ALANA'S ESCAPE
As the rising sun grew larger, its rays penetrated the expensive silk curtains that shielded the window. The light rays entered the room a filled it with soft morning light.
The bed sheets shifted as the bed's occupant stirred. A beautiful woman sat up and yawned; brushing her long golden, brown hair from her face, she leaned over the side of her bed and picked something up from the top of her nightstand.
Light reflected off a shiny silver surface as the woman opened a small musical locket. A sad love song filled the room, bringing tears to the woman's eyes. One lone memory of a man holding two new-born babies found its' way into her head. A sharp knock at the door chased her memory away.
The woman quickly shut the locket and put it in a nightstand drawer. She ran into her closet and slipped on a robe, "Come in." The door opened and a tall man dressed in a Commodore's uniform marched in, "Good morning Alana, sleep well?" Alana nodded, "Wonderful, for you will need all the energy you can muster, we have a busy day ahead of us." A young black woman came in holding a very colorful box.
The woman handed the commodore the box then scurried quickly out of the room. Alana looked at the box; she had a faint idea of what was in it. "Today the Counts of Port Royal are throwing a ball for the soldiers returning from the war in the Philippines. They asked me to attend and I was hoping you would accompany me."
The commodore extended his arms; Alana lifted the lid off the box. Inside the box, nestled among various colors of tissue paper, was a beautiful green gown. Alana carefully lifted it out of the box and held it up against her body. "It's beautiful. Thank you." The Commodore smiled, "I was hoping you would wear it to the ball."
"I will." "Wonderful I have some business to attend to. I will send you a carriage to retrieve you at noon." The commodore turned and left. The second the Commodore was out of sight Alana threw the dress onto the bed, disgusted at the thought wearing yet another dress. Alana went into her closet and threw on some cloths.
She came out dressed in tan britches, a loose white long- sleeved shirt with a V- neck, and her favorite knee-high boots. Alana walked to her mirror and picked up her hairbrush; after she finished Alana picked up a green and white striped scarf and tied it around her waist as a makeshift belt.
Alana looked at herself; one of the most feared pirates in the Caribbean stared back at her. For a split second Alana thought she saw Jack standing beside her, but she knew he wasn't there. Alana turned away and went to the window.
Outside the Commodore was mounting his horse. He spoke to a servant then rode off. Alana watched to Commodore until she couldn't see him anymore. Alana slowly opened the window; a warm breeze blew over her body. Alana climbed out the window as stealthily and gracefully as a cat; she moved along the ledge until she came to a wall covered with thick vines. Being the agile woman she was, Alana climbed down the wall with ease.
The minute Alana's feet hit the ground she took off running down the street. She ran down streets and through alley ways knowing that she had to hurry if she wanted enough time to get back to the mansion before her "husband" returned, but that could wait. Right now she was only thinking about her destination… the docks.