My Turn To Hurt

Pudge scratched his nuts and stared across the brush towards Strelitzia. "So it's just me and you."

She glanced over at him before looking back to where her cousin and James disappeared to. "Unfortunately.."

"Stand up real quick, let me see how the rain flattens that dress to your curves. Just one peek?" But as luck had it, James and Ray'ven came through the brush. "Damn. Just when we were having fun."

James threw Ray'ven against the ground near the bags they were able to pull from the ship before anyone could catch them. "Carry my tea with ease." unlike your tongue, he thought.

Ray'ven sent him a dirty look. "Someone has a temper. Guess not everyone can handle their own feelings." She said towards Strel while still looking towards James. "Carry your own tea."

"I could have told you that. He's still better than his brother." Strelitzia shrugged and moved over to Ray'ven to brush the dirt and sand from her clothes.

Ray'ven huffed, giving Strel a small smile in thanks as the shorter girl wiped away some of the sand that had made itself home in her hair. "Where exactly are we supposed to go? From the looks of it, we are the only people on this stupid island anyway. Did any of you barbarians think this little "escape" through?"

"Again, we don't trust an Aldain's words. Sit by the fire. I'm gathering some food and then we're marching through the forest.

 ***

Ray'ven waited until the man disappeared into the thick of the trees before looking over to the other side of the fire at the fat squat of a man, Pudge. The man leered at her, licking his lips with a grin. She grimaced in disgust, turning to face her cousin instead.

"We really need to get out of here, while the other one is away." She whispered.

Strelitzia nodded her agreement. "Do you think we could outrun the fat one? Or maybe just distract him and slip away." She wrung her hands nervously. If they really planned to leave they couldn't allow themselves to get caught. She wasn't sure they'd survive it.

Ray'ven glimpsed over the man once more. "I'm sure distracting him will be simple enough. I can do that while you slip away." She squeezed Strel's hands in comfort before standing and making her way over to Pudge, a sway in her steps.

The second Pudge caught sight of those curves, he rolled onto his side and pushed himself up into a sit. "And hello there sexy princess. I saw those tits from a mile away. Can I help you with something?" His tongue slipped over his rotten teeth.

Ray'ven bit her lip, a blush painting her cheeks as she knelt down beside him. A shiver ran through her, and she hugged her arms to her body, pressing them underneath her breast and pushing them up tauntingly. "I'm still cold, I was hoping that you could warm me up. Just a bit." Her sea-green eyes met his brown ones bashfully.

Another snort left the chubby bastard and he cupped a handful of his rolls. "I've got more than enough to warm you girl." He chuckled and gestured for her to sit on his lap.

Ray'ven giggled, crawling forward so that she was straddling his lap, holding back the cringe of disgust at the feel of his erection against her belly. Pressing closer, she sighed in contentment. "You really are warm." She whispered in his ear.

There it was. The perfect moment for Strel to slip away while Pudge's attention was completely on her cousin. She felt bad that her cousin would lower herself by seducing such a grotesque man, but they wouldn't get another opportunity like this. She turned in the opposite direction, sprinting as fast as she could to the treeline for cover. Surely Ray'ven would follow suit shortly.

The moment Ray'ven heard the rustle of the trees, she smirked at the man, rearing her head back and smashing it directly into his nose. Wasting no time, she rolled backward, narrowly avoiding the fire pit and took off in the direction that her cousin had disappeared to. Pudge fell back and screeched.

The God damn bitch had betrayed him.

"James! JAMES!"

The branches moved and swayed in the opposite direction of Strelitzia as she sprinted, but then she'd slam into someone's chest.

Razmyr glimpsed down at her, cerulean eyes gleaming beneath the red moonlight. "Oh. I hope I'm not interrupting something." The corner of his mouth twitched and he gripped her by the scruff of her neck, turning her back from which she'd come. "Ray'ven. I'll count to three," Pressing the barrel of his pistol against Strelitzia's head, beginning his countdown. "One." The click, the barrels turning and waiting for his trigger finger to clamp down. "Two! Fuck it, tired of waiting!" He hollered out.

Ray'ven burst through the trees, her hands raised in surrender. "No, no no wait! Please don't." Her eyes were wide with panic and she was still breathing harshly from her sprint. She inwardly cursed the man and his timing. If only he had arrived five minutes later.

"I know this seems bad but," Strelitzia licked her lips which suddenly seemed to be very dry. Her voice betrayed her, quivering with a shrill note of fear. "Killing me or her would be a bad idea. Please don't do this."

Razmyr nodded his head, releasing her and turning the opposite direction of them. "Yeah. I'm sure you had nothing to do with that." For a moment his visage seemed distant, but then he whirled back around, hand extended, pistol-whipping Ray'ven across the face once, then slammed the back of his pistol against her temple, rendering her unconscious. Then, his eyes landed on Strelitzia. "Do I need to do that to you as well, or can you follow without acting like you want to lose your life?"

Her gaze lowered to her fallen cousin and the already forming lump on her head. Their situation seemed to grow bleaker with every passing minute. "I...can follow. But what about Ray'ven? She can't walk now."

"I'll leave her for the wolves of course." Although he was being sarcastic, his eyes seemed as though he wished the idea could become reality. Leaning down, he scooped her up into his arms and slung her over a shoulder as he'd done before. "Let's go little lamb."

Strelitzia said nothing as she trudged behind Razmyr to wherever it was he led them. She kept glimpsing up at her unconscious cousin before looking away. If only they had been smarter about their escape. What good was she when she couldn't even protect her family?

 ***

Ray'ven woke with a groan, her head throbbing painfully. Blurry eyes stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling in confusion as she attempted to recall what might have happened to cause her such pain. She was laying on a bed, softer than the rotted cot that she had become accustomed to on the ship. The sound of clothes rustling somewhere near her caused her to tense before a familiar deep voice spoke.

"Morning princess." Razmyr muttered from the chair leaning against the far corner of the wall.

Ray'ven groaned again, bringing an arm up to cover her eyes. Now she remembered, the bastard had hit her with his gun after her and Strel's failed attempt at escaping. She shot up at the thought of her cousin, instantly regretting it when her head spun painfully.

"Where...is Strelitzia?" She questioned.

"Kitchen, eating. Something you won't be doing as punishment." His legs uncrossed at the ankle and he leaned forward, elbows resting against his thighs. "Although she did get lashed across her feet for following." The man shrugged. "James didn't appreciate what you've done to his brother, bitch."

The chair creaked as he stood full height, 6'3 with a cigarette hanging from the side of his mouth. Of course he could've left her punishment at a missing meal and an aching stomach, but she was an initiator, Strel being the sheep who'd follow. He'd have to set her as an example.

Once he reached the bedside, he sat, the mattress sinking from the abrupt movement. "Despite how gorgeous you are, that bruise makes you look like shit. And this beating is about to make you look worse." Pulling the cigarette from his lips, he tossed it on the floor and stomped it before slamming Rayven's head against the headboard, then dragging her onto the floor by her wild locks and through the door.

Everyone in the halls gasped when the door caved. At the end of the hall stood a bucket and a noose. Throwing her down onto the metal resting place meant to be kicked from her feet, he gestured to Strelitzia who stood on bloody feet. "Put it around her neck. I don't have all day."

Ray'ven struggled against the hold on her hair as Razmyr drugged her through the halls. When he tossed her forwards, she gasped in pain as her knees hit the stone floor hard. Her ears were filled with the loud pounding of her heart, her scuffle doing nothing to ease the pain in her skull. She sat up shakily as Strelitzia grabbed the rope.

Her hands shook as she fumbled with the rope, her trembling fingers struggling to fit the noose over her head. Strelitzia's eyes were wide and full of sorrow but there were no words needed; and no apology that would be enough. She could only hope that the pirates found some mercy within those pits they called hearts. But when she glimpsed into his eyes his resolve said he had none.

"Remove her clothes." Said Razmyr.

She drew a steadying breath before doing as she was told. She hated herself for it but what choice did they have left but to obey? Slowly she stripped away her cousin's clothing. It was just the worn rags they had been given and they were easily torn from her body. Leaving nothing but her exposed form.

Razmyr removed his gloves and stepped forward, tugging the opposite end of the rope bound around her neck. She dangled into the air. Forcing Strelitzia's hand open to hold the noose's end, he growled. "Look at her! This is what happens when you fuck with me. I make rules, and when they are broken, I break you."

The knife at his side had been unsheathed and placed beneath her chin, glided along her back until carving his initials onto the left side of her ribs. On the opposite side, he'd taken the branding iron one of his men had passed him, then pressed the searing metal against the nape of her neck. The symbol of the pirates her father hated.

Just as her eyes closed, before she went unconscious yet again, he chopped her down.

Ray'ven gasped for breath as she landed on the floor, panting in pain. She could only lay there weakly, her exposed body shivering as her vision slowly faded. Her father's words played over and over again in her mind. 'Stay strong. Stay strong.' It played like a mantra, echoing through her pain-riddled mind. Her jaw clenched as she struggled to sit up. Taking a deep breath, she glared at the floor, her hands trembling as they struggled to keep her up.

He would pay.