I quickly landed on the fluyt's left edge and felt even more nauseous than before. Every single member of uncle Ruben's crew was fighting against a sailor. Shots, screams, and swords clashing were all that I heard... along with some bad words in multiple languages as well, of course. Maartje fought two sailors at the same time. I slowly walked towards the main deck, chewing on my lip and trying my best not to look afraid. Taking several deep breaths, I glanced from side to side to make sure no one would attack me. My senses suddenly enhanced. It was as if I could hear every single noise from that fluyt and see everyone's movements. I smiled since the pirates were winning, but gulped when two of them fell, severely injured, after fighting an angry sailor. When I was starting to get distracted... Boom! One of Uncle Ruben's cannons fired twice, damaging the fluyt's mainsail. My entire body was full of sweat once I reached the main deck. Part of the enemy crew had surrendered, whereas the rest continued fighting against us. I didn't count, but there were sixty men there at most, so it shouldn't be a hard plunder.

A man scared the hell out of me, "Why don't you abandon your pirate folks and be a woman as you're supposed to be?"

I laughed to show confidence, grabbed my cutlass, and narrowed my eyes at him. There was no way I'd let a jerk ruin my big day. Despite the challenges, I was determined to have fun.

"If I lose, I'll do that, but if I win, you'll bow and call me pirate queen..." I smiled mischievously. "Do we have a deal?"

He ignored me, as I expected, and tried to stab me in the stomach with his cutlass. My eyes widened, I defended myself and sliced his waist. My enemy winced and groaned in pain. Baring his teeth, the guy left a wound on my left arm, ripping my sleeve. I scowled.

Damn it, this was my favorite shirt!

The two of us kept fighting for a while. More sweat ran down my face as time went by. I was lucky enough to escape from all my opponent's attacks, except when he injured my right thigh.

I raised my brows, "So much for that compliment..."

My blade tore a piece of his right arm's skin, making him flinch. After that, I left a significant wound on his belly. When he glanced away for a second, I plunged my cutlass into his chest. With his eyes bulging, the guy fell to his knees. When I removed my sword from him, he crashed his head against the ground after falling unconscious.

I breathed fast with my eyes widened, "I can't believe I killed a man! Being a pirate is fun, but killing definitely doesn't feel good..."

At that same instant, a man pointed his blunderbuss at me. I ducked when he shot and struck a blow to his legs, making him fall on the ground. I gritted my teeth as the guy winced. When he was about to grab the pistol again, I shot him with my blunderbuss. I gulped since his blood wouldn't stop spreading on the floor. Guess what? Another man was killed by me... and I knit my brows, feeling terrible. After him, a third sailor attacked me with his cutlass, and we fought for a couple minutes. To forget that I had to kill my opponent eventually, I just focused on the adrenaline of the fight and enjoyed every second it lasted.

"Get out of here while you still can, you dirty pirate!" my opponent yelled.

The sailor aimed his cutlass at my neck. I pressed my lips together and we stopped moving for a second. That couldn't be my end. I didn't want to die... at least not in such a humiliating way.

Use your skills, Eva!

"I'd run if I were you," I smiled and raised my brows. "My friend is aiming his pistol at your head right now."

The man's eyes bulged and he started breathing fast through his mouth. Once he put down his cutlass and turned back, I punched him in the gut. The sailor screamed in pain and flinched after hitting his back against the ground. I got closer and pointed my sword at his chest while he laid on the floor.

I grinned mischievously, "You just got tricked!"

He frowned and attacked me again, almost bruising my leg. I took a step forward and quickly slit his throat. Although I liked tricking people, it wasn't pleasant to kill... I know I already mentioned that, but it's the truth.

I can't believe I'm not severely injured. I'm so lucky...

Sven fought with two sailors at the same time. I gulped and clenched my jaw as my friend and the sailors were almost reaching the bowsprit. If I didn't act quick, Sven could fall into the ocean, so I took off running. Climbing the stairs made me more tired than I already was, but I knew I couldn't just leave Sven there. When I reached the forecastle deck, I hid behind the foremast while breathing heavily.

I took a deep breath, "You can do this, Eva."

After grabbing my pistol, I slowly left my position. Once I had a precise aim, I pulled the trigger with my eyes widened. Time froze for an instant.

When one of the sailors was about to push Sven into the sea, the former fell flat. I closed my eyes and put a hand on my chest, sighing in relief. Although the other guy pointed his pistol at me, I quickly shot him on the head. My friend dodged to the right and the man fell unconscious. I gawked, not believing I had successfully saved Sven.

Sven grinned as we locked eyes, "Thank you so much! I thought they'd tear me apart."

"Don't mention it," I smirked as I gazed at the sea. "The sharks would hate your smell, so I had to spare them."

He rolled his eyes and chucked, "Shut up."

I laughed and left the forecastle deck to keep helping the quartermaster fight the sailors... I couldn't believe how long that was taking! Uncle Ruben had told me that fluyts usually had a crew of fifty men, seventy at most, but that particular ship appeared to have thousands... Besides, they wouldn't stop fighting us.

When I arrived at the main deck, two sailors walked towards me. I was about to face the exact situation as Sven with just one tiny difference: my real-life fighting experience was none. He'd been participating in pirate attacks since he was eleven while that was my first time. I swallowed hard while I grabbed my cutlass. Sweat ran down my back as I took some steps backwards.

"I can't believe these pirates were dumb enough to send a lady here," the man on the right said, with a cruel grin on his face.

Not this again! I hate it when people judge me because I'm a woman!

Pursing my lips, I glared at my opponent. Without second thoughts, I tried to stab him on the stomach. I missed, wounding his waist instead and he flinched. The other man attempted to strike his blade against my chest, but he failed and sliced my left arm. I winced as the injury burned like fire. When the blood reached my wrist, I cleaned it on my pants.

"She's weak," the sailor who hit me whispered.

Taking advantage of my opponent's distraction, I punched him in the gut. He tripped, hitting his head against the mainmast so strongly that I thought the wood would crack. The man yelled in pain and blood stained the column.

I smiled defiantly, "You were saying?"

At that instant, both came to me at the same time. I elbowed the one on my left. I flinched as his bones collided with mine. The other punched me in the face. My nose cracked, blood ran down from it, and I fell on my back. That stupid ground almost broke my bones... Damn it! Why did the floor have to be so revengeful? I didn't mean to fall on it after all!

One of the sailors squeezed my neck until I could barely breathe. Although I tried to kick him more than once, it didn't work. The air escaped me more at each second that went by. Tears ran down my cheeks once I realized I'd die just like my drunken dad. The world was turning black and crying made my swollen eye burn in pain. When I thought about giving up, my trembling hand reached the cutlass on my belt. I bared my teeth and, with all the strength I had left, I stabbed the man in the back. His hands pressed my neck even harder for an instant, making my eyes bulge. Luckily, the pressure ceased quickly and he fell dead on my right.

I raised my brows, "My God! This was insane..."

I put a hand on my throat, relieved as the air filled my inside. While I stood up, the other sailor was fighting someone else. He turned to me after quickly killing a pirate with his blunderbuss. When the man was about to pull the trigger, I kicked his hand, cracking his wrist bones and knocking the gun onto the ground.

I punched him in the face, "The fun is over!"

Our blades clashed so loudly as they collided that my ear hurt. My blood boiled once we glared at each other. I felt as if the floor below me would tremble at any moment.

I almost died, but I've never felt so alive...

I smiled defiantly. My opponent attacked me with his cutlass, I defended myself and took a step backwards. After three missed attempts, he tore my waist's skin. Guess what? I started bleeding again and my shirt got even more damaged... did I mention that was my favorite shirt?

Our swords clashed twice. My opponent was a good fighter and I couldn't deny it as much as I wanted to. I sliced a cut on his right thigh. He flinched and went for my neck, but I ducked and injured his left hip severely, making him groan in pain. I blocked some of his blows, dodged from others and elbowed him in the stomach. The damn guy wouldn't fall! Was he really just a sailor from a merchant boat? Uncle Ruben had always told me they were easy to defeat, so maybe that man was a disguised RNN or Royal Navy officer.

When he raised both his arms, ready to stab me on the chest, I protected myself with my cutlass and grimaced. My eyes bulged since I was terrified. At that exact moment... Boom! Gunshots were fired nearby. I frowned, wondering why I couldn't find any injuries on me. The man suddenly fell, hitting his face on the floor. He had two bullet holes bleeding on his back. In front of me was Maartje, aiming her blunderbuss at the guy. She pursed her lips and scowled while breathing fast... My God! I would've turned into stone if I'd looked at her for too long... She definitely had her father's glare. My cousin put the pistol back in her weapon belt.

"I had him, Maartje!" I rolled my eyes and huffed. "I can't believe you interrupted my moment of glory..."

"You're welcome?" she shook her head in denial while laughing softly. "My God, Storm! You're unbelievable."

We hugged each other quickly. Since there were still a couple stubborn sailors at the forecastle deck, I went back there. Although I loved fighting, I was getting pretty sick of that blood bath. I'd envisioned my first time in a pirate attack as something easier, with more looting and less killing. Of course, Lacroix's men took the boxes filled with cargo to The Revenger, but I wish I didn't have to take anyone's life. If those sailors had surrendered, I would've been much happier... and probably with a healthy right eye instead of a swollen one.

"If I were your captain, this would've ended much faster," an angry male voice said from behind.

I turned and saw a handsome man with his arms crossed. I couldn't help but gawk. He was another crewmember from the fluyt. My heart pounded, but I wasn't so sure that fear had caused that. It was only a matter of time until he grabbed a blunderbuss or cutlass to kill me, so I remained alert.

"Seriously, redhead?" I grinned sarcastically. "If you're that good, why don't you join us?"

He glared at me. I took a step forward and lifted my chin, trying to show I didn't fear him. That red-haired man appeared to have my age and wasn't that muscular, so how much of a threat could he be?

"When I become a pirate, it will be on my terms," the stranger reached for his cutlass and ground his teeth. "Besides, I'm not in a mood for talking."

Come on! I don't want to fight again...

I smiled coyly, "Are you sure? We could live adventures together and everything..."

After that, I winked, hoping my terrible flirting skills would be enough to get me out of that situation. That redhead reminded me of myself a lot, so we could become good friends if he cooperated.

"I'm damn sure!" he pursed his lips. "Now, stop wasting my time!"

Although that sailor was hotheaded, I couldn't stop looking at him. Since the cutie refused to join me, I had to finish him once and for all, unfortunately. My heart ached with the thought of murdering that man, so I took a deep breath to calm down.

I knit my eyebrows, "Alright. You asked for it."

A little hesitant, I kicked him between the legs. He winced and his face got extremely red. Taking advantage of his distraction, I pushed him off the ship. Breathing faster, I got closer to the left edge of the fluyt. My eyes bulged since I couldn't believe what I'd done. I had a weird feeling of guilt as I observed the guy falling into the ocean. He got smaller until his body hit the sea, splashing water everywhere. I looked away once he was completely underwater.

When I turned back, I couldn't help but gape. There were no sailors left and the few crewmembers alive had surrendered. Although I'd faced terrifying danger, I didn't want that adventure to end. I downturned my lip corners and stared at my toes, disappointed. I couldn't believe it was over. I would never forget my first time on a plunder and hoped that wouldn't be my last.

"Everyone must return to The Revenger! Just me and the men who handle the cargo shall stay," Lacroix shouted while guiding the crew back to the galleon.

I hesitantly followed the quartermaster's orders. While I walked towards the starboard edge of the fluyt, one of the crewmembers talked to the surrendered sailors. They would become part of uncle Ruben's crew and hopefully wouldn't cause any trouble.

Once I boarded the galleon, I ran to Maartje and Sven. They were talking close to the mainmast. I embraced them quickly. My cousin had injuries on her chest, knee and left arm. Sven's right eye was swollen just like mine and he had a large wound on his waist. I knit my brows while taking a step backwards. Regardless of the fact that my friends were alive and well, seeing them bruised broke my heart.

Maartje smiled, "So, how was your first time?"

My heart was divided between joy and regret. Even though I loved being part of that plundering, I hated that I had to kill people. Every second I spent using my fighting skills was exciting and I felt alive, but the slaughter was horrible. A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled the men I assassinated, especially the one I'd thrown in the ocean. Besides, almost dying of suffocation wasn't exactly my definition of fun.

I chuckled, "Apart from the fact that I had to kill some men, almost died suffocated and got punched in the face... pretty good, actually."

Sven laughed and gave me a pat on the back, "Welcome to the team!"

At that instant, uncle Ruben finished a conversation with two of his crew members who carried the stolen cargo to The Revenger. The broad smile on his face suddenly faded. He clenched his jaw when he approached us.

"I would love to know how your first adventure was, Eva, but you must see Dr. Bakker first," he gazed at our wounds while biting his lower lip. "In fact, all of you have to see him."

"It's just a few scratches," Maartje laughed. "No need to worry so much, dad."

My cousin was crazy. Scratches? Seriously? My eye could barely open and the injuries still burned me like fire! Seeing Dr. Bakker was all that I wanted at that moment. I couldn't believe Maartje didn't feel the same...

Uncle Ruben shook his head in denial, "Nonsense! First, never tell a father not to worry about his daughter. Second, every wounded pirate has to be treated by Dr. Bakker and none of you are exceptions."

"Perfect!" I sighed in relief. "Let's go before my eye becomes a cannonball."

My uncle nodded. Sven, Maartje and I went down the stairs towards Dr. Bakker's office.

Sven laughed while pointing at his swollen eye, "You'll get used to it."

I forced a smile. While I waited in line to see Dr. Bakker, I talked to my friends about the fights I got involved in that evening. My fear suddenly faded and everything I felt was pure happiness. My eyes gleamed in joy as I grinned widely. Clashing cutlasses, dodging from punches, striking blows... it all stopped giving me the creeps. When I was in action, I couldn't avoid being afraid, but it all changed after I realized the vast amount of fights I'd won. As I spoke with Sven and Maartje, my excitement about becoming a real pirate was much bigger than the fear of all the risks involved. I couldn't wait to find out what my future adventures would look like.

****

Author's note:

I chose Kate Mara to be our dear Maartje de Vries (the twenty-one-year-old Maartje, of course). I think she would make a perfect Maartje due to her sweetness and strength if "Ocean Storm" becomes a movie one day. In this aesthetic, I put three of Maartje's most remarkable characteristics and some emojis that relate to her. I wanted a picture of Kate in pirate clothes, but unfortunately, I couldn't find any... :-( I hope you all liked it! Let me know if you also imagined Kate as Maartje.