“Escaped...what do you mean, escaped, can’t you even watch a small brat...? The wedding is in a week, make sure that rascal is found and brought back by then..!” yelled the Duke of Aubrey as he stared out onto the sea, commending his men to find that troublesome child he has been left to look after.

The bell strikes twelve, the beginning of a new day, what some call, “ the witching hour”. It is said that spirits roam around at this time, many people are indoors, before midnight strikes. This is the perfect opportunity to escape, as no one would dare to chase you in case they met an evil spirit, in the hunt searching for lost souls.

At this time, an old ship leaves the harbor and sets sail through the misty waters on an important voyage, not knowing what awaits them.

Beyond the bay a ship full of bloodthirsty murderers and plunderers lie in wait for their prey. Their Captain, standing above deck, waiting to give the orders.

The mist gets thicker and there is a spooky aura lurking in the dark ocean waters, the feeling of danger hangs in the atmosphere.

The sailors freeze as they hear a creaking in the distance and they all fall silent, it is said that ghosts and evil spirits haunt these waters and can be seen in the mist, looking for their next victims...but that silence is not to last.

Cannons fire and the ship is under attack and the crew think only one thing... PIRATES...

A sailors worst nightmare, besides been sent to visit Davy Jones or meeting a Kraken, or been lured by sirens, towards treacherous rocks, where they would devour the ships crew.

The ship’s mast has been hit and fallen, creating a hole in the ship thus masking it impossible to try and escape, leaving the crew to their ill fated deaths. The ship is taken and the battle of life and death begins. The sound of swords crashing, guns firing and the screams of sailors been murdered, is all you can hear.

When the mist lifts, all you can see are the bodies of the crew scattered on deck, the wood soaked with blood and the smell of death lingering in the air. The pirates claim their prize, just as they had been promised, a ships worth of loot. More gold, diamonds and jewels than any pirate could ever dream of in his entire life,

...BUT oh what’s this, there is a survivor, no... two, the cook and the cabin boy, what to do now?

The pirates seize them and drag them aboard the hell bound vessel. They take the cook below deck shouting that they would at least get a good meal, for a change. They then push the cabin boy towards the Captain, for him to decide what they should do with this little brat, but oh what they don’t realize...

Is that this little brat is hiding a huge secret...

The cabin boy is dragged along the deck towards the Captain, who is looking out onto the open sea. The mist has cleared and the moon and stars are shining brightly in the morning sky. The boy is thrown onto the deck, at the Captains feet.

The Captain looks down at the small figure, wearing baggy clothes and nods towards the first mate, who grabs the boy by collor and picks him up, so that the Captain can study him.

The Captain notices that the boy has a small figure and a gentle face, and almost looks like a porcelain doll, not a cabin boy. He also notices that the boy has big emerald green eyes and a small mouth with soft pink lips.

The boy trembles with fear, as the first mate grips the collor of his shirt, he is pale and his eyes are filled with terror, what had he gotten himself into.

The Captain looks at the first mate and says, “ Mr Boone, drop the welp, can’t you see you’re frightening him,” and then starts laughing.

The rest of the crew also start laughing and Mr Boone drops the boy on the deck and stands beside the Captain. “Get up!” the first mate yells, and the boy jumps up and stands to attention. “ What is your name, boy?” the Cap’in asks, still looking st the boy.

“Harry” the boy replies.

Mr Boone suddenly slaps Harry across the face, sending him crashing down to the floor of the deck...

“That’s Harry, SIR!” the Cap’in says.

“Yes sir, sorry sir,” Harry says trying not to burst into tears, as he tries to stand up.

“What shall we do Cap’in?” asks Mr Boone

“We need a new cabin boy, considering what happened to the last one, he can work for me,” says the Captain with a menacing smile on his face...

“Drag him below and then BACK TO WORK you scurvy lot!” the Cap’in yells as he walks across the deck. Two pirates drag Harry below deck towards the kitchen, where he sees the cook, preparing food.

“Well,well,well, if it isn’t young Harry, thought they had thrown you overboard,” the cook says, looking at the pale Harry.

“Don’t worry lad, we’ll think of a way to escape, but for now, follow orders and keep out of trouble, you understand,” the cook says.

“But Mac, sir, these pirates are ruthless,” Harry says.

“Where did the sir come from?” says Mac.

“Sorry, I got hit by that horrible first mate, for not calling the Cap’in sir,” Harry says, pointing to his face, which is turning blue.

“Ahhh well, help me chop up the veggies and stop complaining, at least they didn’t kill you,” Mac says, continuing to stir a pot.

“Yes, they didn’t kill me but if they find out who I am, they most definitely will kill me, I just hope for my sake that they don’t find out what I am and who I am...” thought Harry as he started peeling potatoes.

The Captain walks along deck and stares out onto the ocean, not noticing young Harry approache him. A sudden breeze lifts and the Captain faces it head on and takes a deep breath of the salty sea air, his shoulder length brown hair, flowing in the wind, his deep sea blue eyes look lost in thought and a small frown grows on his face.

“Are you going to stand there looking at me the whole day...boy,” the Captain says, turning to Harry and looks him dead in the eye.

“No sir, sorry sir... first mate said you wanted to see...sir,” replies Harry, trying to avoid the Cap’ins penetrating stare.

“Yes, you are to clean my cabin, it has to be spotless before the tide turns or else you will get a flogging...you here me, boy” says the Captain to the big eyed Harry.

“Yes sir... right away sir,” answers Harry as he runs off to the Cap’ins cabin. “No, it can’t be him, he died five years ago...but what’s this feeling I get when I’m around him, it’s so familiar?”Harry thought.

Harry reaches the cabin and nearly dies, it’s absolutely filthy and huge,

“ How am I supposed to clean this before the change of tide!” Harry cries.

“No time for moaning, I’ve got to do this,” Harry says as he tries to move all the dirty clothes, to try and get past.

He sees a mouse and screams for his life but shuts up in case someone hears him, as men are not supposed to be afraid of such trivial things.

Out on deck, the Captain is still lost in thought as the memories of his past come flooding back to him...

‘ Five years ago-

...back in England, in the Aubrey Manor, standing by the cliff...

Oh Harriet, come with me, leave this dreadful household and come with me, I’ll look after you and care for you... please, just think about it...

“My dear Mr Trudy, how gracious of you to visit us but since it is late, I suggest that you leave, if you don’t want to leave by diving of the cliff,” says Mr Aubrey, as he walks towards the two talking.

“Please sir, I ask for Harriet’s hand in marriage,” says Trudy

“You, a good for nothing sailor, with no money, no family...what am I to benefit out of this?” asks Aubrey.

“Must you be so greedy, Harriet has feeling too, but you only use her to satisfy your greed, and use her as a pawn...you’re a selfish bastard,” Trudy shouts as Harriet tries to restrain him from hitting her uncle.

“Why you dog, you deserve to die,” cries Aubrey as he grabs Trudy, beating him to a pulp... he then places his leg on Trudy’s stomach and kicks him, pushing Trudy over the edge of the cliff... falling to his demise... but why was he so lucky to survive that fall... why... why...’

“Cap’in,” the first mate calls as he descends from the crows nest, to join the Captain.

“What say you Mr Boone?” The Cap’in asks.

“There is a strong wind in our favor, with luck, we’ll arrive at our destination sooner than expected,” Mr Boone replies.

“Good,” the Cap’in says with a wicked smile on his face.

“Cap’in, it’s been five years already, what if... what if...?” says Mr Boone. The Captain interrupts the first mate, shouting, “Don’t you dare finish that sentence, I don’t care, I’ll take what’s mine and no one will stop me this time... just wait and see what happens to the one who does...”