Chapter Two
I pulled my-heavy-self, over the railing. I landed with a loud thump over the deck. Ever so slowly, ever so cautiously, I dragged myself toward the door they took Little Clam into. Tomorrow she turned ten, and she would receive her new permanent name. My name use to be Little Flower. Little Clam had to be rescued, tomorrow was her birthday and it would not be spent on a ship.
I dragged myself on the damp wood. I saw the anchor rope leading into the murky water. I decided that would be our escape route. I slipped forward, inch by inch. It seemed like an eternity.
I reached the door and open the knob. My nose was hit with a pungent smell that made my eyes water. It smelt like rotting food. Unfortunately, there were stairs. I slid down them . The smell seemed to increase. I found myself in a narrow hall way. I slid my way to the door at the end of the hall.
Ever so slowly, I opened the door. It was a dungeon. There were three cages. The first held skeleton wearing old shabby clothes. The second cell held a boy. The boy sat crouched in a ball. His head was in his knees. He had matted curly blonde hair. In the cell next to him contained, Little Clam! I dragged myself over to her.
"Little Clam!" I cried. She didn't move, but the boy's head shot up. He had a swollen black eye. Ouch! I reached through the cell bars and patted Little Calm. She whimpered and flung herself to the back of the cell away from my hand. She squinted. She couldn't see for half of her face was bruised. She jumped toward me and began to sob.
"Oh Pearl," she cried "They threw me in here and I hit my face on the bars!"
"Don't worry," I said holding sobs "It's going to be fine."
"No it won't" a voice said coldly.
I turned to face to boy. Luckily, Little Clam could not speak English.
"Don't say that." I replied in English "What are you staring at?"
"Um," he replied "A mermaid!"
"A what!"
"You know," he said "half woman half fish. You?"
"Oh I've forgot." I said looking at my fish tail "Look we go to get out of here!"
"There is no way out" the boy said
"He's right." And evil voice said.
I turned to see the Captain behind me. The Black man, Mullins, grabbed me and threw me in the cell with the skeleton. My head thrashed against the bars. Blood began to gush from my head. Little Clam began to scream. I tried to open my heavy eye lids. Mullins grabbed Little Clam. She screamed my name. My cell door slammed shut. I tried to speak but couldn't. I faded out.
