CHAPTER 5

I ran faster not knowing where I am speeding off to . I could still hear the men shouting and giving orders . I looked back to see that no one was chasing me currently . Amia and Emlyn had split up as well . Amia ran left , while me and Emlyn ran straight , but then Emlyn took a right and was not with me anymore . I could hear my heart beating fast .

Seeing a narrow passage , I ran towards there . These men might not stop until they catch us and I am not helping them to catch me . I crouched down and took the small knife that I had hid right before we walked to the inn . I just had a hunch , I should take something .

I checked my jacket once again to make sure I have the map still with me . Feeling the almost crumbled paper , I let out a sigh in relief and started moving again . I am planning to hide somewhere around and wait till the men either leave or until I meet both Emlyn and Amia .

I slowly walked through the pathway , listening carefully for any sound . My eyes were on a lookout for any shadows of men . I tightened the hold on my knife and I walked forward . I looked around , not a lot of sounds were heard now . Seeing another inn , I walked towards it to only step back again after seeing one of the men walking out of it . It was the same man who started all the problems . His hand was now tied up with a cloth .

I hid behind a wall waiting for him to leave .

" They are not there ". I heard him speak .

" What should we do captain?" I heard another man speak . So there were more men in this area . " Tell everyone to close all the inns here . They won't get far away ". Soon I heard some footsteps moving away . So both Amia and Emlyn were not caught . I let out a sigh of relief . The wind was blowing softly now giving me shivers. I leaned back onto the wall , taking a deep breath in .

" Hey there pretty." I turned around , startled as I saw him standing a bit far away . That ugly smirk still present on his face .

" What do you want ? " I asked him and he started chuckling . Not answering my question , he started making slow steps towards me .

" It's funny that I found you after telling my men to leave ."

I held my position and held the knife slightly in front of me . If he is going to try something with me , I am not leaving without slitting his throat .

I focused more on him . " Didn't you want to know more about where we were going to ? "

He spoke again . He was stalling , making more time for his men to join him . I slowly took a step back as he took a step forward.

" Why are you not answering me ? " He questioned.

" I don't need to ." I replied gritting my teeth .

" You can keep that knife down . I am not going to hurt you . The only reason I sent my men to chase you was because that lass called my a squid face and you cut my hand . I just want all of you to say sorry and pay for the damages you caused us . " He spoke his face much more relaxed than before . I slowly glanced at the wall , no shadows were seen. So his men are not here , yet .

" Weren't you the one who started everything? You were about to lay your filthy hand on my friend . "

I spoke , still keeping the tight grip on the knife . " I did and I am sorry. You can pay me and I will leave ". He spoke again, his deep voice now louder .

"How much do you need ? "

" Five thousand coins ".

"I can give you that. " I spoke making him surprised.

" Lady do you rob?" He questioned as I payed more attention to our surroundings.

"I don't ."

" Then how do you have so much of money?"

" I was gifted some money ."

" You're not from around here ,are you ?" He questioned as he walked a bit more forward . The moonlight now falling onto his face . I nodded my head and he understood what I meant .

" Where are you from ? "

" Ignis"

" I don't know where that is , and why are you here ?, " He questioned . His voice now sounding smoother than before .

"Travelling. Me and the girls , we are new sailors ."

"Not a lot of experience , eh."

I nodded my head again.

" Chill. They are not going to come here until an hour at least . I told them to close all the inns and there are many in this area ."

" When do you need the money?" I asked .

" When ever you are ready to pay lass" .

" If I pay you , will you and your men leave us alone ?"

" If you pay me , me and my men will leave you lasses alone and for bonus , I will give you more information about the caves . "

"I will pay the moment we reach back at the inn , but not a single one of you will touch me ."

" Sounds good ". He spoke as he turned around and started walking the opposite direction . I stood there for a second thinking if what I am going to do is right . Comforting myself , I slowly started walking behind him .

I was slowly , slowly getting more tempted to stick my knife through his neck , trying my best to avoid the thought I talked to him .

" How do I know you will leave us alone?"

Hearing me , he stopped on his track and turned around and scratched his head . " Trust me with this . Just because I am a pirate doesn't mean that I can't keep a promise ".

" I am a true pirate , eh ". He spoke again after a few seconds.

" That's the part that I don't trust. " I replied .

" Lady I don't have anything to prove to you , so if you trust me you can come with me or I will drag you to the inn , make you apologize publicly and then take your money forcefully."

" Touch me and you will be lying down headless." I hissed back at him.

"Good joke ." He replied as he turned around walking back to the inn. Not wanting to cause more problems I walked along .

"You know you can walk along with me right?" He asked turning his head .

" I know that, but I don't trust you."

"Eh". He replied and continued his walk .Those 'eh's were starting to be annoying now .

We walked through the pathways as the cold wind blew gently . The area we currently was at , was eerily quiet . I touched my head , only to notice that I had lost my hat somewhere , most probably at the inn. The full moon was beautiful to look at , along with the stars that filled the wide sky .

" Where did you get that compass from?" He asked suddenly , shifting my eyes to him . "What?" I asked .

" The compass. Where did you get it from?"

" From my mother."

" Why do you want to be a sailor? Are you not scared of the seas children . "

" I am ".

"Oh , I don't think you get it . I'm not talking about us pirates . "

" What else where you talking about?" I asked curiously.

" There are scarier things than us below those seas . I am scared of them as well . They are the seas children."

" Have you seen any of these children?"

" I have . Even lost some men cause of them".

" When you start out for things like this , you should be more prepared. Like my good friend Godwin said , you need more crew members to survive in the sea , lass."

"You were listening to our conversation?"

" A bit ". He spoke and soon let out a snicker.

"So Matilda , I am John. You can call me captain John." He spoke turning around .

"So , captain John . How long have you been a pirate for ? "

"Since as long as my memory wanders ."

" Why are you going to the Red caves ? " I asked him , wanting to know if he would say the truth.

" You heard of demons , lass?" He asked .

" I have."

"Well , one of them is trapped in there and I am going to free it and that would leave me young and rich . I just have to do something for him as well and even if that goes wrong , I will be okay. I don't have anything to loose you see . Death would be just a new friend."

"Ok ...." I replied . He was being too honest.

We soon reached the inn and there I saw , Amia and Emlyn sitting outside of the inn.The moment they noticed that I was with him, they stood up , ready to fight .

" Don't ". I replied as we walked closer . John walked towards the inn , opened the door and got in , with me , Emlyn and Amia following him. Surprisingly, the inn was not locked . I thought this one would be the first one they would lock up , maybe they had their belongings in here.

" Bring the coins love. " He spoke as he took a seat in one of the near by chairs. The inn was a mess . Godwin was lying on the floor unconscious along with some other men . Furnitures and dishes were scattered around as well .

I slowly walked towards the stairs as Amia joined me along, while Emlyn stood there to keep an eye on him . Even though , they didn't understand what was happening , they didnt question anything. Reaching our room , Amia took the key out of her coat and opened the door .

Entering in the room , I immediately told her the situation .

" Hey its okay ". She spoke as we took the coins and walked downstairs.

Emlyn was sitting on the first step , looking at John as he made weird faces .

" Here's the money." I spoke as I gave him the money. He took the pouch and opened it , looking inside to see if I was trying to fool him. Soon we were joined by more of his men . After counting all the coins, he flashed a smile at us .

" Now ladies , what do you need to know about those caves?"