Awakening

As Minor and Ann continued to Make love on the beach , Suddenly the sound of a cannon boomed through the air, making them both jump in surprise. The sudden interruption shattered the magical atmosphere, and they stood frozen, their eyes scanning the horizon.

"What was that?" Ann asked, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and excitement.

Minor's eye narrowed, his expression turning serious. "I don't know," he said, his voice low and husky. "But I think we're about to find out."

As they stood there, a dove suddenly appeared from nowhere, its wings beating softly as it fluttered around Minor's head. Ann's eyes widened in surprise as the dove began to peck gently at Minor's shoulders and back, as if giving him a massage.

"What is this?" Ann asked, her voice full of wonder. "Is this some kind of magic?"

Minor's eyes gleamed with amusement. "This is no ordinary dove," he said. "It's a messenger from the Pirate King himself. It seems that we've been... summoned."

Ann's eyes widened in alarm as Minor's words sunk in. "Summoned?" she repeated. "What do you mean?"

Minor's grin grew wider. "I think it means we're about to have some... visitors. Pirates, to be exact."

The dove continued to peck at Minor's skin, its gentle touch sending shivers down his spine. Ann felt a chill run down her own spine as she realized what was happening.

"Pirates?" she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.

Minor nodded. "Yes, pirates. And they'll be looking for one thing: my tribute."

Ann's eyes locked onto Minor's, her mind racing with questions. What was this tribute? And why did pirates want it? But before she could ask, a fleet of ships appeared on the horizon, their black sails billowing in the wind.

The dove vanished as suddenly as it appeared, leaving Minor and Ann to face the oncoming pirates alone. The cannon fire grew louder, and Ann felt her heart pounding in her chest as she realized they were about to be attacked.

They return the cave. As Ann walked away,Minor breathed a sigh of relief. He looked down at Ethan, who was still sleeping peacefully. But then, something caught his attention.

Ethan's eyes flickered open, and Minor froze.

Ethan's gaze locked onto Minor, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Minor felt his heart racing as he tried to read Ethan's expression.

And then, Ethan's eyes dropped to Minor's face. He could see the tension in his eyes, the uncertainty. And Minor knew that Ethan had seen something.

"Minor?" Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Minor nodded, trying to play it cool. "Yeah?"

Ethan's eyes flickered back up to Minor's face. "What's going on?" he asked.

Minor hesitated, unsure of what to say. He didn't want to lie to Ethan, but he didn't want to reveal his true feelings either.

"Ethan, let's just focus on getting you better," he said finally.

But Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You're not just talking about my health," he said. "You're talking about something else."

Minor felt his heart sink. He had been trying to avoid this moment, but now it seemed like he couldn't escape it.

Ethan's eyes met Minor's as he poured himself a cup of grog, his voice dripping with casual curiosity. "So, Minor, I've noticed you've been spending a lot of time with Ann lately. She seems... fascinated by your stories."

Minor's expression didn't change, but Ethan detected a flicker of tension in his eyes. "Just sharing my knowledge with her," he said, his voice neutral.

Ethan chuckled, his eyes never leaving Minor's face. "Ah, yes, the art of navigation. I'm sure she's grateful for your expertise."

Minor's jaw clenched, but he didn't rise to the bait. "What's it to you, Ethan?" he asked, his tone cool.

Ethan shrugged, his voice taking on a hint of nonchalance. "Just making conversation. You know how it is when we're stuck at your cave for weeks on end."

The two men stood there for a moment, the silence between them heavy with unspoken emotions. Ethan could sense Minor's anger simmering just below the surface, but he refused to back down.

"I'm sure Ann appreciates your... attention," Ethan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I mean, who wouldn't want to spend hours listening to tales of the high seas?"

Minor's face darkened, but he kept his emotions in check. "You're not exactly one to talk, Ethan," he said, his voice low and even.

Ethan's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, I'm just trying to help you see things from my perspective. You know, for the sake of our friendship."

The two men stayed there for a moment longer, the tension between them palpable. Finally, Ethan nodded and turned to leave. "I'll catch you later, Minor," he said, his voice dripping with false camaraderie.

As he walked away, Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had planted the seed of doubt in Minor's mind, and he knew that this wasn't the last they would hear about it.

Just then, Ann walked back into the room, "Hey, guys?" she said.

Ethan's eyes locked onto Ann, and for a moment, Minor felt like he was frozen out of the conversation.

"What happened?" Ann asked, looking at the two of them. 

The little man shrugged.

 "Nothing," Minor said quickly. But Ethan wasn't buying it. He looked at Ann with knowing eyes.

 And Minor was extremely alarmed.Sensing the weight of unspoken truths hanging heavily in the room, Ethan seized the opportunity to request a private conversation with Ann, a subtle maneuver to unravel the mystery shrouding their encounter. 

 "Ann, can I talk to you for a moment?" Ethan asked.

 Ann nodded, looking at Minor uncertainly, "Yes, of course."

Minor walked out of the room, suddenly feeling uneasy. He tried to avoid this moment. But now he seemed to be in the way.

Minor couldn't help but wonder what was going on in their hearts. Did they see something? Does he know what happened? Minor decided to walk out of the room and out of the cave.

Minor's eyes narrowed as he gazed out at the approaching fleet. He was jealous of the attention Ann had been receiving, but he couldn't afford to dwell on it now. He needed to focus on the pirates and their demands.

to be continued...