Disclaimer: I don't own anything ok? K!
When Evalyn Henley grows tired of being ordered around like one of her servants, she decides she is in need of her own life, independence and adventure. And where does she go looking for it? On the open seas, of course.
AN: Dun dun dun!
Chapter 6: Overboard
It was already 4:30 in the afternoon when Evalyn was awakened by the sound of heavy footsteps pounding down the hallway. She sat up in bed, clutching the blanket tightly to her chest, afraid that some monster of a man, like Willem would barrel into her room and kill her. Of course, that was highly improbable, since she hadn't done anything worth getting that kind of punishment.
She settled back down once the footsteps faded away. Yet, her pulse still raced. "I sure slept the day away..."
As she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and got dressed in the pants and over-sized shirt, Eva opened her door. Taking one step out into the hallway, Eva could hear shouts from the men on deck. She whirled around and headed straight up the stairs to see the men busying themselves when tying ropes, carrying things, and other sailor jobs that she wasn't familiar with yet.
A man ran by her, pausing only to greet her. "S'cuse me. You better get back down there. Looks like it'll be an ugly one." He trailed off before explaining to Eva what he was even talking about.
She furrowed her brow and stepped up completely onto the deck. On the horizon, where the sun should have been starting to set, were massive black clouds. They rose up high, turning white the taller they got. Eva stared at them, pressing her hand to her mouth. She had seen clouds like this before, during last summer's hurricane season. But, it was still spring.
Before she could even register the fact that they were about to drive right into a hurricane, an arm reached out and shoved Eva back. She collided with the stair rail and managed to steady herself. Willem smirked as he passed her, satisfied that with just his little touch he was able to practically knock Eva down. She stared at him dumbfoundedly and rubbed the spot on her chest where he had slammed into.
"Fat, ugly brute." She mumbled.
Wrapping her arms around her waist, Eva stayed close to the stairs, not exactly sure what to do. She was no use anywhere except to clean. How rediculous she'd look out in the middle of a storm, sweeping the deck. "Don't want you boys to have a filthy deck, now would we?" She rolled her eyes at the thought and turned to make her way back into her own room.
She trusted Captain Englehorn with his own ship. He's been through many storms before, and even last week, manuevered through one quite well. Leaving shiply matters to the ones who were used to it, Eva sat on her small cot and stared at the room around her. She was beginning to forget how her old room looked. She remembered the nice, large bed. Who would forget that after sleeping on a dincy mat for three weeks?
Minutes ticked by, and little by little, Eva began to feel the ship turning slightly. It would have gone unnoticed if she hadn't looked at the cup of water sitting on her nightstand. The water level was leaning, making Eva stand quickly to her feet.
She could feel herself tilting the same way. Feeling her heart leap into her throat, she walked out onto the deck and gasped. The clouds were just about on them now, and lightning would streak through them every few seconds.
The water was getting choppier and the men's faces looked more and more serious. No one hardly spoke. Were they worried? Did they have a reason to be worried? Eva looked up into the helm of the ship, trying to make out Captain Englehorn's expression. He wasn't staring at the storm, but toward the south, the same position the ship was turning.
But what frightened Eva the most, was the way he didn't look calm at all. Even from down below, on the deck, Eva noticed he was sweating. She ran to the stairs, weaving in and out of the rushing men. Her feet flew up the steps, taking them two at a time. She looked at the clouds from here, making her heart pound harder beneath her chest. No wonder Englehorn was sweating. The dark storm looked even more ominous.
The sun had stopped shining through patches of them. It was as if this storm was eclipsing the light. Eva gulped and ran up to the helm, stopping in the doorway. Willem was standing at the charts and other bits of machinery while Englehorn was at the wheel. He glanced at her and held back a sudden urge to growl. She was the last person he wanted to see right now.
At the sight of Eva, Willem turned around and pointed out to the deck. "If you don't get yer little ass back down there, I'll throw you down."
"I have every right to be up here! I want to know what's happening."
"Open yer eyes, then!" Willem shouted, reaching to grab the girl by the neck and possibly throttle her. Eva squeeked before Englehorn reached out and gripped Willem by the collar of the shirt, barking harsh orders in his native language. Whatever he had said, made Willem extremely angry. They continued shouting at each other, making Eva cover her ears. "Stop it!" She screamed.
Englehorn looked at her, glancing back at the storm before giving Willem one final order in German. The disgruntled man stormed out of the room, shouting curses to everyone who crossed his path. Eva looked down at her feet as Englehorn returned to the wheel. "I'm sorry. I-I just didn't..." She didn't know how to continue, fearing he'd yell at her the same way he had to Willem.
It was the first time she saw him angry like that.
It scared her more than the storm did. "Go back to your room."
"Why? I'd rather stay up here--"
"And do what? Fall over board? This isn't like the little storms you've ever experienced. This is worse. And about to get more so." Eva bit her lip and gripped the door frame tightly in her hands. The ship bounced against a wave, sending the S.S. Venture pointed into the storm. "Can't you...turn it more?" Eva found herself leaning away from the clouds, as if her body would be enough to make it move.
"Would you like us to capsize?" He sighed in annoyance as another wave pounded them toward the storm. "If we do go into it, at least we won't experience the worst."
"Aren't the worst winds on the outside?" Englehorn gave her a look of contempt which shut Eva up quickly. She ducked her head and squeezed herself into a corner, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. But, it wasn't going too well. Englehorn steered the large ship over a wave, that Eva was sure was twice as big as her house back home, and sent her flying.
She landed on Englehorn's boots, and like the domino effect, he collapsed backwards. Eva squeezed her eyes shut as the man came crashing down on top of her. She screamed and pulled her arms protectively over her head. Before she could even get kicked in the head, the ship lurched sideways. Both the captain and the unlucky girl slid across the floor. Eva opened her eyes in time to see the open door coming closer and closer.
She screamed again and readied herself for the fall out the door and into the ocean. Except, all she felt was a hand grip her ankle, pulling her back in. "Damnit!" Englehorn shouted, pulling Eva's leg as he gripped the wheel. The ship righted itself but not before being slammed by another wave.
Even the crew, who's experience went far beyond what Eva was used to, shouted and grabbed whatever they could.
Too scared to think rationally, Eva threw her arms around Englehorn's waist and held on for her dear life. She was too young to die. At least, to die without ever being this close to a man. Eva's vision swam as she came to her senses. Here she was, on the verge of dying in a watery, painful death, and she was just happy she got to hug a man.
"Get off of me." He growled, trying to pry Eva's hands from his body while steering the ship.
"I can't! I don't want to die! I'm too young!"
Just as the words came spewing from her mouth, Englehorn ripped her from himself and held her about her shoulders. Shakily, Eva turned her panic stricken face toward the captain. Her tears spilled over her cheeks, making Englehorn roll his eyes. "Stop crying." Eva sobbed more, dropping to her knees as the man turned to the wheel. He tried to keep his attention on the rising winds and towering waves, but it was useless.
He couldn't stop glancing down to make sure if Eva was alright. He didn't need to lose her now, not after comfirming he had found her. Especially with the large amount of money hanging over her head.
But, even though he didn't admit it, Englehorn knew he genuinely didn't want her to get hurt. He had seen to many people die from panic and fear. He wouldn't wish that fate on her, no matter how annoying she was.
The rain pelted the ship's deck as the storm barreled over head. The clouds looked black now. Englehorn gripped the wheel tighter and glanced down at the sobbing girl at his feet. The water looked as if it were a whirlool, swirling under them.
Eva risked a peek over the edge of the window and felt her stomach hit the floor. It was hopeless. She was going to die, and it was definate now. Wailing, Eva brought her hands to her face and cried. "I should've stayed in my room! At least I wouldn't be sent over board...I don't want to di-i-ie!"
The captain rolled his eyes once more and gently shoved Eva over so he could turn the wheel against a wave. It jarred the S.S. Venutre, nearly tipping her over. Eva stumbled and gripped the morse code machine. Unfortunately, she also gripped the wires and pulled them from the machine, disconnecting all contact they had with anyone else. Englehorn heard the horrible tear and jerked his head to Eva.
She held the wires up and cried harder. "I'm so sorry! We're going to die now aren't we? Oh, God! I'm so sorry!"
"Has anyone ever told you, you're bad luck?"
Eva cried more and resisted the urge to run back into her cabin. She was only staying because she would never make it down the stairs. Or, that's what she told herself.
As another wave pounded the ship, Englehorn gripped Eva around her waist and held her against his hip. Through her teary eyes, she could see the men on the deck, running around. From up where she was, it looked like they didn't have a clue what they were doing. Water was pelting her face now, making her frozen cheeks feel like they were being stung. She whiped her hand over face, pulling her hair out of her eyes.
In the distance, a large, grey mass caught her eyes. She squinted and tried to make it out. "What is that?" She asked with a shaking voice. Englehorn followed her gaze and blanched. His grip tightened around her waist as he pulled the rope of a bell violently. It rang out, barely audible over the roar of the wind and thunder. The men on the deck turned to see the tidal wave, barely in enough time to grip something and hold on.
"I'm going to die...and I never kissed anyone." Eva was becoming delusional with fear. She had never anticipated on that day when she fell asleep in the S.S. Venture's cabin that she would die like this. No one ever anticipates it. But here it was. Eva bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, just waiting for the white light. Instead, she was met by a slight pressure against her mouth.
Blinking her eyes open, Eva came face to face with Englehorn. His eyes were open, staring into her own. Englehorn moved his hand from her waist to her neck as his lips seperated her own. She couldn't move. Faintly, she could feel her mouth opening, inviting him, but it was so dizzying she didn't exactly know what to do next. Just as quickly as it had happened, the man broke away and pushed Eva down to the floor. "Hold on to something."
She nodded and followed his command. She reached over and gripped the leg of the wheel, pushing herself under the bar it sat on. Her lips tingled as tears slid across them. They were numb, as if they had been pressed against ice cubes. Eva squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the wave to slam against the ship. She jerked and her forehead came crashing against the very thing that she held on to to save her life.
Her scream died on her lips as she fell unconcious, watching the blurry image of Englehorn's boots fade to black in her mind.
Eva felt something very cold and wet pour over her head. Her hearing came to first, but it was as if she had a pillow over her head to muffle every sound. Voices were around her. Another cup of water poured over her head, but this time, she felt a searing pain in her left eyebrow.
She winced and laid still, only to be jarred awake by a slap to her jaw. She sat upright and gripped her aching head before crying out. Her lips were chapped and cracked as she opened her mouth to let out a loud protesting shout. "That hurt!" Eva growled, blinking her eyes open.
A face was swimming in front of her, still blurred by her bump to her head. She shook the dizziness off and rubbed her eyes. Englehorn appeared in front of her, soaking wet. His hair was stuck against his forehead and his hat had been lost in the storm. Eva smiled and felt sleepy. She closed her eyes and leaned over to fall back asleep, but Englehorn stopped her, pulling her to her feet.
"You can't sleep."
"But I'm sleepy."
"We have to bandage your head." He sounded cold, as if he didn't really care if she got bandaged or not. Eva opened her eyes and looked off the helm, onto the deck.
It was littered with water, pieces of wood from the ship, and even a sopping wet shirt laid against the deck floor. Eva shook her head and leaned against Englehorn as they made their way down the stairs. The sun still hadn't came out, Eva observed. She laid her head against his shoulder. "Is the storm over?"
"Yes."
"Why isn't the sun shining?"
"It's night." He growled, placing Eva on the steps that lead to the cabin. She bounced and leaned against the rail, watching him walk down the wet hallway.
"Oh." Her eyes slid closed and she felt herself leaning, but couldn't do anything to stop herself. She collapsed on her shoulder and rolled over onto her back, her legs still remaining on the stairs. Englehorn came around the corner and stopped in his tracks to see the girl sprawled out over the stairs. "For God's sake." He muttered, pulling her into his arms before stomping his way into his own room.
It hadn't occured to him that he was even in his room until Eva's forehead was being stithed up. He poured alcohol on it, and cleaned it before sewing the small gash together. She had blood streaked down her face and shirt. "Stupid girl. You should've just stayed down, like I told you to." He less than gently cut the string and placed a white bandage over it.
Just as Englehorn finished cleaning the blood from her face, another man made his presence known in the room. The captain turned to glance over his shoulder, not too pleased to see Willem. "Yes?"
"Cap'n...We can't find Morgan."
Englehorn stood up quickly and blinked. "What do you mean? Is he not in the kitchen?"
"We've looked. I've done two head counts, sir..The last anyone saw him, he was helping the crew. After the wave hit, no one saw him again."
"You mean to tell me...Morgan is--"
Willem pulled his hat off his head and twisted it in his fingers. "Overboard."
AN- Isn't that sad! Awww..sniff, sniff.. Anyway, they kissed! Well, sort of. It was just a pity kiss. But, won't be the last one! Mwhahahah! I'm very happy with this chapter. Eva got a little crazy, but who wouldn't? Hot guy beside you, hurricane in front of you...Make anyone crazy. Anyway, please review, and I'm SOO sorry this one took a long ass time to update. I have no excuse but I'm a bad author :(