into the corner of the bed.

He started laughing at that

Dwayn: There's nothing here.

He laughed.

Jessica: You i***t! I hate you! Get out of my room!

The next day I stayed in my room all day. I could still see the faces of the grinning pirates in front of me.

It was getting dark when I plucked up the courage to go on board.

I ventured out on deck and gave the people on board a look of disdain.

James: Jessica!

James rushed to me.

James: I heard what happened. This is what everyone is talking about. Are you okay?

I nodded.

Jessica: Well, the captain helped.

James: Oh, surprising twist.

Jessica: What's it like sleeping with the crew? I feel like you doesn't really fit in with them.

James: Well, no. But I'd rather sleep with them, than you have to.

He smiled at me

Then I saw Shawn staring at the stars in the bow of the ship.

James: Shall I walk you back to your room?

Jessica: No, James, thank you. I wanna talk to Shawn.

James: Okay, but please be careful. He's an assassin you know.

I nodded and I approached Shawn

Jessica: Shawn! I do not disturb?

Shawn: No, come on.

We looked at the stars in silence for a while, and then he spoke:

Shawn: Thank you. You know, you bought me food.

Jessica: Come on, you're welcome.

Jessica: Although you kidn*pped me, I will forgive you if you take me back to the port.

Shawn: I'm afraid that's not possible.

Shawn: Anyway, you go back to your foster father who raised you, gave you food and a roof over your head. It just can't be that terrible.

Shawn: And if you don't want to stay, you run away again.

I shook my head.

Jessica: It's not that simple. You can't even imagine what kind of person he is.

Jessica: But let's not talk about that.

(Just the thought brought tears to my eyes.)

Then I looked at his arm, which was full of tattoos.

Jessica: Can I take a look?

Shawn: Sure. I had it done when I met Dwayn. In the hope of a new life.

Shawn: It symbolizes freedom, and death at the end of the road.

Curiosity and fear filled me at the same time when I heard the word: death.

His tattoos ran up his arm and continued up his chest. He pulled his shirt open for me to see.

His muscular chest immediately caught my eye. It took me a few seconds to recover from my amazement.

Then I returned to the tattoos on his arm. I touched it without hesitation.

Jessica: So this is where new life begins, freedom ...- I touched his hand- and at the end of the way-I smoothed my hand all the way to his chest-there is death.

He placed his hand on mine on his chest for a moment and he nodded silently.

I was suddenly embarrassed, pulled my hand away and changed the subject.

Jessica: You know, I have a tattoo too.

Shawn: Really, where?

Jessica: Over my heart. It's been there for as long as I can remember, I didn't make it, I don't remember how it got there.

I felt so close to him that I pulled my shirt a little aside, so that he could see the tattoo a bit.

Jessica: It shows a picture of the full moon. My parents must have had it done when they were still alive.

Jessica: They must have worshiped the moon. I guess this is not the kind of life my parents intended for me.

Then I said good bye to Shawn

As he looked after me, I saw sadness in his eyes.