Chapter 10.

•Cancer's POV•

•Still in the Past•

The pirate seemed displeased by my brother's command, and grabbed us both by the ear.

As we were dragged onto the ship, I continued stumbling as he was too fast for my small, 10 year old legs. We were then both forced down, as the Captain grabbed a whip from another pirate.

We screamed as he slammed it down on our frail bodies. This continued until our bodies were numb and had lost our voices. Both of us were about to run, but before we knew it, the ship was a few miles from the dock.. Somehow, we hadn't noticed.

"It seems we have a couple of scallywags joining us, mates!" The Captain yelled out, and the other pirates cheered in agreement.

I couldn't take the numbness anymore as I fell onto my side, breathless. The Captain just stared at me, while my brother did the same as I did, the Captain grabbed him by the ear again. I heard a scream for help, but I couldn't get my body to move again.

Splash.

The Captain came back over, though.. My brother wasn't with him.

"Where's Andrew gone.." I whispered.

The Captain leaned down and whispered back. "I suggest you do as you're told around here, learn your place, and try not to be in your brother's position right now." I could tell he was trying hard to keep a straight face, as the corners of his mouth kept twitching.

It then hit me, the shouts for help along with frantic splashing.

"Help.. Help him..!" I cried out.

"Keep your mouth shut or you'll be in the sea of sharks with him." The pirate snapped at me, and I fell silent. The only noises being the latter chatter of pirates, the heavy splashes upon the boat sides and my brother's cries.

I couldn't help but cry with him, it was all I could do. Though, I finally found the energy to pull myself to the side of the boat, my weak, frail arms reaching out for him to grab but I didn't realise how far down he was compared to me.

My eyes continued tearing up, as my watery eyes locked with his pain-filled ones. "I'm sorry.." I whispered, holding back the tears. I had to keep strong.

"Brother.. Christian.. Help me..!" He continued to be pushed under by waves, although somehow managed to push himself back up.

"I can't help you!" I screamed, before a massive wave came over my brother. I waited and sobbed for half an hour.. He never resurfaced. "Brother..?" I called, I couldn't believe it. He must be playing with me.. A game, at this time..

"It seems the lad's gone, boy." The Captain trudged over to me. He didn't seem very sympathetic, when I looked up at him, he was indeed smirking.

"What... What have you done?!" I screamed, slowly trying to get up, as he simply slammed his boot down on my back to prevent me.

"What have I done? What have you done? You could've saved him, if only you'd listened to your brother.. If only you'd ran from me. He seemed to have a few more braincells than you, boy." With that, the Captain then leaned down and grabbed me by the hair. He dragged me into his office, who there, was awaiting a lady. Seemingly his wife.

"Hello, sweetheart." She cooed, as I reached her. She brushed her hand across my cheek and through my hair. It didn't feel like something a mother would do, instead something of a lover. I couldn't help but flinch under her touch. "Aww, something bothering you? Caught your tongue?" I looked around and noticed the door shut, the Captain was out of sight. I quickly shoved the lady rather weakly and ran to the door. It was locked, so I began pounding on it. "That is no way to treat me, darling. Come back here, let's play a little game~" She used a seductive tone, though I only found myself more disgusted.

"Leave me alone!" I cried, continuing to pound on the door. She was sat on the office desk, awaiting me to return to her. "I'm only ten! Help me..!" I screamed, hoping one of the many pirates had some sort of sympathy in their hearts. No luck with that plan.

The woman had come up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist, and slowly sliding her hand into my trousers. I was frozen to the spot, I couldn't fight back at all...

•Present time•

I hadn't realised how much I shared until everyone was staring at me. I glanced around, shoving my pockets into my hands.

"Don't tell me I'm the only one with a traumatic past." I decided to break the awkward silence.

"That isn't just traumatic, Cancer. It's sickening to think about." Aquarius commented.

"It still doesn't excuse anything you've done." Pisces added, snarkily. Gemini was stood next to him with his head hung, and holding onto Pisces' hand.

"Tell me something I don't know, fish." I hissed at him and I found Leo just staring at me. Libra was doing the same.

"I think you should apologise to Ophiuchus even after that." Virgo finally said, after remaining quiet the whole time. Taurus mumbled an agreement from slightly behind her.

Capricorn and Aries had somehow disappeared somewhere, probably doing some gay shit, which is fine by me, I'm glad those two hadn't heard my past. They would've spouted words filled with pity at me. I didn't need that.

Sagittarius then walked forwards and patted my shoulder, with a light smile. Maybe Capricorn and Aries aren't the only sympathetic ones.

"I understand your pain, Cancer." He stared into my eyes and I could see pain and sorrow behind his them, something I hadn't seen for a while.

Ophiuchus had suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs and was now slithering down the creaky stairs.

Leo had suddenly noticed. He jumped up and ran over, infront of her. "What are you doing? Where are you going?" I had only just noticed the bags she had in her hands.

"Somewhere you morons aren't." She hissed. Leo looked genuinely hurt.

"Look, I'm sorry for everything I've done to you, but isn't running from your problems only going to make things worse?" I remarked, huffing in annoyance. "At least take Leo with you, safety in numbers." I added at the end, which led to an enthusiastic Leo.

"No." She put bluntly, and continued slithering.

"You're really so cold over one rejection?" I sneered, with a slight glare. "You truly are so childish, Ophi."

"Don't call me that.. And it wasn't just because of that. If Leo really wants to come, then he has to hurry up and get a bag." She huffed, waiting by the door. Leo stood there, staring at her. "I said, hurry the fuck up!" Leo nodded, and bolted upstairs.

I could see a hint of blush upon her face, and Gemini suddenly began giggling. "I think we should all go our separate ways!"

Everyone just stared at him.

"What?" Virgo asked, with a quizzical look on her face. Even Pisces was confused by his sudden outburst.

"Maybe it's a good idea, we could learn a few things about ourselves." Aquarius nodded in agreement. "Of course, we'd stay in at least pairs to keep each other safe and alive."

"I don't think that's a good idea..." Aries remarked, as he and Capricorn came down the stairs.

"Maybe you don't, but it does sound good to me." Scorpio inputted, after a never-ending silence from him.

"Glad you could finally join us." I remarked, with a smirk. He sighed and shook his head.

"I think we should just have a vote." Scorpio added with a shrug. The others seemed to like the idea, except Aries.

"All in favour of exploring the lands, raise thy hand." I simply put, and the majority did.

The only ones who didn't were Aries, Capricorn, Virgo and Pisces.

Virgo and Pisces seemed a little confused about the whole thing still.

"Get in your groups, then." Ophiuchus hissed, as Leo joined her. They were soon gone.

"Okay. Let's just stick with people we like, and genuinely wish to spend a length of time with." Virgo put after a long hesitation.

After about 20 minutes, the groups ended up as the following;

(1) Aquarius, Sagittarius, Aries and Capricorn.

(2) Ophiuchus, Leo (obviously), Virgo and Taurus.

(3) Cancer, Libra, Scorpio, Gemini and Pisc--

"Wait, what the fuck is this? Me with fucking Cancer?!" Pisces yelled as Virgo read out the list.

"I think you meant, me with you." I snarled.

"Shut up, both of you. This grouping is to help the relationships with your comrades, not ruin them further. If you don't like the group, go solo. I don't care." Virgo said in a matter-of-fact tone. She had clearly had enough of our bickering.

"I say, let's go with it!" Gemini shouted over us, punching his fist into the air with a big, toothy grin.

I just stared at him. "Are you seriously suggesting we go with such an idiot?"

"Watch your mouth, Crab." Pisces hissed, glaring.

"Talk to me like that again, I dar-" I was cut off by a prompt squeeze to my wrist from Aquarius. I then, slowly, collapsed.

"About time..." Pisces said, though I was drifting off and didn't hear the rest.