The eyes of the man were hidden behind his large tricorn hat. Isaac knew that hat. The voice of the man was calm, so why were the words he spoke such atrocities? When the man looked up, it revealed his ghastly face was revealed. His piercing eye, surrounded by burns, engrained itself into Isaac.
The hammock flung horizontally as Isaac shot up. For a moment, he was confused about where he was, then remembered the events that led him into the tiny boat owned by Joanne. She somehow had a possessed weapon. According to Joanne, it was a weapon that she had full control over. A gun that shot in any direction she desired so.
The stairs creaked as Joanne walked down to the cannon deck. She stopped for a moment, and Isaac thought he heard a bang. She held out her hand as she greeted him.
“It’s your first day, Isaac.”
He sighed before he shook her hand, “Where’s my sword?”
Isaac had left it next to the hammock before he fell asleep. However, as soon as he woke, it had vanished. Since Joanne didn’t have another man aboard her ship, Isaac already knew who had taken it.
“Someone took it,” she said.
Before Joanne could say another word, she was met with a swift slap. The two sat in quiet anger. A familiar voice called Isaac’s name as Joanne pointed up the stairs. He proceeded to dart up the stairs in pursuit of the voice.
There was a woman on deck who held Isaac’s sword in her lap. She lacquered oil over the sword with a thin cloth. The sword was wiped by the woman in a gentle manner, like it were her own child. When her eyes met Isaac’s, she immediately stood up and stomped on Isaac’s foot.
“You should learn how to clean your sword!’ She yelled at him.
“Damn it, Molly…”
Molly was a woman who always acted as if she were responsible for Isaac. She followed him everywhere he went since they were children. The question that Isaac often asked himself was why she continued to follow him even after what had happened. He wasn’t ever nice to her, and in return, maybe she learned to be rude to him, as her face now was as furious as a tiger, a far cry from the cheery smile she once had.
“Why are you here?” He asked, and he snatched his sword from her hands.
“That’s what I wanted to ask you!”
With the click of his tongue, he turned from her and began to walk back downstairs. Molly angrily yelled at him, but Isaac only stopped when he was met with a hand blocking him from the stairs. Joanne’s face appeared to have the same smile as it usually had.
“Your friend’s name is Molly?”
He squinted, “What does it matter?”
“Because of our deal.”
It was then that Isaac felt an intense grip that pulled him away from Joanne. Molly looked angry, though there was also something else that hid behind her eyes. Since they were children, Molly was nothing but a pest, but for some reason, he always saw that young girl, no matter how much time passed; that was when an unfamiliar pain touched Isaac’s chest.
“I’ve joined Joanne’s crew.”
She stopped, “What? You mean a pirate crew?”
“Yes.”
“But there isn’t anyone else here?”
“Then what about you?” Joanne said from behind Isaac.
“You want an ordinary woman on your crew?” Molly asked.
“Sure, what’s the harm? You and Isaac seem like good company.”
Molly turned to Isaac, then back to Joanne. The tapping of her foot suggested an impatience or anxious thought, one Isaac was unsure of. Isn’t this what you wanted? He thought.
“Were you not angry at me before?” She asked.
“Huh? Was I angry?”  Joanne rubbed the back of her head, then laughed, “I think it’s cute, how much you care for Isaac.”
Molly stopped, “Huh? I don't-”
“Never mind! I’ll join your stupid crew.”
“That’s great!” Joanne cackled.