Chapter 4: A New Hope

Later that night the crew of the 3Winds are celebrating on the deck as they now have the two enemy pirates in their prison hold. However, Kiyeon, the one who captured them is back in her cell.

“Why are you in here? Aren’t you a member of the crew?” Yunho asks, looking at the neighboring cell.

“No. I’m just a weapon for them.” The girl responds between her push ups, breathing heavily.

“What’s your name?” Yunho asks, trying to keep the conversation going. Hongjoong raises a brow at how friendly the master rigger is.

“Doesn’t matter. I'm never getting out of here.” She says sighing and sits up, leaning against the back wall wincing slightly.

“Sounds like you had a goal that was ruined.” Yunho says to her as he scoots closer to the bars separating the cells.

“I left my kingdom to search for my brother. He left me three years ago and I lost contact with him two years ago.” She explains with a sigh and finally looks over at him.

“Sounds like our friend's story. He’s been looking for his sister ever since his necklace started glowing.” Yunho says. Hongjoong looks over at the girl and watches her grab a stone around her neck.

“Holy shit you’re Kiyeon aren’t you?” Hongjoong says surprised.

“How do you know that?” She asks looking directly at him.

“Your brother Yeosang is the navigator on my ship. He’s been looking for you the past 2 months.” Hongjoong says, smiling a bit at this information.

She stands up and goes over to the cell wall. “Is he safe?” She asks looking at him intensely.

Hongjoong nods. “Yeah. If you want to see him we have to get out of here.” He says.

“Well that’s not happening.” A voice says as Jonghyun walks in with the captain.

“Songmin” Hongjoong says glaring at the captain.

“Kiyeon. No more talking with them. If you do you’ll be punished again.” He says ignoring Hongjoong.

Kiyeon moves back to the far wall. “What are you gonna do? Keep an eye on me the whole time?” She retorts with a new sense of bravery at the fact that her brother is safe with his own crew.

The captain snaps his finger and Jonghyun walks into the cell and punches the girl across the face. A shout escapes her lips.

The pirates in the adjoining cell yell out standing up. “Leave her alone!” Yunho shouts.

“Shut up unless you want to be beat too” Songmin snaps as they listen to the girl's cries of pain. “I think the crew should have some fun with her.” He says smirking.

The girl's eyes widen as she’s grabbed roughly and pulled out of the cell and room to the upper deck. “NO! Please don't!” she yells.

Hongjoong and Yunho look at each other as the captain walks out as well. “What are they gonna do to her?” Yunho asks nervously.

They look up at the ceiling as they hear screaming and laughing. “I don’t want to think about it.” Hongjoong says sitting back down. “We need to think of an escape plan.” He says.

Yunho nods and blocks out the cries from above as they plan their escape.

After a few hours the two look over as Kiyeon is thrown back into her cell. Her already tattered clothes are ripped and blood is seeping through.

“Kiyeon. Are you-“ yunho starts to ask.

“I’m fine.” She snaps, not looking at him as she hides her tear stained face. She wipes some blood from her lips. “You two better have an escape plan.” She says before closing her eyes and listens.

“When do they bring you food?” Hongjoong asks.

“Every morning.” She responds.

“This time when they do, knock them out and take the keys. Let us out of the cell. And then we can fight our way out.” Hongjoong says.

“That’s a shitty plan.” She says looking over at him. “Some pirate king you are. They have guards posted outside the doors since my last escape attempt a few weeks ago.” She explains. “Is there a way to contact your ship?” she asks looking at the two.

“No. Not from this cell.” Yunho says with a sigh.

“I overheard Songmin talking about bringing you to his office to talk sometime tonight. If you can somehow escape you can get to the TREASURE.” Kiyeon says looking at Hongjoong who nods.

“Sounds like a better plan” Yunho agrees, earning a glare from his captain.

“Alright.” Hongjoong says sighing and looking away from the girl. Something about her just doesn’t sit right with him, whether it’s her attitude or the fact that she’s an assassin. The amount of trauma she must have faced in the last two months is insane.

He looks up as he hears the door open and the first mate unlocks Hongjoongs cell. “Come with me captain” he says with a sneer.

Hongjoong glares at him as he gets up and follows him out. Not having any weapons he has no idea how he’s going to escape, but he has too in order to save Yunho and Kiyeon.

Yunho watches his captain follow the first mate nervously. “What if he can’t escape?” He says looking through the bars to Kiyeon.

“Then he will die and you’ll probably be killed too.” She responds and rests her head in her hands.

“Are.. are you okay?” Yunho asks gently.

She laughs. Not the reaction that the rigger was expecting.

“Am I okay..? What a ridiculous question. Of course I’m not okay. I leave to find my brother and finally have freedom and I’m captured by this psycho crew. I've been forced to murder people and steal from families. I’m beaten at least once a day and I barely eat or sleep. So you tell me. Am I okay? Or am I just going crazy?” She says looking at him with a smile, but a dark look in her eyes. “The thing is. It’s not even me. The damn sorcerer on this ship put some kinda spell on me. Even if I wanted to leave, I can’t without the captain's permission. I’m trapped.” She says, her smile fading. Yunho notices tears start to fall down her pale cheeks. “The only way off for me is if the captain is killed.” She says softly as her body shakes as she cries.

Yunho moves closer to the bars and is able to place a hand on her shoulder. She flinches a bit.

“Don’t worry. Hongjoong will escape, and he will get our crew to free us.” He says gently. Suddenly the two look up at the ceiling as they hear the pounding of footsteps and yelling.

“The prisoner is escaping!” A loud shout is heard along with a splash near the ship.

“He made it!” Yunho says smiling. “Let’s hope he hurries..” he says softly and looks back at Kiyeon who only nods and wipes her eyes.

Swimming through the water near the docks is easy for the pirate king as he reaches the shore. He pants softly and starts running towards his long boat knowing that it will take some time for the crew of the 3Winds to catch up since most of the crew is drunk.

After what feels like forever he arrives back at the TREASURE and climbs aboard.

“Hongjoong? Its the middle of the night. What happened? Where's Yunho and your stuff?” Seonghwa asks the captain, helping him onto the ship.

“No time. Yunho and I were captured by their assassin who happens to be Yeosangs sister. She told me that their captain would want a meeting with me and that was my chance to escape. But she’s a prisoner there.” He explains out of breath.

“Captain! The 3Winds is setting sail right towards us!” Jongho says from the crows nest and they look over too see the 3Winds sails being lowered.

“Get ready to fight! All hands on deck!” Hongjoong shouts loudly and the crew is woken up.

Yeosang stumbles out of his room. “What’s going on?” He asks, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

“I found your sister. She’s a prisoner aboard the 3Winds.” Hongjoong explains. “We are getting her and Yunho out.” He says determined.