<span style="font-family: 'Arial'">With every breath she took, Joanna's legs carried her far into the city. Cries of agony and screams echoed in her ear. Smoke and dust filtered through the atmosphere as she stopped in her tracks and her sister ran straight into her. Joanna coughed, her eyes tearing up from the particles in the air. "Ow," Ellen cursed and rubbed her nose, but Joanna was too caught up in escaping to look back and ask if her sister was alright. A scowl crossed her face as a pair of men, gruff and average height, tore through the city with their pistols and menacing laughter. She flinched when the weapon shot high in the air and feared for her life. Joanna glanced behind her.<br/>
<br/>
"You're still here, good. We gotta find open space," she coughed into her sleeve. "Can't stay here a moment longer. Come on."<br/>
<br/>
Joanna grabbed Ellen's wrist, perhaps a bit too hard, and dragged her down the streets, taking shortcuts through the alleyway, curving around the next burning house. A pair of small burnt socks crossed Joanna's path and she felt her chest tighten. Who would be so damned to tear this village apart? To scare women and children? None of that mattered right now though. The pair slunk into an alley, adrenaline pounding in their heads, freedom one step closer to the sea. "What have we got here?" <br/>
<br/>
The girls stumbled back, aghast. They were unfamilar strangers, but not the men in blue coats. Ellen's fingernails dug into her hand and she could barely formulate a sentence to get her by. Joanna began to back up as the few men in front encroached on her and Ellen's space. Colorful beads decorated the hair of one, a few missing teeth on another. Were these the pirates her Mother told her and Ellen about? Joanna gulped and her Mother's voice entered her mind. Her nails dug into Ellen's wrist and the young girl whimpered. <i>'They aren't heroes. They're greedy, savage. They'll take anythin' from you.'</i><br/>
<br/>
"She can't speak. You're scarin' the little lady," a black-haired man roared with laughter and pulled back the cocking handle. A burst of dirt flew in the air and the pirate in front cowered in shock and squinted his eyes. The dirt and dust had gone in his eyes. Joanna immediately followed her sister's example and picked up a pile of dirt nearby and threw it at the other pirates, hopeful it would get in their eyes just the same. One man swung their blunderbuss all over the place, trying to knock out the girls, but a small giggle was all he heard. Joanna added fuel to the fire by kicking the man in the legs and catching him off guard. <br/>
<br/>
"There they are!" A clear, stern voice called out. A privateer. <br/>
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"Come on, Joanna!" Ellen scolded. "We're almost there!"<br/>
<br/>
They were. They were so close. <br/>
<br/>
"You go left, I'll go right! William, George, take care of those heathens!"<br/>
<br/>
A cry rang out from one of the pirates and the clang of metal against metal took place. Even with the little bits and pieces of cake and tarts falling out of her hand, it was all worth it. A salty taste in the air and the gradual dissipation of smoke somehow made her feel temporarily more secure. They'd lost them, at least she'd hope so. The bay was scenic, a quarter moon floating on the water, its reflection exquisite. The screams grew far away and Joanna felt a weight lift off her shoulder for a time. She loosened her grip on Ellen's wrist and glanced around; no one was here. Joanna pointed towards a large Spanish galleon. <br/>
<br/>
"We'll hide on that ship tonight and leave the city in the morning, or something like that."<br/>
<br/>
Ellen followed her sister as they climbed up the walking board, fearful that if they stood, they might lose their balance and sink to their death. Joanna entered the first door on the boat she saw- the one to the second level of the ship- and beckoned her sister to follow her deep inside the ship. Once they found a place deep within, where all the salt, fish, and other accourtrements were kept, Joanna checked her sister for any scratches or cuts she might've sustained while Ellen tried her best not to chow down on the food Joanna barely managed to salvage. The sponge cake was mostly gone by now, but the treats were more than anyone could ask for.<br/>
<br/>
"We've got quite a bit of bruises and cuts," Joanna muttered. "We'll find something to deal with it in the morning. Sleep now. I will keep an eye out."</span>