As the doors opened to the tavern at lunchtime, Jessica couldn't help but notice that there were more people than usual, which only meant one thing: this weekend was the start of the harvest festival and would last a month until the night of the red moon. Neighbouring islands and tourists would always come to visit the island and join in on the festivities.

"Little Red," Kirk called her over. He stood by the exit of the tavern with Cain, Morgan, and John. "We're going into the centre of town later to collect some last minute supplies before we head off tomorrow. Do you want to join us?"

Jessica grinned. "I would..."

"I need your help at the bar today, Jessica," Elena interrupted. "There are more customers than usual because of the harvest festival, and it will only get busier."

Jessica pouted, but she understood that her friend needed her help. After all, Elena took her under her wing and had helped her out on the island when she had found herself shipwrecked here; she felt obliged to help out.

"Sorry, Big Red, it seems I'll be occupied for the day, but I'll see you later." She shrugged.

Kirk grunted in response, glaring at Elena. He had less than twenty-four hours before he would leave to carry on his journey towards Halfway Point. He wanted to spend as much time as he could with his little sister before he went, and Elena had taken that precious time away from him. He really didn't like that woman.

"Come on, let's go!" he hissed through gritted teeth as he trekked along the cobbled street towards the centre of town with his crew.

Back at the bar, Jessica scowled at Elena. "Why did you do that? You know we only have today to spend together."

"Your destiny isn't with Kirk." Elena wiped down the bar.

Jessica sighed; this wasn't her first time hearing this. Elena was always spouting nonsense about her destiny, especially when it came to her love life. She had been told that a man would enter her life soon and that she would one day have a choice to make that would change her life forever.

"I don't believe in your nonsense crap. Besides, I choose my own destiny."

"You can try as hard as you like to choose your own path, but destiny always wins in the end." Elena gave her a sharp look. "Now get to work."

Jessica heaved a sigh and started to work, taking orders and bringing drinks to customers and helping the chef prepare food at the back of the kitchen. As the day went on, the bar became busier and busier, giving Jessica no time to relax or dance up on stage, but she found other means to entertain herself.

It was hours later before Kirk returned. He seemed to be in a happier mood than when he left. The four of them sat down at a round table near the front of the stage playing a game of poker, waiting for Jessica to finish her shift so she could join them.

Now and then, Kirk's would look up from his hand of cards, keeping a protective eye on his little sister. He couldn't help but smirk as he watched her dancing around the tables as she served the customers their drinks. The men would hoot and cheer as she danced around them, her elegant moves distracting them from her real purpose: pickpocketing them.

His smile dropped when the ugly, fat rich man of the island tugged on her wrist. The man had a bad reputation in the port town for being greedy and getting what he liked. He pulled Jessica onto his lap, and Little Red squirmed, attempting to escape from his tight grasp.

Kirk thought she could handle herself against a man like him, until he noticed her the petrified look. The disgusting man started to lift her purple sleeve and plant sloppy kisses up her arm.

Kirk frowned, noticing the deep red scars on her tanned wrists; it was the first time he had seen her with her sleeves up.

Where did she get those marks from? He couldn't help but wonder. It explained why she wore long sleeves on such a hot island.

The rich man instantly became angry when Jessica attempted to retaliate. She tried to pull her sleeve back down, hoping no one saw the ugly scars on her wrists. However, the rich man refused to give up and pulled her sleeve back up again, caressing his sloppy lips against her skin.

Kirk's anger boiled up a notch. The look in Jessica's eyes was a deep fear, and she soon became frozen, like she had lost herself in her mind, possibly a flashback.

Kirk immediately remembered the day he had strangled Jessica, and she had screamed from his touch. He instantly came to the conclusion that she must have been hurt by a man, and that was why she looked so fearful and unresponsive. Kirk's clenched fist slammed against the table. The chips from the poker game scattered and scared the others out of their seats as he growled.

Instantly noticing why the captain had suddenly turned red with rage, the crew abruptly stood up at the same time, seeing their Little Red being assaulted. Their weapons were all out and ready to attack.

The loud thud of Kirk's boots could be heard as the bar turned deadly quiet, feeling the sudden tension in the room. The captain's shadow hovered over the fat man.

"Take your hands off her." Kirk grabbed the man's throat and started to squeeze it slowly.

"She is nothing more than a common wench," the man laughed through a cough. "Why do you seek to protect her?"

"She is my little sister and a part of my crew. When you disrespect one of us, you disrespect all of us!" Kirk gestured to all of his crew and their faces filled with rage, their sharp weapons glinting in the direction of the rich fat man's.

Kirk slammed the man's face into the table, breaking it in two, and he lifted his head back up by what little hair he had left on his bald head. The man's teeth dangled from his gums. He punched the man in the gut and sent him flying across the room, breaking through the wall and sending him slumping to the ground. Kirk had only just begun his attack, a sick smile on his face as he marched towards the man, the customers parting out of his way. He was going to enjoy this.

Meanwhile, Jessica had been pushed away from the man. She stumbled onto the floor, the tears stinging her eyes as memories from her past flashed before her. Her body shivered all over as she remembered the touch of the man that had abused her. She felt weak and helpless; her breathing became coarse and sharp as she attempted to pick herself up from the ground, but her shaking limbs refused to comply.

She collapsed back onto the floor, giving up and let the nightmares of her past consume her.

☠️

Jessica woke up screaming, her breathing heavy as she started to hyperventilate. Her entire body shook all over, and a cold sweat clung to her body. Her heart raced, and she began to panic. Where was she? It looked like she was in a bedroom.

"Shush, it was only a nightmare. You're safe now."

She felt warm arms wrapped around her and the familiar metallic smell of her brother. Realising it was Kirk, she pulled him into an embrace and hugged him tightly, crying into his shoulder and fearing for her life if he dared to let her go.

Kirk continuously stroked her hair, soothing her until her breathing calmed down, and she soon relaxed.

"What happened?"

"After that man assaulted you, you collapsed, and Cain took you to my quarters while I dealt with the man. You've been asleep ever since, tossing and turning all night until you woke up screaming. It must have been some nightmare."

What aren't you telling me, Little Red?

"It's morning?" She sounded shocked.

Kirk sadly nodded. "We didn't want to leave until we knew you were alright."

A sad smile graced Jessica's lips, and she hugged her brother tightly. "I'm going to miss you, Big Red."

"I'm going to miss you, too." They hugged each other for what seemed like hours.

They both knew they couldn't stay like this forever, and they both left his quarters and made their back onto the deck, where the rest of the crew waited for them. They all looked happy to see Jessica was doing well, and she said her farewells. The crew was a blubbering mess, something that was unexpected of the Kirk Pirates. She didn't realise she had impacted their lives so much.

"I'm going to miss you, Little Red." Cain pulled her into a big hug, which she returned. "Promise me that the next time we see each other, we will play a round of poker so I can earn my money back."

Jessica nodded her head in agreement, smiling brightly towards him. "I can't wait."

She extracted herself from the hug and once again looked up at her brother. He smiled down at her.

"Are you sure I can't get you to change your mind?"

She shook her head. "I'm staying, but I promise we will meet again one day, and I will be a part of your crew, but I have other business to attend to first."

Kirk shrugged like he didn't care, but deep down, he was going to miss having her around. He would never admit it, but he would miss her morning pranks the most; they had become the highlight of his day.

"Here, take this." He gave her a parting gift. "Open it when we're out of sight."

She nodded her head and took the small box from him. "I didn't get you anything."

He pulled her into a breathless hug, squeezing her tightly and whispered into her ear, "You gave me the best gift there is to have. You accepted me as your family. You became my little sister."

Jessica's heart stammered from his words. She clutched onto his leather coat, pulling him into a hug.

"This isn't goodbye, more like 'see you later.'" Jessica grinned, and he nodded in return, wiping her tears away with his thumb.

Jessica couldn't control her tears as she stood at the harbour waving at her brother and his crew as they sailed away and disappeared over the horizon. Her hands clutched the gift he had given to her as he parted with her. She missed them all and was happy to have known them. It made her even more determined to become stronger, to fight her demons, and to one day become a pirate and join her brother's crew.

She opened the small box in her hands and grinned at the gift, a pair of round, steampunk-style goggles with a black rim and a purple elastic band. She immediately placed them on her head over her white beanie. She read the note that was left at the bottom of the box.

I saw these in town and thought of you. Forever wear them and remember our promise to one day meet again.

Big Red!

Jessica smirked, already in love with her new accessory. They would come in handy when she went swimming. She skipped along the harbour, humming and smiling.

Meanwhile, on the deck of Kirk's pirate ship, the captain stood looking in the direction of where the island had been. He couldn't fathom the gut-wrenching feeling in his stomach. He didn't feel right leaving Jessica on the island all by herself. He was scared that something terrible was going to happen to her. It was probably nothing and just that he was already missing her.

A tear soon formed in his eye. He would miss Jessica but was glad to have met her. Even though she wasn't ready yet, he knew one day she would be strong enough to be on his crew, and he would wait until that day.

"Are you crying?" Cain joked as he sat on the railing of the deck next to his captain.

Kirk wiped away any evidence that he had been crying and glared at his first mate.

"Not a word," he growled.

"Your secret is safe with me." Cain zipped his mouth and raised his hands in surrender. "Halfway Point next?"

"No, not anymore. I want to learn about Jessica's past and find out what haunts her dreams at night. I have this feeling it has something to do with that honey-gold locked in our safe." Kirk stared at the vast blue ocean, his eyes scanning over it, looking for his answers. "I want to know why Jessica hated the sight of it when she wears a honey-gold bracelet. Hive Island is where Elena said it was from. I've heard of that island before. My older brother told me of adventures from that place the last time I saw him, seventeen years ago."

"What are you saying?" Cain frowned.

"As much as I hate him, I need to find my brother if I want to help Jessica."

Cain gasped, and Kirk looked away from the sea and turned back to face his crew awaiting his orders on the deck.

"Alright, you pieces of crap, fun's over. You've all gone soft since you met Jessica. It's time the world learnt just how bloodthirsty the Kirk Pirates really are. Find an enemy ship. I feel like going on a rampage!"

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