Chapter One:

Beth stared out her window as eerie fog rolled in from the misty sea. The air was moist and heavy. It was all so quiet. Too quiet… she thought. Anyone could be silently lurking in the mist, waiting, waiting for a chance to prey on the innocent… Stop Thinking that! Beth taught to herself angrily. It won’t happen here! Unfortunately, Beth had no idea how wrong she was…

Meanwhile, a large pirate ship silently crept through the fog towards the seaside town of Port Simon...

Beth flopped onto the small cot. Although the conditions where horrible in the small shack of a home, this was the best living Beth had come across since her mother died. She could hardily remember what it was like to have parents, it had been so long. Of course, Beth might have father, if only she knew where he had disappeared to! After living on the streets, Beth didn’t care how bad the living was at here, as long as she had a roof over her head. Beth soon became tired, and quickly was over come by a light sleep.

A ship was creeping through the fog with an eerie silence. The hatches on the sides of the ship opened as cannons appeared. BAM! The cannons fired one after another. The endless screams of pain and death and the noise of the explosions were so overwhelming. There was just no end to the terror. BAM! BAM! KA-BANG!!

Beth woke up to the noise of cannon fire. “We’re under attack!” she heard someone scream. Beth hopped quickly out of bed and slipped on her leather boots. She ran straight to the window to see what was going on. It was just like her horrid dream. No use staying here! Beth thought. I better get out of here!

Before she left, Beth ran over to her trunk and opened it. Inside contained some of her parents’ belongings, also her most prized positions. She took them out. The cutlass, scabbard and spyglass her father had given her, and her mothers compass, locket and a hand-sewn bandana. These were the last memories Beth had of her parents. She would never leave them behind! Plus, they might come in handy. She thought.

Beth attached the cutlass and scabbard to her waist, and stuffed the spyglass and compass in her pocket. She tied the bandana quickly around her head and put the locket around her neck. Suddenly, BANG! A small cannonball shot right through the window and over Beth’s head, shattering the window and sending splitters of glass and wood all over.

“Time to go!”She said to herself while hurrying out the broken wall.

Beth looked around. Port Simon was a disaster. Buildings, (if there was anything left of them,) were in half. Many had been set aflame. What to do? She wondered while she ran. There’s no place that’s safe!

By instinct, Beth reached for her sword. She drew it from the scabbard. The cutlass was a little rusty, but it was better than nothing. As she fled, hiding behind the occasional half building, she tried to recall what her mother taught her about sword fighting. (How her mother knew anything about that she didn’t know.) Beth tried to remember but couldn’t. Her mind was blank. Great! This is just peachy! She thought sarcastically. Beth tried to be calm. But she couldn’t control the fear welling up inside her. Run! Run! RUN! Her mind screamed. Keep moving! Her body screamed for her to stop. Mind or body? Which should she follow? Well, it didn’t matter. Beth knew she could probably only move a few more steps before she couldn’t go on. She sat down on the ground and leaned against a thin wooden wall. She couldn’t fight the tiredness that toke over her body. Stay awake! Must stay awake… she thought. Beth jumped up and began to run again. She had to keep sleep away. She had to keep moving!

Beth soon came to one of the few complete buildings. She knew from its size and look that it most likely belonged to someone very rich. She sheathed her sword, then climbed over the fence surrounding the estate. She then ran around to the back. A palm tree stood outside one of the balconies. If I can climb that tree, I can climb inside through the window! She thought hopefully. Beth could suddenly hear more cannon fire. It was louder this time, closer. She started to climb. Beth saw some lights coming closer in the distance. Pirates! She thought. She quickened her climb.

Beth could suddenly feel her locket sliding off her neck. It slipped off. She grabbed for it, but missed. It fell, landing with a soft clanging sound. As Beth began to slide down the tree to get it, the pirates appeared. She scurried to the top of the tree and hid in the leaves. Most of the pirates were trying to get inside the big house, but two headed over towards Beth’s hiding place. One of them bent over and picked up the locket. Beth could see it glint in the torchlight. She hoped they would not steal her mother’s belonging. The pirate showed the locket to his partner. They both looked up at the tree. Beth prayed with all her might that the pirates would not see her as she jumped from the tree onto the balcony. Obviously, her prayers were not answered. The pirates looked right at her, then quickly headed inside the house with the rest of the crew.

Beth searched for a hiding place. She ran to a large wardrobe. She quickly shut her self in. Beth could hear people running up the stairs. Fear consumed Beth. She wanted to be brave, just like her father had always been. She tried, but was still scared. Beth put her hand near her sword, incase it came to fighting.

She could suddenly hear rough voices. Beth knew the pirates had entered the room.

“Come out, come out were ever you are.” One of them taunted. “We promise we won’t hurt you.” Yeah right! Beth thought silently. All of a sudden, the wardrobe door creaked open…

“Got ya!” one of the pirates cried as he lunged at Beth. She jumped to the side, and ran for her life. The pirates chased after her, yelling crazily, “Get her! YARRRRRR!”

One of the pirates jumped over the banister and onto the stairs. He ran up them towards Beth as the other pirate came towards her from behind. Beth knew she was cornered, stuck, trapped! There was only one option. Yelling wildly, Beth grabbed onto the banister and flung herself over. She fell quickly, and landed, hard, on the floor. Pain surged up her leg from her ankle.

“Owwww…” she moaned. But Beth had to ignore the pain. One of the pirates had jumped from the stairs, to the chandler. He was quickly making his way down it. Beth picked herself up and ran.

A cannonball suddenly crashed through the wall of the house. It soared right over Beth’s head as splinters of wood flew into the air. But she kept running. Faster! Faster! Beth told herself as she fled the building. I must go faster!

It was almost impossible for Beth to see as she ran. The fog was heavy and thick. The darkness had fully set in. It was hard for Beth to make out her own hand in front of her face. Suddenly, she felt herself fall, quick and hard. “Oh curses.”Beth said to herself. “How clumsy of me.”

“Yes, how clumsy of you.” she heard a voice say. Beth found herself looking up into the sneering faces of the pirates.

Beth immediately grabbed for her sword.

“Leave me alone!” she said. “I’m not afraid to use this!” What am I doing? She thought at the same time. These two are skilled swordsmen. I am as helpless as a fish out of water

“Oh looky here Bill,” the first pirate sneered, “The kid is gonna try to put up a fight!”

“I’m so scared.” Bill replied sarcastically. The two pirates drew their swords. Beth tried to ready herself. The first pirate lunged, and Beth jumped back, blocking the blow with her cutlass. This time, she struck Bill as hard as she could, in the leg.

“Ow! Ow! Owwwwwwwww!” he wailed. “I’m going to get you for that!”

What Beth didn’t notice was that the first pirate was sneaking up behind her. As Beth tried another blow on Bill, The pirate knocked the cutlass from her hand. It slid off the dock, and landed in the water with a splash. Beth then did the only thing left to do, RUN!! The pirates followed in a close pursuit.

Beth soon felt as though her lungs would burst. Her head was heavy, and she felt oh so dizzy. She couldn’t go on. Not even one more step. Beth couldn’t control the urge to lie down.

She could suddenly feel herself fall, once again. This time Beth just sat there. She couldn’t stand. It was all just too much. The pirates soon caught up to her.

“Told you we’d get her Ben!” Bill told his partner.

“Yeah, I guess you where right.” He admitted, grabbing for Beth. She screamed as long and loud as possible.

“Shut it!” Bill told her after he and Ben pulled her to her feet. “Your comin’ with us whether you like it or not!”

Bill and Ben dragged Beth over to a large ship. The one they belonged on, most likely. Beth, just like any average person kidnapped by pirates, was terrified. She wanted to fight, to run, but she didn’t have the energy. She was just too weak. This is it. She thought. It’s all over for me.

Beth was dragged aboard the pirate ship. By that time her odds of escape had lowered to zero. Hope drained, she stumbled onto the large vessel, scared as ever.

As Beth got on the ship, a tall man walked up to her, Bill and Ben.

“Did you find it?” he asked. Ben nodded.

“Oh, we got it.” He said, holding up a shimmering object. My locket! Beth thought. She had almost forgotten about it. Beth needed it back!

“Hey!” she cried, pulling forward. “That’s mine!”

The tall man laughed and slapped Beth hard on the cheek. She pulled one arm away from her captors and put it to the place she had been slapped. It burned as though that spot was on fire. The man laughed even more.

Beth wanted to cry. But at last, her strength and hope had returned. She held back her tears and braced herself as the man got ready to inflict more pain upon her. But it never came. Beth looked up to see another man holding the tall man’s arm back. The second man could only be the captain. Probably no one else had a high enough position to make everyone on the ship do as he wanted.

“You should not be harming our special guest.” The captain said.

“Aye sir.” The tall man replied, walking away.

“Sorry for the slight inconvenience missy.” The captain told Beth.

“I’ve been kidnapped by you pirates and you apologize for slight inconvenience?” Beth asked firmly. The captain smirked.

“You’re a sharp-tongued one.” He said. “Take her to the brig.”

Beth’s captors led her below, to the small, cramped lower part of the ship. The walls were lined with cells, none of which where preoccupied. Ben unlocked one of them, and Bill shoved her inside, locking the door with a CLINK!

The two pirates soon left the room. As they did a young man about Beth’s age entered. He was carrying a mop and bucket. The man began to clean the putrid floors.

Beth studied him. He was kind of strong looking and a bit pale, though it was hard to tell underneath all the dirt. He had bright blue eyes and brown hair. He looked kind, except for the fact that he did not smile. Well, Beth thought, it is a gruesome job, having to clean floors like that!

The man looked up at her. His blue eyes seemed to see right through Beth’s strong shell and into the fear inside. His look told her she had a good reason to be scared, and that she was in danger.

Beth sighed and sat down on the old-looking bench in the back of the cell. Beth had to admit, she was still very scared. Beth reached into her pocket and pulled out her mother’s compass for reassurance. She opened it, to find the needle spinning in circles. That’s odd. She thought, putting the compass back in her pocket. She looked around, trying to find the source of her compass’s strange behavior. She noticed that the young man had finished cleaning the floor and left.

Beth soon realized how tired she was. There wasn’t exactly any room to lie down, so Beth lay down on the bench she had been sitting on. A troubled, rough sleep over toke Beth, but the whole time she slept, she could not forget the young man’s look. She had a good reason to be scared. Beth was in danger. The one thing the man’s had failed to tell her was why.