Run to Richard

Aria’s concern over her husband was too great. She darted over to him, covered his body with hers and tried to revive him.

“Richard… Richard, baby… wake up!” she pleaded.

There was a loud crack and puff of smoke that caused Aria to reel back. She saw a bullet hole next to her feet. The goateed pirate tsked at her as he approached.

“Naughty girl…” he said, lining up the pistol to Aria’s head.

Aria’s heart thundered with adrenaline. Her defensive instincts kicked in and she bowled the pirate over with a low tackle! The other pirates cheered on in amusement. The goateed pirate got back to his feet, grimacing and looking for blood. He was about to aim and shoot Aria point blank, but realized he had dropped his weapon. Aria spotted it on the ground next to him and the two scrambled to gain control of it. They rolled around the ground, elbowing and kneeing each other to gain the upper hand. Then, with a swift knee to the groin, Aria ended up on top, with the pistol trained on the pirate. She heard the clacking of guns being readied and saw the other pirates training their weapons on her.

Her target shifted to the one that looked to be in charge. “Shoot me and I put a bullet in his head!” she warned while scootching over to her husband and away from the defeated pirate. The pirate leader casually raised his hands.

“Shoot me and things do not end well for you, lady,” the leader replied with a smarmy grin.

Aria kept her weapon trained on the leader, not sure what to do next. She tried to rouse Richard with her free hand. She noticed out of the corner of her eye, figures trying to sneak in closer.

“Stay back!” she warned. “Or I’ll shoot!”

The pirate leader gently waved his men off.

“Lady… what is your name?” he asked in a cool, calming tone.

“A… aria…” Aria replied, still on full alert.

“Aria… you can call be Sebas... “ the man introduced himself. “Lady Aria, please consider your situation. Look around you, you are surrounded and even if you do take me down, you will be gunned down the moment you do…”

Aria looked around, while keeping the pistol on Sebas. It was true, the pirates were all over the ship, weapons ready to shoot her down. She didn’t like where this was going to end. On her glance around the deck, she saw Lucia and Tiffany, hidden behind one of the gunmen with Tiffany mouthing to her, “We got your back, girl!” Tiffany then made a gesture as if she were pouncing on the unsuspecting gunman.

While Tiffany looked ready to jump this gunman and steal his gun, the timid Lucia looked utterly horrified and ready to break out into a full on panic attack.

“We don’t want anyone harmed just as much as you don’t, Aria,” Sebas continued. “Lay your weapon down and you have my word that no one, including yourself, sees any more harm.”