Chapter 211 - The Fire

Madeline's POV

After talking with Captain Noah, I sat on my bed thinking about everything he had said to me. I have heard stories about pirates, and I also read about them, but never in my life have I thought I had to deal with them as well. Dealing with Hunter's father, his wicked sister, and my husband's ex made my life more complicated. And now Kaye made this stupid scheme, and I could tell she spent a considerable amount of money to get rid of me, and this is the ridiculous thing she had ever done in the name of love. How can she be so selfish?

My knees are still trembling because I am scared about the pirate thing, and just thinking about them boarding the Wildflower ship made me have knots on my stomach. I don't know how to defend myself since I don't have any martial arts training, and I know I can't use force or weapons against anyone because I love peace, and I hate violence. And I could tell there was nowhere I could run because pirates live in their ships, and the ocean is their playground. If I escape, I know they can capture me right away because they can navigate the water even in bad weather.

But I know my husband's love for me will never waver, and I know he won't stop looking for me whatever it takes, and I will never doubt Hunter's love for me ever again. And I know I made a big mistake, and I hope he had already forgiven me. I can't deny I long to be with him every minute of every day. I miss his handsome face, the smug grin on his face every time we went on a date.. The way he looked at me with desire. I miss the time we spent the starry nights on the roof deck whispering sweet nothings with each other and chasing on the shore every time we visited our vacation home. 

I could tell I hurt my husband by saving Lily in my own way, but he couldn't blame me if I wanted to protect his sister. Lily is too important in my life too, just like him. I was afraid if something happened to his sister because of me. I can't deny I am still worried if the mystery caller didn't do the end of our bargain. I couldn't stop thinking about Gina and Lily, and they could have been hurt. And I hated myself for being so trusting. Next time I should be careful, and I have to be honest with my husband whatever happens.

I opted to take a bath first before eating my breakfast, so I got up from my bed, and get my towel, and walked to the bathroom; and as I started lathering myself with soap, I couldn't stop thinking about Hunter, and as I feel the water from the showerhead cascaded on my body, I couldn't stop thinking about the sweet moments I shared with my husband on our bathroom.

I closed my eyes as I remembered how he touched and caressed my body, and I felt my tears start to pour down my cheeks as I realized how much I missed Hunter. His lingering kisses and the hotness of his breath on my neck, and I missed the way he teases and makes love with me. I can't wait to see my husband and be in his arms once more. And I know at the back of my head, I hated myself for being so careless.

The moment I finished taking a bath, I opened my suitcase, and I chose to wear pajamas. I felt comfortable wearing them since I had nowhere to go, and I would only stay in my cabin the entire day. After I got dressed, I sat in front of the foldable wooden table. And I eat my breakfast, still thinking about the things that happened in my life, and I realize loving Hunter Divenson is complicated than I thought. For how many times, I almost got hurt, and now I don't know if I will survive the moment the pirates attack our ship. I couldn't stop feeling worried if they hurt all the crew of the Wildflower. It only would mean I would be their prisoner forever, or worse, they would eliminate me too.

I don't have the appetite to eat, but I need to take something for my baby for I don't want our child to be malnourished, and I don't even know if I could have another sumptuous meal because the pirates night attack at any moment. I was halfway eating my food when I heard a loud knocking on my door, and I suddenly felt so nervous that I couldn't even control the shaking of my limbs.

"Madeline, open the damn door right now!" I heard Karen's voice on the other side, and I hastily got up and strode to the door.

"I believe my brother told you about the pirates, and we are under attack right now, but I could tell they are not pirates at all, they don't want anything from us, but they were looking for you. I am now beginning to believe you were telling the truth." Karen said, and even if I felt so terrified, I still felt delighted that she was now starting to believe in me.

"I know it is not time to discuss who you are since we don't have time." She said, and I got confused.

"Are you going to take me to the secret room?" I asked, but Karen shook her head, and I became more alarmed.

"We are going to abandon the ship; Noah said he smelled something." She replied, and I was left dumbfounded that made my feet freeze on the floor that she had to drag me out from my room, and then before we could get away from my cabin, I could smell and inhale the smoke coming everywhere. And I can hear voices shouting the boat is on fire.

"Shit! My brother was right, and we need to get going now, Madeline." Karen said, and before we could move away, the smoke became thicker, and it became harder for me to breathe.

"Madeline, you need to get down and crawl on the floor; at least we can have fresh air, and we have a chance to make our escape route. I heard Karen say as she went down in front of me, and with trembling legs, I got down on the floor and followed her. I don't know if we can flee, but having Karen with me makes me less worried. I draw my strength from her. And I am so thankful that she came for me. I don't know how we will survive now, but I know I have to trust her. I could see and smell the smoke above us, and I was coughing hard, and I felt the boat start to rock violently.

"Oh, no, not again," I murmured as I continued to drag my body forward, and I became so terrified. I couldn't believe this was happening to us, but no matter how I chanted and prayed that the waves would stop hitting the ship, they became wilder and hit the boat violently that we needed to use all our strength to grab anything could hold for support. And there were moments the shaking of the ship dragged our bodies from left to right, and then we moved forward and downward from time to time.

I was trying my best not to hurt my stomach, and I wasn't crawling with my full frame on the floor. I needed to use my hands and knees to support my belly from hitting the hard floor while I kept my face lowered on the ground. And even if we were in a very delicate situation, I couldn't stop myself from worrying about the ship. I know how much Captain Noah loved the Wildflower, and I could tell it wouldn't be easy on his part to abandon his boat.

I suddenly felt weak because I felt nauseated again, I could feel the bile on my stomach, and I knew I needed to control myself, I wanted to cry, but I knew crying would only do me no good. I need to keep going if I want to leave and see my husband again. I can't die because I need to live for my baby. 

"Karen, I need to puke, and I don't think I can continue to crawl. My back is aching, and I felt so dizzy, the entire ship was spinning like crazy." I said in more than a whisper, and I didn't expect Karen to hear me.

"Madeline, you need to fight it, don't give up; we are almost there." I heard Karen encourage me to continue while I could now feel the heat around us.

"Leave me alone, Karen. You need to save yourself. I couldn't make it. I felt so tired, and the shaking of the boat is killing me." I replied, and she stopped and turned her head to look at me.

"Madeline, you need to listen to me. You need to fight, and I didn't come to your cabin for nothing." She responded, and I suddenly remembered about the full payment of Kaye. She won't give them the remaining fifty percent or the full payment amount if they can't deliver me to Choraz.

"I am sorry, Karen, but I can no longer move." I weakly said as I tried to fight the dizziness I felt, and no matter how I fought back, I could no longer move forward since I found it so hard to breathe.

"Maddie, if you want to see your husband again, you need to fight." I heard her yelling at me, and it felt like she was so far away from me, and I tried to follow her advice. Still, I knew my body could no longer withstand what was happening around us, and I tried to remember Hunter's handsome face, and then the whole place turned so black, and I heard Karen's voice shouting at me before I lost consciousness.