Her Captive

“Do you trust me?”

“Would I be here if I didn’t? Ow! You bit me!”

“Smartass. You like it when I bite.”

“Well, yeah, I do. But--”

“And that wasn’t an answer. Do you trust me?”

“Yes, I trust you.”

“Good.”

“... oh, boy.”

***

It was every sailor’s nightmare -- to have their ship taken by pirates, to be at the mercy of the lawless scourges of the seas. For First Mate Daniel Walker, the nightmare had gone far beyond the pale; his ship had been taken by the dreaded Hades’ Cutlass, whose captain never left survivors. Worse, the pirate captain had taken a fancy to his looks, and had ordered him secured in the captain’s quarters. So Daniel found himself bound and blindfolded, hauled away from his crew, to await his fate.

His captors were an inventive lot, if nothing else. To keep him secure in a room no doubt full of weapons which could be used to win his freedom, they bound his wrists behind him, and forced him to stand on a small, rickety stool. A rope was looped around his neck and tied above his head: if he stepped from the stool, or lost his balance, he’d strangle. So he waited, trying not to move, trying not to breathe too hard. He heard a click-hum, and a cold draft tickled the back of his neck; he shivered, wishing he could see. Wishing he knew what was going to happen next.

***

Silently, she leaned against...