Cold Nights

TW// Mention of murder

They threw him into a dark room and slammed the door shut behind him, locking it. Elias crawled into the corner and hugged his knees.

It's okay Elias. You'll be okay.

His body was shivering and despite wanting to be strong for himself and them, he couldn't hold back his tears any longer.

It's okay. They can't see you here. It's okay.

You'll be okay.

At least you're alive.

The scene of his parents dying came to him again. The yawning slash across mother's neck. Her terrified eyes as she fell to the ground, her still twitching body, the thick, treacly blood oozing out of her wound. Father's briefest, kindest smile before he dropped down like a ragdoll. The blood, so much blood, that surrounded them, their lifeless bodies.

Their lifeless bodies.

They were dead.

In a nick of time, Elias lost everything. It happened so quickly. How can you, in such little time, lose so much – home, parents, warmth, safety and freedom? Elias reached to his side to make sure father's dagger was still there. With relief, he clutched it in his hands and held it tight to his chest.

I'm sorry ma, pa.

He lowered his head between his knees, trying to stop the trembling of his body. Trying to quiet down the sobs and the tears escaping his eyes.

Elias didn't know when he drifted off to sleep or for how long he was asleep. The dagger was still firmly fixed between his fingers, tightly pressed to his chest his eyelids felt sticky from the dried tears and his throat was sore. He pulled himself into a sitting position, looking around the dark cabin.

He could tell the ship had already set sail, for it was rocking about. Elias got on his knees and walked towards the door. He tried to open it, hoping that while he was asleep someone might've unlocked it. But to his misfortune, the door wouldn't budge.

He then looked around the small cabin for any crevice, so he could at least know if it was day or night. But no luck with that either. The room was sealed shut from all around. Helpless, he sat down and leaned against a column. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in a while.

What he wouldn't do to have some Vomlies from the market or his mother's orange pie. His mouth started to water and his stomach crescendoed when Elias just imagined the sweetness of the berries and the soft bitterness of the pie.

Yet, his vision quickly changed to the bloodied hand by the market stall and his mother's body on the ground.

Elias tried to suppress the tears forcing their way out of his eyes as the realisation hit him - he would never again stroll around the market, munching on little fruit berries. He would never get to taste his mother's pie while she would hold him on her lap. He would never walk the woods with his father talking about whatever they had on their mind. He would never be able to idly lie down in the grass by the cliffs and just breathe in the fresh air.

Freedom.

He would never know it again.

A couple of days must've passed by, yet no one ever opened the door or gave Elias some food and water. He could only listen to the pirates shouting orders to each other on the deck and rushing footsteps passing by outside the cabin.

Elias never heard the Captain's rusty voice, but he did appear on deck every night. Elias would hear the heavy thuds, as the metal leg of the Captain would sound throughout the ship. He would come outside, walk around the ship, and then linger for a minute or two before the cabin Elias was held in. There would be a minute of silence when Elias would hope the man would open the door, but every night the thuds slowly drifted away.

Elias would then sigh in relief, despite his hope that the Captain would let him out.

He was so hungry that he barely felt the void in his stomach. He had survived a couple of days without food before when he got stuck in a cave back when he was five. But then, he had water that was dripping down the stone wall.

He didn't know anymore how long he would be able to keep his eyes open if he didn't get a drop of water.

Elias was also afraid to sleep - every time he closed his eyes he would see them - the blood, the bodies, and the smile on his father's face. The lack of water made matters worse, as he now also saw them while his eyes were wide open.

His head was spinning and just as he was beginning to think that it would have been better if he had never agreed to go with the Captain and just let them kill him, he heard the doors unlocking.

The pirate that was firmly holding him back in Parahill was standing behind the door. It was night, and Elias was grateful as he was unsure whether his eyes could handle the brightness of the sun. For a second the pirate and Elias just stared at each other till Elias' eyes slid to his hand, now wrapped in bandages. When the pirate noticed Elias looking at his hand, he moved it behind his back.

"What ar ye looking at?! Get up!"

Elias just looked at him with his drowsy eyes. Even if he wanted to stand up, he couldn't move his tired, feeble body.

"Quit starin' and get up!" said the pirate, this time stepping in the cabin and pulling Elias to his feet.

Elias stumbled, his legs too weak to be holding him up. The pirate caught him by the collar of his shirt just before Elias collapsed.

"Come on, the Captain wants to see ya." he said without an ounce of compassion, Elias would have even sworn there was malice in his voice, as he dragged him across the deck towards what Elias presumed to be the Captain's cabin.

Before he opened the door, he knocked on it. From behind the door came a deep harsh Come in. The pirate opened the door and pushed Elias through it, so he fell to his knees.

"Brought the kid."

Elias looked up. The cabin was dark, lit up only by a single lantern. The room was filled with shelves of books and maps, in the middle a massive table and behind it a big chair, covered in red velvet. From behind it came the rusty voice of the Captain, which sent chills through Elias' bones.

"Thank you."

The Captain slowly turned around and leaned his arms on the table. He wasn't wearing his big hat or coat. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, showing even more rigid scars. His eyes were fixed on Elias, the light from the lantern illuminating the red around his irises.

"Do you know why you're here?"

Elias said nothing. He just stared at the man, eyes not budging away from him.

The Captain sighed. "I'm Sabur, the Captain of this ship, The Rose Sparrow." He stood up and started walking towards Elias. "I saw you put up quite a fight back at Parahill."

Elias hoped the man wouldn't notice the twitching of his body, every time the metal leg hit the ground. "You even managed to cut Kian's hand. That's not something just anyone can do." Elias felt the body of the pirate standing behind him, stiffen, clutching his wounded hand behind his back.

The Captain stopped before him and spoke with a soft yet coarse voice. "Do you know how to wield a sword?"

Elias stayed silent. The pirate behind him kicked him in the back. A weak yelp escaped Elias' mouth.

"Answer the Captain."

"Calm down Kian."

He crouched down to Elias and offered him a hand. Elias didn't move his eyes away when he slowly and carefully took Sabur's hand. His hand was rough and cold against his skin. Sabur pulled him to his feet.

"I'll ask you again. Do you know how to wield a sword?"

Elias carefully shook his head.

"That can be changed." He returned to his chair and sat down, then looked back at Elias. "You must be tired and hungry." He looked at the pirate, his voice slightly changing, becoming harsher. "Show him his net and get him something."

"Captain, aren't we takin' him to Bradfordshire?"

"No." He turned around in his chair. "Not this one."

The pirate nodded and without further questions grabbed Elias by the shirt and dragged him out of the cabin. Elias allowed himself to be lugged down below the ships deck because he didn't trust that his legs would hold him up. Before they disappeared down into the ship, Elias noticed a pirate with a big earring hanging down his right ear, watching him.

He was just watching him, eyes following Elias until he entered the stairs leading down to the Berth of the ship.

As Kian dragged him to his net, they passed the crew gathered around for dinner. As soon as they heard them enter, all of their eyes were glued onto Elias.

"Get back to ya food!" shouted Kian. All of them quickly turned back to their bowls. "And get this scum some water and food as well. Captain's orders."

He pulled Elias to the right corner to the last net in the rows of many. He pushed him towards it.

"Here's yer net." A pirate trailed behind him holding a cup of water and a bowl of dried meat. He dropped it down to Elias. "And here's yer food." He turned around to leave. "Don't get any funny ideas."

Both of them left. Elias looked down at the cup of water. He slowly grabbed it with his shaking hand and brought it to his dry lips. He drank it so quickly that it hurt his throat. Then he picked up the bowl and devoured the meat with his hand like a wild animal finally catching prey after a long chase.

He looked up to the crew on the other side of the room. They were watching him, but when they saw him look at them, they quickly turned away.

Elias pulled himself up and climbed into the net, trying to keep his balance, and not falling. Then he curled up in the net and put his hand on the silver dagger. He closed his eyes, tired but at last somewhat sated.

He breathed in and out and fell into a troubled sleep.