You know the drill…

It was evening, and the sun was just beginning to set, leaving the air dark and cool. The activity on the dock was bustling; all of the pirates were loading supplies on the ship and putting it in certain places. The activity usually symbolized the ending of a day at a port.

I was ambling around; watching the men as they quickly addressed their jobs. Kneeling down, I petted the head of a small white goat that was tied to the fence, waiting to be loaded onto the ship. It let out a merry bleat and rubbed his mouth into my hands, looking for food.

Chuckling slightly, I pulled a handful of oats out of a nearby crate and held them out on my hand. As the little goat licked the last traces of oat from my hand I stood up, not wanted to be caught feeding people food to the livestock.

As I stood up, I heard a faint rustling in the brush behind me. Turning around, all I saw was a very innocent, inconspicuous pile of brush. Turning away from it, I heard it gain. Whirling around faster, it stopped. Feeling very creeped out, I turned around one last time to walk away.

As soon as I did a dark figure popped out from the brush and seized me from behind, swiftly slipping a gag and a blindfold over my head so I couldn't say or see anything. I could feel arms around me, silently pulling me away from the group. As they pulled me in the brush, twigs caught on my hair and arms, scratching me in a million different places.

Before I could even think clearly, my hands were bound and I was hoisted up hastily onto a horse. I tried to turn around and try and signal for help, but my captor had jumped with supreme swiftness onto the horse and kicked it in the sides. It jumped, whinnied, and set off at a fast trot. Before we could get far, I reached up and ripped my earring out, dropping it into onto the ground before we broke forcefully into a run.

I tried to struggle, but my captor's arms tightened even harder around my waist, making it hard for me to breath. I bit back onto my gag. I saw the town go in view but disappear behind a dense group of trees. I wasn't familiar to the land, and I had no idea where we were going, and my captor showed no signs of stopping. I reached up stealthily and pulled out the other earring and dropped it onto the ground, and hoped that some of the crew members would get the message.

We rode on and on, not slowing for anything. We passed farms and fields, buildings and trees, ports and harbors. I laid my head back on my captor's shoulder as they continued to ride on and on. I had managed to rip off every piece of jewelry I had on me, throwing it down as to mark the path that I had been on.

We stopped with a jolt, sending me reeling foreword and almost hitting my head against the horse. They shoved me off and I hit the ground hard. Jumping up I was immediately shoved back on the ground again and my ankles were bound together. My gag was lowered and my mouth was forced open. I could feel a liquid being poured into my mouth. I tried to not swallow, but my jaw was clenched shut and I had no choice. Lying helplessly, I heard a few laughs.

"Good one, Mraz. She's a lot prettier than that fat one you brought back last time,"

"Hey Jack, how do you think Iain will reward me when he finds out where I got this beauty?" Using my last bits of strength, I reached up to my hair. Praying that they wouldn't notice, I pulled the jeweled pin out and dropped it onto the ground. Their voices were going clouded out as the drug took effect and I slowly lost consciousness.

Charity's POV

"Here Geary, take these to the Pirate King's quarters, alright?" I handed to small lad a handful of scrolls and he scrambled away. I then turned and watched the last box and chicken were loaded into the storage decks below. I turned my prying eye to Rose, who had her fingers intertwined with this new boy, Ramiele.

I continued to watch them as they drew themselves closer to one another, finally meeting in an embrace. Sighing, I turned away.

"Charity," I turned around and saw Cecil, my sister's dedicated husband. He had a very worried look on his face.

"Have you seen Iris? I can't find her anywhere," that was very unusual, Iris never really left without Cecil to go anywhere.

"No, have you checked on the ship?"

"Yes, I've looked everywhere. I even asked some of the townspeople, but none of them had seen her." I turned around to face the ship/

"HEY, GUYS!" I yelled. Everyone looked up at me. "IRIS IS GONE, AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIND HER! WE ALREADY KNOW THAT SHE ISN'T ON THE SHIP, SO DON'T BOTHER LOOKING THERE!" A murmur of concern spread throughout the pirates. "ALRIGHT, EVERYONE SPREAD OUT!"

The all jumped off of the ship, scattering to try and find Iris. I turned back to Cecil.

"I'm sure she will be fine," he seemed to believe the comforting words, and ran off to help join the search. Putting my hair up, I called to Aloysius. He appeared, as worried in the face as everyone else.

"Let's start over there, where I saw her last." He pointed by a brush pile. We headed over, stopping in the dimly lit area where Aloysius had last seen my sister. We were about to walk over to is but something caught my eye.

"Wait," I said, throwing out my hand and catching him in the chest. I knelt down to the ground, my husband copying the motion. "Look," I pointed to the strange looking tracks that had been pressed into the ground. A pair of very small feet, which had to be Iris's, were with a pair of large feet. They seemed to be very tossed and dragged, like they had been made very quickly. They seemed to come out of the brush, and retreat with Iris's back into it.

Looking at the pile, I could see a large hole in it, like someone had just blasted their way through. Running around to the other side, I could see a collection of hoof prints, all leading down the road and into the darkness.

"Why would Iris get on a horse with someone?" Aloysius puzzled. Someone came up behind us with a candle. Turning, it was Cecil.

"Have you guys found anything yet?" I pointed out the tracks. He seemed concerned, and started pacing, the candle flickering in the wind. I looked down the road again, pondering the possibilities. As Cecil's candle flickered once more, I saw something glint in the dirt. Leaning over, I picked up a small earring. I brushed some of the dirt off of it, and recognized it.

"You guys better get some men and some horses," they looked at me in puzzlement. I held up the earring. "Iris didn't run away, she's been kidnapped!"

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Duh-duh-duuuuuuuun

Oh no! What's happening? I know! Ha ha ha ha haaaa ha!

Sorry it took so long to update, Shoopet was badgering me about details and stuff.

Drama, thank you for the support, I will continue to include you in my author's notes!

Review if you know what's good for you.