No Hope

IV - Cigar

I walked around the main deck, searching for a bloody bucket and a mop to wipe the bloody deck. I searched everywhere. I can not believe that I am doing this. after I lost hope, I stood in the middle of the main deck, causing everyone to look at me.

"if any of you would like to help me, where can I find a mop and a bucket?" I asked. they all looked at each other and then everyone around me started laughing. stop embracing yourself, Cecile. 

"There is nothing to laugh at, the poor kid just asked for a mop and a bucket" Stephen yelled from the poop deck, causing them to stop laughing.

"Oscar, move your arse and go get her a mop and a bucket full of water," Stephen said, I looked at the person he was pointing at. he was young, this Oscar boy is young, not like the rest of them, old and dirty. so Oscar, Edward, and the captain are the only ones who are young here?. 

"Follow me," Oscar said. I followed him silently. he opened a glass door that led us to the rooms inside this massive ship. I looked around and I was lost for words, there were four rooms, big rooms I believe because the doors are super big. and there was a stair that leads to unknown destinations. I would love to explore it one day.

"it's big, right?" Oscar said. no, it's not big, it's immense.

"Yes, it is," I said. he smiled in my direction.

"come on, let's go," he said and started walking, I followed him down the stairs. I looked around and this floor is much bigger than the other one. it's where Edward kept me but I do not remember looking around.

"in this floor, there are ten rooms, four of those rooms are for our supplies. the five others are for visitors, and the last and the biggest room here is the kitchen" Oscar said. Edward threw me inside the supplies room. as I followed him down the hallway, we both walked a few more steps until we stood in front of a huge door. Oscar opened the door and I was surprised, I thought that it would be some old creepy kitchen with rats wandering around. but no, it's amazing. big and clean.

"you look surprised," Oscar said. I did not answer him because I was admiring how amazing this kitchen is.

"do you guys use it or?" I asked and Oscar laughed as he walked a few steps.

"not usually. we only use it when we are celebrating something" Oscar said as he stood in front of me with a mop and a bucket full of water. that was fast.

"hold the mop, the bucket is too heavy for you," he said. I grabbed the mop and we both walked outside the kitchen and we slowly started walking to the stairs.

"how many floors are in this ship?" I asked. Oscar smiled at me.

"the floor below us is where all of the pirate's sleep, the floor below it is where we save the extra supplies and where we store the cannons. the floor above us has four rooms, the captain calls them business rooms. three of these rooms are business rooms, and the last room is the captain's room" Oscar said. and something came up to my mind.

"What is the captain's name?" I asked and Oscar seemed uneasy.

"Just call him captain," Oscar said, so I decided to drop it. we walked upstairs. I looked around and I quickly recognized the captain's room, in the end of the hallway, there was a big black door. The black door made it clear that it's his room.

"faster" Oscar said as he opened the glass door that led to the main deck. Oscar placed the bucket on the ground and walked away. thanks for nothing, you bastard.  

"I will start with the forecastle deck, then I will move to the poop deck and then the main deck" I whispered to myself, this is going to take longer than expected.

after what seemed like forever, I finished mopping the last spot in the main deck. I threw the mop on the floor and I placed my arms on my waist. now that is something to be proud of since I never cleaned in my life. I could not help but smile, this is something new. I like it. this is not that bad after all.

"you did a great job," a voice said behind me, I turned around and I found Oscar. I smiled at him.

"I know," I said and he laughed. then suddenly the glass door was pushed open, and a drunk, gross and dirty man walked on the main deck. that is when I noticed that he is walking around and the prints of mud from his boots are all over the floor. 

"you bastard," I said, I was about to walk but Oscar grabbed my arm.

"let go of me" I angrily said. Oscar seemed disappointed.

"do not think about it, you will regret it," Oscar said. I pushed his arm away and I walked to the bastard.

"Hello sir," I said as I stood in front of him. he smelled so bad.

"what do you want?" he screamed in my face.

"do not raise your voice at me sir, and if you did not notice that I just finished cleaning the main deck and you got it all dirty from your dirty boots," I said and the pirates started to gather around us. let's just hope the captain and Edward are not here to see this.

"so? clean it again" he said and I took a deep breath.

"I am not cleaning the mess you made," I said as calmly as I can. he started laughing and everyone around us started laughing with him. then he looked at me and he purposely dropped glass of whiskey on the floor, causing it to shatter into pieces. 

"clean it, virago," he said. hold yourself together Cecile, no fighting.

"What did you just call me?" I asked and took a few steps in his direction. 

"I said clean it, virago," he said. I smiled at him and I turned around and I grabbed the mop from the floor.

"come on, clean it. such a bloody battleax" he said from behind me. my eyes met Oscar's, and his eyes said 'do not do anything stupid, I smiled at Oscar then I turned around.

"What is your name sir?" I asked the bastard. I will regret this.

"Oliver," he said. I smiled as I tightened my grip around the mop.

"Oliver," I said. then I raised my hand and slammed his head with a mop, causing the mob to break. he stumbled backward but he still managed to stand on his feet. then I slapped him across the face, causing him to lose his balance this time and he fell on the ground.

"I did not come here to teach you, bastards, how to respect a bloody woman. respect me or I will show you what a real woman can do" I screamed in his face. no one said a word. Oliver looked at me in a look as if just seen a dragon.

"do you all bastards understand me?" I screamed as I turned around to face everyone on the deck.

"I SAID, DO YOU ALL BLOODY BASTARDS UNDERSTAND ME? I DO NOT GO WITH 'WE ONLY RESPECT THE CAPTAIN' SINCE I AM THE ONLY WOMAN ON THIS BLOODY DECK, YOU WILL ALL SHOW RESPECT TO ME" I screamed. when I finished, it felt like I let out something I have been holding back for decades. but all of that happiness disappeared when I saw the captain standing on the poop deck and looking at me with his deadly eyes. with his right hand he was holding a cigar and with the other hand, he was holding a glass of whiskey. 

"and who gives you the right to talk to my crew as if you are the captain, never seen a maid do that. maids respect people, but they do not usually get the respect they want" the captain's voice said, he did not say it aloud, but it sounded loud since everyone went quiet when they noticed his presence.

"when your crew respects me, I will be acting like the maid I am," I said. the captain's eyes never left mine. everyone, by all means, everyone around we're too shocked. seems like I am the first one who talked to the captain in this way.

"Oscar, clean the mess. you, follow me" the captain said, and by you, he meant me. the captain walked down to the main deck and opened the glass door and I followed behind him. we walked a few more steps until he stopped and stood in front of one of the doors. 

"do you know what this door is?" he asked, his eyes were focused on me, but my eyes never left the ground. I did not answer him which I know that I will regret it.

"I asked a question," he said. still, I did not answer him nor look at him. and in a matter of a few seconds, his tall figure was standing in front of me. he roughly pushed me on the wall. I closed my eyes shut. then I felt the glass shatter, next to my head.

"Open your eyes," he said and I opened them, to only find his cigar is only an inch away from my face.

"let's make a bargain, I will be asking questions, if you answer me, everything will be good. but if you do not answer me, I promise to burn every single spot on your face" he said and at the moment, I wanted the floor to suck me into it.

"who is the captain here?" he asked. I did not answer. but when he moved his cigar closer to me, I grabbed him from his wrist to stop him from moving further.

"you are, you are the captain," I said. and then suddenly, with his left hand, he pinned both of my arms above my head. 

"who gave you the right to talk to my crew this way?" he asked. I can not believe this is happening. 

"no one, I was just mad," I said and my eyes met his. his eyes are no longer glowing, his eyes are now dark.

"do you know what is this room ?" he said. yes, I want to die now.

"no" I whispered and he pinned my arms harder causing me to yelp in pain.

"NO NO, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THIS ROOM" I screamed out loud. and that's when I caught the look in his eyes. he is enjoying this, he is enjoying the sight of me being in pain and being afraid. 

"in this room, I call it the main business room, this is where I torture people who disrespect me. would you like to see it?" he said and I felt the walls close around me.

"you are enjoying this you sick bastards," I said. he moved the cigar away from my face, giving me a better look at his face. and I noticed the evil and dirty smile form on his face.

"Clay, you want respect? you will get the respect, but not until you show me that you are worth my crew's respect" he said. then he let go of his arms, and he simply walked away to his room. I stood in my spot for as long as I can remember. what did I get myself into? 

after I gathered myself, I stood up and walked slowly to the glass door, as I opened the door. not a single eye looked at me, I am not complaining. I made my way to the poop deck, and Stephen was standing behind the helm. he did not even look at me, his eyes were just focused on the ocean. I walked to the head of the ship and I just stood there. I slowly admired the sight of the ocean.

"Who are you?" Stephen's voice said from behind me. i am Cecile, the princess. who only is asking for respect here because I am not used to people disrespecting me, except my uncle.

"you tell me Stephen, who am I?" I asked. creative question Cecile.

"well Clay, you are a kid, who is a mystery to everyone on this ship," Stephen said.  

"What is his name?" I asked. and silence filled the air for a few moments.

"Elias," Stephen said, Captain Elias. such a pretty name for a pretty person.

"go to Oscar, he will lead you to your room. go relax kid because you have a long day tomorrow" Stephen said. I wonder what tomorrow holds for me.