An awkward silence fell over the crew. Joanna could hear Ellen sobbing under her breath. Perhaps they were walking towards their death. After she failed in her duty to look out for Ellen, take care of her scratches, Joanna felt the world seeping into her shoulders like it had many times before. She squeezed Ellen's hand and subconsciously inflicted pain on her younger sister. Joanna's eyes wandered around the deck, desperate to grab onto something and throw it at the captain. Her mind was only focused on one action: Escape.<br/><br/><i>Escape, escape.</i><br/><br/>"Look at th' Cap'n when he's speakin' to ye!" One of the men barked. Joanna's train of thought was interrupted by a familiar voice. She glanced over at a mangy, black-haired man. Goosebumps crawled up her skin as he gave her a toothy grin.  It was that pirate Ellen had thrown dust at. His eyes weren't irritated any longer and he'd been patched up on the shoulder and face. That fight he'd gotten into with the blue coats must've been harsh. "Joanna," Ellen whimpered and tugged on her hand a bit.<br/><br/>"Sorry," Joanna muttered and let go. Ellen rubbed her tender wrist, an effort to get rid of the fingernail marks. The silence was unbearable, but Joanna's lips could barely form a word, no matter how hard she tried to open her mouth and speak. Ellen wrapped her hand around Joanna's and rubbed her sister's arm in an effort to comfort her. There was no mistaking the nervousness of the two girls, but the men's ego had swallowed them whole. One of the riggers stepped up to place a foot down in the game park.<br/><br/>"The cap'n asked ye a question, lasses. Best answer before yer thrown to the wolves."<br/><br/>A few snickers ran through the crowd. Joanna puffed out her chest, clenched her fists, and didn't say anything.<br/><br/>"What's wrong, lass? Cat got yer tongue?"<br/><br/>He moved in closer and it took all of Joanna's will to muster up the courage to spit in the man's face. He wiped away the saliva on his cheek and Joanna glared at him. "Don't touch me," she snapped. He chuckled at her anger, "We got a feisty one."<br/><br/>"Back off the lasses and let 'em speak, Rich," a gruff voice commanded.<br/><br/>Joanna glanced over at Ellen. Her sister wiped her dirty palms off on her dress. Richard, or Rich for short, held up his hands in defense and backed off. "They ought to be taught a lesson about respect. I could think of a hundred ways to put them in their place."<br/><br/>"We were just hiding away from the blue coats, you big old bully!" Ellen retorted. Joanna felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "Ellen," she hissed and yanked her younger sister closer to her side. The retaliation was likely to make things worse, something they both couldn't afford right now. Joanna had to act quick. She cleared her throat and forced her eyes to meet the man in front of her. He didn't have the typical appearance of a pirate, but his piercing gaze intimidated her.<br/><br/>"She's right. We were only hiding. We were just sleeping for the night and we were gonna leave in the morning when all the blue coats were out of sight and gave up on finding us. We thought this was a blue coat ship or something like that."<br/><br/>Joanna tried to keep her eyes locked onto his, but found she could not hold it. She dropped her gaze, hardly hopeful these... fiends, pirates, whatever they were, would let them go. They'd probably be fish bait way before they got back to shore. "Let's take the little lass," one of the men piped up. "She got a fiery spirit, would be good for havin' fun. Older lass ain't got nothin' on her." A roar of laughter resounded through the ship and Joanna felt Ellen's hands grip her own. "Don't let them take me, Joanna," she pleaded.<br/><br/>"Aye, I say we toss that good for nothing lass over board and keep the small one!"<br/><br/>"I say we toss both! They ain't got any respect!"<br/><br/>"Shut up, you lot!" The first mate barked. "Let the captain speak."