Women who behave rarely make history.

[toxicadia]

Aye, it this story is about none other than my dear Anne Bonny.

It is un edited and just a draft, so here we go with chapter number one.

Enjoy me maties!!

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Chapter two - And so she drunk.

Get out.” He said, his lowered voice quivering. He thrust an aged finger towards the dark, wooden door.
Anne’s bright eyes flickered dangerously between his outstretched hand and his stern, unmovable face.

“I won’t come back.” She said, her sentence sounding more like a question.
He didn’t move, nor did he say a word.

Anne took a step back, sweeping her tear filled eyes across her small house for the last time. She took one final look at her Father’s hurt face and marched out the door, holding her head high.
As the raindrops cascaded onto her head, she felt as if she wanted to die. Although she wanted to break down, she would not let herself. She would not give her Father the satisfaction of knowing she was hurt.
Throughout her entire life, Anne had been exposed to Women she perceived to be vulnerable, needy and weak. Her Father always wondered exactly where Anne had gotten her ill tempered, fiery personality. He deemed it ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unladylike’, which only pushed Anne further. She swore, she scowled, and she spoke her mind ever since she had learnt how too.
Even though she was abandoned by her Mother at a young age, Anne still idolized her immensely. She saw it as the only raw, admirable and independent act that any women around her town had done. Secretly, Anne imagined her Mother to be like that of how she was, imagined her attitude to be like that of her Mother’s. She smiled to herself, feeling her Mother’s presence within.

As she walked through the wet lanes of Charlestown, Carolina, she held her arms high above her head, feeling the rain cascade down them and onto her shoulders. She outstretched them, tilting her proud chin upwards, opening her mouth ever so slightly.
A man’s figure that had grown familiar to her approached.

“How did it go?” He asked from the shadows, taking his fiancé’s hand.

“As well as it could of.” Anne replied stubbornly.

“Did he approve?” the man asked.

“Nay.” Anne replied, taking a step forward. He dropped her hand.

“What is to happen to your plantation then? Once he has passed? Who is to take over?” He asked her, his voice coated with a thin line of anger.

“Does it matter?” Anne challenged, locking her brown eyes onto his. They forced him out of the shadows, revealing his stature. His dark brown skin was barely visible in the night, his black hair saluting the moon. His eyes were of a natural colour, giving off a warm feeling in contrast to his furrowed, thick brows. He shook his head.

The pair walked on, Anne’s wet gingerly locks sticking to her face. A light shone in the distance, and Anne recognised it, as she had walked this path many a time. James Bonny, the man she was now betrothed too, lived in a small cottage on the outskirts of Charlestown, surrounded by a messy little garden. She held her head high, he kept his down. His plan had run amok.
Anne, feeling the tension and not liking it, took the control she was so good at taking.
Taking his hand, she put it around her side, letting it rest on her now developing hips. James looked away. A flicker of anger returned to Anne’s emotions, and she threw his hand back down.

“What is it James? Is it not all going how you planned? Tell me James, now.” Anne said fiercely.

“No, it’s fine. Nothing Anne. Keep walking.” He replied, his voice quiet.
At the command from a man, Anne stopped dead in her tracks, ****ing one eyebrow in disbelief.
James, however, kept walking. Anne let out an angst sigh, to which James spun around.

“I demand you tell me this instance James Bonny, for if you don’t I shall refuse to marry you.” Anne said, putting her fisted hands onto her hips.

“Anne, will you forget it? Nothing is wrong, I just wished to have your Father’s blessing.” James lied. At age 32, he had had quite a good amount of experience in lying. He had made his small fortune in pirating, just along the coasts of North Carolina with a small crew. They would attack fishermen and small boats, plundering them for anything worth a penny. However, on marrying Anne, he had hoped for more, provided from her wealthy father.

Anne folded her arms and continued walking to his cottage – Her new home. She let the feeling of anger stay a while. She liked it.

James opened the door to his cottage, letting Anne go in first. She looked around, seeing a few of her clothes lying on the ground. Already, she felt as if her love for James was fleeting. His cottage had no walls separating the bed from the kitchen. Everything had been pushed into the one room, with the washroom outside.

“We must be up at an early hour tomorrow, as the priest is coming to say the holy words. Do you have your dress?” James asked, trying to cover up his disappointment.

Anne flipped at the word Priest. She hated being told what is right and what is wrong. She preferred to set the rules herself.

“My evening attire will suffice.” She replied, holding up a bag of crumpled clothes she had brought.

He nodded and poured himself a cup of rum, and Anne a cup of milk. As he handed it to her, she looked from the milk to the rum, and proceeded to grab his. He pulled it away, knowing full well Anne needed nothing more to fuel her anger.

“You’re barely sixteen Anne.” He said, sipping his slowly.

“But you’re marrying me.” She replied hotly.

“Aye. Goodnight, Anne.” He replied, finishing his rum, getting into his bed, and switching off the light.

And so, Anne sat, glowing hotly in the darkness. Her milk was warming in her hands, as James started snoring. She felt as if she could get out if it still – Yet she didn’t want to. Something kept her to him. Love, she thought. And so the milk cooled.
Anne had always believed in love, in the true essence of it. Any man that was unlucky enough to hurt her, she had hurt right back. When she was ten years of age, her neighbour had kissed another girl. Unknowingly, he had ripped Anne’s heart out. She predominately marched to his house, knocked on the door, and on him answering – Punched him in the stomach. The boy fell, curved at the doorstep, not having a clue what had just happened.
She was certain she had found the true essence with James, as they had been seeing each other for at least 4 months before he discussed marriage with her. He had always been interested in her Father’s plantation, and the money he made from it. James had worked there for a few years, watching Anne grow up.
Love, she thought. And so she smiled, and so she drunk.

Putting her empty cup into the washbowl, she crawled into bed next to James, putting her warm hand around his stomach. She was sure she felt him straighten.


--

There we go lol. Truth be told, I have two first chapters. The one is the one above, and the other is the one I am about to post.

--
Chapter one – Women who behave rarely make history.

The waves grew around her, crashing wildly at her feet. The thunderclouds cracked open, spilling their thick raindrops on the sandy shore.

“Mary! You need to come in, it’s going to get worse!” Her Mother yelled from the house, the howling wind running away with her voice.

Ignoring her, Mary took another step into the grey sea, shutting her eyes. She felt the waves getting stronger and stronger, felt her linen dress soaking it up.

“Mary,” her mother repeated, “I know about these things, come inside the house at once!”

Mary opened her eyes, glancing back towards the house. She turned on her heel, kicking up the soggy sand. As she ran towards it, lighting soared behind her, splintering in the ocean. She ran inside, her wet dress clinging tightly to her thin legs. The dark brown curls that usually framed her face beautifully were now drenched and upset, creating a clashing contrast with her hazel eyes.

“Mother, when did you become so boring?” Mary asked jokingly.

“It’s instinct.” She replied, smiling.

Mary sat down in the wooden kitchen chair, taking the cup of cocoa her Mother handed her as she sat opposite. Her fiery red hair strongly matched that of her fiery red personality. Anne Bonny, the woman Pirate legend sipped her cocoa, wondering why her daughter tended to always stare at her.

“What now?” She asked, her mingled accent of American and British becoming evident.

“Tell me more. Tell me more about Jack. Just once more” Mary replied, swirling her hot cocoa.


“All right. Jack. Well, what can I say? He was Jack. Calico Jack, some called him. Jack Rackham, or Captain Jack, as I knew him. He stole your Mother away from her boring life and her boring men and brought her to the wild seas. I remember the first time I saw him. I was in a pub, having some rum with Pierre, when I saw a man with long black hair coming in, a sly smile on his face. His Captain’s hat hid his eyes, and I longed to see them. It made me angry that I couldn’t, so I took it out on a wench who was looking at him the same way I was. She never came into that pub again. I lost track of Jack when I finished with her, I couldn’t see him anywhere. Suddenly there was a huge uproar, and I see Jack holding a chair in his hands, over someone on the ground. That’s when I thought, that’s my type of man. Better yet, a Pirate man. I rushed over to get my in on the brawl, when he looks directly at me, stopped in his tracks he did! I saw his eyes, they looked at me they did. Dark, almost black eyes, with a scar beneath his right one. Made a woman’s heart melt on the spot. Not mine though, I was too tough for that, he would have to work harder than just looking at me. But it was lovely. So he looked at me, and he lowered the chair. Not to stop the fight, not for him, but for me. He put it down in front of him, in front of the fight, and beckoned me with his big hands to sit in it. I accepted and continued watching the fight, this time with better seats. He sure fought well with his fists, I remember that. Never saw him pull a sword or a gun though, that’s for sure. Little did I know then that that would be he and my downfall? Bloody men. Anyway, ever since that night at the pub, we couldn’t leave each other alone. Jack was a charmer, a real lady’s man. Brought me little treasures every time he visited. Only when James was out though. I tell you, he wasn’t too happy about Jack, James wasn’t. I never should of gotten married, that’s the only mistake I’ve ever made in my life. So Jack and I met each other in secret whenever we could. James got ever so frustrated and upset about it, he eventually turned against anything Pirate and even started turning our Pirate friends into Governor Woodes. Hell did that make me angry. How dare he, just because I was getting bored with him, that was no reason to turn everyone in. One day he saw Jack and I together at the pub, so he went and turned Jack in, told Governor. After that, I never spoke to him ever again. Bloody men. Jack and I decided to run away, we commandeered a ship together, got together a crew and set sail. She wasn’t the best ship, but she was a fast one. The fastest of her time she was. 3 years together, Jack and I had. But I tell you; it was the best 3 years of my life. Nothing can beat that, freedom. Nothing. Having every sea ahead of you, and all you have to decide is what to do with your spare time. Except when some mongrels want to steal your ship. Stupid idea when your facing Anne and Jack, stupid idea. One night we decided to stop in at Port Hatter, where we pillaged and plundered any part of the city we could get our hands on. We even picked us up a few prisoners, one being a particularly interesting one. Do you know who I’m talking about?” Anne asked, looking her daughter straight in the eye.

“Mary Mum, Mary Read. The one you named me after!” She replied excitedly. She loved hearing about her Mother’s stories, her travels as a Pirate.

“Right. Mary Read. She did the same as me you know. Dressed as a boy to get acceptance from the crew. You know, she never did tell me why she chose a life of Piracy. So one day as Mary was undressing, I walked into her cabin, on accident of course. She revealed her identity to me and I told her how I did the same. Acceptance, love. It’s all about respect. And freedom. Freedom.. After that, Mary and I became close friends. When we fought together, we won. Every time. Jack got incredibly jealous, and asked me constantly about why this ‘man’ and I were so close. I refused to reveal Mary’s identity, until he threatened to make her walk the plank. Luckily though, she had already earnt the crews respect as a Pirate, and they didn’t care about whether she was a man or a woman. Once Jack found out, he didn’t care anymore, and accepted Mary for who she was. Hell, that Jack, he had me wrapped around his finger, that bloody charmer. Then he lost it. I hated him for what he did. The coward.” Anne said, banging her cocoa cup on the table.

“What Mother, tell me, tell me again what he did.” Mary asked, moving her body closer.

“We had just raided a notorious Spanish ship, filled with treasures that’d make a woman happy for the rest of her life. The men were all celebrating with rum, as they do, when Mary and I saw a ship on the horizon. And not just any ship. A ship with clean white sails and a British flag. They were on the hunt for us, I knew it. We ran into the helm of the ship, and yelled at the booze bags to stop drinking and prepare the ship for battle. They refused, and drunkenly promised they’d prepare it for an escape. This was a smarter solution as a small few of our men were worn out from the looting during the day. We ran back up and relaxed, enjoying a small bottle of rum between us. We noticed that we were not escaping, but in fact that the Navy ship was gaining on us. We slammed our bottle down and ran back into the hull. To our horror the drunk men were sitting in the exact same spot as we had left them, with Jack handing around more bottles of rum. At this point we were furious, as we could hear the Navy ship crew preparing to board. Mary and I fled back to the deck with as many weapons as we could find. A few of the Navy crew had already boarded our ship, and were waiting for the rest. ‘Is this it?!’ one of them laughed, pointing his sword at Mary and I. I stamped my foot on the ground, and yelled at the men below to bloody hurry up. They refused. By this time, the entire navy crew had boarded our ship. They stood there, in front of Mary and I, with swords pointed and guns ****ed. Our hearts pounding out of our chests, we yelled for the men to fight. They still refused, they still hid below.”
“Even Jack?!” Mary interrupted.
“Even Jack. I hated him; I hated the man from that moment on. He was the meaning of coward. So there was nothing to do for Mary and I, except to fight. Fight for our honour and our cowardly men. We lunged ourselves into the Navy men, about 20 of them there were. We fought ands killed a good 15 of them, leaving 5. We thought we had it, we thought we had won, just us two. Then, to our utmost shock, another 20 stepped off the Navy ship and onto ours. They grabbed us, and tied a big fat ugly rope around the both of us. Then they ran downstairs and into the helm. They brought out our entire crew, led by Jack. I never forgot that look he gave me. It was a mixture between sorrow, love, confusion and drunkenness. Bloody coward.” Anne said, filling her voice with emotion as she whispered the last 2 words.
“And then what?” Mary pushed.
“Then the Navy men took us with them, sailed us to the nearest Navy port. We all stood trial, and all of us got charged with the act of Piracy. And never once did I talk to Jack. Mary and I were lucky though, we pleaded our bellies. Our bellies with babies. Never found out who fathered Mary’s baby, but Jack was obviously your Father. While the men were sentenced to hang a few days later, Mary and I were granted an extension, until our Children were born. Days after the trial, I remember being in the crowd at Jack’s execution. I then yelled the only words I ever said to him. ‘I’m sorry to see you here Jack, but if you had fought like a man then you needn’t be hung like a DOG!’ The crowd all turned to me, wondering what I meant. Just as Jack tried to speak back to me, the hangman pulled the lever, and Jack was gone. Gone, just like that. I kept my eyes locked with his the entire time. The guards then took me away and back to my cell. It was different without Jack in my life. I missed him, I missed him terribly, but no man that is a coward is worth my love. Weeks after the trial, I lost Mary. She died in jail from a high fever, and took her baby with her. So they say anyway. I never got to see her. They let me go to her funeral though, to say goodbye. They just buried her, no nice ceremony. Just a grave and a gravestone. So back to my cell they took me. For 3 more months I waited in there. When I was asleep one night, a loud crashing noise woke me up. I turned to my barred window in shock, and saw none other but James there, with a horse behind him. He told me he was coming to rescue me, and with that, he broke me out of jail. I didn’t say anything to him, not one word. Early in the morning, once he had said goodnight to me, I ran away from his house. I took the horse, rode him to the dock and hid on a ship. By this time, my belly was at the largest it could get, you were on your way out. Luckily, the ships 1st stop happened to be here, and only a little while after the pains started. So off I jumped, and I crawled onto this beach. And I gave birth to you Mary, right there.” Anne said quietly, pointing out the window at the wet, rainy beach.
“Mother.. Have you ever wanted to go back to Piracy?” Mary asked her Mother, equally as quiet.
“Sometimes, I think. What I do know is that I’ve never regretted anything I did in my life, except getting married. Nothing else. I misbehaved everyday of my life, I broke the law everyday of my life. But I believe that woman who behave rarely make history.” Anne finished, her voice worn out.


--
Lol there we go, my first chapters that are both number one lol .
The one is obviously Anne at the begining, the second is her talking to her daughter. I orignially had it as her talking to her daughter as chapter one, then the other one as chapter two - like a flashback, and so her story begins.

Anyway, let me know what you think!!

<3
Toxicadia
(Anne McRackham)

[Tepcat]

I love your title and how you wove that into the story. I think this is a good story with lots of details. Thanks for keeping it PG;-)


Tepcat
Kitty Admin

[DarthChaosSky]

It's truly amazing. In fact, the details you put in, especially that "wooden floor" while the father pointed moment and the "tears" from Anne... it is truly something you can imagine and feel.

[The Beautiful Letdown]

You got the title from Marilyn Monroe's quote?

[soccergals]

For what it's worth, I enjoyed the first 2 chapters of your tale. It's great to hear a backstory, as to further understand why the characters (or just Annie, for now) think/act a certain way. Hope you have time to add on another chapter soon!

[larkija]

Woah. This is probably the best pirate story I've ever read on the internet! Good work!

[toxicadia]

wow, really!?

Thank you all so much for your replies! I shall write up another chapter right now, just for you . I have some spare time, so it should be up soon. I will carry it on from the first first chapter lol, i.e from 'she was sure she felt him straighten.'

I think I'm going to have Women Who Behave as the first chapter, then switch it to And so she drunk as the second. So it gives you a background on Anne's life, then switches to flashback as the rest of the story, so we travel through each moment as it happens. EEP!

Thanks so much for your replies, I will write another one now =).

[toxicadia]

Here you go

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Chapter three - You shall no longer call me your Father.

--

As the morning rays hit the little cottage, the smell of burnt grass was in the air. Anne opened the door slowly, stepping softly through it. As she put her burnt finger into the wash bucket, James stirred in his sleep. She withdrew it immediately, creeping back into bed next to him. The day had only just begun.

Anne woke again slowly, yawning and stretching. As she came to, she recognised her Father’s voice, mixed with her fiancés.

“I know it was you James, don’t you dare take it upon yourself to lie to me!” William said ferociously.
“Sir, I would not-“
“First, I hire you to make yourself a living. I give you good pay, and a chance for your future. Then, then young man, you proceed to steal my daughter away? Bribe her with maddening necessities? And if that was not enough to send an old man to his grave, you think it wise to set my entire stock, my fields, my living on fire? Is it so that I am now in the same place as you? And do not think that I can see through your childish plans with my daughter. She still is a child, man, how can you fail to see that!?” William said, gasping for breath.

“My choice to be with him is my own.” Anne replied, getting out of bed to join James at the door. She saw her Father’s heart break through his eyes.

“Anne, stay out of this.” James shot at her. Already, she could feel her untamed rage becoming apparent.

“I demand to know what is going on.” She said to her Father, whom failed to look at her.

“Somebody..,” He said, “Has thought it wise to burn my plantations.”

“Is that so?” She asked, knowing full well who had done such a thing. She couldn’t help but let herself smile.

“Father, perhaps it is a sign. You have done something wrong, to which now has been repaid to you. Perhaps that is it? Perhaps, father, you should of though twice before you said no.” She nudged unsubtly.

“Anne.. You wouldn’t. You, you couldn’t!” He spat in denial. James looked from Anne to the smoke, from the smoke to Anne’s burnt finger (which she made no effort to hide), dropping his jaw in shock.

“I already have, Father. Now if you would be as so kind to remove yourself, James and I have business that needs attending. Today is that day of our wedding, and we would quite like to proceed. Farewell.” Anne said stubbornly, trying to shut the door. Her father threw his hand against it.

“I took you from Ireland, so you would not have been looked down upon. I gave up food, your Mother gave up water, so you would be well fed. She sewed garments for you, I grew tobacco so I could provide for you, so I could put a roof over your head. And yet this, this statement from you is what I gather in return? 16 years of sacrifices which I believe to have been worth it, have mislead me to this? Anne Cormac… After this day, you shall no longer call me your Father. With these words to you, I take any connection, any ties to you away. The only thing we will share is our blood, to which I wish will one day lead you to your senses. After this day, you will be Anne Bonny. And after this day, you will not call me your father. Good day to you both.” He cried, his voice shaking with each breath he took. He let go of the door, allowing it to shut on it’s own. Anne stood in silence, listening to his horses hooves fade into the distance. She could not of had words to say if she tried. James made the first move, sitting down on the bed. He lay his heads in his hands.


“Look what you did.” He said, that coat of anger coming back to him.
Anne said nothing in reply. The pair said nothing, until James proceeded to put Anne’s evening attire into a sack, along with his.

“What are you doing? The priest will be here in a moment to marry us.” She said honestly, watching him.

“You’re mad, girl. We cannot marry here. It is a cursed place, the very ground you stand on has now been cursed. Gather your belongings, I shall gather mine. Then, we shall go.” With that, he went out the door, with a sack of all the gold he could find in his hand.

Anne had no choice but to listen, as she knew she now had no one else to provide for her. Knowing that, however, she also knew that the love between herself and James was slipping through her fingertips, minute by minute.
She walked around the little cottage, throwing her belongings into the brown sack, and throwing James’s into a pile on his bed.

As the sun set, Anne saw James walking up their pathway, clutching two pieces of paper where the gold once was. Anne rushed out the door, joining him.
He handed her the papers, which she squinted to read in the fading light.

‘Anne Bonny, age sixteen (one six), at the fare of three pounds, on Her Majesty’s ship as a C (child), departing at 7 o’clock on January the twelfth. Destination: New Providence, Bahamas. Reporting time shall be half an hour before that of the departure.’

Anne read it again, to make sure.

“New Providence?” She asked.
James nodded.

“We leave now. Gather your sack Anne, and let me fill mine. Then… We leave, and say goodbye to this place as it stands.” James said, putting the papers into his pocket.

Anne nodded, not sure what to make of the situation. She went into the cottage, picked up her sack and waited for James to finish his. Together, they walked out of the cottage, down the pathway and towards the docks. As the ship’s mast came into view, Anne knew that she was preparing to say goodbye to everything she knew.
---

Eep! YAY I get to start writing Pirate bits soon =p. Keep tuned!!

[soccergals]

Keeping tuned! ^_^

It's so great to read another chapter after all this time! You've got talent, for sure. Not too much dialouge, like a TV show, but not too many descriptions, like Les Miserables!

We're all rootin' for you, Anne!

By the way, I'm not sure if you have this all pre-planned, but I know that some online story writers accept suggestions for upcoming character names. Do you do the same? Just curious.

[Angel]

Staying Tuned....The first time my comp froze and I was lost in the middle. Glad I found it again to come back and finish it

[toxicadia]

Thank you so much =).
Soccergal, I'm basing it around Anne's life, what we know about it. I.E, we know that she married a small time pirate when she was 16, and was disowned by her Father. We know that they moved to the bahamas, where... Wait and find out =p. So like I know the events, but all the rest I put in, like what happened etc.I'll also be putting in things that I think could lead to one of the events etc as there are huge gaps in between the facts of her life. She's totally my idol =).

More coming soon guys! Thanks so much for reading!!!

[toxicadia]

Posting new chappter today =D

[Angel]

Cant wait!!

[toxicadia]

Aaaand here it is! A bit of a longer one this time =). Enjoy!!
--

Chapter Four - Under the blackened night sky.

“HMS Royalty?” Anne questioned, reading the letters across the back of the hull. The ship that came into view was a wooden dark brown, her sails mighty and high against the masts.

“Aye, a retired British Navy vessel.” Answered a man next to her. She looked towards him, and nodded in reply. Wrinkled in the face, his long and greying hair whispered around him.

Around her, people were hugging each other, saying final goodbyes and nonsense she didn’t care of. A few ragged men were loading sacks and cases onto the ship, throwing them with no worry as to how gently they landed. Mothers were scurrying around, making sure their children had enough warm clothes, as their husbands bargained with the ship’s chef to provide them with an extra ration of food. Anne looked behind her, sweeping her auburn brown hair off her shoulders. The same faces, none knowing what to expect of this new place, looked back. A promise, indeed, but none knew if it was ever to be fulfilled. A cooling, soft rain started to fall, sending a sheet of calmness over the chaotic situation. She tended to slip off a lot, into a world she liked as her own. With her dreams providing as a back drop, her thoughts would fly in and out of her head, pausing for only one moment at a time. She liked to dwell on things that other people would surpass, though you would never guess it by looking at her. She thrived on new experiences, especially the kind that none else could relate too. Anne’s only downfall, some would say, was her inability to handle any anger or any rage that would enter, acting upon it immediately. She did not think before she acted, and when questioned about it, replied that it was her Mother’s gift to her.
James took Anne’s sack from her, bringing her back into reality.

“We must board.” He said, leading her towards the que. The old man followed closely.
As they moved closer to the ticket officer, Anne looked back to the town. To the little village, to James’s cottage on the outskirts, to her Father’s modest home. To everything she knew.

“Tickets please M’am! He shouted at Anne, whom threw them back in return. The officer looked startled, and spluttered something Anne couldn’t make out. By now, James had gotten used to her behaviour, and so proceeded onboard without a word.
Anne followed James onto the ship, which she realised was not in it’s grandest of years. As they made their way to what would be their home for the following few weeks, Anne stopped at the sight of the readily growling sea. As the waves started to crash along the side, it rattled her through her skin and into her bones. She breathed in the cold sea air, feeling it fill her lungs with a capacity like never before. Anne felt herself smiling as she surrendered to her newest challenge.

“You too eh?” croaked the old man, startling her from behind. With no reply, she located James at the end of the ship, making his way into the hull.

“We sleep down here, Anne.” He said, pointing to a pair of bunks in a corner. Following him in, putting her sack onto the top bunk that she claimed as her own.
As the hull became fuller, Anne left James on his bunk and made her way back up the narrow wooden stairs, and onto the deck of the ship. She walked slowly towards the bow, dragging her hands along the wet rail.

“All aboard!” The ticket officer yelled, signalling to the captain. The rain fell harder on Anne’s head, flattening her usually buoyant hair. She watched as the ship started to leave, catching the wind in her sails.
People were yelling goodbye, waving pieces of clothing or their hands. Blowing kisses. Anne sighed, looking away from them. She instead focused on the bow again, watching it gain more and more speed. The sound of goodbye’s started to fade away. The ship rocking steadily beneath her, she began to drift, her eyes closing. The feeling she felt was like no other, calm and at ease, yet excited and exasperated at the same time. Every breath she took was like that of the first she had ever witnessed. Every other sound around her blocked itself out, allowing everything to give to the sea. It slashed, it crashed and it extorted. It flowed, it grew, and it fell. It held hope, loss and everything in between. Anne imagined the memories it held, seeing everything from death to birth to victories and losses. She felt herself moving closer to the edge, feeling herself take a leap upwards, felt her fingers grazing gently over the statue of the mermaid at the very front, taking in every cut and groove it held. With nothing now supporting her feet, they dangled above the water, tempting the sea and herself. Her arms holding on to the statue, she dropped them a little further, the sea spray tickling her feet and calves.
Someone was calling her name in the distance. Her eyes remained shut.

“Anne!” Someone yelled over the sound of the sea.
Dropping her arms a little further, it was now only her hands supporting her. She felt as if her entire life rested at the bottom of the ocean, and she wanted nothing more than to be one with it. Slowly, finger by finger, she let go of the statue with her right hand. She felt it dangle weightlessly next to her body. She was slipping off, supported only by her one hand. The sea growled recklessly, as if it could see what Anne couldn’t. It wanted to claim it’s prize before it could be wretched away. James reached down within seconds, grabbing Anne’s hand just as she let go. Her eyes jolting open, she became aware of the scene around her. People were yelling, shouting instructions. Looking down, she saw her feet within a metre of her sea. ‘My sea..’ she thought, watching it roll around her. She looked up to see James pulling her slowly, and a few other men grabbing on to help him. Her arm was back over the bow now, followed by her shoulders, back, pelvis and legs. She was slumped in a ball on the hard wooden floor, with women rushing to put blankets on her and soup into her mouth. James kneeled down beside her, wiping the rain off her face, then his own. She got up slowly, resting her weight again on her arms. James took her head in his hands, surveying her every inch. She pulled it back.
Gaining full awareness back, she shook her head and said, “I’m ok.”

“You nearly bloody well went overboard!” One of the men around her shouted. James remained silent. Anne’s spontaneous and dangerous behaviour was wearing him down, little by little.

“I’m fine.” She said, lying through her teeth. Truth was, Anne was not fine. She had more fire in her than ever before, having come within one metre of certain death.. And wanting it. It wasn’t the death itself she wanted, it was to be at peace with the ocean, to be part of it, to be as one. It was, indeed, her newest and greatest love. She kept her eyes on the ground.
James got back onto his feet, and made his way down to their bunks. He was holding on to all he could with Anne, and needed time to let it all catch up with him.
Anne ignored it, only wanting to get back to her sea, to be near it. Slowly, after double checking she was ok, the crowd around her left. She did, however, keep her blankets on. Making her way back to the bow, she rested there again. Closing her eyes, she felt for the statue underneath.

“Yer not th’ only one, ye know.” A voice said, interrupting her. She opened her eyes and whipped around. The old man from the dock had followed her to the bow, dropping his hands on the rail. Anne said nothing, giving him a narrow eyed and resentful look.

“Yer not, me lass. There have been many others tha’ feel tied to th’ sea, each in their own way.” He said hoarsely, unaffected by Anne’s gaze. She turned back around, facing the horizon. He sighed slowly, and Anne could hear what sounded like his bones rattling inside.

“Look a’ her. How could ye not? I knew it, ye know, as soon as I saw ye, I knew it. Yer one of ‘em.” He said again. It was as if Anne had replied, the man continued to have a conversation.

“One of what?” She asked finally, giving in to curiosity.

“Ye know… One of ‘em free folk, tha’ roam th’ seven seas fer all she’s worth. A scallywag.” He said, a sudden toothless grin appearing.

“I am not.” Anne replied. She wasn’t in much of a mood for talking, let alone arguing.

“Aye..” He laughed, “Believe what we want, eh lass? Tha’s th’ way to live life.” He said, looking upwards towards the cracking clouds. The rain was still falling, gathering in little pools over the deck.
At this, the old man turned around, leaving Anne to her own. She watched him go, his left foot with a noticeable limp. The night was getting older, and darkness was becoming more predominant than light. As the ship’s oiled lamps were made to be off at 9’ o clock, Anne felt herself becoming wary, her eyes becoming heavier to lift each time she blinked. She yawned, her knees becoming weak. She felt herself drifting again, however different from the last. Curled up on the wooden deck floor, Anne Bonny lay sleeping, underneath the blackened night sky.
--

Well, what do we think!?

Thanks so much for reading!

[soccergals]

Well, I can't speak for everyone else, but I can say that I'm very much liking how the story's coming along.

Had Anne been alone for a few more seconds at the bow, we'd have an awfully short story, now wouldn't we?

Anyhow, keep up the good work!