Chapter Sixteen: Realizations

Alaina slowly opened her eyes again and found herself still in a blindfold and shackles. Clearing her mind, she listened to her surroundings and panicked. She didn't hear the hustle and bustle of Havanah; what she heard was the ocean. "Oh, God," she whimpered out loud, pulling her knees up to her chin.

She didn't understand what was going on; she did—but it didn't make any sense. She had been kidnapped. But why? What was different about her from all the other people in Havanah?

'Please Dad, help me,' she asked silently as she began to cry. She didn't care if he meant what he had said about her killing her mother; she wanted him there now. She wanted to feel his familiar presence.

She was scared—scared beyond all account. 'And why shouldn't I be?' she asked herself, shrinking back as she heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs that were—from what she guessed—not that far away from where she was.

"Time to see the Cap'n," a deep gruff voice said, and she heard the cell being unlocked and the gate being opened. She tried to fight him away, but being blindfolded and in shakes, it was impossible. Especially for her, since she wasn't skilled in fighting in pitch darkness. Or, for that matter, fighting.

"Come on now," she heard a softer voice say from somewhere close by, and she complied, knowing she wasn't going to get anywhere.

'God damn it,' she thought with a scowl as she was shoved toward what she guessed was the opening of the cell door, but missed and hit the metal cell wall instead.

Alaina finally got through the door after a few unsuccessful tries and was led a few feet before a voice cut through. "Step," it warned, and Alaina felt with her feet the wooden stair before stepping up.

The man behind her was loosing his patience fast and gave Alaina a rough shove. "Get a move on!" he barked, giving her another hard shove.

"I'm trying, but I can see anything!" she yelled back, stomping her foot in frustration. No one answered, and she guessed it was because she was right.

She trudged up more steps and wondered how big the ship was. She was about to ask when she felt the wind on her face and the warmth of the sun's rays.

"Over here!" the man behind her growled, yanking her to the right.

The sudden jerk startled Alaina and made her fall to her knees.

"Alaina!" She heard two distinctly familiar voices yell from somewhere nearby. "Jack?" she asked, confused. "James?"

"We're here!" they yelled from where they stood on the other side of the ship, carefully being watched by one of the heftier men. They couldn't believe she was there on the ship with them.

Alaina shook her head in disbelief as someone pulled her to her feet and ripped off the bandana, along with some of her hair. She gave a small cry of pain and shut her eyes as the sun's rays blinded her. "Alaina!" she heard her brother yell, and she carefully opened her eyes to see them quite a ways away from her, standing by a dark, heavy man.

She squinted and tried to scan them quickly. They looked all right, she decided finally with a sigh of relief. Scared and bewildered, but healthy.

"Ah, Miss Turner, I'm so glad you could join us," a smooth voice said as a man came up in front of her. Alaina froze and her eyes widened and filled with tears in fear of the man that loomed before her.

"You," she mouthed, unable to speak.

"Glad you remembered me, since it has been a while since you've last seen me." the man said, smiling.

Alaina closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she whispered to herself. "This isn't happening, this ISN'T happening."

"Oh, but it is," the man said with a cruel laugh, making Alaina open her eyes and look at him again as memories of that night—what seemed so long ago—came flooding back to her. "You're on the Gray Morning, and I'm Captain Partuse."

Alaina just stared at him; she was in too much shock to be angry. "How?" she mouthed, her voice failing again as she slowly began to piece things together.

"How what? How did we find out your brothers were alone?"

Alaina nodded. That was the only part that didn't make any sense. Partuse laughed again. "We have this lad to thank for that." With that, he made a flourish with his arms, pointing to the opposite side of the deck.

Alaina turned her head and squinted, then took a step backwards as the last person she'd ever expected to see stepped forward.

"Alex?"

A/N: HA! Now you know! Or maybe it's not Alex and it's just a guy that looks like him? Guess you'll just have to find out. Sorry this is such a short chapter but I have WAYYY too much homework and stuff to type much.

Once again if you want to see anything happen tell me cuz otherwise I'll never know what to add.

And I'm running low on ideas once again. My muse likes to come and go whenever it pleases. Stupid muse.

Rory4: Your SOO welcome hon, and I'd like to thank you for reading this the entire time and taking time to review!!! THANKS!!!

Movie Savvy: Thanks hon! I hope you like it! Thanks for reviewing!!

Namarie2Legolas: HAHAHA!!! Do you mind if I use that later on??? Anyways, thanks for reviewing!!!