Once they had set sail and were some way from Devonport, Captain Reed entered his cabin, and told Amber, that she was welcome to join them on deck. He left, and she followed after she heard his footsteps fade in the distance. Cautiously she crept onto the deck and glanced around. Each member of the crew was busily attending to their own task and seemed to take no notice of her. Quietly she made her way to the railing and looked at the sea beneath her.

It was breath taking, the wind against her face was exhilarating, and the sound of the rushing water beneath the ship was strangely comforting. Suddenly tears sprung to her eyes as she yearned for her home, angry that Carson had the impudence to actually capture her, a young girl, and separate her from her family! The scoundrel!

She stood on the deck, her misty eyes scanning the horizon. She thought that maybe if she peered hard enough she could still see her home, but it had disappeared a long time ago. A silent tear slid down her face, but her features held no sadness. They were firm with frustration, anger, and resolution. She had decided to accept her situation and wait out the journey. Crying would do her no good now, and it would get her no where, and so she brushed her tear away and continued to gaze seaward, her arms crossed over her chest.

She heard his heavy foot-steps behind her, but she made no move to acknowledge his presence. Instead she stood still, her spine straight as a rod, her eyes fixed forward.

Carson was pondering what to say. Should he disturb her silence and try once again to apologize for her situation? Or should he battle with her will, remaining silent so long that she was forced to speak. He knew neither would do him any good, for he had apologized before, and it was in vain. He truly was sorry for what he had done, and he felt pity for the her. But she had been brave. Of course she was angry in the beginning. I've looked into the eyes of wild beasts that were kinder, he thought. But she was rightly so, and she had shed a few tears, but she never had let them get the best of her. Yes, he had to say that she was one of the bravest girls, or women, that he had ever met. After all he had dragged her from her home, isolating her from her family and friends, tearing her from the only world she knew or comprehended. At least she is still some-what with her kind, he thought grimly, for pirates are little better than gypsies.

No, he couldn't stand there and be silent; he felt too much of a need to reach out and comfort her. She was so small, and a desire to protect her suddenly burned within him, and at that moment he promised himself that he would let no harm come to her. "I would once again like to apologize for detaining you against your will. I am sorry you had to over-hear such vital information, but I think you are mature enough to understand my situation." She said nothing, but he knew she had heard him.

She stood facing away from him, and she was glad for new tears had formed in her eyes. The tone in his voice and his gentle manner had torn down her hard shell she had worked so carefully to build up around her. She knew he was truly sorry for that was revealed in the tone of his voice, and she did understand why he had captured her, or at least she thought.

Even though she could not see him, he bowed low, and then turned, walking away.

Her tears still glistened in her eyes and she thought bitterly, It would be so much easier if you weren't so kind!

It was after sunset of the following day when they pulled into Tortuga. Amber sat on the Carson's bed, her knees pulled to her chest and her face buried in them. The cabin door opened to reveal Carson. His eyes held regret as he saw her sorrowful state. Tear tracks lined her face as she glanced up, and he saw that she was trembling, but she straightened her spine and wiped her tears away.

She stood as soon as he took a step towards her. Her feet were planted on the floor firmly, her body was rigid, and her defiant eyes held unshed tears of anger. "We are going ashore," Carson informed, his voice gentle but still rough. He turned to leave, and she followed him without a word.

Once off the boat, the sight that met her eyes was appalling. Men and women alike hung half-way out of windows shouting loudly; and prostitutes lurked in the shadows, beckoning to those that passed them by. Barrels of rum littered every inch of ground where pirates flocked around campfires to gamble and drink to their heart's content. Gun shots echoed threateningly through the air as she glanced around nervously.

Carson strode with confidence through the crowd and led her inside of a tavern. It was loud, if not louder than the racket of the streets. It was overcrowded. Brawls broke out at least every five minutes, and scantily clad women hung onto men, holding brimming mugs of rum. He pushed his way to the very back where he sat down at a table in the shadows followed by Cod. But Amber remained standing, her eyes dangerously bright and her features displaying un-vented anger. "Have a seat." Cod urged. "You can't stand there all night!" He slapped the table as he bellowed with laughter. Carson silenced Cod with a disapproving glance, but Amber still did not oblige.

He suddenly stood up from his seat, politely walking to where she was standing, and took her arm. "You will stay by my side, if you are wise. It wouldn't be, what we call, safe to wander off."

She managed a mocking smile before she said, scoffing, "I can take care of myself, thank you. Now release my arm before I am forced to harm you."

Frustrated by her rudeness and ungrateful behavior, he threw her arm down and turned away. Suddenly he whirled on her, his eyes intense. "You do as you wish." Then he pointed at himself. "I am not responsible for you."

Amber turned on her heel and stomped off angrily. At one of the tables she found a man that was one of the crew. He motioned for her to sit with him, and she consented. "William," she acknowledged him with a curt nod as she sat.

"Amber," he replied. His breath was foul and smelled of alcohol.

She sighed in a half frustrated and half nervous sort of way, as he set a mug full of rum before her. "Here, drink this," he ordered. "It will clear your head and calm your nerves."

Warily she picked up the mug and sniffed it. The beverage was foul and pungent, but not wanting to appear weak, she took a swallow. She couldn't help the grimace that formed upon her face, but after about the third sip she felt calmer, and she had acclimated to the taste.

When he saw that she had relaxed, he casually inquired, "Has my cousin been behaving himself?"

"Your cousin?"

"Yeah, Carson."

"The Captain? I had no idea you were related." She sipped at her drink, and the room began to sway dangerously.

"Most people don't know." He casually stroked his jaw as he eyed her. The beverage was beginning its affect on her, and William smiled, amused by her expression.

She attempted to stand, swooning around, and nearly falling, but he had jumped from his seat and was steadying her with a firm grip on her arm. She laughed for no apparent reason and slurred miserably, "I guess I'm a bit tipsy." She followed this with an array of giggles.

He laughed at her and gruffly whispered in her ear. "Let's get out of here. What say?"

She pulled herself away from him and sat unsteadily. "I am perfectly fine right here," she slurred as she patted the bench.

"Ah," he breathed, grabbing her arm again and hauling her to her feet. "But I think we'll be much more comfortable where we're going."

She became angry as he dragged her to the door. She struggled against his grip. "No," she protested, "I don't want to go. Leave my arm." But his grip did not slacken, and he pulled her outside into an ally. There he roughly released her arm, and she stumbled, feeling dizzy and suddenly ill. She reached out a hand to the wall to steady herself, and he quickly pinned her beneath his body. It took her a few moments to comprehend what was happening, and once she did, she began to panic. Her fear was instant, making it impossible to think clearly. Her heart had leapt to her throat where it was now pounding viciously. In the midst of her confusion, she began to pray, Oh, God, no. Not like this. Oh, please help me. Help me to know what to do!

He leaned forward, crushing her beneath him, sending pain through her body. Still closer he came, trying to kiss her. She slapped his chest, but in vain, and she only succeeded in angering him. His voice was gruff and dangerous in her ear. "I would cooperate if I were you, Amber. You will only make things worse by struggling." But she didn't listen. She wriggled and tried to break free from his grasp, but he only came closer, crushing her small body.

She tried to scream, but she was silenced by his mouth painfully pressed upon hers. His lips bruised hers, his harsh beard scratched her face, and she whimpered in pain. She attempted to push him away, but this only irritated him further, so he grabbed her arms, and pinned them to the wall. The backs of her hands scrapped against the building, and the jagged bricks cut her hands. Again his mouth was on hers, but this time when she tried to fight him, he bit her lips. She could taste the blood in her mouth, and for a moment she thought she would choke, for her breathing was rapid, and blood continued to fill her mouth as the seconds dragged on.

I should have listened to Antonio. It's all my fault! If I hadn't have been so foolish I would not be in this situation. Oh, God, please, don't let this happen. I need your help! "Help!" she managed to scream, for his mouth had moved to her neck while his hands had begun to undo the laces on her bodice. Tears began to stream down her face as she realized her helplessness. Nobody would be able to hear her in this ally-way, and even if they did, she doubted anyone would come to her rescue.

Her body began to quake, but because of his nearness she could not intake enough air. William's fingers were clumsy as he tried to unlace the bodice so he made slow work of it, and in those few moments she screamed. His hand came down hard upon the side of her face, splitting her lip and bruising her ear.

Just then a form appeared at the entrance to the ally-way. He ran towards them. The sun seemed to come out from behind the clouds. Carson ripped William away from Amber who now cowered against the wall.

"You bloody scoundrel! How dare you touch her?" he screamed at him, punching his face. William stumbled backwards, pulling out his sword, and lunging towards his cousin. William tripped over a rock, swerved, and the tip of his blade penetrated Amber's shoulder.

Her face became blank, and she felt the blood drain from her face. A hot searing pain spread throughout her whole body. Her shoulder felt like it was on fire. She did not cry out but stood there in shock, pain distorting her features, her eyes empty. The tears no longer came, for this sort of pain could not be justified by tears.

William stood; the sword still in Amber's shoulder, a look of disbelief written on his face. He hadn't meant to harm her. He took a step backwards and the blade slid out of her shoulder with a stomach turning sound, and she winced. Slowly she fell to the ground in a lifeless heap, leaving a crimson trail on the wall behind her.

Cod had appeared, and once taking in the situation, took the hilt of his pistol, knocked William senseless, and bound his hands together.

Carson rushed to Amber's side. Her face was that of death, so pale was its color, and for a moment he thought that she had died. I will never forgive myself if she has died because of me. But her slow and shallow breathing alerted him, and he regained his composure. He quickly re-laced her bodice so that she was properly covered, and with the utmost care, he took her into his strong arms, and made his way towards the ship.

Word Count: 2224

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