Set Sail, or Die

I was stuck on the highest mast, having never been on a ship before in my life, dressed as a boy, and told that I was supposed to run out onto the boom and loosen the sails. I swallowed nervously, and looked down at the deck and thrashing waves far below me. I couldn't say no, either, or else I'd come off as weak. I couldn't come off as weak.

However, my knees still began to knock, by teeth chatter, my bones shake and my heart pound.

I could not do this.

Oh yes you can! Shouted my defiant brain. I completely ignored Thomas next to me, forgetting that he was there as I shakily rose to my feet and began to inch out onto the boom. The other sailors behind him scaled the shrouds with ease and waited angrily for me to hurry out onto the farthest part. Why did I go first again?

"Come on lad!"

"Move!"

"Hurry it up, yeh big lump!" I let out a squeak as one of them pushed me forward. I stumbled over my feet and only managed to keep my balance by continuously putting one foot in front of the other. By the time I reached the very end of the boom, I was panting, and grabbing the ropes so hard my knuckles were turning white. I looked below me. Far below the ship was slowly easing away from the docks as more sails were released. I felt my mouth dry up instantly as I saw how far away from the deck I really was.

I hadn't known I'd had such a fear of heights, but then again…I had never been a hundred feet off the ground, hanging onto a set of ropes for dear life.

"Alexander! Get those sails loosened!" shouted the captain from far below. My brain was going into shock to the point where I could barely put two and two together. I tried to work my hands, to force myself to snap out of it, but my eyes were glued to the ground. Sweat raced down my face as the hot sun beat down on me and the ocean waves beckoned me. Waiting to suck me down into the abyss.

Then I remembered Thomas. I wanted him to help me. Everyone was watching me now in interest and confusion. I snapped a look toward Thomas who was standing on the other side of the boom. He gave me a solemn nod and that's when it hit me. This was a test.

A test to see if I had the makings of a sailor in me.

A test to see if I was one of them.

A test to prove that I was a man.

A test to secure my place.

The world seemed to spin for a moment as I came to and grabbed the tethered rope between my fingers. They shook as I untied it and released, seeing the sail come undone. I smiled victoriously, when I realized I had let go of the rope. The sail was now uneven, and flapping in the breeze. The rope snapped back and forth. I made futile attempts to snatch it as it swept around, and after a few minutes of almost going into cardiac arrest, slipping off a boom, and making a fool of myself, I managed to grab the rope.

"Gotcha!" I laughed, when I suddenly felt the boom leave my feet. "WHOA!" I screamed, as the force of the wind lapping at the sail lifted me up and off of my perch. I began to panic. I just wasn't strong enough yet to handle the rope, and I had not expected that grabbing it would take strength! It was a rope for crying out loud!

That's when my brain panicked and began to shut down. I yelled out in terror, holding onto the rope for dear life as I dangle hundreds of feet from the deck. The ship had pulled away from the docks now, and people were running back and forth securing other things…or trying to save my butt.

"Somebody get him down from there!" the first mate ordered, pointing toward me as I slowly began to sob, clinging to the rope. As I sobbed and completely broke down, I heard something unfamiliar. Over the shouts of disapproval or the roar of the wind, I heard it.

A very tiny rrrrRRRRIIIIP! I gasped and looked up to see the rope beginning to tear.

"Oh no," I breathed. How could my adventure end when it had just begun?! With my heart pounding, my adrenaline spiking, and my mind whirring, I let instincts take over. My breathing sped up rapidly as I used all the upper strength I could to hoist myself up, past the rope that was tearing. I clawed at the material, trying desperately to reach the part of the rope that wasn't about to snap.

My hand shot out and closed around the very end of the rope where the tear was happening.

If I had been only a second late, they'd have a lot more than a human pancake on the deck. The rope tore the rest of the way and fell below, but now I barely had a grip and was hanging on with one hand. My palm began to sweat and slide down the rope that burned into my skin.

This is it, I thought miserably. I'm going to die now.

I felt my hand free from the rope, and I did the only thing I could think of.

I closed my eyes.

The shouts of horror and fury from the crew drowned out as my ears rung.

I felt the wind whistle past me, as I awaited certain death.

"Gotcha!" I gasped as a powerful hand reached out and grabbed onto my arm, causing my body to jerk. Tears streamed from my eyes as I looked down at the swaying deck far beneath my feet.

When I looked back up into the eyes of my rescuer, I realized with a jolt who it was.

Thomas.

A/N: Oh my word! I feel just horrible for not uploading in so long! I've just been really busy with schoolwork and other stories I'm working on! I totally forgot about this story! So this morning I got up and cranked out the next chapter, since I felt awful for letting everyone down! So here's the next chapter and I hope it was more adventurous! :D More will be coming! I just don't know when I'll update next!

Reviewer thanks!:

HyperActiveTwilightHater: Thanks for commenting! I feel like I let you down for not posting in so long (shakes head sadly) but I really hope you liked this chapter, and hehe yeah I like Thomas too! Thanks for reviewing once again! :)