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10
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The sun, once bright and vigorous now was a fading taint in the distant sky. The hour was growing late. The crew had all just finished their last dinner they would have on the island, sort of a celebration supper. It was that to Jack, anyway. He couldn't be more happy to leave the desolate piece of rock behind forever so they could explore the fruits of paths unknown.
As the crew began to clear out from the dining hall, all heading for the one single exit the room retained, everyone pushing and shoving trying to get out as quickly as they could because they were so excited that they would be leaving, Nicole heard Jack, through the incessant chatter of the crew, proclaim that with this final meal finished, the ship would be put to float.
He then called for some helpers to lift the anchor. Good old Kursar and Crimp volunteered for that task.
Nicole stood in a corner of the room, watching the crew clear out in their own unorganized fashion. She wanted no part in trying to squeeze through the tiny opening of the dining hall with all those drunk men who would most likely, at any given moment, cop a feel or two on one of the few females aboard the vessel. No. She could wait. She had enough patience to last until the room was cleared out.
Esmarelda approached cornered-in Nicole. "How ya holdin' up?"
Nicole shrugged. "I can't believe we're actually leaving."
Esmarelda nodded. "Yeah. It's a real shame. I had gotten to taking a liking to the island. Too bad we couldn't stay longer."
"Yeah. Too bad is right."
"So what do you have planned for tonight?"
Nicole considered the idea, then decided she had nothing in mind planned. "Nothing really, I guess."
"Well, the girls and I are 'avin' a card game down in the cellar. You can join us if you want."
The girls... 'The girls' was code-word for 'The other hookers'. Nicole hadn't really intended on spending the night with a bunch of disease-riddled strumpets. Nevertheless, she smiled at Esmarelda and nodded. "Yeah, okay. I'll make sure to pay you a visit if I find nothing else to do tonight."
"Great! I hope you come by. We have a great pot this time. Winner takes Jack Sparrow himself."
Nicole's mouth went wide in disgust. Not because she wouldn't mind winning the pot herself, because she certainly would fancy that. But the fact that Jack used these... ladies of the night... and frequently! Well, she had to expect it, anyway. Everyone used their 'service'. Even some of the hookers themselves. That's why they were placed on the ship.
"Ooh... pretty enticing," Nicole replied, half meaning it.
"Well, the pot can be yours if you come by."
"I'll try. No guarantees, though."
"Sure. If you don't come this time, there's always the next. The girls and I play cards every so often. It's just not as so often that there's such a valuable pot up for grabs. Anyways, I'll see you around."
Esmarelda turned around and started for the doorway, which was certainly less crowded than before, but there were still some men taking their slow, sweet time to vacate the dining hall. Nicole did not even want to make eye contact with one, let alone walk behind one.
Esmarelda walked between a few men, adjusting her quick pace to meet that of the drunk men who were dawdling in front of her. She looked at Nicole, raised up and hand and waved to her. Nicole reluctantly waved back.
One of the drunks decided to pinch Esmarelda's bottom. She jumped, startled, and laughed, continuing to wave to Nicole. Then she and the group of drunks disappeared from view as they walked out of the dining hall and down the main hall.
Nicole shuddered and walked to the doorway herself now that the hall was empty. As she exited the hall, she muttered under her breath, "And that's why I wait for the hall to be cleared out." She shuddered once more, then continued down the main hall until she reached her cabin. She twisted the door knob, stepped inside and shut the door behind her. Nicole walked to her tiny window and looked out at the ocean. She heard, vaguely, shouts in the distance coming from outside the ship.
She pushed her window open as far as it would go (about two inches) and listened intently to the shouts. There was no mistaking Jack's voice. He was instructing the men on how to successfully return the anchor to its position aboard the ship. By the sounds of it, it wasn't going too well.
"No! What are you doing? You're going to damage the deck! Stop that! Hey! That's not how it works!"
Well, serves him right, Nicole thought. She hoped that the anchor would get stuck or something. Anything. As long as they couldn't leave.
"Okay! Good! It's going up now!" Jack called.
Nicole pulled the window closed in one swift motion and crossed her arms over her chest, disappointed. They were leaving. There was nothing that could prevent it from happening. She sighed, uncrossed her arms and walked to the door. She opened it, walked into the hall and closed the door behind her. Nicole walked to the stairway that lead down to the ship's cellar. Perhaps she'd win Jack in the hooker card game and then show him a rowdy ol' time. Maybe so rowdy that it would become painful. That would be pleasant.
She began down the stairs, came to the landing which marked the middle floor that lay just above the cellar floor. She stopped, seeing the mid-deck and its view of the island. She walked forward and stood before the railing looking out at the island, now dark and hardly visible.
Suddenly, she was heavily jolted to the side. She grabbed onto the railing to keep herself from falling down. With the jolt, the ship was in motion. Moving forward, slowly, away from the island. She could feel the churning waters rubbing up against the boat vibrating under her feet. She gripped onto the railing tighter, the skin on her fingertips and joints turning white. She watched as the island passed by before her eyes almost dream-like. Tears began to stream down her face, the cold night air making her wet cheeks sting distressingly.
The tears blurred her vision and her view on the island doubled, then quadrupled, then the tears were too thick to make any viewing from. She lifted the bottom of her shirt and dried the tears away with the material. Her normal vision returned and she continued back to the stairwell so she could go down to meet up with the whores in hopes of winning her captain's body.
The stairwell was deserted, as it always was. The lighting was very poor and Nicole could barely see where she was going. No one usually went down to the cellar except the female 'workers'. And now with all the 'workers' being entertained by their little game, the stairwell would surely be empty. Nicole slowly walked on the landing and began to descend the stairs. She had almost reached the second landing, when she was pushed down by an attacker. She tried to get up but the attacker was on top of her. She opened her mouth to scream but the attacker placed a hand over her mouth, stifling her cries. She was trapped!