Pirates. I hate pirates. It's because of pirates I lost my father. It's because of pirates I lost everything I own. It's because of pirates I fell in love with someone who I cannot have.
"Come along, Sarah. We'll stay here and they won't find us. Come quickly. They're coming. Stay here. I'll be back." Those were the last words my father ever said to me. I stayed hidden behind the cargo until the boat crumbled up and went into the watery depths below. I clung to a piece of driftwood like my life depended on it, because it did. I'm not sure how long I lay there, four hours at the most, but when I saw that ship on the sun setting horizon, I almost died. I used the last of my energy waving one of my arms in the air to try to get the ships attention, and it came to me. I started weeping, knowing I was probably the only survivor of the attack. As the ship came closer, I saw no signs of a crew; it looked completely empty.
A small boat came from the ship, an old man rowing it towards the wreck. He dropped a rope into the water and started to row away.
"Hey! Hey! Over here!" I yelled as loud as I could. The man turned around, his eyes big and wide, and started to row towards me. My heart was racing. I was going to be rescued. The man came and helped into the boat. His hands were covered in wet gloves and his stringy black hair was long underneath his wet hat.
"How did you survive?" He asked me after I was safely in the boat. His voice was soft and kind, and it reminded me of my fathers.
"I don't know. But I don't think anyone else did, though," I said, rubbing my arms to try and get warm.
"Don't worry, we'll get you out of here. Don't you worry." The rest of the ride was in silence.
When we arrived at the ship, I climbed the ladder and onto the deck, and I saw no crew. I was surprised that no one was on it.
"Where is everyone?" I asked the man.
"It's just me and my boy on here. We have a job to do." He answered, before walking away.
I ran after him.
"What is it that you and your son do, sir?" I asked, not wanting to be left alone.
"It's too grim for a lady's ears." Was all that he said before getting me a blanket to keep warm with.
I sat on the deck with my back against the railing and an apple in my hand. I was scared, hungry, and tried, but I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to know what was to be my fate on this crewless ship. I waited as the old man went to go talk to the Captain about what was to happen to me. I didn't want to leave the ship because I would die in the ocean and I could leave the next time it made port. I sunk my teeth into the green flesh of the apple, quietly munching away my hunger as the old man came out of the Captain's Quarters. Behind him, was a fairly young man, who looked a little bit older than myself.
"Sarah?" The young man asked.
"Yes, sir?" I said, looking him strait in his dark brown eyes.
"Mr. Turner tells me that you were the sole survivor the ship wreck. Is this true?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well then, I think it would only be proper if you stayed here on this ship and helped my father and I out. How does that sound?"
"It sounds wonderful, sir. Thank you very much." I said as I stood up.
"Mr. Turner will show you your living quarters and you are to report on deck when Mr. Turner wakes you. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"And Sarah. My name is Captain Will Turner."
"Ok, Captain." I said as Mr. Turner led me below deck. He led me to a small corner of the cargo area that held a hammock and a trunk.
"You can put up a curtain if you like." Mr. Turner said.
"Thank you," I said as Mr. Turner walked back up to the deck.
I laid down in the hammock and drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, I went though the trunk that was next to my hammock, to see if there was anything I could wear in it. I found a pair of faded black pants and a faded white shirt. I kept my corset, but loosed it so I could to work, and put the pants and the shirt on. I found a pair of boots in there too, which would be easier to work in. After I was done getting dressed, I started to go up the steps when Mr. Turner came down to wake me.
"Good morning, Mr. Turner." I said before we both went up on deck.
"Have you eaten anything?" Mr. Turner asked.
"Not since yesterday." I said, looking out at the sea.
"Well, here. Eat this," He said, thrusting an apple and a few strips of jerky into my hand, "You'll need your strength."
"What will I be doing today?" I asked, before taking a bite of the apple.
"You'll be scrubbing the deck." Captain Turner said, standing in the doorway of his quarters. I noticed his shirt was open and reveled his muscled chest. A thin scar ran across where his heart is. A small smirk played across his full lips.
"Ok." I said, before finishing my apple and throwing the core over the side. I finished my jerky and took the bucket that Mr. Turner had given me and tied a rope to it and threw it over the side to get water. I hoisted it back over the side and dumped it on the deck. I took the brush that Mr. Turner also gave me, and started scrubbing the deck, trying to get all the muck off of the wood. I had to make several trips to get water just to finish one section, and I wasn't even halfway done. This was gonna be a long day...