Nightriders The Kidnappings Part 13

    Selena awakened to find herself chained to steel wall by her wrists. She was in a dark, damp, metallic room. Outdoors, she could hear the sound of ocean waves pounding against the sides of the wall.

    “Selena?” whispered a voice. “You awake?” Selena looked to her left to find Slade with his arms chained to the wall just like her.

    “Where are we?” she asked.

    “We’re in one of the pirates’ freighters, I think,” answered Slade.

     As Selena’s eyes adjusted, she noticed a rusty metal door at the end of the rectangular shaped room. Broken crates and rusty pieces of machine were scattered about the floor as well as small dirty puddles of water. “Has our kidnappers shown themselves since we’ve been locked in here?”

    Slade shook his head. “No, I haven’t seen anyone. Apparently, they knocked us unconscious at some point.”

    “Well, I’ll be surprised if we’re their only prisoners. I wonder how long it’ll be before they have us give out our bank account numbers and hold us for ransom.” Slade shrugged. “Maybe. It’s also possible we’ve been shanghaied.”

    Selena sighed. “Great. Just what I need on my resume…”

    “Oh, I don’t know,” said Slade. “I think it might be kind of cool to be a pirate.” Selena glared at him. “Hey, I’m just kidding!” said Slade chuckling nervously. The two reptiles both paused at the sound of voices echoing from the other room. The rusty door swung open with a loud squeal revealing two large, plump, pig pirates. Selena crinkled her nose at the rancid smell which immediately permeated the room.

    “Well, would ya lookie there! The pretty one is awake!” The pigs erupted into laughter, which resembled snorts to the ears of Selena more than anything. Her heart sunk in immediate recognition of their captors.

    “What do you want with us?” snarled Selena.

    “We just wanted to know if you were still interested in wallowing with us later?!” The pigs again erupted into their snort laughter.

    “Why don’t you ham heads unbind me so I can give us something really to laugh about!” shouted Slade.

    The black vested pig with an anchor tattoo on his flabby right arm approached Slade drawing his sword holding the tip directly against his belly.

    “Don’t tempt me, rock star!” Selena watched as he withdrew his sword before smashing his fist into Slade’s gut.

    “Stop!” cried Selena.

    The pigs again began snorting with laughter. “Oh come now, lass! We have a long journey ahead of us! We’re only getting started!”

    “I’ll give you every last penny I have just please let us go!” begged Selena.

    “Aye, but we’ve already got everything we want,” replied the black vested pig. “You see, you and your boyfriend are our key to riches and fame.”

    “He’s not my boyfriend!” Selena exclaimed.

    “Don’t lie to us, Miss Drex!” answered the red vested pig. “We know all about your relationship with Axl.

     Selena watched as Slade became slack jawed. “Axl? But I’m not Axl!”

    “Don’t play us for fools!” replied the red vested pirate. “It ain’t polite!”

    “And neither is spoiling the cargo with your stench!” interjected a low sinister voice. The pirates immediately stood at attention as a dark figure emerged from the shadows of the doorway.

    “Cap’n!” The light of the room revealed a tall rabbit with an eye patch.

    “Here they are, cap’n! Axl and Selena just as his Excellency requested!” answered the red vested pig beaming with pride. Slade and Selena froze as the rabbit glared at them inquisitively.

    “Are you sure?”

    “Aye, that we are, sir!” affirmed the black vested pirate. The rabbit began eying Slade suspiciously.

    “Then what was it I heard him saying earlier about ‘not being Axl?’” Slade and Selena glanced at one another, nervously.

    “I…I’m not him!” quivered Slade.

    “Really…” answered the rabbit, raising an eyebrow.

    The red vested pig snorted and rolled his eyes. “Well of course he’s gonna deny it! What else would you expect?”

    “I don’t know…” said the rabbit. “Lord Sabertooth has already been notified of our success and our forces have completely withdrawn as a result of it. It’ll be the gallows for you two if you’re wrong, do I make myself clear?”

    “Completely, sir!” answered both pigs in unison.

    “I never knew there was such a thing as bunny pirates!” interjected Slade. “Are you the only one?” The rabbit stopped in his tracks turning around to glare at Slade before intensely striking him in the face.

    “For your information, scale head, ‘bunny’ is NOT the name of my species!” Slade gulped as the rabbit placed the edge of a dagger across his neck. “I am a hare!”

    “Sorry,” quivered Slade.

    “I’ll bet you are,” scoffed the rabbit. “Captain Hopper is the name and NO I am not the only ‘HARE’ to ever be a pirate.”

    “Wow!” said Slade weakly.

    “’Wow’, what!?” snapped Captain Hopper, sounding more angry than before. “’Wow’ because HARES do not have it in them to do nasty work? ‘Wow,’ that I’m not coloring eggs or working as a crossing guard for kindergartners?”

    “I’m sorry,” whispered Slade.

     Hopper pointed at his two front teeth as he leaned into Slade’s face. “You see these two weapons of mass destruction, scale back? Everyone sees us for our ‘cute cotton tails’ and ‘fluffy long ears’ but forget that we’re capable of gnawin’ the flesh right off of yah until it’s too late!” Selena watched as Slade’s green scales turned sickly pale. Sensing the fear, Hopper erupted into laughter, before mockingly patting the side of Slade’s face.

    “I must say, I’m disappointed, Axl. You’re not as tough as your reputation suggests.” The two pigs again exploded with laughter pointing derisively at Slade as they followed Hopper out of the room. Selena sympathetically watched as Slade drooped his head in defeat before releasing a roar of anger and frustration.

    “It’s OK, Slade,” said Selena. “You did great.”

    “Did I?” scoffed Slade.

    Selena nodded her head. “Not everyone would have the courage to look a pirate in the eye and stand their ground like you did.”

    “If that’s what you want to call that,” muttered Slade. “What’re we gonna do, Selena?”

    “Stay alive and wait for an opportunity,” answered Selena. “It’s what Axl would want us to do.”

    Slade despairingly shook his head. “How do we even know Axl is alive?”

     A smile formed on the side of Selena’s face. “Trust me, Slade. He’s alive…”



Illustrations by Bluepisces97

Thanks for reading!


Nightriders: The Kidnappings Part 14

 

Nightriders: The Kidnappings Part 1