A/N: I bet you all weren't expecting another chapter so soon! Enjoy!

Chapter 15

Elsie soon replaced Remi at the helm, allowing the navigator an opportunity to sleep. Although he initially declined her offer, he eventually gave in and headed below to his cabin. As he rested, Akali prepared lunch and Laura remained on the deck, preferring the fresh air to being indoors. Even though it had been weeks since she first left home, life at sea still felt surreal to her. She watched as the sun beat down on the water and its rays reflected off of its surface. It was a beautiful sight and she closed her eyes to listen to the waves until multiple footsteps could be heard on the stairs.

"Anyone hungry?"

Laura turned at the sound of Akali's voice and saw that Remi was beside her, each carrying a plate of food.

"I am!" Elsie announced excitedly before focusing on Remi, "Did you get enough sleep?"

"Yeah, thanks for steering," Remi responded, glad to be more alert than earlier.

The food was passed around and everyone began to eat their meals. It wasn't anything fancy, but it would keep their bellies full for the time being.

"You know what would be cool?" Laura piped up after taking a couple of bites, "If we had a chef on board!"

"What's wrong with my cooking?" Akali asked as she gave her a puzzled look.

"Nothing!" Laura assured her, "It's just that...well...a chef is someone who's supposed to make great dishes all the time."

"I see, you don't think my cooking is great," Akali replied in a mundane tone, her expression unreadable.

"No, that's not what I meant, Akali," Laura responded with superficial tears streaming down her face, "Please believe me!"

Remi, Elsie, and Akali suddenly burst into laughter, causing Laura to realize she had been fooled. She joined in as they continued and for a moment they all forgot about their current problems. Once everyone finished eating, Remi resumed his position at the helm and began examining his map.

"So, where are we off to now?" Akali inquired as she looked towards him.

He was about to answer when he noticed a ship approaching on the horizon. As it drew closer, the shape of its sails became more distinguishable. He realized what they were dealing with and he felt what he assumed was his stomach dropping, "That's a Marine vessel."

"What?!" Elsie exclaimed as she used her binoculars to see for herself.

"Are they after us?" Akali inquired with a hint of concern.

"I don't think so," Remi replied while he watched them, "But they're definitely on patrol."

"Yup, this is bad," Elsie stated as she observed the situation, "They could spot us at any time!"

"Maybe we should change course," Laura suggested, hoping to avoid another altercation.

"It's too risky. If they see us maneuvering, they'll know something's up," Remi reasoned, not liking the situation they were in, "Our only option is to remain calm and hope for the best."

The girls nodded and followed Remi's lead as they waited for their ships to pass each other. Laura felt her heart race as she wasn't sure if she was prepared to deal with another threat so soon. Everyone cautiously watched as the Marines sailed by, but there were no signs of recognition on their part.

"That was close," Laura commented as she let out a sigh of relief.

"A little too close," Elsie agreed, equally grateful they hadn't been spotted.

Their relief was cut short, however when the sudden sound of a cannon rang out from the ship behind them. A cannonball hit the water nearby, causing a massive wave to form. The force shook the ship and the crew lost their balance as they struggled to keep upright.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Remi yelled in frustration as he regained his footing by clutching the helm.

"So much for not being spotted," Elsie remarked as she glared at the Marines. "I can't believe they're trying to sink us!"

"We can outrun them," Remi stated, his gaze fixed on the approaching ship, "Just hold on tight!"

He grabbed the wheel and pulled it sharply to its starboard side. The ship began to tilt as it changed direction, the sudden movement nearly knocking everyone off their feet once again. Remi kept his hold on the wheel as the ship started to right itself, then continued to steer away from their attackers. There was a brief pause before the Marines fired off more shots at the group. They were able to avoid the cannonballs, but some came dangerously close to hitting their mark.

"What's their problem?!" Akali asked in irritation while she steadied herself against a railing.

"I guess we're not as inconspicuous as I thought," Remi responded despite the ongoing chaos, "Shona probably put out a call to be on the lookout for us."

"I'll try shooting their sails!" Elsie declared as she rushed to the stern of the ship, "Eagle-Eye can handle this!"

She straightened her posture and aimed her trusty rifle at their pursuers.

"Barrel Flurry!"

The sniper reloaded her gun to fire several rounds in quick succession, each one hitting its target. The fabric of the sails became riddled with holes as the bullets tore through it, but it did little to stop the pursuit. The Marines continued to give chase, albeit slower than before, undeterred by the sniper's efforts. Another cannonball was fired at the group and this time it connected with the hull of their ship. The girls were knocked off their feet by the impact as the sound of splintering wood echoed through the air. Remi was barely able to brace himself against the wheel as the vessel shuddered violently from the damage.

"Remi!" Laura called out as she attempted to stay dry from the incoming water.

"We're almost clear!" He shouted back while he struggled to keep them steady, "There's land ahead!"

The girls continued to hold on as Remi pushed the ship to its limits. The Marines sent one more cannonball, but it failed to connect as their vessel was now out of range. As the island drew closer, the girls noticed that their attackers had stopped their chase and ceased fire.

"Why are they stopping?" Akali asked as she glanced behind them, "They could have easily caught us."

"Because they aren't allowed to sail in Mafia territory," Remi explained as he kept his eyes forward, "Which is where we are now."

The girls surveyed the island coming into view and saw what appeared to be a bustling city. The architecture was unlike anything they'd ever seen before with tall buildings across its skyline. Even from a distance, the sounds of life could be heard and the faint scent of smoke could be smelled. Remi continued to steer until the ship was within reach of the shore. However, the damage done by the cannon fire was too significant and the ship wasn't going to be able to make it any further. He made sure to angle the bow so it would land on a nearby beach and they came to an aggressive halt with a loud thud.

"Is everyone okay?" Laura questioned, hoping there hadn't been any injuries.

"Yes, but I don't think our ride is," Akali remarked as she took in the state of their ship.

"Yeah, looks like we'll be staying here for a while," Remi added as he released the wheel to rub his aching hands, "We're going to need a new ship."

"At least we're alive," Elsie said optimistically, taking in the sight of the beach they were on, "And this place seems like it'll be full of fun!"

"That's one way to look at it," Remi replied, his expression conveying that he was less enthusiastic about the situation, "We'd better get our things before we leave."

The girls nodded and everyone went to their cabins to grab their important belongings. Once they were ready, the group disembarked and began walking up the shore towards the city. As they got closer, the air became thicker and the sounds of people milling about grew louder. Buildings towered over them with signs adorning their walls, many of which flashed neon colors. The residents, no matter their age, were all dressed in sophisticated and fancy attire. Remi kept his gaze ahead as he led the girls through the streets, ignoring the curious stares they were receiving.

"Mafia territory is the central hub for the black market," Remi explained as they walked, remembering what he had learned about it from his military days, "So we need to be careful."

There was no response and the navigator turned to see that the girls weren't following him anymore. He stopped in his tracks as he realized he was now alone, wondering how they had disappeared so quickly. Remi let out an annoyed sigh before silently vowing to reprimand them for their recklessness later.

I should probably start searching for a ship, He thought to himself as his legs started to move again, And then it wouldn't be a bad idea to stop by a tavern...