Sitting around that table, countless night after night and hearing those men pretend to think of you as something more than an outlet was sadly amusing. They simplified their conversations to fake inclusivity, enquired about your day and if you liked the new dresses they'd bought you... all frivolous topics of conversation to try and alleviate from the hefty and dehumanising reason you were actually here.

As if this sudden shift in things would change anything at all!? It was all trivial in your eyes compared to the horrors they were trying to disguise.

You imagined Hornigold had fed back to his Templar friends regarding the conversation the two of you had had in the garden on that summer evening, about how you felt inhuman in this place. Was this their pathetic attempt at pretending to be nice? You could see right behind their lacklustre smiles and condescending voices... just like demons wearing masks to try and cover their real intentions. It did little to work.

So, your dinner times had been reduced to silence and escaping as quickly as possible, trying to hide yourself in various corners of the villa to avoid being called upon, and ultimately wrestled to their rooms by guards. You could feel the day would be nigh soon, the men were growing tired of your resistance to their poor attempts at being amicable.

Some desperate part of you had hoped maybe you had maybe just slightly appealed to the human side of them, and that one day, they might just let you go.

Pacing to the window of your bedroom; a cool night breeze drifted through the featherlight chiffon material of the curtains as your eyes cast out over the city of Havana - golden lights aglow and the nearby ocean a hue of deep navy blue under the night sky.

You gazed upwards, the motion of a single star shooting across the sky capturing your attention. A childish hope consumed you as you whimsically wished for some way out of this place, witnessing the streak of silvery white zapping across the sky and then dissipating off into the expanse of darkness.

Little did you know that your rescue was currently residing under the very same sky.

-

Havana had become some form of hunting ground to a very blinkered, and angry Charles Vane. It was as if he could only see you in his mind, and he wasn't going to let anyone get in the way of that.

Fortunately for the pirate captain, Torres' lavish villa stuck out like a sore thumb in Havana and he was easily able to infiltrate the inner vicinity of the grand home without so much as raising a peep so far, taking guards down with an agility and stealth he didn't usually posses. He was known for his loud, brash and teeth bared sword fights after plundering a ship, it seemed with you on his mind he was doing best to get in and out of the villa with as little fuss as possible.

The outside of the Villa was peaceful by night, as pretty as it was in the day but with a soft glow from the honey-light of the lanterns, which contrasted softly with the otherwise night time blues of the moonlight gardens.

Guards stalked the patios, talking to each other in their native tongue - unaware of the eyes sparkling from the hedge lines, awaiting to attack.

Like a tiger plucking off it's prey, Vane carefully mapped the guard's paths and followed suit with his actions, pulling them behind corners or taking them silently with a knife blade to the neck.

He took a moment's refuge between the blood shed, trying to gain clarity for a moment between the slashes and hurried footsteps, attempting to formulate his next move.

Vane's problem was that he didn't have a clue where he was going, in terms of which wing of the villa you resided in and how best to get there. He grizzled to himself momentarily, not wanting to end up heading to the wrong side only to be overrun by guards.

He could hear the tepid clunking of wood from above him, and looked up to the first floor window to see window thrown open, pretty cream chiffon curtains catching the night's breeze. He held still, wondering whether this might be a guard on patrol.

Instead he saw a pretty figure lean out momentarily, to look out at the stars with a whimsical look. It took the elated captain seconds to recognise that pretty face as your own.

Fearful he might miss his chance, Charles anxiously peered left and right to check for imminent guards - before he whistled softly, the sound instantly capturing your attention as you looked below.

"Lass!"

You could not believe you were hearing those tones, it had to be some sick phantasm in your head, one sent to torture you in this already miserable situation.

"Vane?" You whispered back, just to rule out the fact you might have just been hearing things, eyes frantically searching the lush plant that grew below your window.

"We have to go, now." The Captain whispered, harsher and with more urgency. "D'ya think you could get down?"

You peered out of the window and noticed a small sloped half roof underneath your window, one that sheltered the half exposed walkways on the side of the villa.

Cries of alarm sounded from all around, inside the villa and out - and it appeared some of the other guards strolling on duty had found their fallen comrades.

A new urgency fell upon your shoulders, as the security measures of the villa sprung into action - the guards now extra alert of any activity. You were worried soon that one of Torres' men would come to check on you.

Sitting on the windowsill and swinging your legs out, you first noted the chilling breeze against your skin - the pottery shingles on the roof below suddenly less of a worry than before hand.

You cast out your doubts, and channeled those wants and desires to just no longer exist into that very moment - as you allowed your feet to make contact with the roof, subsequent tiles from the roof sliding down and taking you with them, your fall far from graceful.

But you didn't care - for you felt it was better to take the chance and the risk of escape, come what May - than spend another second in that damn villa.

You made connection with the grass, pulled up into an pair of strong arms - ones you were welcome to and ones you had missed.

"You ok to walk, love?" He asked, those tones injected with concern and softness where little usually lingered. Nodding quickly, you accompanied Vane towards the high stone wall, where one of the outbuildings nestled close - a perfect stepping stone over the wall and into freedom.

You both gained some scrapes and splinters, scrabbling desperately at the wood of the structure to be able to climb on top.

But as you stood there, able to see the rest of Havana and the sea beyond, you felt a joy like no other. Freedom was so close you could almost taste it, like the most delicious sip of rum on a hot evening.

"Come on lass, the Ranger's not far." Vane climbed up first, offering you his hand which you happily accepted, clambering up to the wall yourself - the air up there that bit fresher, more enticing.

Promising.

Until you looked to the drop below, and felt your stomach knot. It felt so much higher in the dark anyway, and although it wasn't big enough of a fall to do serious damage... it could easily be a broken ankle.

Searchlights were beginning to fall all round the villa grounds, golden-yellow lantern light cascading on every inch of darkness that covered the garden.

Vane could see you faltering, looking between the drop and then back to the lights which were coming ever closer.

"We don't go now Lass and we're dead men," he ushered, taking your hand and drawing you back to the moment. "Don't make me lose you again."

Even in the shadows you could see the plea in the captain's eyes, and the heartbreak that infested his low timbre was enough to make you shake off the primal fears of pain for the idea that this fall could be the first door opened to your escape to freedom.

You didn't say a word, just a look of complete trust was all you needed to follow Vane on the drop down from the wall and into a thicket of bushes.

Of course it hurt, like you had expected. You had bashed your leg, but only to bruising level and upon standing up you felt very much intact still - head all the more lighter and the pain of the last few weeks finally lifted from your being.

"Come on, let's be done with this place." Vane mumbled, ushering you to his side and taking you under his arm - a very sheltered walk back to the Ranger, a walk on which you very much treasured this emotion of finally feeling free from constant anxiety for the first time in weeks.

Who would have expected it would be the angriest, most temperamental Captain to alleviate such fears from you?

-

The escape had been late, driven by nothing but pure adrenaline and a primal need for self preservation.

Vane had allowed you his captain's quarters, and once again your mind was revisiting the last few times you found yourself in the belly of the Ranger, following several different traumatic events.

And how it seemed Vane had always been the one to pick up the pieces.

The darkness soon subsided as the early morning sun crept in on a fairly calm sea. You didn't get much sleep, your mind still racing constantly about how close you had come to being permanently miserable in Torres' clutch. Shuddering softly, you vowed you never wanted to see any of them again, and drew the sheets up a little higher over yourself.

Some time into the morning, Vane entered the Captain's Quarters with the air of a meek child worried about upsetting their mother, a rather amusing presentation from a captain who thrived on bloodshed and battle.

He saw you were awake, and you directed a wry smile his way to let him know he wasn't intruding.

"How are you this morning, love?" He asked, standing at your bedside rather like a concerned nurse maid.

You propped yourself up, sighing softly as you wondered where you could even start with this.

"I don't know. It's not quite hit me yet. So much has happened..." you faltered, reassured as Vane nodded quietly in understanding.

"It's alright, they'll be plenty of time for that." He started, brushing his knuckles against the back of your cheek fondly. "I'm just glad you're ok. Probably took out around a hundred guards last night trying to get to you and I'd kill a hundred more of the bastards if they stepped in my way."

You bore an awkward smile, his attempts at being sweet often always had some garnish of violence to them, as was always with Vane.

"Thank you, Vane. I would still be there if it wasn't for you." You took his hand, squeezing it softly. The words wanted to come to your lips but you stopped, frightened of his reaction.

You're a true friend

They jarred in your head, unable to slip past your tongue. Throughout all this your clarify had remained the same, and it seemed entirely true that your heart really did lie with Edward.

Pained by the recollection, you turned away momentarily and drew in a short breath.

"I will be glad to see Nassau again, for all its rats and pissheads it will still always be home." You offered with an attempted at a lighthearted tone, watching as Vane's eyes flashed, a split second notion - followed by an almost uncomfortable smile.

"We'll be home soon enough." He assured you, squeezing your hand again before letting it go.

"Try and get some more rest before you come up top, lass." It was odd to see Vane taking on a parental tone, "god knows you probably need it. I'll see you later." He excused himself out of the door, leaving you with your thoughts once again.

And as usual, the soft Vane who was always with you had all but disappeared as the Captain stepped out onto the deck. You could hear his barking shouts and growling orders.

"Put your bloody back into it, lout!"

Falling back down into the bed, you closed your eyes and prayed for more sleep.

At least that way you couldn't spend any more time in your memories, torturing yourself.