The next evening Evelyn was laying in bed reading her book when her father's voice came floating upstairs.
"Evelyn? Are you ready?"
She ignored him and kept reading. He called her three times before she heard him start coming up the stairs. Quickly she hid her book and shrunk down under the covers, moaning slightly and distorting her face into a painful expression.
"Evelyn! Are you all right?"
Evelyn glanced to the doorway where her father was standing in shock. Quickly she rolled over and moaned some more. Her father came to the other side of the bed to face her.
"What's wrong?"
She scrunched up her face and shook her head, clutching at her stomach. "And a headache," she said miserably.
"Nothing some food can't fix," said her father brightly. "Come on, we'll be late for the banquet."
"Father, I really think I should stay home tonight. I probably just need to rest." Evelyn looked up at him with pleading eyes.
Her father considered her for a moment, then sighed. "Alright. I'll have Monica come take care of you."
"That won't be necessary, father, I know tonight is the night she spends at home with her family. I'll be fine. Please don't worry. Have fun at the banquet."
Her father walked out of her room, grumbling about "the publicity of these things." When she heard him trudging down the stairs, she breathed a sigh of relief and picked up her book again. Finally, a quiet night alone with her mysteries...
Evelyn spent a good couple of hours lost in her novel. After she finished it, she decided to stretch her legs and walked downstairs for a bit of food. she climbed out of bed and put on her robe and slippers, suddenly realizing how hungry she was.
Quietly heading downstairs, Evelyn noticed the town's militia hurrying down to the docks. Sensing trouble, she stepped up to the front window of her home.
She saw distant flashes of light and heard the dull booming of cannons. Fear filled her stomach as she realized Port Bryant was being attacked by pirates.
Evelyn quickly doused all sources of light in the house, wanting the pirates to think no one was home. Perhaps then they wouldn't threaten her. When the house is dark, she returned to the window to find an ugly pirate peering in at her. Evelyn screamed and turned to run and hide, but the pirate had already broken the glass and caught her wrist in his dirty, calloused hand.
"Don't run, missy," said the pirate in a disgustingly calm voice. "Old Mullroy's got you now."
Evelyn stared at him in horror as he pulled her easily through the window. She struggled helplessly against the grip he had on her wrist.
"It's no use, missy. You're coming with me."