A Decision Is To Be made

Oh Jones', forgive me Scarlet. Please! Forgive me!

Tears slid down my face as I stared at the white wood. My body shook, my stomach twisting. I felt sick. Sick to the very core.

Joining this crew was going to cost me more than I was willing to give.

My fist slammed into the wall. The pain dulled from the emotional terminal inside. Tears dripped down my face as I faced the room alone.

What have I done?

There was no turning back. No facing or changing things now that it has been done.

I couldn't bring back her son.

Forgive me. 

A sigh escaped me as I sat next to Jacob, the past a thing that would always haunt me. She was coming for them, her sons and that meant I could no longer avoid what was coming straight for me.

Even without a name being on the paper, my Godfather knew I would know and I did. There was no doubt in my mind it was Scarlet Jennings. An old friend.

Or she was. After Thom, there was telling what was left of the friendship we once held.

No matter what happened, the pain, the terminal inside, I knew I couldn't show it again. Not to the pirates who I was already on thin ice with. Not to the boys. And especially not to myself.

Still, I knew the decision would fall onto me for what would come next. A decision needed to be made and who else would? I could look to Jacob as he was a boy nor William as he was much younger, and I didn't know if I was telling the others or not.

Scarlet.

If she was really coming she would be looking for this crew. She would be looking for the pirates that I had joined. I didn't know what information she might have or how much she knew from Carlisle. I didn't even know where she had been stationed.

I only knew it took her away from Carlisle for too many years.

When will she arrive? Like a sea beast out of the sea? From the sky like Davy Jones'? Or like an admiral and from the horizon?

There was no telling when or how soon Scarlet would arrive. If my Godfather had passed me that note, it meant he knew something. or knows just how badly I had messed up.

Or maybe this was just a game for him to play. With me being just putty in his hands that he can shape whichever he would like. It wouldn't surprise me if that was the case.

But what if it isn't?

Scarlet had a good gut and killer instincts. She would have known something happened, even if she didn't know what it was. It was because of those she was able to rise so quickly in ranks.

Why we started to drift apart. How could an admiral and smuggler be friends?

As I sat there, a part of me started to doubt that I knew Scarlet as well as I had thought. Did I even know her all the way back then? Did I know the women with a fist like iron and eyes that could stop even a giant?

Did I know any of them really?

No.

"What are you going to do?" Jacob broke the silence that lingered around us. "Shouldn't we tell the Captain so a fight doesn't break out?"

I couldn't focus on whether I knew them or not. I couldn't doubt myself. Not now. Not until I faced Scarlet and learned her side of the story. I couldn't lose faith that I didn't know any of them. Even George was in that list and I didn't want to lose what I held of him so highly.

With a sigh that didn't do anything to stop the whirlwind, I glanced at the boy. He was so young at that moment. A child waiting for answers that I couldn't possibly give.

There was only one person who could through.

Captain Velwyn.

But would telling him even stop a fight? Or would it make matters worse? Would Scarlet even attack a ship that could have her kids on it? Or would she wait for a clean shot?

"I don't know." What do I do? "I just..." My voice trailed off.

I needed to find an answer. Something to tell me what to do.

Lying was second nature. I could do it. I could just build more onto what we already gave, but the performance and how we acted, even the lie would fall apart.

"Rachel?"

I didn't want to look at him and see the look he had. My fingers dug into my palms as I stared at the wood across the way. Calm. Deep breaths.

Everything will be okay.

"Stay here. No matter what happens, stay here." I looked at the boy. "Okay?"

He nodded, confused once again. "Why?"

I moved up, bones popping. The mood in the air shifted completely. It seemed these pirates' instincts weren't half bad. Even they could sense something was different now.

"Because when the truth comes to life, I can't protect you any longer."

I wouldn't even be able to protect myself.

Captain Velwyn will make good on his threat. The only person who could possibly stop him was Saul and once this came to light, he would probably be rooting for it.

Devils. That's what this crew should have been called.

I patted Jacobs head, ignoring the look of fear in his wide brown eyes. "Everything will be alright, kid. Don't worry one bit. I'll make good and take you to wherever you want to go. Soil or back to your mom."

The paper slipped into my hand before I made my way to the ladder. It wasn't too late to turn back. To just tell him to keep it a secret, yet I couldn't.

After everything, the crew deserved to know we were still in great danger. They deserved to know the truth.

"Don't let them send us back!"

A grin shifted onto my face as I looked at Jacob. Fear. Cold hard fear. Not for his mother but at the thought of returning to Carlisle where his older brother was.

That could be the only case for the strong emotion. His brother. He feared returning to him and restarting the circle he and William broke from.

"I won't."

It was too quickly that I found myself at the bottom, my feet hitting the black wood. I was on solid ground, with the ladder in front of me.

"Hey, Rachel!"

I jumped, looking to find Bondi so I could throttle him. He appeared sheepish as he stood off to the side. He must have noticed he got the best of me at that second.

"You look way too wound up. We're having a card game later if you want to join." I gave him the finger, receiving only a laugh in return before more words. "It was only a matter of time till you returned to being stone cold."

This got an eye roll from me but I simply ignored giving him any other response besides that. Moving, I headed for the front of the ship, where I knew the Captain would be. I didn't know what I would say when I got there.

I just knew there was no more running. No more hiding.

If it had been George, he would have been more upfront. No lies. No secrets. Nothing that would hold him back.

I wasn't George.

There were no other delays. Nothing else to stop me from walking up the black stairs and into a new position. After my Godfather, after he outed me and made it seem I couldn't be trusted, I didn't think there was a way to escape Captain Velwyn's threat.

This all happened because of that day. With each heavy footstep, I replayed the memory.

"Get us some refills and that one, well he's in need of a lover."

I nodded, and grabbed the empty glasses, ignoring the last part of his request. There was too much to be wary them to think much of his words. I turned for the counter, knowing that George stood there, towering above everyone else in height. His eyes softened slightly as they fell on me.

"Shut it Ivan before I kill you. Where's the respect that you need to honor."

A shiver passed through as I caught the threat one of them delivered before I was out of hearing. I glanced, my eyes meeting a pair that were stone cold. Hurrying, I grabbed the refills, hoping that this would be the last order for them.

The sun had gone down, the room colder, even with all the bodies. Just as I returned with the ale, a silence fell throughout the room as the door was busted open.

I turned, catching sight of a boy.

"Rachel!"

Few came to me with such urgency.

"I'm right here, boy."

"Help us!"

With hesitation that lasted only a few seconds, I nodded. I couldn't turn my back on them. Not when they needed help.

I couldn't turn my back on them and I couldn't blame them either. It wasn't their fault that they had been abused. It wasn't their fault I never asked who they were or tried to help in a different way.

Smuggling had always been the game. Long past dreams of a different feature I settled on something that I was good at.

Now, I was a pirate with a bounty. But it wasn't their fault that it came down to this. That had only been the last thing that pushed the scale out of my favor of remaining in Carlisle.

As I reached the last step, I felt the wind blow against me. Ruffling through my short strands of hair and pulling against the loose clothing. I stared at the brillant sea that reflected back at us.

The beauty was so different here as we sailed, compared to what it was like staying city locked.

"Did you need something?"

Saul's question brought my eyes to him. He stood not far from Wiley, his back to me though he had turned his head partly. A glean was in his eyes.

He must feel the trouble that brewed in the air. Even without seeing the enemy that was approaching.

"Yes."

One nail down and too many more to go. The sound of a hammer echoed. And not just in my mind, but from Masque as he appeared to be fixing the floor with the help of the new boy who joined us. Leo.

"The Captain is over there."

He looked back at the sea, searching for something. Whatever his gut was telling him. But I knew he wouldn't find it. Not yet at least.

Moving, I joined Captain Velwyn as he stood as far to the front as he could. He wore a slight grin, as mischief filled the atmosphere around him. It wouldn't take long for that to change.

Silence wrapped like ice around us. I watched as we moved through the waves and to an unknown destination.

"You don't usually seek me out. What is it, Love?"

My fingers dug into my palm. "There's something I need to tell you." It was like cotton was in my mouth as I talked.

"Oh?"

I stared ahead as I took a deep breath before turning to face him. How many more secrets were going to get revealed by being in this crew?

"Admiral Scarlet Jenning is after us."

The seconds dragged on, feeling much longer than it had been. I took a step back as his eyes pierced me.

Just like that day I had returned with him to the ship, after paying Miguel a visit. He already knew it somehow involved me.

"And why do you think that?" Just like a knife slicing through bread, his words sliced me.

Another step away from him. But no matter the distance, I felt small compared to the Captain.

My fingers tightened on the note before I pulled it out. Without glancing at it, I held it out for him to take. Something he did without a second thought.

The paper unfolded, showing him the words that were burned in me.

She's coming for her boys.

His eyes had me nearly cowering from how intense they were and the coldness that lurked in them. Cold air wrapped around him, like it could freeze anything that it touched.

I couldn't back down. I couldn't be afraid.

So instead, I pushed my back straight and my shoulders out. I stared Captain Velwyn in the eyes, a grin on my face as fear rolled through me like fire.

"What does the message mean?"

I wanted to take a step back. To put more distance between us. Little good, I knew it would do. His knife could hit me no matter how far away I was. And I wouldn't turn my back on him.

"Exactly what it says. Admiral Scarlet Jennings is coming for her boys." I swallowed down the little water the dryness allowed.

"Who are her boys?"

I couldn't help but look towards the crows nest where I knew Jacob was. The boy no doubt watching from up there. Hopefully at least.

He might have been on the deck below for all I knew.

"Jacob and William."

The knife glinted in the sun, warning me before it could land. I stumbled, barely missing the blade he had taken out.

He had attacked me.

It took longer than I expected.

"Captain!" Masque shouted.

"Velwyn!" Saul joined in as well.

"Stay out of this!" His words echoed on the upper deck, sounding louder than ever before. "No more betrayals. I warned you once and that was all I was giving."

I raised my hands in the air. I didn't want to fight him. If only because I knew I wouldn't win.

If only because I knew that I would end up being the one hurt.

"Let me explain," I pleaded.

He came at me again.

My foot kicked a box. I hadn't noticed it.

I didn't have anywhere to go.

The blade came through the air. My heart pounded against my ribs.

"Captain!"

"Stop!"

A noise echoed, a bullet whistling through the air. My eyes stayed locked on the knife as the tip dug into my chest. Even without looking, I knew it broke the skin.

Slowly, I looked up to see Captain Velwyn wasn't looking at me. I followed his gaze, finding the others.

"Sorry, Cap', she's one of us."

Bondi stood at the top of the stairs, his eyes darkened as well. Just like the Captain he looked fierce about something.

Captain Velwyn withdrew the knife but didn't move a step back from me. It would be all too easy for him to finish the job.

"Is this a mutiny?" Captain Velwyn's question bit through the air like ice.

I looked to see Bondi shaking his head. But it wasn't he who answered.

"No," Juliet said as she stood a few steps down. "But we can make it one Captain."

I didn't know what they were doing.

He clicked his tongue. "It was bound to happen. I'll take care of her first and then the rest of you will have hell to pay."

His attention returned to me.

A hammer cocked.

"He said, she's one of us, Captain Velwyn," Baldor said as he stepped up. "We respect you, we do. But, this is too far."

He wasn't happy by the words he heard, yet he didn't take his eyes off of me. He didn't see who was cocking their gun at him or the others that were coming.

Why? He was their captain.

I was just someone who joined months before. I had no strings connected to them. I made no attempt to become any of their friends. To care about them.

So, why were they stepping up now?

"I am the Captain of this ship!"

"Yes, you are," Bondi agreed.

"A good for nothing captain, Cap, but we know that," Juliet joined in.

"But the last time you took a matter into your own hands, you nearly got yourself killed," Baldor said.

Saul's voice cut through the thick air. "Lower your guns or you'll be thrown off this ship in your next heartbeat."

I continued to stare into the cold black holes that drilled into me. I didn't dare look to see if the others had listened. I didn't dare linger to long on what they were hoping to gain.

"Now get back below. This business does not concern any of you," Saul ordered. "He's the Captain of this crew and if any of you have a problem with that, you'll have to wait your turn to die."

A shiver passed through me.

"Just listen to her, Captain Velwyn," Baldor called out. "She's been more help than harm!"

"We've already gone through so much with her!" Bondi joined in. "She has a bounty just like me and Saul."

"Leave!"

I stared into his eyes. No warmth. No mischievousness.

A hand wrapped around my arm and my position was changed. My back was to the wind, it was blowing hair into my face. But the sea was also behind me. One shove and I would be over broad and under the ship.

The blade sharp edge traced along my jaw before it hit my throat.

He was going to make good on this threat.

"The truth this time and hurry before the patience I have completely disappears."

The words came out, my voice sounding weak. I focused on the main points. Scarlet. The boys and their relation to her. And the note that I had received.

All of it slipped from me.

The blade never ceased from sliding over my skin. From my jaw to my throat. In a circle, though he didn't push it hard enough to draw blood.

Finally the last of it escaped from me.

He stared at me, searching for something, his knife pressing even more. Fear stayed consistently swirling in my stomach. I closed my eyes, not being able to keep them open.

I didn't want his cold eyes to be the last thing I got to see.