On an English merchant boat, a small lad sat in the main cabin with his mind wandering while his father was explaining to him the best, fastest and safest trading routes on the sea.

"Emmet, are you paying attention to this?" His father's voice jerking him back to reality. Emmet looked at his father who hadn't even looked behind him to know that his son clearly wasn't paying full attention to his teachings.

"Yes father, of course I am."

"Then what did I just say?" His father asked, turning to face him.

Emmet didn’t know, panicking, he made something up. “‘Asia is a good source of fine teas but often try to scam beginners’?”

His father slapped him. “If you don’t listen carefully to everything I say, everyone will take advantage of your ignorance, youth, and inexperience. Now pay attention.” There was no need for an ‘or else’, Emmet already knew.

“Yes father, I won’t do it again.” Emmet knew not to disobey or displease his father. A rapid knock came from the door, saving Emmet from whatever would come next.

Growling, his father went to the door, “We’ll continue this talk later.” He opened the door to a worried looking crew man.

"Mr. Rischter we've spotted a pirate ship headed this way."Behind him could be seen a sort of calm panic. The other crew members were well trained to handle a situation like this, but they were still rushing to get the boat far away from the said pirate ship. Mr. Rischter's blood ran cold for a moment but he contained himself.

"How far away?"

"About two to three kilometers sir."

"Are they coming towards us?"

"Not that we know of sir."

A shout from the deck quickly narrowed down Mr. Rischter's questions: "They've turned towards us!"

Mr Rischter turned to the now very worried crew man, "Check how fast, report to me immediately. Get the ship going to as fast as possible, quickly Kevin."

Kevin nodded, turned around and began shouting orders to the crew.

Emmet’s father turned to him and spoke quickly, "Emmet, do you know how to swim back to shore from here?"

Emmet looked shocked at his father's question. "N-no, but father, but surely you don't mean for me to leap from the ship to the water and swim ashore, do you?"

"If it comes to that or you being captured, yes. They won't be desperate enough to follow you into the water." Emmet nodded as the door was opened and Kevin's troubled face appeared.

"They are headed towards us sir. Twenty kilometers per hour, they'll be on us soon sir." Twenty kilometers per hour was much faster than the boat they were on could go. Even at top speed and they all knew it.

"Get us out of here as fast as you can. If we can't outrun them we'll get as close to shore as we can in hopes that we will be aided."

Kevin nodded and ran back out. Emmet clutched his art book for some sense of security, then fished a ring out from behind his shirt on a necklace chain and slipped his finger through it. A common habit for him when he was upset or distressed.

"Father what do I do?"

"Stay here and stay hidden. Until I blow the whistle you stay in here hidden best you can. Don't you dare move until I gave the signal." He held his Emmet’s shoulder for a short pause then left the room to join the commotion on deck, leaving Emmet to hide.

Emmet got up and looked around for somewhere to hide. This was an easy task, as there were many spots about the cabin in which his small body could hide, he decided on a small coat closet near the entryway. He shoved his sketch book inside his shirt and tucked himself under the coats hanging in the closet and shut the door. Hoping with all his heart, mind and soul that no angry shouts joined the panicked ones outside. The boat suddenly lurched forward as the sails must have been opened and Emmet was thrown to the floor from his sitting position, though he dared not move as he thought this might be a less visible hiding position. He paused for a moment to reflect on the situation. Just a few moments ago he was learning a lesson from his father like any other day and now he was hiding in a coat closet as the crew outside tried to outrun a pirate ship that was much faster than their own.

Maybe they're just here to take the food and such and leave. Maybe they don't want any of the crew. Maybe they won't recognize us as anyone important, they might just think it’s another trading ship making a casual errand. Emmet thought, hoping he was right but a little part of him knowing that even if that were the case, they would still be attacked.

It felt like half an hour had passed since Emmet had been sitting in the cramped closet- even though it had only been ten or fifteen minutes- when he heard the first uproar of shouting. Then he heard the bang of a pistol, the scuffle of many feet and swords clanging. He heard shouts though he couldn't make out any words. He was about to try and make his escape when he remembered what his father said to him.

I must wait until father blows the whistle, if I come out now, I'll be hurt either way. But a terrible thought overtook him, What if father is dead and I’ll die too if I stay here? Emmet sat up and opened the door to the closet and peered out. No one was there but himself. He started opening the door a little more when suddenly the door of the cabin swung open. Emmet quickly recoiled and shut the door, much louder than he wanted. He heard a pause as whoever had come in had obviously heard the door close. Then came quiet footsteps slowly coming towards the door, he heard the slow drag on metal on metal of a sword being drawn. Emmet prepared himself to fight his way to freedom as the handle turned and the door was opened, Emmet stopped before leaping at the person. A boy, seemingly around his age, looking down at him. Emmet knew he was a pirate from his deeply tanned skin and wild eyes. His eyes shone like the gold he desired.

"Well I was actually expecting someone important. Guess you'll have to do." The boy said loudly. "Now get up. No funny business or I'll gut you where you stand."

Emmet obeyed. Trembling, he stood and faced the other boy. Then, before Emmet could process what had happened, he was thrown to the ground, had a bag over his head and his hands were tied.

"This is my catch, you hear, Ulio?" The boy said, which got a deeper grunt in reply. The two pirates, Ulio and Emmet's captor roughly dragged him to his feet and pulled him to the door. They must have made it out the door because the sounds of fighting and yelling had gotten louder.

A shout rose over the rest of the noise, "Emmet!" Cried his father and something rushed through Emmet. Pure, unbridled fear. He began kicking and screaming.

"Father! Let go of me! Father! Kevin help! Someone help me! Let me go!" Though his efforts were fruitless. He heard a gunshot and a scream "Father!" Emmet felt himself being forced to walk up a slope then nothing below his feet. He felt himself go limp as the world grew darker than in the bag.