Unladylike

"I'll go willingly, but you are going to have to throw me." Unwavering and defiant, stood at the edge of the ship, waiting for the pirate captain to make his move.

"Ava, NO!" a calloused fist slammed into Phillip's jaw before he could utter another word.

The band of seadogs parted like the Red Sea as their captain stalked towards the woman who dared not to fear the dreaded pirate Captain Roberts. Roberts stopped not a foot from Ava, seasoned sailors and fierce pirates had cowered before him, but this dainty little girl barely flinched. She stared him down with an intensity that equalled his intimidation.

"Walk. The Plank. Little Miss Pain in the Ass." Captain Roberts' voice was as rough as the sea during a perfect storm. But Ava would not be swayed.

"Throw me overboard." Her voice as steady as the her gaze, she was a proud silhouette against the horizon. 

Captain Roberts paused for a millisecond. This woman was surprising. Not the damsel in distress he was expecting. He watched, brows furrowed and still radiating aggression as she removed her shoes.

"I'll make it easier for you. Just be warned, you think I'm bad luck on this boat, I'll be worse in the sea."

No man had ever dared threaten Roberts in over a decade, at least non-hollow threats. He almost believed her, she seemed so determined. He wasn't scared, but he was impressed. She would still need to go - women on ships were bad luck and he didn't need that with the storm that was coming.

Ava hitched her skirt up so that her ankles up to her knees were exposed. Phillip, scandalised, gasped.

"Ava. What are you doing? That is not like you. It is so unlady-like."

For the first time since the captain had ordered her overboard, Ava's stare left the Captain, and, disgusted, landed on her fiance.

"Oh, Phillip. You have never understood me." Thank god she was escaping a loveless marriage to a man she had no respect, let alone affection, for. "I don't want to be lady-like."

She climbed onto the side of the ship.

"I want to lure men to their deaths." With one last sneer sent in Phillip's direction, Ava turned back to address Captain Roberts.

"One little push, Captain. That's all it would take. One. Little. Shove."

"I could just shoot you." the Captain snarled.

"You could, but you are smarted than that." Ava smirked, "Bullets need to be saved. They're better used for threats and people putting up a fight. I am currently neither. Throwing me overboard would not involve resistance or a wasted bullet."

"You are annoying me now. Get off my ship."

"Make me."

The crew had been silent. They had no idea what was about to happen. The captain almost seemed to be entertained by this negotiation. No one negotiated with Captain Roberts.

Captain Roberts grabbed Ava roughly by the waist. No one, possibly including the Captain himself, was sure if she was about to be thrown over the side of the ship or over the captain's shoulder and into his cabin.

With one quick move, Ava was falling through the air towards the sea as the black clouds crackled. Phillip fought against his captors to run towards the spot that Ava had just disappeared from. At the captain's signal, the pirates holding Phillip back, let him go. Phillip launched himself to the edge of the ship.

"If you want to live, you men better get back to work." And with that, Captain Roberts strode back to his cabin.

Phillip watched helplessly as Ava lay, floating on her back, her skirt and long tresses fanned out around her. She looked so peaceful, while he was filled with terror.

Three pairs of scaly arms, with what looked like find attached, reached out from the depths and wrapped around Ava's body and began to drag her down into the ocean as the first crack of thundr bellowed through the sky. Lightning lit up the sky as the last sign of Ava disappeared into the blackness.