Actually, all was not as peaceful as one would have imagined.
Jim had quite the nightmare and woke up screaming for Dyane about an hour before sunrise.
With his impaired mobility, there was nothing that he could do. Everyone with the exception of Summer stayed in a deep slumbering sleep. Summer tended to Jim, trying to keep him as calm as possible. He was a sweaty mess, and the one thing that she was afraid of was beginning to happen to Jim. His body temperature was so up, the perspiration a big clue, but combined with the clamminess and the heat coming from his head, she knew fever was setting in. The end of that equation usually meant infection.
Jim went through some rough shakes at times, but Summer was successful in keeping him as calm as possible and eventually rocked him back to sleep. It didn’t take her long afterwards to join dreamland once again.
Sunrise on the island meant everyone was awakened from their needed sleep. Yes, everyone woke up. Yes, everyone was still on the island sleeping next to each other, some sitting up, some curled in fetal positions spooning another. But it was sleep.
The emotions were drained. The output of said emotions was far too great to withstand yet a second day. So, everyone awoke with blurry eyes, trying to rub the reality from them.
It seemed as though the brainwashing tactics of the pirates were just the breaking down process they needed with these prisoners.
Sunrise was anything but quiet. There was a group of pirates making all kinds of noise as they loaded a couple of boats to go out on another mission. Ripper and Tibs were now watching over the prison camp, and they made enough noise with metal trash cans to awaken islands three miles away.
Ripper grabbed Dylan and Caleb from their sleep and dragged them to a group of pirates who were taking supplies to a boat.
“Let’s go…and don’t say a word” Ripper demanded.
“What the –-…” Caleb sounded off.
Ripper gave him a rib punch that took his breath away.
“I said don’t say a word.”
Dylan initially struggled with Ripper and he gave him a rib shot as well.
“What the fuck!” he screamed back.
Ripper hit him again.
“Get yer asses over there and load that boat!” commanded Ripper. “Yer both going out to get food for your camp.”
Both were feeling the effects of those punches and slowly moving toward the group of pirates who were loading one of the boats. Their lack of urgency didn’t set well with Ripper.
“God damn assholes! Any faster and you’d be going backwards! Now get yer asses moving!” he screamed as he kicked Caleb in the ass.
They were loaded and out on the boat within ten minutes, and along with another boat were headed to the larger ship docked in a secluded part of the inlet.
The rest of the group milled about trying to get their initial focus on the day. It didn’t appear as any of the weary travelers were habitual sunrise risers.
Following a couple of hours of waking up and getting water, Rusty, Jewel and Briggs came into the camp area and met with Alan, Jim and Summer. Jewel was holding a canvas bag with unidentified items inside.
The rest of the captives were strewn about the beach within their designated areas, all deep in thought about what consequences were waiting in front of them. They all looked strung out, with their newly bright vacation boat clothes looking a bit dingier and out of place. Then again with all that they have been through, they absolutely looked out of place to begin with. Nary a smile was present. The little conversations that were happening were all quiet and full of worry and concern.
Jim was feeling a little better than during the night, though the fever slightly worsened. The sweats and shakes had subsided for the time being though he wore his discomfort all over his face. The usual poker face and dry wit similar to Alan’s was most definitely not his strong suit the past day or so…
Rusty reached out with the first olive branch.
“I hope you’re feeling a little stronger today. Let me look at that. I want to make sure it’s healing right.”
Jim was a little taken aback by the greeting.
“Uh…okay…sure.”
“Overall, how are you feeling? Those wounds were serious. I may have to reopen parts to make sure infection doesn’t set in.”
Jim was silent and puzzled. He let her do her nursing thing with a very cautious eye on her, Jewel and Briggs.
“Are you feeling of fever?”
Jim nodded his head yes.
She reached out felt his forehead.
“You could be hot from just being in this heat and the sunshine, but it looks to me like you could be starting a fever. Jewel, honey, hand me my bag.”
Jewel brought the navy blue canvas bag over to her. It was a large bag, looked like it weighed a good twenty five pounds or so and it was about three quarter full.
Rusty reached in and grabbed a large bottle of liquid that was not labeled and a couple of white towels that were larger than bath towels.
“I’m sorry…what’s your name?” she asked Stowe.
He just laid there in total confusion as to why this large surly busty woman pirate who the day before was fine with killing him, had quickly stitched him up on the boat and then the next day did not show the streak of meanness she possessed the day before. If this was a game that she was playing to keep him off guard, it was no doubt working.
“Jim…Jim Stowe.”
He also couldn’t believe that she knew all of this medical stuff.
“Well Jim, I’m Rusty. We got off on a brutal foot yesterday. But I make no apologies for being what I am.”
Jim’s perplexing body language was also present in Alan and Summer. He was like… “huh? What the hell is this?”
One could read the same statement from Summer and Alan.
“Jim, this is going to hurt. I can’t change that. But, I need to do this to help with healing.”
Rusty looked over at Alan.
“You may want to hold your friend. It will make him jump and squirm.”
“That must be alcohol, then?” Alan assumed.
“Yes.”
Alan and Summer both used their weight to hold Jim down in certain places. Briggs and Jewel just stood and watched.
Rusty probed the wounds with her fingertips. She didn’t want to get the stitches wet, but then again, she really had no choice. Jim winced, moaned, groaned and jumped sporadically as she gingerly touched and moved sensitive flesh that surrounded her skill work in sewing skin.
“Yeah, this looks a little messy here…” she commented after Jim’s sudden jump. “Yeah…this doesn’t look right…”
She poured some alcohol from the bottle and Jim attempted to jump through the huge cumulus clouds that were hundreds of feet above them. Alan and Summer felt first hand how difficult it was to hold down a six foot five athletically thick man who squirmed and writhed in the ultimate pain. Both would feel the repercussions of that challenge for the next few days no doubt. His screams were loud and bold. His words were crystal clear. The quiet of the island afterwards meant that the villagers could hear enough of his screams to get their attention. No doubt all of the captives heard. Some turned to watch from the distance while some buried their head in their arms and cried.
As much as Rusty didn’t want to repeat the process, she did. She knew she had to. And she knew she had to do the same for her husband, who was still sleeping back at their house.
Each process was just as bad as the first. By the time the fourth one was over, Jim passed out from the intense pain.
“Jewel, hand me my back again please.”
Rusty reached in and grabbed two syringes and two bottles of liquid, again not labeled. Both bottles were different than the alcohol bottle. One at a time, she filled each syringe and stuck Jim. Alan and Summer were both horrified and curious as to what she was doing.
“What are you giving him?” Summer asked.
“First, I gave him something to help with the pain. It will make him rest, and that is what he needs. Second, I gave him penicillin for the infection.”
Summer’s puzzled look intensified.
“What if he’s allergic to penicillin?” she questioned.
“Well, then we would have another problem to deal with…” Rusty replied. “But, this bag isn’t a drug store, I am not a doctor. This is all you have. I hope he’s not allergic, but if he doesn’t get attention of any kind, he will die a more painful death than all the others.”
“Then why not take him back to Paradise Key for real medical attention?” pushed Summer.
Jewel fielded that question with a show of strength. She grabbed Summer’s arm and flung her around so she could look at her face to face.
“Because we are pirates. We live our lives the way we want to.”
Summer was not amused by the arrogance shown.
“So you will chance his life because you are a pirate? What the hell statement is that?”
Jewel gave Summer a steely look and with a tone of intimidation and further arrogance, she said “that is our statement of life. And while you are here, you can choose to do one of two things…live by it…” as she took her fingertips and traced an imaginary line on Summer’s facial cheeks “…or die…” as she turned those fingertips over and raked her nails firmly down her cheek to her throat.
Summer swallowed with a scared feel. Jewel’s intimidation worked for the moment as she looked into the young pirate’s eyes and feel the passion that gripped Jewel while she made her statement. Jewel then backed off slowly, letting her threat make its emphasis a bit longer.
Jewel then said matter of factly “Paradise Key is out. He will live or die right here. For your sakes, I hope he lives.”
Summer felt a fire in her belly like she’s never had. She wanted so badly to reach out, grab her hair and beat the piss out of Jewel. The only thing that stopped her was a look from Alan as they crossed eyes. Alan’s look was an order to stand down. Summer shot back a look to Alan like she was ready to kill. Alan got the message.
Rusty scolded Jewel publicly.
“No need to talk like that Jewel. They are still figuring all of this out. We turned their lives upside down. You need to give them some room here.”
Jewel looked at her mom cross and said nothing.
“Paradise Key is not an option. I will look after him later. If he develops anything, anything at all, get word to Briggs (she pointed at him), and he’ll tell me immediately. I will come and do what I can. But I’m not trying to kill him, I’m doing what I can to heal him.”
“Thank you” Alan said nodding and looking over at Summer at the same time. “We appreciate your efforts.”
Summer got Alan’s facial message.
“Yes, thank you” she echoed.
Rusty then turned serious abruptly.
“Okay, now to address your situation…” she started. “We will get your group together. We want names of everyone. First and foremost, before we say anything else, as long as the behavior is what it needs to be, we will all function well. But if anyone steps out of line, there will be punishment and it will be painful. You may be our prisoners, but we will open our lives up to you in some regards. And you have already seen what we have no problem doing. So, behave properly and life will go on. Don’t and you will feel the wrath. Agreed?”
Alan looked over to Summer and then back over to Rusty.
“I don’t think we’re in a position to say otherwise. Agreed.”
“Good” replied Rusty. “For what it’s worth, your lives just improved from a moment ago.”
“So what now?” Alan asked.
“Get a list of your friends together with names, addresses and such. As soon as I have that, I will speak to everyone and let them know what will happen from there.”
“The sooner, the better I suppose” said Alan dryly.
Rusty reached in her bag and pulled out a notebook and pen.
“Here…write everything here” she replied. “I’m going to check on my husband, but I’ll be back in about half an hour. If you’re done, we’ll proceed then. Briggs will stay for now and answer questions.”
“Okay” nodded Summer.
“Jewel, you coming with me?” her mother suggested.
“I was thinking about staying here and observing.”
“Okay. See you in a bit.”
Rusty walked away toward the village. Alan looked over the notebook and pen and turned to Summer.
“Guess we best start now” he stated. “Do you know everyone?”
“No, I don’t. You?” she answered.
“Nope. This will be a small challenge” he grinned slightly and dryly, his sarcasm showing.
Summer put her arm around Alan’s shoulders.
“We’ll make this work. I’m not sure how, but we will make this work. Just be strong for us.”
Alan looked into Summer’s eyes at first puzzled, then firm. He wasn’t sure why she had suddenly turned inspirational and motivational, but he just rolled with it.
“We all need to be strong. I will help set the example.”
Summer smiled and gave Alan a small but meaningful hug with her one arm, burying her face into his front shoulder.
“Good” she said muffled.
They walked over to where there was an old wooden picnic table that was beaten up from the weather. They sat down and opened the notebook. Alan started scribbling.
Meanwhile, Briggs and Jewel sent their attention throughout the area, scoping over the members of their group. Jewel noticed the younger ladies who were sitting in the sand next to the water. Small waves were buffeting the shore, at times spritzing the bare feet of Gianna and Eryan with a playful splash. The two girls were deep in conversation of some kind, but were out of earshot of Jewel. She wasn’t sure why, but Jewel was insanely interested in what they were talking about. It was a strange turn of events for her, especially since she came off as a queen bitch moments earlier to Alan and Summer. Maybe it was the teenage still in her, although she was just a couple of weeks away from being twenty.
“Briggs, I’m headed over there” she said, pointing at Gianna and Eryan.
She walked slowly toward the girls on the beach, reaching them in a matter of a minute or two. She wasn’t necessarily sneaking, but she was slow and quiet deliberately to hear what they might have been saying. They were talking about home and had no idea that Jewel was approaching from behind them.
Gianna became somewhat demonstrative in her movements as she spoke, and her body language caught Jewel out of the corner of her eye just standing there behind them.
She jump and shrieked like a huge spider had crawled up her leg. It scared the shit out of her, who in turn scared the shit out of Eryan, who also jumped.
“Hey! That’s not funny! What the hell are you doing back there?” Eryan yelled.
Jewel had a hard time from keeping from laughing. The way the girls had jumped tickled her funny bone.
“Yeah…omg…like why?” reiterated Gianna.
Jewel stopped laughing after seeing how pissed off the girls were.
“Hey, hey…sorry. I guess that was wrong for coming over and listening, I didn’t mean to scare you” she confessed.
Hmm…another side of Jewel had just been revealed.
“Mind if I sit with you?” she asked the pair.
“Sit with us? With us?” Gianna said. “Why?”
Eryan agreed and shrugged her shoulders…”yeah…why?”
“Promise not to say anything?” Jewel let on like she was suddenly one of them.
“Say anything? To who?” Gianna smirked. “You have us captured here.”
Jewel looked down almost ashamed.
“Yeah, we do. Guess I’m sorry and feel bad, but I just need to chill with some real people my age. Will you let me?”
“Let you? Like we need to let you? You can just be here, it’s your show here” Eryan said with noted hostility.
“Look, it’s not the same. Yeah, I could come over and be a bitch and all, but that gets old. I need to chill…and I need to feel like I can do that. Being me is not all that cool…” she confessed again.
“Not that cool? I don’t see it” Gianna remarked.
“Really…I’m not lying. You wanna know? Let me sit down with you and I’ll tell you some things that will make you believe…”
Gianna looked over at Eryan. They crossed their looks for a good ten, maybe fifteen seconds while Jewel still stood to their left and a step or two behind. Finally, Gianna looked at Jewel.
“Okay, you can chill with us. I’m Gianna and this is Eryan…” she introduced.
“I am Jewel.”
“Pretty name. Why did your parents name you that?” asked Gianna with sincerity.
“Actually, that’s my nickname slash pirate name. It’s because when I smile, I have two teeth that are filled with jewels. My real name is Starr.”
“That’s pretty too. Named after the stars I suppose?” asked Gianna with a grin.
“Uh…yeah…that’s a true story. My parents say that I was conceived under the stars. So they named me after them.”
The girls looked at each other, not really knowing where to go with the conversation. There was uneasiness in the air and an invisible barrier to break down.
“So what’s it like here?” Eryan asked. “And what are we in for? I mean, are we gonna die here?”
“Well, nothing like throwing it out there, huh Eryan?” shouted Gianna.
Jewel giggled and smiled.
“You really want to know?” Jewel asked.
“Yeah” replied Eryan.
“Okay, what exactly do you want to know?”
“Are we gonna die?” Eryan quickly asked.
“Die? Well, anything is possible here, but I would hope not…” she responded as quickly as Eryan had asked.
“Anything is possible?” Gianna repeated.
“Well yeah, anything is possible” said Jewel. “Remember, we are pirates. We rape, pillage and plunder.”
“Rape?” Gianna asked nervously.
“Okay…relax. Yes, we are pirates and some things we do are not gonna make you happy. But behave and don’t be too vocal or rebellious and maybe nothing happens to you. If we become somewhat friends, I will try and protect you.”
None of this initially made sense to Eryan and Gianna. These are pirates who just flipped their lives over into hell. They do all the horrible and frightening things that were ever talked about growing up. And after living up to the terrorizing reputation and image given to them while growing up just yesterday in the prolific killing of three and the sexual assault on Mandy during a take over, now the captain’s daughter wants to befriend two survivors? That’ll create a lot of head scratching when it gets around the camp, just as it was at that very moment to Gianna and Eryan.
Something fishy going on here in paradise…