Chapter 100 Preserve And Plead

Clara's heart ran cold. This wasn't going the way she planned.

"BAMM!!" The door to the upper deck opened.

"STOP IT!!" She screamed. "STOP ITT!!!" She screamed again. "STOOPP ITT--"

Mad John halted his steps. He turned around and twisted Clara's neck up to gaze at him.

She wanted to scream at his face, but instead, when she saw his eyes flickering over her every being, she resisted. There was a deep seething hatred in his eyes, a hatred that she would never have bothered to look at or feel disturbed by if she was on the other side of this aggression.

It was like a cruel joke. A one-sided humour that she felt the world was playing on her. Here she was, being dragged to be thrown into the sea by a sea slave all because she had been the cause of his misfortune and adversity in an already pitiable life.

No! She shook her head and stared back at him. Life was never equal or fair. And if he wants to take all his frustration on her, as she had done to him, then so be it. But first, she needed to accomplish what she came here for.

"...I need to speak with Prince Wyatt, please. I will wait till he comes back, and I won't do anything to harm you or the ship, I promise".

His lips showed a wry smile.

"You know, the winds in the night are always calm and refreshing if you want to relax your mind" He said, and then chuckled "But I am sure that you already know that considering that you are also a pirate".

He stood up straight, cracked his neck from side to side, and amid the windy atmosphere, he dragged her body over to the edge of the ship.

"I really hope you can swim" In a blur, Mad John swung his hands, quickly grabbed her by the legs and arms and threw her into the sea.

And, in a second...

"Bam!! Splash!!!" He could hear the sound of her body, crashing and sinking deep beneath the waters

He clapped his hands twice, dusting away any dirt he might have accumulated from grabbing her body in disgust and then, he walked over to the higher platform where the helm was located to keep an eye out on the ship.

He had lost his appetite, and a little fresh air might be what he currently needed at the moment.

….....

He threw me!

He actually threw me!!

I couldn't breathe, as my mind quickly convinced itself that I was now swimming along the wide untamed sea.

"Hrrk!!" Water forced its way into my lungs, depriving me of my breath.

"Hrrk!! Hrrrk!!" I knew how to swim, of course, I knew how. But my body and muscles were too weak at the moment for any strenuous movements.

"Hirk!! Splash!!" My hand moved, crashing above the water surrounding me in order to keep me afloat. However, if I wanted to survive, I would need to get back into that ship.

"Damn It" I cursed. It was too cold. The water was slowly freezing my body.

I didn't hesitate any longer.

Grabbing myself together I stirred towards the ship, swimming forward with all I had. Thankfully, there weren't any strong waves to deter my movements or any sea beast in sight to make a feast of me.

The only option at hand was to give up and drown beneath the sea. But… I didn't want that.

"Bam!!" I slammed my hands on the outer lower wooden frame of the ship, latching unto it as though my life depended on it. Because it did.

"AHAAA!!" I breathed in and out and quickly filled my lungs with air.

Finally, I….. made it!

"Creak!! Creak!!" I felt, or could feel blisters forming around my numb shivering hands as I attached them to the tiny gaps in between the wooden structure and made my way up.

Such a thing wouldn't have been possible if it were any other ship, but thankfully, Prince Wyatt's ship was full of holes and broken spaces.

"Haaa…." A wave of strength washed over me as I climbed upwards. Tiny spikes of wood pierced my fingers, but that did little to hamper my resolve. The pain was at best, tolerable if I wanted to survive.

And besides, I am a pirate, and if all the things I have experienced till now haven't yet broken me, why should this?

"Bamm!! Creakk!!" I latched my hands over the handle of the ship and pulled myself up. Immediately, as though burning through all the reserved energy in me, I flipped my body over the ship, and with a 'bang' I landed face first on its wooden floorboard.

"Cough!! Coughh!!" Water escaped through my throat, allowing me the freedom to properly breathe once more.

Suddenly, I froze.

Footsteps. I could hear footsteps, echoing beneath the creaking wooden board that resounded with each movement as it headed toward me.

I had no delusions about what or who was coming, and neither did I possess an ounce of courage or will that I would be able to go toe to toe with him to defend myself.

The footsteps halted.

"You made out alive by climbing up the cracks of the ship… impressive".

The person -Mad John with his amusing grin, taunting eyes, and an imposing figure was currently in front of me, staring down at my body.

".…Cough!! Please, I just want to talk" I spoke, and slammed my head against the floorboard. The pain rippled through my head as a massive headache accompanied by the mental strain of my current circumstances almost made my head go blank.

But still, I persisted.

"Please!" I slammed my head again across the floorboard and unknowingly a warm streak of tears dripped down from both my eyes and wetted the ground below me "Please if I don't speak with Prince Wyatt, I am afraid that I won't be able to deal with this any longer".

A snort penetrated my ears.

"I have already given you a chance to end your life and let go of everything" he replied "Your pathetic excuse means nothing to me".

I looked up and stared at him. My hands trembled alongside my body as I tried to force myself up, to no avail. Seeing that all my attempts to stand properly were futile, I opened my mouth to speak.

"Please, I am only asking for a chance" Yet, all that came out from my mouth were pitiful sobs of beseeching. It was disheartening to see myself like this, but, this was the only path I could take.

What do I know if it didn't work?

Well, I will plead again. And again, and again.

I knew that it was useless to exchange words with him, as one slight mistake might lead to him taking his fury out on me again.

…...

"Very well. Although you didn't strangle or convince any sea beast to bring you up here, I did say that I will allow you to speak if you make it back into the shop, not excluding if it is by your own effort. Besides, I am sure that there would be enough time for you to swim with the sea beast when the captain returns since he is sometimes, eccentric. Especially when he comes across a crazy idea that you won't ever hope of imagining".

Clara blinked. Although she hoped that her plan would work, she couldn't believe it, when it actually worked.

"..You w-will let me see Prince W-Wyatt" She uttered.

Mad John nodded. " For now, I will have to lock you up somewhere and hide away the keys until he returns. And besides, even if I wanted to kill, I wouldn't be able to handle all the consequences especially since you were previously saved by Captain Crimson eye. And since the Captain and Captain Crimson eye are now in some kind of agreement, it would be wise to wait for the captain and see how he deals with you".

Instantly, she relaxed. Once again, she has been indirectly saved by her reputation.

"Haaa" Her mind calmed down. Her body suddenly softened on the plain wooden surface after she heard his agreement to her request.

"I understand. You can take whatever precaution you wish to, I will wait for Prince Wyatt's arrival till then" She responded. However, her eyelids were beginning to feel weak, and she suddenly had problems focusing her gaze

Mad John nodded. He didn't say anything more and merely stood up, while he watched as the woman below him fought to keep herself awake, but ultimately failed to do so. And as a result, she fell asleep and lay on the floorboard unconscious.

He shook his head. "I was going to help you up and place you into a room. But, I think that here fits you well" He said, before turning around to walk away.

He walked back to his position beside the helm to watch the ship while also keeping her eye on the woman who was sleeping down below.