Christine was in deep sleep when the window was inched open, allowing cool air to rush over her. She shivered a bit and tightened the blanket around her body. A green skinny alien snuck stealthily through the window. The intruder had a red bandana on his head, yellow piercing eyes and baggy pants with a brown vest. He slowly put his hand into his back pocket and pulled out a dagger with a symbol of a pirate inscribed on it and then took out a wrinkled piece of paper from his vest.
The crumpling of the paper slowly awoke Sam from his sleep. He lazily opened one eye and saw a hazy picture of the pirate. His eyes shot open when he saw the dagger in his hand and sat upright in bed. Before Sam could yell, the alien took out a scarf and gagged the boy. He then picked the kicking child up from the bed before he could wake up Chris and tied his hands tightly behind his back and stuffed him into a sack. The pirate looked over at the girl to see if she had wakened up. But, she was still dreaming. He walked over to the window and handed the boy to another pirate on the roof. He then took the paper and placed it at the end of the dagger.
On the roof, Sam was struggling and kicking in the sack. He finally got his head out of the bag and moved his mouth around and somehow maneuvered the gag off. He took this opportunity to scream for help. "Christine! He---!" the pirate quickly stifled him by tying the gag back on and stuffed him back into the sack.
"Ye better be quiet, boy! I have no problem wit cuttin' out that tongue o' yers!" hissed the pirate. He hopped down from the roof and into a longboat with ease. Obviously he was some kind of feline species like Captain Amelia only uglier.
Christine woke up with a yawn from the racket going on outside. She yawned and looked at her window to see the green pirate smirking evilly at her. She screamed in horror when she saw the familiar face before her. She new that face! She thought she would never see it again but there he was! He chuckled evilly and threw the dagger with the paper on it in her direction and she dodged it. It got stuck on a chest of drawers behind her as the rogue jumped out the window and down the roof and into the longboat.
That's when Chris realized that her brother was gone. She flew the covers off her and jumped to her feet and looked out the window to see the longboat taking off with a squirming sack on board. She covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming her lungs out. They had kidnapped her brother and she couldn't do anything to stop them! She fell to the ground as the longboat headed into the etherium and began weeping uncontrollably and then let out another ear-shattering scream that wasn't one of fear. But one of rage. The pirate that had taken her brother was no stranger. He was the same pirate that had taken the life of two other family members. Her mother and father.
Just then, Christine could hear heavy footsteps running down the hallway and coming closer. Jim appeared at the door in nothing but a white tank and checkered boxers. Christine would have flustered all over at his attire but was too scared and angry.
"Are you okay, Chris?! I heard you scream!" he said putting both hands on her shoulders.
She sniffled. "Th…th…they took him. They took him! Those god for saken pirates took my brother!" she couldn't subdue her crying. She buried her face in Jim's shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer to comfort her.
"Jim! Christine! What happened?!" came a voice from the door. It was Sarah in a pink night dress with B.E.N. and Morph standing next to her.
Jim kept trying to comfort Christine as he spoke. "I don't know. She said something about pirates and that they kidnapped Sam."
"What?!" cried B.E.N. "We'll get those black-hearted scoundrels even if it means risking my best buddy, Jimmy's, life!"
Jim glared at B.E.N. Chris slowly pulled out of Jim's hold and stood up. A look of anger and rage was on her face. Not a smidge of fear could be seen. She wiped her eyes and walked over to the drawers and shakily removed the pirate's dagger. Her hands shook as she read the note.
Dear Ms. Rogers,
My crew and I had to slit a few throats to get all the info we needed to now where you lived. When we got to your house, we discovered that you weren't there. How we found out you were staying at an inn is for us to know. We know that you must have many questions on why we kidnapped your brother, Sam. Well, first let me just say on behalf of my crew, long time no see.
Chris closed her eyes. He wouldn't ever let her forget the crime he committed. She continued to read.
We do hope that you'll read and accept our terms. I, the captain, promise that no harm will come to your brother unless you do not play by our rules. You have a treasure map that we want that rightfully belongs to us pirates in the first place. We want it back! We couldn't stay anywhere near Montressor so we had to sail a few galaxies away to a trading planet. It should take you two months to get there so that's the exact amount of time you've got or the boy dies. Got it? I suggest that you start planning your trip right away. The coordinates to the planet are written articulately on the back of this letter. Remember, no police and no tricks!.
Signed,
Captain Donovan
The room was silent. Christine carefully folded the paper in her hand and tightened her grip on it. So, he had come back. Captain Donovan. The same man who destroyed her life three years ago by taking the lives of the two people whom she really loved. Now, he had taken Sammy. This time he had gone too far.
Jim stepped forward. "Chris, what does this mean? Do you really have a treasure map?"
Christine gulped, "Well, I think I know what he's talking about. Before my parents left on their final voyage they gave me a small wooden box. My mom told me that there was something in there that was very sacred to my family. Shortly after that, my parents were…" she didn't want to say any more. She had never told anyone the story of what happened to her parents and especially nothing about the map. She took a deep breath and spoke. "It's hidden in a secret compartment at my house."
"So, all we have to do is give it to the pirates and you'll have your brother back."
"Jim, you make it sound so easy. That treasure is rightfully ours. It belongs to my family and giving it to those scoundrels would be out of the question!" she yelled. "There is no way that I'm going to let that brutish rogue lay a single scaly finger on my loot! And besides, that man has never kept his word and I know that he's lying about returning my brother as well!"
"Wait." Jim said. "You make it sound like you know this Captain Donovan personally."
She looked to the floor and shifted uncomfortably. "That's because I do."
"How?"
"That's not important right now, Jim. What is important is that we have to figure out how we can get my brother back and keep the map to the treasure, too!"
Jim had never seen her like this. She hardly ever raised her voice. Not even when her brother was getting on her nerves. But, she had every right to act this way and he was going to do everything he could to help her. "Christine, if you want our help then we'd be more than happy to assist you." Jim said sympathetically.
She looked up from the note and back into those enchanting eyes of his. That's when she remembered how he held her. She felt so safe with him and so secure. She discovered that she wouldn't mind him to hold her like that more often. "Really?" she said, whipping away the water off her cheeks from her tears.
B.E.N. popped up in between them. "Yeah! We'll help ya'! If you ever need anything then you know who to call!"
"B.E.N.'s right." Mrs. Hawkins added. "You're just as close to us as any other family member."
"Thank you." She smiled sadly. "But, how are we supposed to get a captain and a crew on this short of notice?"
Jim, Morph, and B.E.N. looked at each other and smirked. They all knew exactly who to get.
***
Too short, I know. But, I'll try to make the next chapter more exciting and longer. Remember to R&R please!