her.
prod in the back by a musket. John stumbled for“Ahem, the guards will be here to escort you ward, squinting his blue eyes at the wooden
platform he was being pushed towards. John’s stomto your execution in 10 minutes.” The half drunk
guard said. John didn’t respond, instead he sat down ach roiled, tying itself into knots. He didn’t want to
on the thin bed that was bolted to the wall. Despite die. He didn’t deserve to die. A large crowd had alhow harsh it sounded, all the accusations John had ready gathered. The famed Captain Flint was to be
spat at his sister were true. At six their parents had hanged today. This was to be a spectacle the town’s
people were clamoring to see.
died and at seven Jacquelyn had charmed the king
into adopting her. But only her. John was still left
As John stumbled onto the wooden platform
parentless and was going to be left behind. Jacque- he noticed a tall man who wore a large hat to shield
lyn instead convinced her new father to let her bring his face from the sun. As John’s eyes adjusted to the
her younger twin with her as a servant boy. Over the bright sunshine he could’ve sworn that the large
next six years John spent his days serving his sister. man looked like one of his crew mates. In fact, he
Despite the fact that they were family, Jacquelyn felt looked like John’s first mate. John’s view was then
no need to treat John well. He was a lowly servant
obstructed by a rotund man in black lifting a noose
and was treated as such. Jacquelyn even went so far of thick rope over his head. The large gentleman
as to torment him with her friends for fun, throwing stepped aside as a wiry man in a white powdered
unwanted food at him or pelting him with stones.
wig stepped onto the wooden platform and unfurled
Even throwing him to the ground and demanding he a scroll of paper. John squinted at the man in the
kiss her shoes. John had spent many of his early
crowd again, and then his eyes went wide with
nights crying. But when he had turned thirteen, he
recognition. That was his first mate! They were savheard rumor of a captain who was setting sail the
ing him! Those old dogs, he made a mental note to
next morning. This captain also happened to be
praise every one of them and give them all a bit of
looking for some men to fill a few empty spots in his extra gold. He looked up at the balcony where his
crew, including the roll of cabin boy.
sister and the king where sitting. The king had a disinterested stare, letting his eyes wander from perSo, that night he snuck away and boarded
son to person in the crowd. Jacquelyn on the other
the massive pirate ship. He was a hard worker and
over the years he climbed the ranks until his captain hand was gripping the arms of her chair so tightly
her nails poked through the stitching. John stared his
fell ill and died. Then, as first mate, John became
sister down as the gentleman in the powdered wig
Captain himself. His life had been full of adventure
began to read his scroll.
and most importantly, John was happy for the first
time since his parents had died. His sister had spent
her years living in the lap of luxury and hunting her
brother down, determined to make him pay for leaving her. And she had finally caught him; he was
swiftly charged with piracy and sentenced to death.
The sound of booted footsteps alerted John to the
two guards descending the stairs. John stood as they
opened the cell door and then quickly restrained his
hands in a pair of iron shackles.
“Move, prisoner.” One of the guards prodded
John in the back with his gun. John suppressed a
growl as he started to walk up the cold stai