Black Sea

Chapter 1

“Come back you thief!”

Too unfortunate for the old man to lose a pair of shoes. A pair that was about to be sent in rubbish because they were ‘out of fashion’. Actually, from a more realistic outlook, I did a good thing by stealing them. I helped an old man get rid of a few rubbish of his. Rubbish that still needed money to be owned. Isn't that unfair?

As it turned out, the cobbler had a different opinion. A couple of younger members of the store, that had enough power to take action rather than shout, started running towards me. Pushing the crowds aside so as their muscular bodies could pass through them with great speed, a couple of more insults were heard. If there was any possibility of me escaping, I ought to run. Fast.

And so did I. To where that might be, I didn't know. Those details wouldn't save me. My whole body started working; my leg muscles running warm. Fresh air entered my lungs and blood flowed into all my limbs. My thin feet almost flying over dust and moldy fruits having fallen on the ground. People splitted in two at the sight of a ‘thief’ coming towards them. Chicken and carts got on my way. I didn't have time to bother my either of them. I jumbed or slid under them. The wind whipped my face, cold tears forming in my eyes.

The shouts of the hunters behind me pierced my ear drums. The thuds of footsteps got closer and louder. Even their freaking breaths were near me.

My mind was racing faster than my feet. My ears could catch my beating heart. Unaware if the fast beating was either a result of exhaustion or anxiety, I found the right chance to escape. A ladder at one side of a building, a cart of straw at the end of the road. Slippery fruit on the ground. Keeping my breathing steady, I pushed harder and went faster.

“We got you scum!”

Just right when one of them was about to grab me, I made a leap to the ladder. I heard few of them falling, some groans of pain afterwards. But it wasn't enough. Two, the strongest ones obviously, climbed the ladder behind right behind me. I made the terrible mistake of looking down and met their eyes. Inside one single second, the repulsion in them and the speed of their limbs only made the situation worse.

The roofs were aligned with each other, pointed and with really steep incline. That seemed to bother the hunters just as much as me. Luckily, I was familiar on climbing roofs thanks to the similar services I used to offer.

I quickened my pace until steps became leaps. Every few seconds, I had to raise my feet, fly over absolute nothing. The tents of the market, or the people and animals only seemed as a temporary blurry vision till I came across with another pointed roof. From were I was standing, I saw the port ahead. The blue waters greeting me like an uncatchable dream. Despite the speed, my desire and mind, the sea could only be an imagination. A need only tasted at night before dawn.

I jumbed up one last time. The men had already reduced the distance between us. And when I was standing at the end of the roof, there was no other choice but fall down. While gravity dragged me to the ground, my body could relax from the tiring and unwanted activity. The cart of straws was the last thing I saw before diving into that mass.

My eyesight reduced until I could only see darkness. The straws tickled my skin and neck, my breathing became difficult with dust coming in through my nose. It was one of the most uncomfortable moments I had to go through.

Despite the obstacles, sound waves reached once again my ears. Angry and heavy footsteps passed by the cart. I didn't dare to get up, but instead waited a few seconds to assure that the men had left. And then I jumbed up, coughing and spitting the disgusting straws off my mouth. I shuffled my hair, seeing more of them falling down on my clothes. As I raised up and stood on my feet, a grimace started forming on my face at the sight of insects on my brand new, stolen shoes.

“Ergh!” I waved my feet energetically, one at a time and didn't stop till I made sure that all of them had flew away. And now I could enjoy my freedom- and the brand new stolen shoes.

Just when I was about to lift my head, a cold and sharp object pressed against my Adam's apple that had just started forming. I gulped the lump of unease on my dry throat and lowered my eyes. The spear mirrored my black hair and the dreadful eyes of a man behind me.

“Hello, little thief.”

His breath brushed my neck, making the hair there stand up. And then an odour of rum filled my nostrills, but it didn't bother me as much as his words.

“You've got to be kidding me,” I muttered so low that was impossible to be heard under the noises of the crowds.

“I see you're pretty good at what you're doing, huh?”

“Well,” I moved my almost trembling legs. “If it wasn't for the knife I could easily deny it. Right now, however, what can I say? Yes, I'm an expert.”

The ruspy voice behind me barked a laugh that made the rum even more intense.

“What if I can give you what you want the most, expert?” The spear made a twirl never abandoning the contact with my skin. I felt the cold sweat forming over my eyebrow.

What a day I had.

“How can you possibly know what I want most?” A feeling of pride appeared for a quick second at the stability in my voice.

The spear mirrored something different as the man behind me leaned forwards. It revied his dirty face full of deep cuts here and there. And the ruspy voice whispered the one thing I desired while the dark eyes of his stared at mine through the spear.

“Do you know Captain Kane Rackham?”

It was not a usual case to question, but a chance to grab. And so did I.