A/N I don't own PJATO or HOO
So, like I promised, here's the (long overdue) re-write of A Chance Encounter. Sorry it took so long; I wanted to wait until I was on summer break so that I have time to write.
Book of the Update: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Chapter 1
A loud slam woke me up from my fitful rest in the damp and dark corner. I looked up to see that the heavily guarded iron door had been left open, allowing a flood of light into the area.
I elbowed Hylla to wake her up and motioned for her to stay silent. Hardly daring to move, for fear of the guards noticing and shutting the door, locking us in this hell hole once more, I made my way across the floor, cautious of the filth and human waste that stuck there. The closer I got to the door, I could hear noises, sort of groaning, and I wrinkled my nose in disgust. There must be some guard who was having his way with one of the….more loose girls from Circe's island.
I dared to actually approach the door and stick my face out, just enough to see that the chair by the door was left empty. No, not empty, the guard had left his sword there. It was almost too good to be true.
As much of a temptation that sword was, I left it. Better not tip off the guard of an escape. That is, if we could even make it off the ship. I paused for a fraction of a moment to send a silent prayer to my mother, Bellona, and I hoped that Hylla was doing the same. It would take more than luck to get us out of this one.
It was easy to stay silent, creeping about on bare feet, with the background noise of the ocean battering the hull of the pirate's ship. I hiked up my bedraggled dress to my knees to keep it from tangling about my ankles and tripping me up. Being only twelve, the pirates hadn't yet….well you know, but I was certain they had to Hylla. She wouldn't admit it, but you could tell. A dress couldn't get that torn up just from being worn constantly and the occasional beating.
I heard a sound, the sound of gruff, drunken laughter, and I froze. That sound sent chills all the way down my spine. Hylla and I shoved our backs against the wall, as if we could shrink ourselves down to be invisible. I felt a pain behind me, and tilted my head back to see the rusted bronze of a door handle. The laughter got louder and closer.
This was it. Either open the door and risk finding whatever's inside, or stay out here and be caught for sure. I looked at Hylla and I knew we had the same thought. Quietly stepping back, I turned the handle, thanking the gods that the rusted metal didn't creak. I peered into the room, but saw nothing in the darkness.
Hylla shoved me from behind and I stepped forward into the room, and Hylla shut the door behind us. For a few silent moments, we stood huddled together in the darkness, our biggest fear walking right by the very door we hid behind, but then the laughter died out. They had passed, and we were safe.
And then I heard it. The slurred, gruff words, I was too frightened to even make them out, and it's probably better that I didn't. The room was pitch black; I couldn't even see Hylla, who was holding me in her arms, let alone whoever had made that sound.
I was shocked that the man couldn't hear the beating of my heart, or the trembling that consumed my whole body. We were in the pitch darkness, in silence for what seemed like hours before we heard anything else. A snore. The man was sleeping, and knowing how pirates are, he was drunk and wouldn't wake up if we whacked him on the head. I almost cried with relief.
I still tried to be silent and slow when I felt my hands around in the darkness for some type of light. My fingers grazed over something metal and waxy on the wall. I reached out and heard the slight clatter that sounded like an earthquake in the silence.
I paused. Stood still for the longest time before I felt around and grabbed the handle of what felt to be a lamp. I touched the side, and it felt warm. I opened the flap, and the warm glow of a dying ember lit up the room. I sent up thanks to Bellona, to Mars, to Jupiter, to all of the gods…
I could see the man now. He was most definitely drunk, judging by the numerous amount of empty bottles that were smashed and scattered around him. I took a quick survey of the room and realized-yes! There was a door on the other side, along with a trunk full of weapons.
I walked over, giving the drunken man a wide berth so as not to step on any glass, and peered into the trunk. It was mainly daggers and knives, with a few swords and one pistol. Not knowing how to shoot it, I left the pistol, and opted for a small but sharp dagger that I could hold without it being too cumbersome.
I waited for Hylla to choose one, a knife a bit longer and sturdier than mine, which she held with a sort of vicious ferocity, and I set down the lamp an closed the flap. We were once more plunged into darkness. But this time, I reached out my hand to where I remembered the door handle being and pulled open the heavy wooden door.
Lamplight flooded the room and Hylla and I quickly got out and shut the door, before someone saw the light through the other side. Creeping along the deck now seemed easier, being a bit away from our cell and with our new weapons to protect us. Until we came to the stairwell, that is. These steps led up to the main deck, where we could possibly make our escape, but where there were no walls to hide behind, and where the moon would light us up for the whole world to see.
We stood by the stairwell for a few moments, listening for anything to hint of people up there. Nothing. I took a deep breath and began my dangerous trek up the creaky stairs.
A/N so, there I is! I started a bit earlier this time, but oh well. Has my writing improved? Gotten worse? Was this perfect length? Too long? Too short? Were Reyna and Hylla OOC? Were their fear and the pirates believable? Any suggestions?