No Hope

XVII - Did the cat bite her tongue

"look who is finally awake," Stephen said as I made my way to the Poopdeck, I glared at him as I sat down on a barrel behind him. I looked around and I saw that we are heading to the land that is ahead of us.

"kid, why didn't you tell the captain?" Stephen asked and I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"I don't want to talk about it Stephen, just forget about it," I said but I instantly felt bad because I realized that I said it in an angry tone.

"you know that you can't hide anything from the captain? whatever you are hiding kid, you better say it because the captain knows everything" Stephen said and I had the urge to laugh out loud, does he know that I am the princess? No, he doesn't. seems like he doesn't know everything after all.

"so, where are we headed?" I changed the subject by asking Stephen, who seemed like he is focused on something ahead of us but I didn't bother looking.

"look at the land in front of us kid," Stephen said and I did what he told me to, and that's when I saw the masterpiece that is in front of me.

"This isn't just a normal land kid, this is the definition of beauty," Stephen said and I stood up to get a better look, this is beyond imagination. The port had elegant ships, I could tell by the Inscriptions that are on the ships that they are royal. you can see the trees and mother nature from a distance.

"but it's called the land of the dead for many reasons," Stephen said and I looked at him with a raised brow.

"I don't believe that such beauty is somehow called the land of what? the dead?" I asked, clearly annoyed because such beauty doesn't deserve to be called such a name.

"one of the reasons is that five to ten people get killed every day, don't get fooled by the looks of it from outside, when you dig inside the town you will be surprised by the numbers of the graves," Stephen said and I couldn't help but frown. mankind manages to destroy everything.

"and the second reason is that the greatest thieves to ever exist always target the land of the dead, people are rich there yet there is no justice," Stephen said and I was slightly disappointed but not surprised because there is no such thing named justice, never was and never will.

"you can leave the ship kid. But if you want to, you have to stay with your brother or with Edward and Elias" Stephen said and I felt like throwing up when he said 'your brother'.

"why is that? I can take care of myself" I said jokingly and Stephen chuckled. I obviously can't.

"The world is not how you think it is kid, life can be harsh. and all you have to do is fight your way through" Stephen said and I was surprised.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked him. Stephen is not the type that gives advice.

"because you are still a young kid, you still don't know what life holds for you" Stephen answered. 

"I might be young Stephen, but not as young as you think I am. I am still twenty-one but I experienced many things, things an adult can't handle" I simply answered, carefully using my words.

"When did you turn twenty-one?" Stephen asked and my eyes were focused on the land that is now close to us.

"a week after I got myself into this mess" I answered him honestly. there's no point in lying about this.

"you are a strong kid, Clay. but not as strong as you think you are" Stephen said and I was offended.

"I beg you pardon?" I said, hell rising inside me. I may show them that I am not strong but that doesn't mean that they know everything about me.

"you have a short temper, kid," Stephen said and I couldn't help but scoff. 

"will you ever stop calling me kid?" I asked with a serious tone yet Stephen chuckled.

"not any time sooner, kid," he said and I couldn't help but smile.

"captain Elias changed a little since you came," Stephen said. and I was taken off guard by this sentence.

"yes, he started using me as his puppet," I said and Stephen had a serious look on his face.

"he is called Scourge of the Seven Seas," Stephen said.

"as if I know what that means," I said and Stephen sent me a glare, he is being serious.

"This means the worst kind of pirates" Stephen answered and I was shocked yet not surprised.

"I have found someone worse than him believe me," I said and Stephen gave me a woeful look.

"your brother is the least heartless pirate I have ever seen. he is nothing compared to our captain," Stephen asked and I felt my heart drop.

"what's worse than watching a lady get r***d and laugh about it, Stephen?" I angrily asked. 

"seeing women getting r***d and not doing anything about it is not one of the captain's qualities unless this is her punishment. sometimes these types of women deserve to be punished this way" Stephen said and I angrily stood up. he looked at me with a warning look but I ignored it.

"I beg your pardon? , no woman deserves to get r***d. r**e is not an excuse for punishment. r**e is just a sad excuse for men who want to get laid but never had the chance to because they are too stinky to even look at. stealing her entire life because they just want to put their manhood inside any hole isn't an excuse. no woman deserves to witness or experience such a thing. and I hope one day this happens to one of your kids, then I will dare you to say something since it's some sort of punishment as you believe" I didn't realize that I was screaming until I finished talking. Stephen was looking at me with dark eyes.

"no Stephen, don't you dare give me this look, I am not ashamed of what I said, no I am proud of myself. because no one had ever defended these women so it's my time to say something about it since no one ever thought about how much this will ruin a women's life, stop thinking about yourselves and your desires for once in your bloody lives. STOP DESTROYING THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF A SMALL MISTAKE THEY DID, OR EVEN BIG MISTAKES. STOP USING r**e AS AN EXCUSE FOR PUNISHMENT" I screamed again, but this time I was aware that every single pirate is now looking at us.

"what's that screaming about?" a voice roared. and I never removed my eyes away from Stephen. I wasn't scared of him Stephen because I said what had to be said.

"I apologize, Captain," Stephen said as he removed his eyes away from me, then Elias appeared in sight. and he noticed how angry I am.

"tell me, Clay, what did Stephen do to make you this angry?" Elias asked as he took a few steps in my direction.

"Nothing, we were having a normal conversation and I got carried away a little" I lied to Elias, and I knew that he didn't believe me.

"what's bothering you?" Elias said as he brushed his thumb against my cheek.

"n-nothing" I answered. then he suddenly wrapped his hand around my neck and pulled me closer to him.

"I am the one who ordered Stephen to tell you that r**e is used as a punishment. I thought that you are smart enough to realize that he is lying" Elias said in my face.

"why would you do that?" I asked, then he wrapped his hand tighter around my neck.

"because I want to know how to get inside your mind Clay, a girl who was r***d will be taken back by such topic" he whispered. then he let me go by throwing me on this ground. I groaned loudly in pain as I felt my lungs shatter into tiny pieces.

"I TRUSTED YOU" I managed to scream at him, he froze in his spot as his back was facing mine.

"I didn't tell a single soul Clay, but telling me wasn't also the best option," he said, then he kept walking until he was no longer in my sight.

"I apologize, kid, I just did what I was told to do," Stephen said as he helped me up. I brushed the dirt off my clothes.

"it's not your fault Stephen, it's my fault for trusting such a person," I said. he is really using my own secrets against me. I should have known better.

"Clay, you are coming with us," Edward said as he appeared out of nowhere.

"where did you come from?" I asked and he ignored me as he kept a serious face on.

"where?" I asked he smirked then he walked away. typical Edward.

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We wandered around this town, it was so beautiful yet scary. everyone kept eyeing me as if I am a piece of fresh meat. I stayed close behind Edward, Elias ahead of him, and the rest of the crew far from behind.

"how's the town so far?" Edward asked me.

"would you blame me if I said that it's scary?" I said and Edward ignored me, what's wrong with pirates when they ask you a question and ignore you when you answer?.

"Captain are you sure about bringing Clay with us?" Edward asked and I was offended.

"don't you dare question my orders," Elias said and Edward took a deep breath.

"Ay Ay captain," Edward said. that was harsh.

"what are we doing here?" I asked Edward. he ignored me, again.

"robbery?" I asked again. I hate being ignored.

"or maybe spend a night with some proustite?" I said, then Elias turned around and Edward stopped dead in his tracks.

"Close your mouth before you end up dead right here right now," Elias said and I hid behind Edward.

"you don't have to be so mean about it" I huffed.

"and you don't have to be so childish about it," Elias said and I had the urge to slap him across the face.

"We are heading to the pub," Elias said. sounds good.

"but not any kind of pub Clay, stay close to Edward and try not to talk to anyone there," Elias said and I nodded. And a few minutes later I found myself standing in the middle of a pub, Edward kept his palm wrapped around my elbow to keep me close to him. I looked around me and it was gross, people having s*x in front of everyone, others throwing up on the floor. and let's not mention the guy who is running behind women with his manhood out.

"THIS IS NOT A PUB, THIS IS A BROTHEL" I screamed on top of my lungs, Elias yanked me by my elbow and pulled me closer to him.  

"hurry the hell up" Elias screamed and I followed closely behind him. Edward is now ahead of us as we walked up the stairs. 

"Listen to me Clay, whatever happens, don't you dare say a word, whatever she asks you, whatever she says, don't say anything. do you understand me?" Elias screamed at me, I instantly nodded my head. then Elias knocked on a door. we waited for a few seconds until two huge men came out of this door.

"How can we help you?" one of the men screamed in Elias's face. Elias didn't even flinch. he just stood still with a cold face on.

"Captain Elias, I would like to see Lola now," Elias said and the two guys looked at each other, scared.

"stop wasting my time" Elias screamed and they quickly opened the door for him. we walked inside the room, it was nice, tidy, and quiet. there were couches all around the room and three doors that only God knows where they lead.

"BRIAN AND TYLER I SWEAR TO MY LORD IF YOU LET SOMEONE IN I AM GOING TO SHOOT YOU BOTH" a high-pitched women's voice screamed from inside one of the rooms. then suddenly a door flew open and a red-headed woman came out. she is pale and tall, and she had such a pretty face, not to mention her emerald green eyes.

"Elias" she whispered as she saw took a glance at him. they both stared at each other for almost two minutes.

"Lola" Elias nodded at her. then she quickly walked to him and crashed her lips with him, I opened my eyes wide then I quickly turned around. please god, let this end quickly before I throw up in front of everyone.

"Ehm" Edward coughed, that's when the kissing noise stopped and I looked at them again. they finally stopped eating each other's faces.

"Edward, good to see you," this Lola girl said to Edward who nodded at her. then her eyes met mine and I felt my heart stop.

"and you are?" she asked. I was about to answer but Elias cut me off.

"Clay, her name is Clay" Elias answered and she kept looking at me dead in the eyes.

"she can answer all by herself, she doesn't need help, or did the cat bite her tongue?" She answered as she walked in my direction.

"I came here to make a deal Lola, then I am leaving. and the girl stays with me" Elias said and I looked at him dead in the eyes, what is that supposed to mean?.