The Marana Lark Series: Book One
Right into Danger
After an attack on her town, Marana finds herself on a pirate ship.
Chapter One: The Red Dragon
Marana couldn't sleep. She was woken from a very disturbing dream. It was of the time she'd come over to Port Royal from London.
The ship was making good progress. Marana looked out onto the empty sea. She saw another ship approaching. It was another Navy ship. She saw a little girl in boys' clothes climbing the rigging. The girl stopped and waved. As Marana waved back, a whip cracked behind the girl's back. Two dozen filthy men worked on the deck. A bosun stood at the helm, cracking his whip at anyone who misbehaved. As Marana looked up at the mast, she glimpsed a black pirate flag. It was not a Navy ship. It was a pirate ship. The little girl smiled at her. The bosun pulled out a pistol and shot her. The girl fell into the water. Marana screamed. Her brother Conrad ran up to see what happened. The ship started firing on them. Marana darted into her cabin and locked the door. The sounds of gunfire and screaming filled her ears.
Ever since then, Marana had never felt safe. She dreaded the day when pirates would come and kidnap her. She was only seventeen.
Marana got out of bed and got dressed. She crept downstairs and slipped outside. The night was warm. The moon hung over the town. She could see the harbor perfectly. The tall Navy ships, including the one that brought her to Port Royal, were docked and ready to sail in the morning. Everything was peaceful. She sat under a tree and let the warm air blow against her. She wanted to stay safe in Port Royal. But that was about to change.
Marana stood up and breathed deeply. She would go back inside when she felt safe.
The next thing she knew, Marana heard cannon fire. A cannonball crashed right into the stone wall that surrounded her house. Her piercing shriek filled the air as she was showered with bits of stone. It left cuts on her arms and chest. She started to cry. She was almost covered. (Nothing bad happened, no major injuries). She just kept still.
What is happening? She asked herself. She decided to get up. She tried her hardest to get the rocks off her. She became exhausted. Just as she was about to give up, another chunk fell off the wall and struck her head.
Marana woke to more cannon fire. But she wasn't in her front yard anymore. She looked up at an oak brown ceiling. She was lying in a bed, and she was in a lacy nightgown. Her cuts had been bandaged, and her head barely hurt anymore. But she felt weird.
Marana sat up. She was on a ship. She was in the captain's cabin.
The door opened and a man stepped in. "Good, love, you're awake."
"Who are you, and don't call me that."
The man smiled and sat next to her. Marana jumped up and backed away. "I don't want to repeat myself."
He smiled again. "Oh, I'm sorry, love. I haven't introduced myself. Captain Jack Sparrow to you."
Marana took in his dreadlocks, his brown hat, and his braided beard. "I don't know what is going on, and I want an explanation now." She wouldn't look away.
Jack pondered for a minute, and then said, "My crew found you covered in those bloody rocks, and they dug you out and brought you here. I took care of you and let you sleep there. That's it."
Marana rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, like I'm going to believe that?" She didn't like what was happening. She noticed that Jack was unarmed. She calmed down a bit. Then her head started throbbing again. Crying out in pain and clutching her temples, she fell. Jack caught her and held her up. "You took a pretty hard hit there, love."
Marana shoved him away. "Get away from me!" But then she softened. He was just trying to help. "Jack, could you please help me? I can hardly stand." Jack helped her sit back on the bed before he asked, "What is your name?" Too tired to argue, she said shakily, "Marana Lark." Jack pressed a cool cloth to her head and laid her back against the pillow.
"Get some rest, love. I will see you in the morning. Good night." He left the cabin silently. Marana's head started swimming, and she fell into a deep sleep.