You forget One Very Important Thing Mate – (16)
"Captain! There be a girl in the water!"
As the approaching ship got closer, Ashley could hear voices.
"LOWER A BOAT!" Came a loud shrill reply.
She watched as a small rowing boat was lowered onto the water, inside it were three men. One rowing, another with a large musket in his hand and the last, doing nothing particularly special. Of course, he was one of those pirates; who didn't look like one at all. His clothes were dark emerald green, with a matching hat. He had long blonde hair and deep blue eyes.
As the boat pulled up alongside 'The Silent Wanderer', the 'Captain' (or at least Ashley presumed he was) sniffed and glared at her.
"What are you doing out here?" He asked.
"I was headed towards Tortuga, my hometown, but I was unfortunate to be faced with a storm, my main sail's gone" Ashley replied.
"Ahhh, so your one of them," The Captain replied, pointing to a group of young women who were stood watching from the other ship.
"No I- " Ashley began, but she cut off by the Captain.
"Put this one with the others, see if theres anything of value on this boat, and then sink it,"
Ashley was pulled into the boat and taken to the ship; dropped on the deck, surrounded by the women the Captain had referred to.
She lay sprawled on the floor, until one of them gave her a hand up.
"You alright love?" One asked.
"Aye, I'm fine" Ashley replied, dusting off her trousers like it would make a difference.
"You sure?...What are you doin' here?" Another asked.
"I was headed towards Tortuga, my hometown, your Captain thinks I'm a wh-..I mean Courtesan," Ashley said, using a nicer word than the one that first came to mind. She doubted these women chose to live on the ship and prostitute themselves.
"Your not one of our kind then?"
"No, I grew up on the streets," Ashley replied.
"So your chaste?" One asked.
"Oh, she must be Roxanne! Look at her, she's only just out childhood, 16 at least?" Another exclaimed.
Ashley nodded.
"I'm Roxanne, that's Mary, and over there's Katharine,"
"Ashley. Ashley Sparrow"
The women all gasped.
"Your..your Jack Sparrow's wife?" Katharine asked jealously.
Roxanne and Mary laughed.
"No dear, she's far too young. Ashley..you must be his daughter?" Roxanne inquired, running her fingers through her long, ebony hair. None of them looked as though they had washed properly for a long time; and they all looked hungry too. But Ashley was not one for harsh judgments.
Ashley nodded once again.
"You'll have to excuse Katharine: she's not very bright," Mary explained.
"Why did you all gasp when I said my name was Sparrow?"
"Sweetheart, your talking Captain Jack Sparrow,"
"You've met him?" Ashley pondered.
"No, just heard the rumors,"
"Can I ask ye another thing?"
Mary nodded.
"What are they going to do to me?"
The women looked around nervously.
"I don't know, love. We were all sold to Captain Black to work on his ship; he might keep you as one of us...or-"
"Kill me" Ashley added, with gritted teeth.
She watched as the Captain walked towards her. When he was facing her, he bent down and removed her weapons from her belt and handed them to another pirate. He then smiled at her, but not in a good way. It was a sly, greasy looking smile; one that could not be trusted.
"And may I inquire as to whom you may be?" He intoned.
"Ashley Sparrow,"
"Sparrow…Jack Sparrow's no doubt…yes…you have that cunningly idiotic look about you. And your eyes, they are indeed your Fathers, obviously, you have..the mark?"
He pulled back Ashley's sleeve, his eyes widened when he saw the Sparrow on her arm.
He didn't believe me then? Ha! That showed him! God bless whoever marked me!
"Captain Black, what's to become of the girl?" Roxanne asked, putting her hands on Ashley's shoulders protectively.
"She will join me in my cabin this evening," Captain Black said, with another grin upon his ghastly face.
"I WILL NOT,"
"Was that a 'No'? Very well…I shall give you another chance…you will join me," Black said.
"Over my dead body",
"Really? I'm sadly tempted to except that offer. Saunders! Put her in the brig!"
Ashley was wrenched from Roxanne's grasp by a large, sweaty pirate and his stench made her sick. He threw her over his shoulder and walked below deck. With Ashley kicking and screaming all the while. She was relived when he threw her into a cell, and then left.
Finally.
It was dark, and she was quite glad to be the only prisoner. At least then she could be alone, however, sadly, when she was alone, she brooded over past memories. Things she'd rather forget. And, as always her brain went straight to Jack.
It's been two days since I was thrown into this damned cell...I suppose they've all forgotten me. Left me to starve or die of thirst. Well, isn't that hospitable?
Ashley felt her lip curl in disgust at the thought of the ships Captain.
I'd rather be hanged at the gallows than have to be anywhere near that sorry excuse for the male species.
"Ugh,"
She rolled over onto the hard wooden floor.
And then she sighed.
"Stupid, worthless, mean, arrogant, lying, cheating...Jack Sparrow!"