No Hope

V - A Pirate

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" I screamed. in case you are wondering what is going on. I was peacefully sleeping in my room when suddenly my eyes were covered and my hands were tied behind my back. and I was pulled to god only knows where.

"This is the respect you deserve" a voice that I do not recognize said. I tried kicking whoever is holding me but I failed because who is holding me is much stronger than I will ever be. I can sense people around me, more than five. as a cold breeze of wind attacked my face, I knew that I was on the main deck.

"LET GO OF ME" I screamed, but there was no use. everyone around we're whispering, some laughing. 

"stop moving kid, unless you want to fall," a voice said. I believe that it's Stephen because he is the only one who calls me kid. I held back my tears. this is it, they will kill me. I should have never trusted that old man. then the person who is holding me dropped me on the floor and removed whatever was covering my eyes. but sadly my arms we're still tied.

"what is going o-," I said but I stopped myself from continuing the sentence. I was standing at the beginning of the bowsprit. I turned around and I found every pirate on this ship standing behind me. and right behind me stood Edward and the captain.

"what are you guys doing?" I said. Edward and the captain looked at each other, then they both raised their pistols in my direction. 

"walk to the edge of the bowsprit," Edward said, I was lost for words.

"what?" I whispered in both anger and disbelief. 

"I said, walk to the edge of the bowsprit" Edward yelled. I closed my eyes and I took a deep breath. it's okay Cecile, it's okay if you fall and drown, at least you will be free from this world. do whatever they ask you to do Cecile.

I opened my eyes and I turned around to face the end of the bowsprit, I took my first step and I almost fell but I managed to stand still on my feet. I closed my eyes and I took more steps and more until I opened my eyes and I found myself on the edge of the bowsprit.

"look at us" Edward screamed from behind me, I slowly turned around, making sure not to fall into the water. when I saw everyone's faces, it was weird. some had an angry look, some had a happy look and some had a surprised and confused look.

"Jump," the captain said and at this moment, it felt like the world has turned its back on me.

"I do not know how to swim" I slowly said. Edward seemed uneasy but the captain still had his pistol pointed in my direction and a dirty look on his face.

"I said, jump," the captain said. I turned around and I looked at the water beneath me, this will hurt.

"one" the captain screamed. I closed my eyes.

"two" I can feel the tears running down my cheek. 

"you passed the test-" the captain's voice said, but it was too late, I was already making my way down to the water. the last thing I remember is a bunch of loud voices screaming 'no'. when my body reached the water, I did not even try to swim, I just closed my eyes. the water pulled me down as the darkness reached out to me and hugged me with its arms.

"you killed her"

"I did not indeed kill anyone, she is the one who jumped before the count of three"

"she is breathing"

"she is dead, just throw her back into the water"

"she is not dead. she is breathing"

"dead or not just throw her"

"I make the bloody orders here"

"she is moving"

"shut up she is not, she is dead"

"your voices are so loud, stop talking" I screamed with my eyes still close, all the voices around me disappeared.

"she is alive," Stephen's voice said, I opened my eyes and I was on the floor of the main deck, with everyone surrounding me.

"What a shame that I am still alive," I said as I stood up. the captain and Edward gave each other a look that I guess the both of them can only understand.

"Congratulations, you passed the test. you are now officially a pirate, welcome to the Arindam of the seas" the captain said. and everything around me stopped but I did not show it.

"The ship's name is Arindam?" I asked as I stopped myself from laughing.

"did you just avoid everything the captain said and you just focused on the ship's name?" Edward said I could not tell if he is joking or being serious.

"so you made me jump into the water, so I can be a pirate?" I screamed, but they all laughed.

"we made you jump so we can see how loyal you are. you did not jump, that makes you hard to trust so you will be forced to jump and die. if we see that you are ready to jump, you will pass the test but you jumped before we even had the chance to say anything" Stephen said, which made me both mad and happy. show them that you are happy Cecile.

"well, I am officially a pirate," I said, and everyone started clapping while the captain just looked at me. his look said everything, he did not believe me, he knows that I am not glad.

"pirates, kitchen, now. food is ready" a pirate that I do not know said, and in a matter of few seconds, everyone disappeared. Stephen walked to the poop deck and I followed behind him.

"what are you doing kid? go eat" he said as he stood behind the helm. I sat down on a bucket close to him.

"I do not eat a lot," I said. stop lying, you eat more than every pirate on this ship.

"your eyes are glowing, are you fine kid?" Stephen asked. I rubbed my face with my hand.

"what is going on with my life, a few days ago I was normal, and now I am a pirate," I said, and lucky me, I stopped myself from saying anything that will expose my secret.

"look around you, Clay. is this what you want? to sail around the seven seas?" Stephen asked and I did not answer that one. I do not mind sailing around the seven seas, what I want is to have my kingdom back, then I will be happy to sail around the seas.

"look at the crow's nest up above," Stephen said as he pointed at the craw's nest, I carefully looked at it.

"see the mast next to the nest?" Stephen asked, and I whispered a small yes.

"what is hanging from that mast?" Stephen asked. what is the point of this?

"a flag?" I said and he laughed as he focused on the helm.

"it's called a Jolly Roger. it is a flag, that has skulls and crossbones" Stephen said. I admired the flag.

"can you see the bowsprit from here?" Stephen asked and I stood up to get a better view.

"there's a skull on the edge," he said. and I do not remember seeing this today.

"it's called the figurehead," Stephen said. where is he trying to reach in this conversation?.

"see the big flag that has a skull on it? it's called the sail" as he continued, I was starting to learn more and more about this ship.

"All of these things Clay, how do you think that they can help us?" Stephen asked. that was an unexpected question for many reasons.

"how?" I asked. I had so many answers, but I wanted to hear the answer from him.

"When we sail around, we go to a lot of places, for deals, for supplies, for everything," Stephen said, and I waited for him to continue.

"When people see a ship from far away, it's fine. but when they see the head figure, the jolly roger, and the sail. they all show respect, they fear us" Stephen said. and I had so many questions.

"kid, I am telling you this because I want you to understand that being a pirate is not bad at the end of the day. you might die, you might get betrayed, but at least you will be living in a place where people fear you and respect you, they do not fear you because you are a bad person, they fear you because they know how much of a bad person you can be. so I believe that this is much better than living like a normal person and treated like a sack of potatoes" Stephen finished talking. and at this moment, I realized a lot of things, I might be a princess, but I was not treated like one nor respected like one. not as if they respected me here.

"I know that you are thinking that they do not respect you here. when you wake up tomorrow, you will see what respect truly means. when you came, you were announced as a maid, which gave them the urge to treat you that way, but the captain announced you as a pirate. when the captain announces someone as a pirate, this means that you are not a normal pirate, you are a pirate that is above everyone, except for the captain himself" Stephen said and I was lost for words, why did he announce it himself, if he didn't announce it then I will be respected but not like the rest. he knew that if he announced me as a pirate I will be respected more than anyone on this ship.

"see you tomorrow, Stephen," I said as I walked to the forecastle deck mast. I stared at the ocean, the sun is leaving us and the moon is on its way to take the sun's place instead. the waves are strong, not like before. as if someone or something made the waves angry.

"enjoying the life of pirates?" a voice said from behind me, I turned around and I found the captain. I expected anyone except him.

"there's still too much to explore," I said. then he stood next to him and his eyes focused on the ocean.

"What is the reason that is stopping you from being happy about this?" the captain asked, I know what is he talking about but I refused to show him that I know.

"about what?" I asked. I tried my best not to look at him and just stare at his killing beauty.

"do not act like you do not know Clay, when I announced as a pirate, you seemed uneasy. as if you did not want this to happen" he said. bloody hell.

"it's not that I did not want this to happen, it's just that I did not expect to turn from a maid to a pirate in a matter of few days," I said. good job Cecile. 

"Why did I not see you in the kitchen?" he asked. why does he keep changing the subjects and why does he care if I was there or not?.

"if I wanted to come then I would have come," I said. he did not even look at me. he just focused on the waves.

"you earned my crew's respect, but you did not earn mine. if I wanted to disrespect you, I will. and I will show you how a disrespectful man can be. you respect them, they respect you. you respect me, and I will never respect you" he said and I was lost for words, why is he so mean?

"I do not want your respect, I wanted their respect, not yours" I angrily said. I can see him smiling from the corner of my eye.

"Tomorrow, we are leaving. we have a business" that is the last thing he said before he walked away. as I stood alone on the edge of the ship. I curiously wondered, what if my plan is ruined, will anyone ever forgive me? will they trust me again? will they ever see me as the true Cecile, not Clay?.