Chapter 13

Anna

James Bay, a beautiful set of water, unless you're being held captive on it. Somehow, I found myself on deck, my back leaning against a tall pole while my butt sat on some boxes.

Grace found herself next to me, afraid to leave me in case something would happen.

My mind hasn't stopped thinking about what could happen, what will happen. Will I be killed by Benton's hand, not realizing that he had also killed our unborn child? Will Declan make it in time to save me before Benton does something stupid?

Well, stupider then what he's doing right now.

The sound of footsteps walking towards Grace and I made my head look up from my chained hands. As Benton promised, Grace would be a guest, able to walk around deck. While I would be a prisoner, locked in chains until someone unlocked them.

Chaulk, Benton's lower companion who tried to tick the crew into thinking she is a boy, make her way up to us.

"I'd eat if I was you, or Benton'll force it down your throat," Chaulk nodded to my plate of food in front of me.

Grace had given me her food after I voiced my thoughts that he could have poisoned mine. Unlike anyone else on this ship, Grace knew that there was a person growing in my womb, meaning she wasn't going to let anything happen to me.

If she can help it.

"I suppose I'll need my strength if I'm to kill such an ugly man," I said with a vicious smirk, causing Chaulk to look at me with fright in her eyes. I can only imagine the things Benton has told her about me.

Grace eyes me, "Anna," She says, not wanting my words to be too much and have everything that we worked so hard to save be thrown overboard. Grace looked back at Chaulk, "You don't need to fear us."

Scuffing and looking away, I mumble, "Speak for yourself." My eyes, a full minute later, return to Chaulk, "I'll admit, you had me fooled at first. But your laugh, your laugh is what did it. Tell me, does everyone know that you're a boy and is just shoving their heads in the sand? Or is it a secret?" I asked, leaning forward slightly.

Chaulk looks just as scared as before, only now her nerves have kicked in.

I can't help but smirk and look off as I lean back, "I'm guessing number two." With those words as my last towards Chaulk, she stood and walked away, her feet move in quick in hopes of creating as much distance between us as possible.

"Why did you do that?" Grace quickly asked once the young girl like boy had stepped away.

My head snapped in her direction, slightly angry by her question. "Because I'm not here to make friends. And if it wasn't for this baby inside of me and the temperature so damn cold, I'd jump in the water right now and swim my way back to Fort James." My voice softens some and my hands lift up the chains wrapped around them, "Remember, yours a guest. I'm a prisoner."

The rest of the boat ride was filled with me getting sea sick, Benton making comments that usually would end with me winning and him walking away in anger, and Declan.

I could only imagine the hell thoughts that are going through his mind right now. He's doing everything he can to get to us, killing anyone he can find that doesn't have answers. And all I can do is sit here and wait, the thing I hate the most.

My eyes closed while my head leaned back against the pole, my mind recalling the last encounterment I had with Declan.

"Neither of us get out alive if I don't put this dog down. And I can't do it with you by my side, Anna." I stare at him, my fear rising again. Though he's right, I want nothing more for him not to be.

My hands pull Declan in for a meaningful kiss before pulling away slightly, keeping out foreheads together. "Keep our baby safe," He whispers to me before we pull away from each other. "Go; I'll catch up."

I feel uneasy and I know my face projects that as I stare at Declan and take a slow step back. Grace grabs ahold of my arm, seeing how hard it is to leave Declan's side again.

Declan's eyes stare at me before moving to Grace, "Keep them safe."

I see Grace nod next to me and say, "I promise" before leaving and pulling me with her.

"Right, we'll be going to shore now," Chaulk's voice says, pulling me back to reality. Grace, at some point, had stepped away and to the edge of the ship, looking over it. When Chaulk arrived thought, she turned and lightly leaned against the railing.

"Where's he taking us?" Grace asked, determine to get answers.

Chaulk shrugs, "I dunno. Get supplies, I expect."

"When will we leave?"

"I don't know, do I?" Chaulk says, eyeing Grace like her answer would be expected, which it was.

Hoping to break the back and forth between Grace and Chaulk, which would lead us nowhere, I spoke up. "Let me ask you something. What are his Lordship's plans with us?"

Chaulk looked at me, shrugging, "I dunno. I think it's got something to do with that, uh, Declan Harp?"

My eyes scrunched together in confusion, "What do you know about Declan Harp?"

"All I know is, he's an animal."

There was a small pause, a small smile spreading on my face, "Then I'm a beast." At my words, Chaulk was replaced with fear once again, giving Grace the perfect moment to stare down at me. A sigh leaves my lips, deciding to play by Grace's game for a minute.

"The first time I met Declan Harp he was trading with a man. He managed to get every piece of fur from the man, leaving him with nothing but coin. But Declan knew him. He killed people for fur instead of trading it like normal. So, Declan told traders near-by, and before you knew it, the man walked in and handed my sister his last coin and asked for a drink. Declan put that man in his bed. He sniffs out the bad and destroys it, before it can corrupt anyone else."

Chaulk's eyes seemed to grow softer, seeming to take the story and want to hear more. "Is that how you two met?"

"No, that was when I met him. He didn't really know who I was yet. We just would make side glances, a few smiles, things like that. It wasn't until he punched a man for me did we officially meet."

This time, Chaulk was the one to smile, a small laugh leaving through her lips, "Sounds more like a knight then an animal."

I couldn't help the smirk play on my lips as I looked out by the water, not looking at anyone. "Clearly you've never spent a night with him," I said, the words slipping off my tongue so easily that it sounded like I was just saying "Hi". Either way, the words were true and to my advantage, Chaulk didn't say another word as we approached land.

We waited until Benton came for us, a guard grabbing me and yanking me up while another gestured Grace to follow Benton. We both walked next to each other as we left the deck of the ship and onto the dock next to it. A man stood tall and strong as if waiting for Benton, but their greeting said otherwise.

"Wadlow?" Benton said with a smile as he approached the man.

"Benton. Id that you?" He responded with a laugh before the two hugged. To my surprise, it seemed Benton did have friends, or at least ones he managed to pay for.

Benton pulled away with a giant smile, "How are you, my boy?"

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Wadlow asked, ignoring Benton's question.

"I presume you've heard that Declan Harp and myself have had some disagreements of late."

"I heard you couldn't break that thick neck of his," Wadlow said, eyeing Benton.

Benton responded with a confident tone, "In time. But in the meantime, I need a secure area to hide my prisoners." He turned, gesturing to Grace and I. To my surprise, he didn't seem to ask why one was in chains and the other one wasn't.

"Be my guest," Wadlow said, grabbing Grace and I's arm roughly before shoving us into a small cabin near them. The cabin was split into two separate rooms, most of it empty.

Wadlow tossed Grace in the second room, locking the door before tossing me lightly in the first one.

"You must have really pissed Benton off to get those chains on you," Wadlow said, nodding to my chained wrists that were starting to make sores.

At first, I opened my mouth to respond with "I'm Anna Harp, that's enough". But, by the way this man talked about my husband, I wasn't ready to defend myself with chained wrists. So, I stayed silent and watched as Wadlow left.

Seconds later, the door opened again and Chaulk walked in, the door locking behind her from the outside.

So much for loyal guest.

I brought myself up in a chair near-by, pulling myself off the cold ground. I needed to find a way out, but with Chaulk still "loyal to Benton" I'd never make it one foot out. The only thing I could do is try and change her mind.

Looks like I'll have to go with Grace's thinking again.

"Chaulk," I said, grabbing her attention. "You shouldn't trust Benton. He's a cruel and dangerous person. You're not safe with him. He has taken me simply because I love a man he hates. And he will kill me for that. I don't think that'll sit well on your conscience."

"He only hates you both because you both have tried to kill him," Chaulk tries to justify but her nervous voice doesn't help.

"Because he killed out son," I said, grabbing Chaulk's full attention. Her mouth dropped slightly in shock, telling me she had no clue about any of this. "Benton came in the middle of the night, took our son, and killed him right in front of us. Losing a child, it changes you. It changed everything about you."

Chaulk was silent as my words soaked in. I needed to push harder.

"Declan was once loyal to Benton, like you are. But you can never be loyal enough. You will always be in danger of betraying him. And when you do he will go where it hurts the most. Why do you think he's helping you? Don't you think it'll have a cost? With Benton, there is no life and there is no freedom. You'll either die by his hand or be trapped in it forever."

She was silent, her eyes now drifting away from me and towards the dirt ground.

"I'm pregnant," I said, causing her to quickly look up at me. "And I lost one child to Benton, I will not lose another."

As if on cue, the door separating Grace's room and mine was opened, Grace fast walking through it and into my room. An old nail sat in her hands as she knelt in front of me and picked at my chains.

"Way to go sis," I said, smiling impressed.

"We have to go," Grace said, letting my chains drop to the floor which caused me to stand. I took one step towards the door before Chaulk quickly stopped us.

Her voice was hopeful yet fearful, "Where are you going?"

"We're going to find a safe spot, not far from here and we'll wait," Grace said, looking at Chaulk like she hopped she'd come with us. I was thinking something slightly different but decided that killing her wouldn't help our case at all.

Chaulk looked at us confused, her eyes moving between both of us, "Wait? For what?"

"For Declan Harp," I said as Grace moved ahead of me and unlocked the door. She opened it slightly before turning and looking back at Chaulk. We were all silent, both me and my sister looking at the young girl pretending to be a boy.

When the choice was made and the cost was clear, Grace, Chaulk, and I made our way out of sight and into the darkness of the snowy woods and mountains.

Declan, please get here fast.

So, this may not be the ending that everyone wanted, but it was the ending that fit the story best. I have a lot planned and also some information.

1. Before, I did each chapter as an episode. Now I'm doing two chapters an episode. One in Anna's POV and one in Declan's. Not every scene from the show will be in it and some might be added, but it'll still work out.

2. Because of how Season 3 ended, I will be ending this book at the ending of Season 3. (I'll let you know when we're close). I already have ideas for the ending and think that it'll be a good stopping point.

3. If/When Season 4 comes out and I feel like I still want to continue it for whatever reason then there is a small, small chance I might. Otherwise, and most likely, this will be it.

Please comment what you think and don't forget to vote!