A small, wooden rowboat silently made its way through the water to an unmanned dock. Shadows seamlessly and silently helped each other crawl up onto the dilapidated platform and scurried to an area of shrubbery to avoid being detected, and once they had all congregated, they formed a line and nearly dove into the greenery that seemed to stretch on for miles. There was a breeze that rustled the leaves around them, and the moon shined brightly down on the men that had smuggled themselves onto the island. Eye contact was made between all of them, and one nodded as if to signal that it was time to begin.

Vic led of trail of five through the dense brush that covered the hill leading up to the Governor’s house, a few whispering amongst themselves and laughing when they’d bump into one another. Vic tried his best not to crack a smile at the conversations happening behind him, but as they neared the elaborately structured home that sat at the top of the hill, he stopped and put a hand up behind him. “Aye, aye, shut it now, boys,” he said in a harsh whisper. He turned his body around to face them, remaining in the crouching position they had all been in. “By the looks of it, the party has already started. Now, we’re grabbing the first important person we see, even if it’s the bloody Governor himself,” he announced as a smirk crept up on his lips, which the motley crew before him returned. “We’re here to send a message, not to loot or execute, so try to contain yourselves, you heathens.” He winked and signaled two of the men to follow him, leaving three behind in the brush. 

As the threesome finished scaling the rest of the steep, rocky terrain, Vic stopped abruptly and signaled for silence once again. His eyes locked onto the woman sitting on a stone step, whose pale skin reflected the moon’s glow; it was a stunning contrast to the darkness around them. Vic looked to the men behind him and nudged his head towards the woman, as if to say that she was the one they were taking. The men nodded in agreement, and they split up to surround the young woman. When they were all in position, Vic crept up behind her and simultaneously slipped one hand over her mouth, and another around her her tightly secured waist. He put his mouth up to her ear and spoke quietly, “Scream, and I will kill you. Try to hurt me, and I’ll hand you over to my men. You’re coming with me.”

He dragged her up to a standing position and pulled her back towards the brush that they had come from. Both men greeted them, one holding two strips of linen – one to gag her and the other to blind fold her. They swarmed her and went to work to secure her, and Vic held her fragile hands behind her back with his large, rough one. “Watch your step,” he said sarcastically to the women, which made the two men nearly bust out with laughter. He pushed her through the brush until they reached the rest of the crew, then they continued down to the dock. Vic picked up the light woman and held her as they got into the small boat, the rest of the men climbing in behind them. The crew all gather oars and began to make their way back to the ship that was lurking off the shore.

Once they reached the Black Star, Vic threw the woman over his shoulder and boarded with the crew. Other members of the ship crowded around the men as they returned, and Vic smiled and nodded, watching them take notice of who he was carrying. M He took her to the Captain’s quarters and plopped her down on a seat, removing her blindfold and gag. He took a moment to eye the woman from head to toe. “So," he began as he paced back in forth in front of her, "With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"