~Chapter 5~

Rapunzel

There was an intense throbbing that awoke me like somebody was drumming against my head. My body felt as if it was moving in a slow swaying motion churning my stomach. As my eyes fluttered open and my view came into focus, I looked down and I was bound both hand and foot with a cloth stuck firmly over my mouth. I grunted a couple of times trying to get a feel for some mobility, but all I could do was inch forward or backward. Not worth the excess of energy. I was in some type of wooden-clad room, but it seemed as if it was moving. There were crates and boxes stacked in large piles around me with some burlap bags hanging from the ceiling that were stuffed full of something, probably food. A single lantern lit the room, but it was still dim all the same. My shoulder felt lighter than normal, Pascal was gone. I searched around frantically for my little green friend and I saw him passed out behind me on the ground with shreds of rope in his mouth and lying around him. He'd been trying to free me. He was here and he was safe, that was the best news I could have right now. However, this bright spot was quickly shadowed by the overall outlook of my situation. I was captured and my mother was still missing. There was no knowing what could happen, but all I knew was that my stupid hair put me in this mess. It's why my mother kept me secret in the tower the whole of my life. Now that I was outside it and in this predicament now, I wish I had never left. Before I knew it tears streamed down my cheeks as I sat in this strange place with nobody knowing where I was or how I could leave.

The swaying of this place made me nauseous, not to mention my intense headache. If I was to purge my stomach contents, this cloth over my mouth would force me to choke those contents back down. Even thinking about that made me even more ill. Alone I waited for hours, Pascal was still passed out on the floor when a square hatch opened in the ceiling. A ladder made of rope was thrown down from the opening as those two twin thugs climbed down to join me. My body tensed upon seeing them again remembering how they attacked mother and I.

"Hey look, she's awake." One of them sneered.

"She hasn't eaten in a day," The other said, "We won't get paid if she is dead."

They were speaking as if I wasn't here hearing every word they spoke. The brother with a scar over his cheek approached me and removed the cloth from my mouth letting it fall around my neck.

"Since you're on the ship, scream and cry out as much as you like. Nobody knows you're here. It's a shame to have a pretty face like yours all smothered like that."

"I'm on a ship?" I asked in disbelief, "So we're not in Corona?"

"See for yourself." The scarface twin yanked me up on my feet and took me over to a small circular window in the wall. I didn't even notice with the limited light. Dark blue ocean stretched on for miles as far as my eyes could see. My stomach lurched as I threw my head to the floor vomiting. My captors laughed.

"We'll make a sea traveler out of her yet." The one with the eyepatch said.

Scarface dragged me back over to where I was even dragging my feet through my sick. I felt disgusting. I knew better than to fight or scream. It was a waste of energy. I had to keep calm and figure a way out of this, but who was I kidding? I knew nothing about the world or how to escape its troubles.

"Rider!" Eyepatch bellowed.

Soon Flynn Rider himself climbed down the ladder carrying a knapsack. I glared at him putting everything together. He was never trying to help me.

"You have some nerve," I growled.

"Sorry, Blondie," He said.

Scarface started up the ladder and Eyepatch looked at Flynn.

"Make sure she eats, we dock in a few hours."

"What am I to do until then?" Flynn asked.

Eyepatch threw him a mop and bucket that nearly missed blocking him in the face.

"Clean up her mess, we don't need our commodity getting sick. If she dies,"

"We don't get paid," Flynn continued for him, his tone sounding glum.

Eyepatch nodded his approval and climbed up the ladder leaving Flynn and I alone. The knapsack of bread and cheese was tossed in front of me. My hands were still bound, but positioned in front of me so I could manage to get food into my mouth. Not that I wanted anything. Flynn picked up the bucket and mop and didn't say another word while he went and cleaned up my mess.

I nibbled on the cheese and bread, but food was the least of my problems. As I sat there munching, an idea hit me though it was drastic. They needed me alive, so if I were to fall ill or unconscious, nobody could force me to use my healing power. Rider and his band of thugs couldn't use me against my will. It was a weak idea, but an idea nonetheless. I noticed Flynn looking over at me just making sure I got some food down, more than likely to report to the twins running this operation. If only I could appeal to him to let me go, but I knew he wasn't the one in charge. Pascal woke up by now as he crawled into my lap surveying me over.

"Hey buddy, it's nice to see you."

He turned his skin a little paler green and patted my hand suggesting that he knew that I felt sick.

"I'm okay," I nodded.

His color changed back to his rich normal green color before Flynn looked over at me curiously and Pascal camouflaged himself against the purple hue of my dress.

"You sure you're okay?" Flynn asked.

All I could do was glare at him, I would have crossed my arms if they weren't bound.

"What do you care?" I snapped, "You kidnapped me!"

"I didn't want to," He said, throwing down the mop frustratedly, having it clamor on the ground. "My brothers saw an opportunity. I've only ever known thieving, I never intended kidnapping to be added to my list of indiscretions."

Flynn picked up the mop and continued to mop the floor around us and silence fell between us again. My judgment might have been off, but I really do think Flynn was conflicted. He never laid a hand on me, Eyepatch and Scarface did. Though he did lead me into their trap of his own free will. Though we had one thing in common, people in our lives who treated us with glaring disrespect. I knew I had to appeal to his good nature somehow. Mother taught me that everything and everyone in the world is cruel, but something in my gut told me this wasn't true. Even despite my limited perceptions of the outside world.

"So your brothers, Eye patch and Scarface, seem quite different from you."

I was referring to appearances, but what did that matter. I always thought I should have jet black hair like my mother, but she said my blonde hair was a gift. Flynn held back a laugh and I immediately felt embarrassed.

"What did I say?" I asked.

"It's not your fault, I called them my brothers." He replied trying to compose himself, "You actually think we are blood, I assure you we are not. We grew up together in an orphanage."

"That sounds awful, what is it?"

"A place where they send kids with no parents."

My heart sank. There was a place for that? The world made no sense.

"I was right, it does sound awful. I'm sorry you don't have parents."

"I'd rather not discuss it, after all, it's a bit of a downer." He shrugged, "And Scarface is actually Leeland and Eyepatch is Logan."

"Good, now I know the name of all my captors."

"I know you have no reason to trust me, Rapunzel, but once my brothers get their payday, I'll make sure you get home."

"Thank you," I nodded.

"For what?" He asked, raising a curious brow.

"For calling me by my name."

I wanted to believe him, but I knew I couldn't trust him. Though if he was being honest with me now, I could only hope for the best intentions. Perhaps quite foolish of me, but I had to hope for that at least.

Despite the circumstances, it was nice to clear the air a bit though my guard was still up. We began talking with each other to pass the time. I asked him very trivial questions about the world outside and Flynn obliged me in answering. He probably thought me odd, but the more I knew the better. Mother never answered these questions or just gave quick, weak responses that never fully answered my questions. Soon a loud announcement was heard upon the deck of the ship. I only recently knew the reference to a "deck" courtesy of Flynn. The door above opened as the rope ladder was thrown down. Pascal climbed up my arm and hid behind my neck and hair.

"Land hoe!" A voice yelled.