Enduring the Storm

Chapter 16 New Companions

Brooke's POV

If who is willing to part? Wait.. part with me? I feel my eyebrows furrowing, not understanding why these strangers would be evaluating me. "Ok.. that sounds positive, better than the last round of prisoners we gained from them." he says as the extra man off to the side states, "yeah he died right away.. what a waste of time and money that guy was." they groan out reminiscing about what problems they must have had last time, before the Captain puts his hand up in the air getting their attention.

"Well, he doesn't say much about her, but she is the only offering he has since the other died of starvation because he refused to eat.. but he says she has ate and he healed her reluctantly since he says that they captured her on the outside of their territory, eating their food and taking over. She even took out five of their men when they came to apprehend her.. probably a witch using her abilities or voodoo to get the better of them." the man states with a type of disgust, the annoyance at his speculation and disgust fills me up, hating that they are talking about me as if I am not even here or have a voice of my own.

"I am not taking over their territory, I had no choice in coming here and I was just trying to survive when the men attacked me.. and yes I hit them back, but they started it. I'm not some witch.. that's stupid, I'm just.. me.. a normal human being and if you would have just asked me that then I would have told you that." I spat out glaring over at him.

The man stomps over to me grabbing my tender face once again into his hand as he states, "I didn't ask you because you're a woman and below me in every way.. Now why would you have assumed I would have wasted my time to even ask you?" He snaps out as I spat out with so much anger hating how he is talking to me as if being a woman means I am worth nothing. "Well, because it's my life.. and besides if you learned how to talk to a woman than maybe you would know that they have way more to teach you and are probably above you instead of below you like you think." I snap this out as the room goes silent.

Its eerily silent as he starts a fake laugh that chills down my spine. "What would I ever learn from a woman? Especially a captured woman.. how smart can you be if you're someone's captive." he laughs even louder as the men behind him laugh in chorus as if it is a song they have been trained to sing. All except for the man that he calls Owen, he stares from me to the Captain who has a very tight grip on my face.

I opened my mouth to speak but he interrupted before I had a chance. "Never mind that.. I really don't want to hear what you think you may know.. but.. maybe we can find a use for you yet.. I think.. that feisty attitude can be put to good use in my private quarters." his thumb drifts over my lips as I spit out into his face. "You would never get a chance to know what I am like behind closed doors." The anger at his implications of what he plans to do with me, fills me up to the point that if I wasn't tied up he would know, by me taking my anger out on his handsomely snide face, that deserves a bruise or two.

The room goes silent as I notice that all the men look concerned for me, as if I made a big mistake, so now I am starting to feel like it. I swallow as I look back to the handsome man Owen, as he stares intently at me with just as much concern as the others, then glancing over to the other man as if he is waiting for something to happen. Owen clears his throat, cutting the tension with his soothing rumble of a voice. "Captain.. maybe she just doesn't know who she is dealing with because I'm sure if she did, then she wouldn't be acting so.." "Disrespectful." The Captain finishes his comment for him while still glaring daggers at me.

"It doesn't matter who you are because I know who I am and what respect I deserve.. and I don't accept anything less." I snap out with all the confidence in the world as I glare at this Captain and his handsome henchman. The Captain puts on a fake smile as he looks from his men to me. "Well, then that means you will be fighting a lot of people because you won't get that respect acting like this." The Captain states this as some of the men nod and chuckle at his comment, making me frustrated with how they are acting as if I mean nothing. So I reply without hesitation, "I have been fighting since the moment I was born, and it won't ever stop.. especially not for a man wearing more make-up than me."

A small couple of chuckles are heard from the men behind the Captain, but that just gains them a fire-filled glare that shut them up faster than the chuckle that was created. I swallow the now large lump in my throat as he throws my face to the side, finally letting my throbbing face go. But I don't stop staring at him before holding my head high. The Captain and Owen look back and forth between one another before the Captain says something else to the elder in his language. They shake then both lower their heads to one another as I notice that the Captain swipes my backpack into his hand before snapping out loud. "Owen.. Grab her."

My mouth drops open in shock as I look at the captain and men leaving the hut, one after the other. I look to the elder and he looks sad but doesn't give me a second glance as I watch Owen grab for his sword, it leaves his sheath instantly as he swipes the blade between my legs, I squint my eyes not knowing if he is going to cut me since he has the chance. I feel the blade running down between my legs only for a short moment before I open my eyes to see that his blade to flying towards my hands, I squeak out in fear as my body drops down since he cut the rope holding me up. But that doesn't stop him as he quickly grabs me to flip over his shoulder.

I try to undo the knot around my wrists, that is holding them together, but there is no budging. I just hit his back as I demand. "Put me down right now.. I know you can understand me.. put me down." His head shakes. "I can't do that." he keeps going as I try to kick my legs, pairing it with the hits to his back, but that doesn't get him to stop at all. I pull my wrists up to my mouth as I bite at the rope. I can see us passing multiple tents and native people while I really start loosening the knot.. I see the trees, protruding roots, vines and animals running away at his feet, showing me where we are going, as I don't stop gnawing on the bit of rope.

I have it almost completely undone as I see the white sand and then feel us going up. I drop the rope on the ground just to see we are crossing over a large wooden plank that is allowing us onto a ship. Even though I am happy to be leaving the island, I am not happy to be leaving with them. I wait until we are safely on the ship before I decide to make my escape.. maybe I can get one of their bouys or a little dingy they have tied to the side of the boat.. I'm still docked to land on this ship so maybe I can jump ship, swimming back to the beach and hiding in the trees again.. I would be willing to take my chance out there in the sea waters before dealing with these assh*les.

I wait until I know that he is distracted by talking with the other crew members, taking the man Owen off guard by kneeing him in the chest, taking the air from his lungs forcefully. He is stunned, dropping me as I quickly punch him in the face, but when I go for a second punch he blocks it with one hand before throwing mine fisted hand down while dropping the knife that was in the other hand. We both see his knife as we lunge down at the same time. But I am the one to get to it first, stealing his knife. He quickly swipes, grabbing my arms, pulling me into him to get the knife back.

I fight his hold trying to pull my arms out of his grip as he doesn't let go but pulls me closer. I can see his teeth clenching as I look away from him.. But this causes his warm breath to feather off of my neck, sending chills through me. I know I shouldn't like this, but for some demented reason, I do. "Don't make me hurt you.. just give me the knife back." He demands as I shake my head. "You will have to hurt me to get it." I state to him with a confidence in me because I, for some reason, feel like he won't.

"You don't think I will?" he asks with strength intertwined with every word as I swallow now not knowing if my feeling is right or not. "I think if you were going to.. you would have.. I have dealt with many men who hurt women like me often.. They don't talk about it, they just do it, then talk about it when they want to beat me more or teach me a lesson." I state about my past experiences causing him to suck in a sharp breath.

I take this open opportunity of him thinking about my words, to take him offguard.. this is my chance. I won't let him get the best of me if I can help it, so I knee him in the stomach, allowing me to get out of his grip as I step back keeping my eyes on him. He quickly swipes his sword out of his sheath. My eyes widen because I know this isn't a fair fight since I only have a knife and not a sword, but I won't give up. I see a man laughing at this scene as I swipe his sword from his sheath before kicking his chest, pushing him away from me with the strength of my kick. He stumbles back looking shocked as I put the knife into the back of my pants as I tighten my grip onto the handle of the sword.

Owen steps closer, swinging it at me as I dodge it before spinning out of the way, I swing the sword at him as he quickly blocks the hit with his own sword's blade. He then twists his wrists, swiping his sword so it throws mine to the side, but not out of my hands. But he doesn't stop there, he comes at me again as I regrip the handle before I see him swinging, so I duck not letting the blade hit me and hiding under the stairs to avoid his next attack, causing him to hit the blade on the stairs. I c*ck my arms back getting ready to hit him with another shot of mine as he pulls the sword back to take another swing as a large knife is put to my throat, catching me off guard.

I gasp out in shock, while freezing before feeling breath on my neck as I hear him sniffing me deeply, causing my head to shake before he presses the knife further into my neck, sending a pain into it while he hums out as he demands. "Stop this.. you won't win.. drop the knife and sword.. then kick it back to him." I know that voice already, it's the Captain saying this to me as I grit my teeth not wanting to give in to his demands.

The blade presses harder into my throat as I reluctantly throw the sword to the ground, I use my boot to kick it away. The knife slices into my neck as he hums out. "Come on beautiful, give him his knife back.. it's his favorite." I keep my eyes locked on Owen as he stares deep into my eyes with a determination. "Unless you want me to reach into your pants and get it for him?" He hums out with a playful tone as I instantly take the knife out for myself, just to drop it to the ground before kicking it over to Owen. His eyes stay glued on me as I notice how livid he looks.. he slowly reaches down just to grab it as he glares daggers at me. He swipes it up into his hand before securing it back to his side.