Cordera

Cordera. That's what he calls me. Vaas was one for nicknames, but the last thing you wanted was for him to give you one. To get his attention on you. You never wanted Vaas's attention, pirate or not. But I got his attention, even before I opened my goddamn fucking mouth. There were days I regretted it. Days that I didn't. Like life anywhere else, there were good days and bad days and everyone on this god damn hell of an island desperately wanted it to be a good fucking day. A good day meant Vaas was in a good mood. But perhaps I should start at the beginning rather than rambling. It started with a vacation that went to hell…

"So what's your name!" the young girl asked brightly. She had the smile that almost every kid had at her age. Innocent as could be. No real care in the world, but curious as could be. Her legs kicked eagerly as she waited for the other woman's answer.

"Jane" the woman said returning the smile. The young girl's smile continued.

"Mine's Masuma!" She wasn't a child by any means. Not like she was 3 or even six years old. No, Masuma looked maybe 12 or 13, maybe 11? But not any older for sure. The man at the table chuckled while the girl's mother began to scold Masuma for preventing the 'other woman' from eating.

"No, it's fine." Jane waved her hand as if to brush the question away. She hadn't been offended. After all Masuma reminded her of cousins she had back home. This cruise ship had to be the best idea she ever had. Time away from her damn-boring job and it was rather diverse as well. Masuma's mother wore a hijab. A beautiful one at that. It complemented her blue eyes perfectly.

It was half an hour of regular talking and eating before things….went wrong. Gunfire was heard outside the dinning room causing the dinning room to go silent. Jane's heart was beating out of control. What the hell was that? The family didn't waste any time reacting. The mother, Amirah, picked up her daughter and made her way towards the kitchen area. Still at the table was Kalid. Frozen in fear, just like Jane Suddenly the PA system was turned on.

"Hola Senior and Senioritas!" the voice over the PA had a thick Spanish accent. "Welcome to my island!" the voice continued to talk, but Jane felt a hand on her arm.

"Listen, if anything happens to my wife or me- can-" His voice trembled. Jane couldn't believe what she was hearing. She barely knew them and this man. "If anything happens, please take care of Masuma." Jane was silent. She could see the pleading in his eyes. Jane just nodded. He gave a relived smile. But Jane was not relived. She could hear the sounds of panic all around her. It was starting to get to her too. She was beginning to panic when her fear got a hold of her. Her feet moved before she could even think. She went out the door and down the hallway. She could hear scream and shots as she ran. Where was even running? They were on a fucking ship. She made it to the deck somehow and she wasn't the only one who was surprised. "Oy! Chica!"

Jane's head turned towards the sound of the voice her face paling. A man in a red tank top, waving a gun was walking towards her. "What does stay in your fucking cabin mean to you?" Jane was back up, but the man kept walking forward, his presence getting to her all the more. The look in his eyes alone sent shivers down her spine. "Cause I don't think it means come onto the fucking deck! Or do you want me to shoot you as well!" She had hit a wall. He yelled, close enough for her to feel his breath. Shit. Fuck. Fuck. She couldn't even look at him this close. Her eyes only opened when she felt the cool metal of his gun against her skull. "Well Chica?"

Jane could hear the smugness in his voice. He liked the effect he was giving her. Making her tremble, whimper. "No I-" Her legs fell from under her, but she didn't fall to the ground. The man had a clear grip on her waist. He let out a laugh the gun now only casually against her head.

"Do I make you legs weak, Codera?" For the first time there was something other than fear expressed on her face. Confusion. What the hell did Cordera mean? Why the fuck did she never take Spanish? He turned his head to face two of his men standing where he was when she first saw him. He gave them a gesture with his gun, which they just chuckled at before tossing Jane in front of him. She stumbled a bit, but didn't fall down. "Walk, Codera. Before I decide to shoot you in the head." She didn't need much encouragement other than that to do as told. She kept a slow pace, the man pushing her to walk a bit faster with his gun once or twice, but seemed to be happy with her pace. When they reached the two other men, they were chuckling and looking down at her as if she were the funniest thing on this planet. The man's attitude had changed slightly however. His grip on her shoulder was crushing as he practically tossed her into one of the men.

"Llévala a cuartos el maldito capitán y averiguar cómo diablos llegó aquí en el primer lugar!" Jane didn't understand a word he was saying, but it clearly scared the men. They nodded quickly before he stepped back a bit. "Cabin number, Codera."

Cabin number? Oh! Hers. "316" her voice was soft but squeaked a bit. The man only smiled and waved off the men before walking inside the ship with one of the men, while the other one started walking her across the deck. Mumbling under his breath about having to babysit some girl. Jane's face almost came to a stand still as they passed a rather large pool of blood. The pirate just pushed her forward. It didn't take long after to reach the captain's quarters. The pirate kicked the door open before shoving her inside.

"Don't fucking try to run. You step outside, and a bullet goes through your head. Got it?" She felt like a deer in headlights and the pirate was not amused on it. "Hey!"

"Got it!" she squeaked. With that the door was slammed in her face. Jane turned around to look at the room. It was more a suite instead of a room. A separate bedroom, a small kitchen, and a small balcony. It felt like hours that she was left in there. In fact it was hours. At the third hour Jane was in the bathroom looking in the mirror. The ship was moving. Fuck. Where were they going? She let out a shrill of a scream. What the fuck. She had a gun pointed at her head an hour earlier. She didn't remember how she fell asleep but she did. Or how she got on the bed. God damn fucking emotions. Her eyes were still closed when she felt away. Didn't want to open them. Just wanted this whole damn thing to do be a nightmare. A hand graced her cheek. "Are you always such a crier, Cordera?"

That voice she'd recognize in an instant. Her eyes jolted open and there he was. Over her. She tried to scramble away but his hands gripped her arms tightly pushing her down on the bed, pure anger in his eyes. "Don't fucking look at me like that, perra!"

"Sorry! I didn't-" Before she could even finish her pitiful apology he had let go and was off the bed.

"No, no, I chill. You know why? Because of your idota captain I have more merchandise than I know what to do with!" He hummed with glee. Merchandise? What the hell did he mean by that? She was mid through over what he said when he began to walk out of the room. "Come, Cordera."

It was what he called her. He had used it more times than she could count. Then again he didn't know her name. She obliged and followed. Not wanting to place her life at risk. Though it was clear the man was mad. He was seated on a chair that had been taken from a table and motioned her to sit on the couch across from him. The coffee table was between them.

"Smith, Jane age 24." Her head snapped up as she sat down hearing her actual name and age. Her passport was in his hand. How the hell-her cabin number. Her hand was over her mouth as her brain was starting to work normally. This man….he was scary as fucking. But this…was feeling…more normal. "British" he mused. "Family, Herrmana?" Hermanna. A new word. Her dark blue eyes met his green. He seemed more patient than before, a smile still on his face.

"Not much of a family. Small."

"And here I was beginning to think you were a huérfano." The only thing that made sense was he was calling her an orphan. The word didn't roll off his tongue as an insult. At least she didn't think. "No family on such an expensive cruise….what is a person like you doing with all these rich fucks." She didn't answer right away. At first it sounded like he was being rhetorical. "I asked you a fucking question, perra. Are you ignoring me?"

"No!" she quipped quickly. Jane was learning. The last thing she needed was to upset him. Twice was enough.

"Be glad chica I decided to be the one doing your tagging rather my men." He tossed her passport over the coffee table. "You are shit at posing for pictures." Jane looked up at him. Was it possible he was high? Maybe that was why he was so calm. But he mentioned tagging. Tagging? Were they trying to get information from them?

"How does this work?" the fact that she spoke surprised her. Even more surprising was how calm her was. Jane looked at him not wavering.
"You-" A sigh escaped her lips. "you mentioned how rich people being on this ship so…are we hostage or is it more complex? I mean you're wanting to know if I have-"

"I swear Cordera if you don't stop rambling, I will fucking throw you into the ocean!"

Jane pursed her lips immediately. "I just want to know where I stand."

"Curious girl you are, Cordera. Careful. Do you even know who I am?"

"Clearly the leader." He looked up amused.

"Vaas, perra. I get the pleasure of making a lovely video for your parents. Pray to god they pay what I want otherwise you go the buyers market. They don't like you? Boom!" Vaas pointed his hand at her head like a gun firing it. She could feel her face pale. Vaas's reaction was all smiles. So it was sex slave, death, or chance that her parents could pay enough to satisfy Vaas's pocket. Jane buried her head in her hands. This…this couldn't be fucking happening.

"Virgin?"

That simple question brought her out of her head. "What?"

"Are you fucking death? I ask-

"You don't have any right to-" Vaas was standing now. Fuck why did she interrupt him! He kicked the table out of the way before putting a hand around her neck and began to squeeze.

"Did you fucking just tell me no?" He began to squeeze tighter as Jane frantically shook her head no. "No, no, I think you did chica. You want to talk about fucking rights? How about I talk about my fucking gun!" Vaas bellowed pointing the gun at her head. "I own your fucking life! I decide if you die or if you fucking jump in the air! " Vaas only let go when he saw her about to faint. Jane was gasping for air when he finally let go. Hell, she rolled off the couch and was on her knees trying to catch her breath. Vaas simply glared at the girl at his feat. He cocked his gun before putting to her head again. "Look at me, puta."

Her blue eyes looked up at Vaas. Was he going to shoot her? "You do something like that again, I will fuck you up. Comprendo?"

"Y-yes." Vaas seemed satisfied with her answer, putting the gun away and walking back to the chair he was sitting on. He just sat there staring at the girl who was on the brink of sobbing. Tears were streaming down her face and shaking. Maybe fucking now, she'd be cooperative. Fuck he should've tossed her off the boat when he first saw her.

"Virgin or not? Or will I be checking myself chiqa." Checking himself. Jane could feel her stomach rise at those comments.

"I am." The words felt like a death sentence. Jane was no idiot. If Vaas really wanted to sell her off, being a virgin would mean a higher price. A higher price for her parents as well. God she felt sick.