Out of Luck

I looked around with wondering eyes. I had to take in everything; there was no time to waste. There was no way of knowing what they would do to the kids. I had made a promise to that woman to take care of her child. She helped me, she saved my life, and I have to keep her daughter safe. I promised her.

I don’t understand how things got so crazy. We’ve been lucky all this time, maybe it was about time that our luck ran out. It couldn’t have chosen a worse time. In this city, it’s the worst place for a set of unlucky pirates to be. This town is a mess, under direct control of the king. Maybe this is where we would meet the end of your lives. Maybe this is the city where we would meet our maker. At the moment it was looking like that might make a really good chance on the list of possibilities.

I ran through the city towards the king’s castle. I was sure that’s where the guards would take them. Now I just had to get them back. It was so hard, doing things completely alone like this. I wasn’t used to it. I missed having him by my side, helping me along. He wasn’t here now though so I had no choice. He chose to back out and I chose to let him go. I couldn’t regret that now. I didn’t have time too.

My eyes swept over the outside of the castle as it came into view. I had to keep moving otherwise I might not make it in time. The clock was ticking and the little bit of luck I had left was fading faster then I could have ever imagined. I needed to get the children back before I was out of luck completely, otherwise this may not end well for any of us.

The world around me seemed to slow down to the point that no one seemed to be moving. I began to wonder if my mind was playing ticks because of the lack of sleep. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to stay awake for three days straight and then try to go on a rescue mission. Your mind didn’t work well when you were this tired.

I shook my head as I reached the castle, pressing my back against the wall. I had to be silent, I was good at this. This wasn’t the first time I had snuck into a castle but I had a feeling this may be the last, if I even made it out alive anyways. After this big mess was over, and if I was still alive by the time it was, I couldn’t even imagine what I might do. Would I be with him again? Will I even see him again? What about the crew?

I tried not to slam my head against the brick wall behind me. I had to stay focused right now. I needed to pay attention. One false move, just one little mistake and it could very well be my last. I would worry about everything else later, if I survived. We would worry about the future if I survived the present.

I listened closely to the gate, there wasn’t a sound anywhere around. It seemed suspicious, no doubt this was a trap set up by the crazy king. Oh how I could only imagine what he had planned. Still, trap or not, stupid or not I needed to go in.

I moved quickly around the corner and headed inside. There wasn’t a soul around, this was definitely a trap. I could feel it in my blood but I ignored it and continued through the castle. I would follow my gut and hope it was right. It was the best form of a map I had at the moment.

My mind went blank suddenly as I heard the footsteps of another. I could have sworn I had stopped breathing. Where could I hide, there was no place in sight? Instantly I listened and ducked behind a corner of another path ways. The being was coming down the fourth passage way, the one to my right. He had three directions he could go, to his left, straight, or to his right, leading him directly into me.

I knew I was testing my luck with this but there was no other choice. If I turned around and ran he would hear me. All I could do was pray he would go another direction, or not see me.

Something caught my attention though as the figure came closer to my corridor. A red light flickered along the walls. It was familiar; it was him, his light. I recognized it. I could never mistake it but I had to be sure. I had to see him, wait for him to come into view. He would, no matter what path he took I would see him.

The moments pasted like hours and soon he walked right into my view. I spoke his name and he heard turning to look down at me with his piercing eyes. I had expected no less but I wondered if he were still angry.

I asked him why he was here and he answered me like he would any other day. His words asking me if I really thought he would have left me to do all this on his own. He had gone ahead, I understood then. The fight had been meaningless; it was all a fake to trick the guards, to trick the king.

I wrapped my arms around him, so thankful to see that he was here. I so desperately needed his help and I knew it, so did he. A kiss was placed upon my forehead and he nodded, telling me not worry, our luck hadn’t run out just yet.

Based upon one of my clients stories. We've been discussing the future of her story and I came up with this, based entirely upon her ideas. I can't wait until she gets this far in her story. It should be wonderful to read.