Less than fifteen minutes, the bird signals were heard throughout the cellar and soon, our plotting for an escape would soon be replenished. Penelope was tailing us from behind while I supported Captain Kenny towards the backdoor where there, Randolph, Alfin, Thomas and Maria were waiting for our arrival. All of them gasped as loud as possible after they saw Captain Kenny’s figure that was quite a sight to even look at it.
“What a sight you have there, Captain,” Randolph exchange turn with me to support Captain Kenny on our way to the back gate.
“What do you expect from a navy? A king’s treatment?” He mocked even though he kept catching on his own breath for he had been tortured hard enough to gain consciousness.
“We might not be able to be revived if we are to be in your place, capt’n. What a strong lad you are,” Alfin praised his captain that it was from his heart solely for him to be his idol.
“You praise too much from what your mouth can really handle, my good man,” Captain Kenny giggled happily as we would soon reach the back gate for like two meters ahead.
A middle-aged man dressed in goods stopped us from pursuing any further than where we stood with his men, the navy soldiers, well-trained I presumed, were blocking the path towards the back gate, “Isn’t it too early to bid a farewell, my son? I see you have my wife with you there.”
“Your wife is my mother and she’s not your property, old pig. Now step aside where my eyes can’t see your filthy image,” As usual, Captain Kenny’s ear-irritating barks were no match for anyone.
“Ah, I wonder wherever you learnt that so-so attitude of yours, my son. I don’t expect my dear Maria who’s now betraying me taught you that nor did she?” He sneered, showing off his white teeth.
“Ah, I guess we have a bit in common. I never consider you as my father and please don’t call me your son because it’s suffocating, enough to make a chicken vomit,” He released Randolph and walked forward nearer towards James. “Giving preaches is not appropriate to be done by someone like you since that you, yourself are a demon inside with a human mask for the coating.”
“Please, preaches are not my thing and to know that we have something in common is quite absurd since we’re not related by blood,” He paused, giving a false shock. “I forgot! Your drunken father who felt abandoned who almost committed a homicide taught you that! Sorry, I should’ve known about it.”
“Well, if only you pig didn’t mess up with my family, I might be a good child to start up with. What am I kidding, thanks to you, I have this title and I am someone that my crews can rely on!” He took out the Excalibur and pointed it towards old James. “Penelope, shrink the number of weapons that’s being held by the soldiers.”
“You want me to boil it or freeze it?” He asked him back.
“Anything is fine; you just stick with the order,” Somehow, Captain Kenny’s tone turned rather serious this time.
“Aye, aye... uh... Dominion,” Without any delay, he blew his breath that boiled all the guns and swords on the soldiers’ hands and sat down upon Captain Kenny like a good dog. “How’s that for my first time following your order?”
He gave Penelope an ‘okay’ sign, “Better than a ‘certain’ person.” And I could see that he was referring it to me. He really had enough time to play around when we’re actually facing a heinous dictator with navy soldiers that were specialized in combat by his side.
“You sure know how to irritate people in this kind of situation, captain,” I uttered, kind of hurt.
“No offense, it’s the truth. Right, guys?” Captain Kenny turned towards the other three crews behind him and all of them replied him with nods and stern look on their faces.
“Do you not quite get what kind of situation you are in, Kenneth?” James finally made up a statement, seeming that his enemy had lost interest in him.
“It’s been a long time since anyone called me with that me. What a nostalgic,” He grinned scarcely.
“Less talk and fight,” His eyes widened, portraying someone’s crazy.
Captain Kenny marched ahead and before he took his third step, I grabbed his sleeve hastily since I didn’t want him to get hurt anymore than he already had. His hazel eyes locked at my timid stature with my violet eyes showing my fear to see him from getting hurt from the fight. His hazel eyes shone sadistically, ordering me to let him go and by the time my hand was about to release his sleeve, Randolph, Alfin and Thomas already attacked the soldiers with their guns and swords. The unarmed soldiers tried to defend themselves with martial arts but the pirate crews were faster than what they had expected. Martial arts were specialised in short-ranged combat unlike guns, it was for long ranged combat and due to that, Thomas took the opportunity in aiding both Alfin and Randolph sword fighting from afar without shooting them.
“Hey old-man, we’ve finished all your soldiers and you have none left to guard you. Should we take your life too?” Alfin gave a malicious grin towards James who was standing nearby, shivering with anger.
“Heh, you’re not smart enough to outsmart me,” He whistled and something big flew down to fetch him. “Bon-Voyage the Devil’s crews. Hope to see you soon ‘in prison’.” He gestured a wave and finally retreated by flying away with a gigantic bird that looked like a falcon.
“Shoot! We have less than a minute to get out of this place!” Thomas shrieked in alert.
All five of us including Penelope asked synchronically, “Why?”
“I’m not sure what’s Henry up to but he told us to get out from here less than an hour or else something bad might happen,” He explained briefly.
“Hmmm, no wonder I found this plan is quite similar to something,” Captain Kenny grunted with his expression grew intense. “He did ransacked my room and read my emergency plans. We better get out fast! The ship is somewhere with at least 10 metres in radius. I sense water in the southern side so we better head there fast!”
“Why?” Maria and I asked.
“Less talks and run!” He shouted.
As we finally left the back gate, the building exploded, making a very big explosion and finally, the building fell apart with fire engulfing it. Without him to explain anything, I finally understood the situation myself. A loud bang abruptly broke up the silence and made all five of their eyes widened to see me fell on the ground, lying unconscious. I was shot from afar. Captain Kenny went after me and shook my body slightly, “Eleanor! Hang in there!” Despite his own condition, he carried me all the way towards where the ship was parked. Everyone worked together even Maria and Penelope too, in order to set sail to the wide sea where the Navy’s Head-quarter could no longer be seen.
“How is she, Hardy?” Anxiously, Captain Kenny quickly went towards hardy figure that had finally got out of my room.
“She’ll wake up in no time. Right now, her heart needs to generate enough blood since she lost so many. It probably takes for about 4 or 5 days,” Hardy explained.
“I see,” He finally calmed a bit; relieved from the news he had heard.
“Oh and, her skin was soft though. No wonder you love to hold her,” Hardy grinned mockingly.
Captain Kenny grabbed Hardy’s collar as if to strangle him and warned, “I’m sure that you’re not doing anything unnecessary towards her instead of removing the bullet from her back right?”
“Well, I did remove her clothes to make the bullet’s removal easier though,” He gave a sneer towards him sadistically.
Without anymore delay, Captain Kenny swiftly punched him right on the face and shouted, “You perverted fiend!” and chocked him using his collar once again. His face was red from blushing.
“My, my... you’re growing into quite a violent delinquent I presume. If only I could bring you along with me that time,” Maria sighed heavily when she saw both Hardy and Captain Kenny in a fight. “By the way, I’ve changed her clothes and if you need anything, just ask. I’ll be the cook from now on until she’s finally healed.”
“My mother removed her clothes, didn’t she?” Captain Kenny’s face flushed bright red again, redder than the previous one.
“I don’t mind being punch by you. It’s fun to see you like this though. Ever since she came here, you’ve turned quite mild,” Hardy smiled.
“Yeah right,” Captain Kenny walked away and entered my room, facing towards where I was lying.
“You’ve done your best,” He patted my head gently.
Since I was unconscious, I couldn’t give any response at all instead of lying halted just like a dead person, though I was breathing by the time.
“We’ll meet up with Renka on our next port. I know that this time is not appropriate but if only you’re conscious, I might be telling you about your past. You poor princess, it must be hard to have someone try to assassinate you. We’re both unlucky, aren’t we?” He grinned. “I guess you win, tomboy. You’ve made this man fall for you.” He shoved away my hair from covering my forehead and kissed it and left me in peace.
That night, everyone gathered at the dining hall and Captain Kenny’s mother, Maria, was preparing ‘almost burnt’ meals for dinner. The dinner was a complete disaster not to mention the atmosphere was quite gloomy since every one of them was worrying about my current state.
“I wonder if she’ll be okay,” Fredrick finally broke up the silence.
“Sis is okay isn’t she, Hardy?” Chast, anxious as ever, asked with his tone trailed off.
“She won’t die just from that right?” Rio added.
“Don’t worry. She faced something that was harsher from that. She won’t die that easily,” Captain Kenny answered one refined statement.
Everyone was stiffened due to the astounded scene. Captain had always remained silent every time it was breakfast, lunch or dinner but this time, he actually spoken! For them, that day was a complete miracle or it was probably just a dream and lastly, it remained unknown by any of them to even cope with the fact.
