The sack was still over my head and I couldn't see anything through it and neither smell since it was coated in this strong scent of fish and salt.
I was hearing the waves though. We had to be close to the water, so on the shore or a rocky step. I felt it in my gut. It was like a soft whisper telling me we were close to the sea, a hunch.
Suddenly I was thrown into something that rocked a little as I landed, a boat perhaps. I got sit as best as I could and moved my knees closer to my chest as the boat was pushed and rocked once more as the men jumped in.
The men stayed in silence, the only sound I was hearing were the oars hitting the water. I tried to talk but it was useless with the rag in my mouth. Damnit to hell.
After a while there was a thud and I almost fell on my side at the bump.
I could hear the rambling of men coming from above and their heavy footsteps. So we must have reached a bigger ship.
Before I could assess my situation further I was grabbed by the waist and tossed over someone's shoulder. A muffled cry erupted from my mouth at the sudden pain jutting through my abdomen. This had to be the other man since the one that grabbed me before didn't have shoulder pads.
Soon enough I was off the man's shoulder only to be grabbed by another one. He cut the ropes holding my ankles tied, grabbed me tightly by the shoulder and started to lead me somewhere.
I felt some relief knowing that now I had my legs free but my hands were still tied, the sack was still over my head and I had the rag in my mouth. Plus to all of this I supposed I was in the middle of nowhere, on a ship crawling with man that surely didn't wish me any good.
After a few more steps he grabbed me by my arm, turned me around and pushed me back so I landed on my ass and bumped my head against something.
For a while no one touched me and all the sound seemed distant. It was like I had been left alone. I was sort of grateful for that but it didn't make it any easier, I couldn't escape like this and they knew it. They knew it oh too well and it was infuriating.
My eyes were searching frantically for a little whole through the sack that was covering my head when I heard footsteps approaching. More than a pair. Then an angry, high pitched, male voice boomed through the air.
"Hey! That's not Hiccup! He's missing a foot and this folk here has both of them!"
I frowned at the piercing sound and the next thing I knew I was staring angrily into deep green eyes.
"Oh, hello there" the man straightened up and turned to look at the men who, apparently, kidnapped me "Does this girl look to any of you like a one legged boy? Because I think I am blind or something and I just can't see Hiccup there" he trailed off as he chuckled madly.
He wiped his face a bit then went straight to one of the men and pushed him over the board. He gave the other a glare and the man jumped without any side thoughts.
As I looked around my gaze landed on Ryker who was staring at me blankly. I cocked my brow while I watched him carefully. There was something about him that I couldn't quite catch.
"So what do we do with her?" the red haired man asked as he approached Ryker and eyed me up and down, lingering his gaze in some places.
The bald man was quiet for a bit before he shook his head slightly and looked at the other "She might know something, so why don't ya question her, Dagur?" he stated and started to walk away "Maybe more than Hiccup Haddock" he chuckled out.
The red head, whose name was seemingly Dagur, approached me with a giant smirk plastered over his face "Let's see what you're hiding in that tiny brain of yours then"
The moment he untied the rag from behind my head and pulled it out of my mouth I head butted him as hard as I could. I was dizzy but at least I knew it hurt him twice worse.
I got up fast and ran to the back of the vessel while yelling for help on top of my lungs. I didn't even have a plan and no one could actually hear me out here… I didn't even think I'd get that far.
I was near the railing when suddenly I was tackled down. I tried debating just to freeze as I felt something cold and sharp press against the bare skin of my throat.
"Remember what I told you back on Glacier Island? Huh? One more attempt of yours to escape and I am going to do it. I am a man of my word after all"
I gave a shaky nod as I felt the rest of my body paralyzed by fear. Well, also because of the man that was crushing me with his weight.
Ryker removed the sword, got up and yanked me up by my arm. Then he led me back to the place I was initially sitting on and pushed me back on my ass with the back to the mast.
Dagur strode to me with a murderous, slightly crazed look painted on his face. When he was right near me, he grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked my head back.
I let out a yelp at the sudden pain.
"Spit it out, where's the Dragon Eye?"
I tried to shake my head a bit as a no but he just pulled my hair harder. A small cry broke past my lips and my eyes turned watery.
"I don't know…"
"How pity" he replied as he tugged a bit harder "I think you do"
I bit the inside of my cheek hard "I don't—" a scream tore through my lips as he loosened his grip then yanked my head back harder.
"I know you do and I am going to get it out of you. It doesn't matter if you're a willing participant or not, you'll break in the end" he said rather calmly then lowered his voice to a wicked whisper "And I am so going to enjoy breaking you"
My heart was beating ready to break out of my chest, my breath became short and ragged and my eyes were slightly wide.
He trailed his fingers down my neck and I wanted to flinch away but couldn't "So where is it?"
Think. Think. THINK.
"It's…" I didn't know what to say when suddenly an idea flashed in my mind "It's with Hiccup!"
Dagur loosened a bit his grip "And where is he now?"
"I don't know. They all left this afternoon. I have no idea where— AH!" he was literally about to rip my scalp off.
"And they didn't take you?" he asked mockingly "Doesn't seem like Hiccup at all. He wouldn't leave behind any of his precious friends, so I guess you're just not as important as you think" he chuckled completely amused by the situation.
I glared at him over my head "It's none of your concern"
Suddenly he let go of my hair and I straightened my neck as the pain started to vanish slowly. I was full on glaring at him while he was seemingly thinking. I really had to get my ass out of there and going to Valhalla wasn't an option. After a few moments an idea popped in my head. It was risky but I had nothing better than that in that very moment.
Taking in a deep breath for courage I spoke "Hey, dwarf"
Dagur looked at me with a look that turned fast from confused to murderous "What did you just—"
"Are you going to stay there and think all night with that tiny brain of yours or what?" I asked as a wicked grin tugged at my lips. Out of nowhere I started to feel bold. It was like an impulse; like someone was driving my actions, coordinating them.
"What happened, dwarf? The cat ate your tongue?" I giggled a bit, which, normally, would have scared the crap out of me; though it felt like it wasn't wrong "Oh, wait, do dwarfs have small cats? Because I think the normal ones would… you know… eat you whole, not only that tongue of yours"
Guess I was the gone girl now. A gone girl with a giant smirk plastered over her whole face.
I stood up slowly as I kept my gaze glued to Dagur's infuriated one. He was about to say something but I cut him off with laughter "So this is why your voice is sometimes high pitched like a little girls, those lungs can't even hold enough air" I took some steps forward and eyed him mockingly "Are you going to stay there the whole night, trying to think of something that tiny brain of yours? Or are you going to do something? Besides screaming, you're pretty good at that"
As I looked around at the crew, half of the men had shocked expressions while the other half was amused. My eyes moved back to Dagur's who was full on glaring at me. Which pretty much amused me.
Before I could say more I felt a white pain in my right cheek. I took some steps back and the next thing I knew I had my head yanked back once again.
"Want to play like that? Alright", I tried to debate but felt something sharp slice the bare skin of my neck.
"And here I am, thinking with my tiny brain of the most painful way to kill you" he cut again slowly above the first cut "What were you saying there? That I am a dwarf?" he pressed the blade deeper into my skin.
I clenched my jaw tightly so as my fists "Just do it already. What the hell are you waiting for? Huh?! Afraid to kill an innocent?" I asked challengingly and I wished I didn't.
Dagur let go of my hair and snaked his arm around my torso, pressing my back against his chest armor. He drew another line across my neck as he spoke lowly "You know, I've been aching for a good bone. Comes hardly to get a woman around here"
My heart skipped a beat and my breath hitched as his fanned over my ear "Gonna get you down in the deck, tie you up, gag you and bang the brains out of that pretty head of yours" he trailed off in a low whisper as the dagger sliced my neck once again "You're going to be begging for more. And believe me when I say that you're going to crack"
My mind was racing as I felt my body flush. I wanted to slap myself in that moment for that. I seemed to not be able to even form any sorts of words. It was like someone silenced me.
Before Dagur could say anything else, he was cut off by Ryker who apparently grabbed the red head by the collar.
"Dagur, let her" he growled out coldly.
Dagur was about to protest but decided not to when, I assume, Ryker glared at him.
"Alright, alright" and with that the red head let go of me.
I straightened my neck and looked at the two men just to see Ryker toss Dagur to the side, then he looked at me with hard eyes. He muttered something to himself before he hoisted me over his shoulder in a… careful manner? As he started to walk I couldn't help but wonder what would actually happen to me out here.
After a bit we were down in the deck and he put me down on my feet. He turned me around and gripped my shoulder as he led me through the corridor.
The ship was exactly like the Reaper. A creeping feeling crawled up my spine and I couldn't help but shudder as we walked through the chamber they held the dragons caged in. How could they do such things to the poor dragons…?
I felt an urge to stop in front of the cage of a Deadly Nadder but I couldn't do it, it would definitely worsen my situation. As we passed through the chamber and continued walking on towards the end of another hall I felt a wave of fear wash over me.
Okay.
So maybe being questioned by Dagur wasn't such a bad idea.
The bald man was literally leading me to the captain's quarters and I felt my heart drop in my stomach.
Now I was really dead.
This, right here, was a situation that didn't even cross my mind when I left Berk basically four days ago. I left Berk for just four days and I already managed to get kidnapped and possibly killed or… well…
I wanted so badly to go back in time and smack my past self across the face for even thinking of trying to leave Berk. Now I actually understood why Stoick didn't want me to leave the island.
I was pulled out of my thoughts as we came to a halt in front of a big wooden door. Ryker opened it and pushed me inside the room. I skidded a bit but regained my balance fast.
The chamber was pretty empty; in the center sat a big carved wooden desk with a chair behind it, on the wall behind the desk two axes were suspended and near the table laid a big chest.
I heard a click from behind and as I looked back I saw Ryker turning to face me. His face was unreadable with its stone cold façade. It scared me to not be able to make out what he was thinking about.
He took a step towards me and I made a small one back. He let out a breath, grabbed me by my arm and turned me around. I tried to debate. I couldn't just give up like this. I would fight. I would—
I froze as the rope that held my wrists loosened and was removed.
For a glimpse I didn't get what just happened. Why would he untie my hands… I pushed the thought aside though and ran to the door swiftly. I grabbed the knob and tried to open the door but it was locked. I shook it frantically, hoping it would open.
A scream tore through my lips as I was snatched away by my waist. I tried to debate but it was useless, he wouldn't loosen his stone like grip.
"Let go of me!" I shouted as I kept debating, not really paying attention to the cuts that reopened.
Ryker held me a bit tighter "Stop trashing, you're reopening those pretty gashes of yours"
I stilled.
Why would he say that?
He let go off me, gripped my arm and made me get sit in the chair behind the desk. I blinked hard and stared at him with a cocked brow, utterly confused.
He then grabbed the chest and placed it on the desk with ease. Opening it he started to search for something before he pulled out a flask and a white cloth. He uncapped the flask and poured the non-colored liquid on the cloth.
It looked like water but when the strong scent of alcohol hit my nose I realized it was nothing near water.
The man turned to me and raised my chin with his free hand. I flinched a bit and before I could do anything else he spoke "Don't keep moving, you're making those worse"
Silence fell in between us as I stood there frozen in place.
"This is gonna sting" he said after a bit before the cuts felt like they were caught on fire. I clenched my jaw tightly to not let out the cry that wanted to break free. After a bit he was done cleaning the cuts. My eyes darted to the cloth he threw on the table, it was half crimson red which made my insides churn.
I didn't know what to say in that moment. Why would he clean those cuts in the first place? It just didn't sit right with me.
"So, little angel, what's your name?" he asked in a pretty calm voice as he tossed the flask back in the chest and put it back down.
I furrowed my brows and looked at him weirdly. Little angel? That… No. It was just a coincidence.
He glanced at me and raised a brow "You don't have a name or what?"
"I do, but it's none of your concern"
He muttered something under his breath while he shook his a bit, then he faced me again "Girl, I asked you a question. Don't think that if I cleaned those cuts of yours I can't make it even worse if I am willing to"
I huffed in frustration and kept my gaze glued to his as I spoke "Marianne Anker"
"Bitter grace, huh? And I am guessing your father's a sailor or fisherman, aye?"
I gave a small nod.
It was true. I mean, you could get it by my family name, it literally meant 'anchor'.
"Well, I don't think he or your mother will be overjoyed to find out that their seventeen years old daughter died before she even lived a bit"
I froze. How could he know… I shook my head slightly and stared at him "How did you—"
"Girl, you look like that. There's no denying"
I glared at him before he grabbed an ice block from a wooden cup resting on the desk "Hold it to that bruise" he said and pointed to my right cheek.
After I stared at the piece of ice for a few moments, I grabbed it and held it to my right cheek. The coolness was making it feel better.
"So that you won't disappoint them or make them sad, you better tell me where the Dragon Eye is and you're free to go"
I groaned inwardly "I told that dwarf already that Hiccup has it and I don't know where they are. Can I go overboard now?"
He let out a breath "I am not playing games here, where is it?" he bit out impatiently.
"I've got no idea where they went. I just know that Hiccup took it" I stated and flinched as he slammed his fist on the wooden surface.
"I am not going to ask again. Where is the Dragon Eye?"
"I told you already, I don't—" I didn't even finish the sentence that he grabbed my arm tightly and pulled me upwards. I dropped the ice from my hand in the motion and the next thing I knew I was facing the wall while he tied my wrists back.
At least I didn't have my throat slit though. Actually… it wasn't such a bad idea.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when he pushed me to the door. After he opened it he made me walk back to the chamber where the cells were.
We weren't even five feet away from the chamber when I saw Heather and Ingrid walk towards the captain's quarters, I assumed. Both stopped dead in their tracks when they saw me: bare feet, in Hiccup's damn pants and tunic, hair ruffled, with cuts on my neck and let's not forget about the lovely bruise I've got on my right cheek.
Ingrid was looking at me with concern feeling her eyes, which, Ryker must have noticed because he stopped and his grip on my shoulder tightened. My eyes widened a bit and I knew I had to do something fast before her cover would shatter to pieces.
"Ingrid…?" I asked in disbelief and tried to muster the best confused look I could, which changed fast into anger "You traitor!" I tried to lunge at her but Ryker held me back "How could you?! Do you even realize what they're doing to those poor dragons?! They kill them! They—"
I was caught off by her laughter "Oh I know what they are doing to them. You think I would come here to enjoy the weather?"
"Such a nice reference, thank you for reminding me" I muttered out through gritted teeth as I kept glaring at her.
"Hope you're going to enjoy your stay" she said mockingly.
"You two, grab those animals of yours and go scout the islands nearby. Find the riders, lure them in and I'll take care of the rest" Ryker barked out and the two left without a second thought.
Ryker muttered something under his breath as he pushed me towards a cell. When we got in front of it, he cut the rope that held my wrists, tossed me inside and shut the door.
"If she escapes you pay with your life" he growled out to the guard before he walked away.
I glanced around. It was an empty cell with a little square window facing outside. I looked through it at the dark horizon and hoped that the gang would come faster to get me out of here.
Even though, they better stay on the Edge. If they get here and get caught as well in an attempt to save me, then there won't be anyone to save us. We would have to wait for someone from Berk to notice that we weren't around for too long, then the A team to find us.
We could be dead till then.
It was better if it was only me.
