Storm

Sadie shouldn’t have been on the deck in the storm. She knew that, and yet she couldn’t help but to come on to the deck to witness the heavy rains and winds. Her songs had lacked inspiration of late, and where better to draw inspiration from than the eye of the storm? The calm in an ending world.

The skeleton crew on deck didn’t seem concerned about the waves on the deck so she hadn’t been concerned either. She was concerned when the wave crashed over the deck, soaking her and sending her flying towards the edge of the ship. She didn’t have the reflexes some of the more weathered crew did. When her hand reached out for the railing all she could feel was pain and cold. Then she was under the water, cursed to drown in her search for inspiration.

 It could be its own song, if she only had air to sing it.

…

“Man overboard!”

Ally turned her head at the yell, but her crew was faster than she was, and Tori had a rope around her waist and was in the water before she could order her to go. Ally walked over to the edge anyway, and watched as Tori pulled the tall curvy woman from the water. From this distance she couldn’t tell if the woman was alive but she hoped she was. Ally knew she’d be buried at sea one day, but she wouldn’t wish drowning on anyone.

“Out of my way,” the doctor yelled. He took the girl from Tori with ease, and started a maneuver meant to get the water out of her lungs. It looked painful but it usually worked.

“We haven’t seen any shipwrecks lately, and she’s not dressed like a sailor.” Michael inputted as the stranger began to hack seawater from her lungs. She was dressed quite scandalously, if Ally was being honest. A very low cut shirt and a very short skirt. The water caused the fabric to cling to her skin tightly. The Doctor slapped her back again, and she heaved yet more water onto the deck. Ally took off her own cloak to wrap around the stranger. Afterwards she took a deep breath and began coughing.

Well, she was alive. That was a good sign.

…

Sadie heaved the contents of the ocean onto the strange ship and vowed to stay on land for the rest of her life. Her chest was on fire and she swatted at the man slapping her back. That was not helpful right now.

A warm cloak was placed on her shoulders, and Sadie froze as a warm hand grabbed her chin and forced her to look up. The woman in front of her was beyond gorgeous, even with the way her lips were scrunched up into a frown. Sadie could surely kiss that away. Blaming the seawater, Sadie tried to focus on the woman who was speaking.

“…middle of the ocean.”

No matter who this beauty was, Sadie was not ready to be manhandled in such a way. She pulled back, ready to demand more respect, when her eyes caught on the tattoo on the woman’s arm. The stevedore knot of The Night Pirates. Suddenly, Sadie wished that they hadn’t saved her. Surely they wouldn’t save her just to kill her. The woman placed her hands on her hips and Sadie looked to the others. The red haired woman had the same tattoo, so did the doctor, and the other man.

She was on a pirate ship, but not just any pirate ship. The pirate ship her mother died on.

…

Clearly the woman was having a crisis.

Ally didn’t know if she was thrown overboard or swept overboard, but her wide eyes told Ally she was clearly experiencing some sort of unpleasant flashback. Typically, her ship wasn’t one to keep spare supplies for guests or prisoners, but they were close enough to a port that she could make a stop. They could also sell some of their most recent haul as well.

“Is she okay?” Tori asked. Ally shrugged her shoulder in response.

“My name is Sadie; I am the daughter of Vallora.” Sadie declared. She stood up straight and glared at Ally. Ally met her eyes evenly, even as her own heart began to thunder in her chest. “If you mean to kill me like you did my mother, then you better do it now.”

Sadie, daughter of Vallora, could barely stand on her own. Ally was shocked into silence. Memories assaulted her of that night. She swallowed and held her head high. Before she could speak, Sadie swayed on her feet and crashed into the deck below her.

“Doctor.” Ally ordered. He looked at her with wide eyes and didn’t move to help Sadie.

“But she…”

“We’ll deal with it if she lives.” Ally decided. She’d put off that dilemma for tomorrow. He motioned towards Tori and they both took Sadie below deck.

“Are we making our way back to shore then?” Michael asked. Ally shook her head.

“Keep us steady.” Ally walked over to the bow of the ship and tried to find comfort in the gentle waves on the horizon but there was a storm coming. There was a storm below deck.