Abigail had no idea how close she was to the town's square where the executions were set to happen. She just knew she had to get to the harbour as quickly as possible. The longer she waited around the less likely it would be that she would encounter the pirates. The chance of this occurring was slim at best regardless.
She set off but stopped after a few moments: her pace wasn't very fast. She was restricted by her dress and by her shoes. The damned stays and the smoke from the cannon fire making it almost impossible to breathe. There wasn't anything she could do about that but with an impish grin she kicked off her shoes. The ground was dirty and she would probably get cuts on her feet but at least she could walk faster without her shoes on. Emboldened by this little action she pressed on. People were fleeing past her, running in the opposite direction away from the harbour.
Suddenly a house further down the road exploded. Luckily there was an alleyway to her left and she quickly threw herself in the direction avoiding most of the flying debris. Fortune smiled on her that day because at the other end of the alley was her former captor Charles Vane. She was so relieved she had actually found one of the pirates that she allowed herself a few moments of rest.
Closing her eyes briefly and trying to get her breathing under control she didn't see the red coat advancing on Captain Vane until it was almost too late. The soldier had somehow navigated himself behind Vane and was advancing on him slowly with his sword drawn. Gathering all her courage, all her will to survive Abigail grabbed the dagger tightly and ran in the direction of the soldier. She was so glad she had cast off her shoes earlier while she was quietly advancing on the soldier. Granted with all the cannon blasts going off it was unlikely he would hear her anyway. Like a small predator she crept up to her prey. It was now or never. The soldier was almost close enough to Vane. Steeling herself she leapt at the back of the soldier, clinging onto him and in one swift motion rammed the dagger into his throat.
The soldier beneath her went limp and crumbled to the floor. His throat only producing gargling sounds as his life left him. She bent down and retrieved the dagger from her first victim. The dying sounds of the soldier somehow became louder. His body desperately gasping for air, mourning the loss of his blood. Abigail realized it was because there was a momentary pause in the cannon fire.
The silence didn't last long but it was enough for Vane to hear the sounds behind him. He quickly spun around and in one swift motion raised his sword to attack whoever was standing there.