Killian Jones hadn't slept in the last few days since they left Neverland. He honestly thought he'd get his daughter back. That he would be with her right now. Still, part of him wondered if deep down he knew she'd chosen to be there and he was just in denial.
Killian stared up at the ceiling and listened to the noise outside his window. He heard two men shouting at each other followed by glass shattering; no doubt one of the men hit the other over the head with a bottle. A perfect waste of alcohol, Killian thought.
After lying in bed for more than an hour, watching the shadows and listening to the island thrive outside, Killian gave up on sleep. He got out of bed, lazily got dressed, attached his hook and went downstairs to the tavern. It was late- or early, depending on how you looked at- just an hour before sunrise. There were only a couple of men in the tavern at that time. One of which was passed out on the table. He didn't see the woman the crew of The Damned referred to as "Granny". But a young woman was leaning against the bar with a tray in her hand, watching the men. She wore skintight and revealing clothing that left little to the imagination. Her dark hair fell over her perfectly shaped face. Her eyes were just as dark as her hair and her red lips were seductive and tempted Killian. If his thoughts weren't preoccupied with his daughter, she would be his main target. But not tonight.
She looked annoyed as if she just couldn't wait for them to leave. Which was probably the case. Killian remembered seeing her when they first arrived and that was a few hours ago. She most likely just wanted to go to bed. Killian didn't blame her. He decided to find another tavern so he wouldn't burden her.
But before he could leave, the girl approached him. "You're Captain Hook," she said.
"Aye."
She seized him by the arm and led him to a table. "I've heard stories about you. Are they true?"
Killian laughed a little. "Probably not."
The momentary look of excitement on her face fell to disappointment. "So, you didn't go up against a band of cutthroat men who took your daughter?"
Killian cocked his head to the side. "Well, kind of. They were young men."
Her face lit up again. "So it is true!"
Killian nodded.
"And you've traveled all over the seas?"
"Aye. I've been a pirate most of my life."
She smiled dreamily. "I wish I could have adventures like yours. All I've ever known is the small village I grew up in and this place."
"Why don't you just leave?"
"I wouldn't know where to go." She reached over and gingerly touched his hook. She didn't wince in fear or get a mischievous look in her eye as she imagined it ripping her clothes off, like most women. She just looked intrigued and curious. And possibly sympathetic. "Did you lose your hand fighting for your daughter?" Killian nodded. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I'd sacrifice far more than just my hand to save her."
"And did you? Save her, I mean."
"Turns out she didn't need to be saved." Killian bit his lip as he thought back to the last time he saw Melody. "I was wrong about why she was there. It seems she fell in love with one of the young men."
She ran her fingers over the curve of his hook with a faraway look in her eye. A silence fell over them for a few moments before she turned and looked at him again. "Take me with you when you leave." Killian couldn't help laughing out loud. She frowned. "I'm serious. You can show me the world and I'd have my adventures. And you're lonely, I know you are- I can see it. I can keep you company; be your friend. We could help each other out."
"I can't do that," Killian told her. "I'm sailing off with The Damned to fight a battle and if you came with, you'd be killed."
She frowned. "The Damned. Of course. Hercules' ship. I always ask him to take me with him, but he always says no. He says it's not safe and he doesn't want to be responsible if something happens to me. He and Granny always treat me like I'm kid."
Killian flashed back to when he was young kid and his father always telling him he couldn't do anything and how angry it made him. He couldn't help feeling for her.
"Can you fight?" Killian asked her.
"I'm decent with a sword," she replied. "But better with a bow and arrow."
Killian studied her, knowing he would regret this. "What's your name?"
"Ruby."
"Listen, Ruby. I'll take you with me when I leave with The Damned. But, you can't tell anyone. Hercules and your granny will have my neck if they find out I'm bringing into a battle."
Ruby smiled at him. "Really? You'll take me?"
"Yes, but you'll have to stowaway until the fight. Try to keep your distance and only use a bow. I'll provide a gun for you as well. But, I won't be responsible for you. Once that fight starts, killing as many of them as I can will be my main priority. Do you understand?"
"Yes! Thank you!"
Killian nodded. "Good. I'll let you know when we're getting ready to ship out. In the meantime, please get me something to drink. Ale, rum, whiskey- anything. It's been a long week."
X X X
"Aladdin, where are you taking me?" Jasmine asked, carefully stepping around a naked man passed out in the middle of the street.
"I told you: I want to show you something."
Jasmine gripped Aladdin's hand tightly. She couldn't wait to leave this awful place. She had volunteered to stay behind on the ship with some of the other crew members to watch over the ship. She was sure Granny's Inn was nice enough (for a place like this, anyway) and she did miss sleeping in an actual bed, she just felt so much safer sleeping on the ship. Aladdin hadn't been all that willing to stay on the ship when he had a chance to sleep in a bed and venture out away from the ship and the crew he had been stuck with for so long. But, he stayed with her anyway. On one condition: she had to go with him to see⦠whatever it was he wanted to show her.
Aladdin led her around a pile of broken glass as they continued walking deeper into the island. Eventually they got passed all the inns and taverns and crowds of people. It got quieter, but the stench remained. There were increasingly more people passed out in the streets and some run-down buildings that looked they had been abandoned years ago.
Aladdin led her to one of the buildings with a rickety ladder on the side. "Come on," he said, climbing the ladder.
Jasmine looked at him like he had completely lost his mind, which was exactly what she was thinking. But he didn't turn back. With a sigh, Jasmine began climbing after him. When they reached the top there were a few steps that led up to doorway shaped hole.
"Aladdin, where are we?"
"This is my home," Aladdin replied, taking her inside. They walked up a couple of steep stone steps. "Watch your head."
Jasmine ducked under a low-hanging wooden beam. The stairs curved up to reveal a broken down one room home. More steps led up to a large hole in the wall covered by a tattered piece of cloth. Broken pots sat at the base of the steps; a ripped rug and worn-out, dusty pillows sat upon the steps. There were two other windows: one left exposed and another that was boarded up.
"This is where you live?" Jasmine asked, in shock.
Aladdin nodded. "I grew up alone. I found this place when I was a boy and I lived here pretty much my whole life. Until I joined The Damned, that is. I come here whenever we dock in Tortuga."
Jasmine couldn't believe the vast difference between how she and Aladdin grew up. She always lived in a beautiful palace with everything she ever needed was provided for her the instant she asked for it. She never even knew there were people out there who lived in places like this. It seemed she was far more sheltered than she ever thought.
"I know it's not much. It's certainly no palace," Aladdin said. "But it's got a great view."
He pulled back the curtain over the large window to reveal a breathtaking view of the island. They were high enough that the horrid sights and sounds couldn't reach them; all they saw were rooftops and flickering lights. And in the distance, they could make out the silhouettes of the ships on the docks. They sat down on the steps and Jasmine cuddled up close to him as they watched the sunrise ignite the horizon like a fire hitting the sea.
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