Francis was walking off his ship that had just docked; he was in town for one reason. He needed to find a worker, someone who was experienced in fighting and thievery skills necessary for a pirate. He was lacking help on the ship he needed someone to do the cleaning, but he did not want the person to be a burden. He did not even have the chance to leave the dock when he found the perfect target. He saw a young man skillfully evading the guards that perused him. He would have this boy to work under him.
Alfred was a thief he had been since he was young. He didn't do it for fun, he didn't like doing it, it was un-heroic, but it was necessary if he wanted to survive with his brother. He stole to keep his younger brother fed. They were starving. It had been days since they had eaten. Today he wasn't after food though. He took medicine. His brother had become deathly ill.
Alfred was skilled at thieving; he had been doing it since he was small. He was a good fighter, he was strong. Sometimes he would fight for money in tournaments. Alfred was fast, he had developed this skill from running from the guards. He did not want to lose his hands. The things he stole never lasted long.
Francis watched the boy run. The guards shouted behind the boy. "Catch that thief!" Alfred was avoiding them with the skill of many hard years. He was climbing onto rooftops and jumping from building to building. He landed with grace in every step. The guards looked like fools chasing after him. He was defiantly a person Francis wanted working as part of his crew. Francis sent his men after the boy. His men would be able to catch the boy. The guards were worthless. His men were better at hiding and using their surroundings to their advantage.
Alfred looked back at all the men chasing him. "I need lose them, Mattie is sick again, I need to get him this medicine" He said to himself clutching the medicine as if it were his lifeline when in fact it was his brothers. Then again, Matthew was the only thing Alfred lived for. If it were not for his brother, he may have given up on life years ago.
Alfred had been running for a while and was already tired. What would you expect though he and his brother were starved? He was panting heavily, as he ran across the rooftops. He was so far ahead of the guards he could not even hear their shouts anymore. Alfred smiled to himself, now he could get home to his brother. Just as Alfred was making a jump, he felt pressure on his ankle. He was pulled down from the roofs. One of Francis's men had jumped up and pulled the young boy down.
Alfred stumbled and fell to the ground. He landed on his hands and knees leaving them bloody. He jumped up and got ready for a fight. His eyes landed on the man who pulled him down. "Wait you're not a guard." Just then a hand covered his mouth from behind. "If you want to live then you keep your mouth shut and come silently or else you won't live long." Alfred struggled for a second, but when the grip didn't loosen he gave in. He would wait for a better opportunity. The man pulls Alfred deeper into the shadows as the guards run pasted, not even giving a glance to the alleyway.
Alfred bit the hand that was covering his mouth. "What do you want with me?" The man lets go with a slight yelp. He slams the boy against the alley wall, "Captain wants ya. And if ye come willingly no harm will come to you." Alfred took a look at the man, he was big, but Alfred had dealt with worse men. Alfred made a swift movement allowing him to get away and makes a run for it "He is going to need to try harder if he wants to capture me! I am a hero!" Thoughts about why a captain would want him flashed through his thoughts, but there was no time for this!
Four other men came out and grabbed him, one man on each arm and one man for each leg. "LET ME GO! I HAVE TO HELP MY BROTHER!" The boy shouted at the men, struggling as much as he could. A man takes a glass bottle and smashes it on Alfred head. It shattered and left a trail of blood flowing through Alfred's sweaty hair. Alfred's tried not to give in, but his vision faded to black. He slumps forward in the grasp of the four men.
The men took the boy to the ship and set him in room. The men chained Alfred's hands behind his back. After being left in the room for maybe an hour the captain comes in. He had a bucket of cold water in his hands. He checked to see if the boy was awake. Alfred still lay there passed out, dry blood stained his face. Francis frowned at the damage. "That's going to be a pain to wake up to." He splashed the water on his prisoner.
"Ahh!" Alfred shot up. The movement was not welcomed. He winced in pain. His head hurt like hell. He tried to move his hands to check his injury, but found his hands to be bound in chains behind his back. "Shit!" Francis smirked "Good you're awake now." Alfred looked at the man standing tall above him. The man had long waves of blonde hair tied back in a low ponytail. "Who are you? Why did you take me?" Alfred shouts at the man. He needed to get out of here. The man shoved his boot at the boy's chest. "I'm the Caption Francis Bonnefoy! You will treat me with respect or you will regret it." Alfred forced the boot off his chest- "Respect my ass!" He spat back, and attempted to get up from where he was laying.
The captain kicked the boy back to the ground. Alfred grunted from the pain. He reached down and pulled Alfred up by his hair so he could face him. "Listen here boy and you will listen to me. I hear you have a brother." His eyes went wide from the mention of his brother, but he had to be strong. "My brother is dead anyways if I don't get this medicine to him!" He shouted at the captain. He was feeling desperate his eyes looking for anything that would help him escape. The French pirate smirked. "Oh really? If you obey I will get him the medicine he needs, along with other amenities." Alfred went quiet for a minute and then his spoke "You will? Will you do everything in your power to keep him alive?" The captain smiled. "Oui. I promise I will."
"What is it that you want?" Alfred asked. The Frenchman smiled. "I want you to be my cabin boy. You must do as I say, when I say it. And if you don't your brother will pay the price." Alfred was half angry and half relieved. His brother would be okay as long as he followed orders. "Fine, I will do as you say. Just don't let my brother starve" Alfred wasn't too sure what he would be doing as a cabin boy, but his brother was more important to him. The captain smiled at the boy. "Good I will back for you later." He walked out of the room.
Alfred sat up, "Ow." His ribs hurt where he was kicked, maybe they were broken. He glanced about the room. It was finely decorated, and surrounded with riches Alfred was too poor to even dream of. Soon the boat started to leave port. Alfred had never been on a ship before, the movement made him feel sick. Alfred was very uncomfortable, he was in pain, nauseous, and his hands were still chained together. Though it wasn't like pain was new to him, he has been in plenty of brawls, been stabbed shot and starved to near death. Pain was common in his life.
A man came in with a bottle of rum. Stared at it, his mouth was dry. The man saw Alfred was still wearing the chains. He opened the bottle. "Open your mouth if you want a drink." Alfred did, feeling a little helpless. Alfred didn't even look at the man, nor did he thank him for the drink. The man walked away, not expecting any thanks for the boy. The liquid had felt good at first. Cool in his mouth, but after a while he felt sick again. His body didn't agree with the substance now in his body and wanted it out. Alfred didn't allow his body to though in fear of what the captain might do if he ruined the rug.
An hour had passed. They were far enough away from land that you could not swim back without drowning. The captain walked back in the room. Alfred looked up for a second to see who came in, then looked back down at his crossed legs. "When are you going to take these chains off of me?" The captain walked over and did just that. "Yer bother is going to be fine." Alfred rubbed his wrists where the chains had been. He looked to the ground again, feeling tears form in his eyes. Would he ever see his brother again? He tried to wish the tears away; he did not want to show weakness to this man. He wouldn't even admit to himself that he was scared. "What is your name lad?" The captain asked. "Alfred." The boy said in response. "Well Alfred, you can get up now. I have work for you to do."
Alfred stood, but fell back down; this was very new to him, ships and oceans. There was that and the new bruise forming on his stomach. He groaned. Alfred clung onto something to help him stand and gathered his bearings. "Don't worry lad ye will get use to it." Captain Bonnefoy said lightly. Alfred nodded but then decided that wasn't a good idea. He was getting motion sickness again. "Head up to the deck to get some fresh air." The captain ordered. Alfred tried his best not to glare at the man; he was after all, helping his brother. "Yes captain." The word tasted bitter on his tongue, but thought it better to be respectful for his brother's sake. The captain smirked and led the way to deck.