Rescue and Retribution (ch 5)

1706-1707

Being a prisoner of war is a very terrible and unlivable, but to be a prisoner of a pirate is fate worse than death. Pirates has numerous ways to torture their victims from flogging, target practice, being tied to the bottom of the ship, the list endless. Most died just to escape the pain and torture of it all, others just endure and try to survive any way they can. In Damiens case, he wanted revenge dearly, but he wouldn't get it laying on the floor in a prison cell in the fort. After the failed assassination attempt on flint, all three were dragged to the center of the fort, shirts ripped off and branded with a hot iron rod each on the back and whipped harshly. That was only the beginning of it. Over the past few months, the trio were subjected to rigour torture session by flint or by his men. Their spirits and will to survive were tested everyday and when they seemed at their most vulnerable, they won't break. However, in jonathan's case, something did break, his mentality. During one torture session his face was placed into a boiling kettle of hot water. His screams of pain and agony were muffled by the water and when his head was pulled out, his entire face was scorched ginving him third degree burns. He was then subjected to hot melting tar. As flints men pour the hot melting tar, he felt it hit against his already tender skin. As the tar cooled, he pulled the foul thing off, taking a bit of his skin and flesh with it as well. Adding to his pain, he was forced to wear a heavy metal mask that covered his entire face and head. The mask had two distinct eye slits and a mouth slit than was half smiling and half frowning where he can breath, though it was very faint. After that something snapped in Jonathan and thus began having two way conversations with himself. The guards said that he was going mad and they weren't wrong either. Months passed and this became a normal thing for jonathan and his alter ego. He would spend hour to even days talking to his alter ego who he never names.

Going back to Damien, who is now thirteen, plans his revenge. That was all on his mind was revenge. He would have it, even if it took him his entire life. Flint must die for what he has done he always told himself, he will never, ever forgive flint for murdering his father. But there's one problem standing in his way if he is to ever achieve his goal, he must escape the fort, he must escape from Nassau.

Already being a year now, the trio soon lost hope in being rescued. They assumed that their crew was hunted down and killed by flints men or the officers. However they were in for a big surprise today. On a clear night on the island, four shadows crept around the fort looking for a way in. suddenly the see that door is unguarded and make a mad dash towards the entrance of the fort. Having successfully gotten in, they made their way towards the lower levels of the fort when the heard footsteps coming from behind, and by the sounds of their feet, they were armed. The leader of the four ran into a bush few feets away from the door, the other three his inside a hay cart on the opposite end. Peering away at a few leaves, the unknown figure got a good look at the enemy. They were your average british soldiers carrying standard Brown Bess Muskets with fixed bayonets. From the looks of their messy outfits, it appears that these men were out drinking and enjoying themselves. Their breath smelled foul and their speech was blurred.

“ So, any ideas of what flint has plan for the prisoners. I hear he gonna gut em up fancy a fish and hang the entrails at the entrance of the fort.” One of the soldiers asked.

“ Hell if I know, I know is that these three are bleedin' important to him, especially that runt Damien. Hell I wouldn't be surprise if he killed him, little bugger.” replied the other

“So damian is alive, I hope jonathan and flint are alive as well” whispered the unknown figure. He motioned his hand forward to the others next to him. One of them sneaked behind the soldier and the left and jumped out with a knife and stabbed the soldier in the neck. The other british soldier tried to aim him musket properly at the assailant but was to drunk to hold it correctly. Then out from the bushes the leader pull out a pistol and pointed it behind the soldier's head.

“Pull that trigger and ill splatter your brain all across the floor, now to avoid that fate give the keys to the jail cells now.” The terrified soldier shakingly grabbed the keys at his waist and gave it to the man behind him. Just as he did that, the leader of the group flipped his pistol around and clubbed the soldier on the back of the head, rendering him unconscious. He holstered his pistol away and grabbed the keys.

“You think they’re still alive benjamin” asked one member

The leader of this rescue was Benjamin Blackeye of the black ravens, the one Damian had left in charge. Its been nearly two years since they have had word from their captain. After the trio was captured by flint, he put out a hitlist on any crew member of the black ravens. Many have died while others simply fled. Now it was only down to Benjamin and a dozen still loyal black ravens.

“truthfully i don't know. They could be dead or alive. But no matter what, we are getting them one of this fort one way or another.” Finally finding the right key, he opens the door leading to the jail room to free their captain.

As they went further into the fort, they looked everywhere for the jail to be. They split up into smaller groups to cover more ground. Their searches took them to stockpiles, weapons depot, reserves and soldier bunkers, but no jail. Benjamin and his group did find a door in the far corners of the forts eastern side. He kicked it down and found their captain. He like Jonathan and smith were tortured beyond reckoning. Damien's was tied up facing the wall and his back was flogged many times and it was still healing after a year. Some pieces of skin and flesh were still falling off of his back. Smith had one of his eyes removed and replaced with a metal ball. His body was covered in scars. but the worst was Jonathan. It was after getting the mask on his face was that Jonathan mind was broken and soon he was starting to talk to unknown voices and develop a second personality. After getting a look at the three, Benjamin cut them free, grabbed their clothes and gear and order the others to help them. Damian managed somehow to speak even after everything that has happen to him.

“Wha....what took you guys....so long.” Damian then passed out. Benjamin supported him and Jonathan while Smith walked with the help of his Guillotine gun. Once outside, the made their way to the exit when they were discovered by british soldiers on the walls. One sounded the alarm and all hell broke loose. The rescuers were being shot at from all sides and made a break from the entrance to the fort. However, the bridge was soon brought up and left the group unable to escape. As the turned around they were cornered by British soldiers. Benjamin cured their situation until their was loud eerie sound coming from the south end of the fort. Just then half of the south wall was blown to bits by cannon fire. the shot disorientated the soldiers, giving time for Benjamin and the others to fight their way through the soldiers and make a dash for the hole in the wall. Bullets whizzed by their heads as soldiers fired their muskets. Luckily for the escapers, muskets aren't known for the accuracy. Benjamin along with the others then jumped through the giant hole and plunged into the shallow water. The feel of the water woke jonathan and damian up from their slumber. Damian used his right arm to to tread water with the help of benjamin. Damian hazily looked up and saw that it was their ship who fired at the fort. The made their way to the frigate and climbed aboard. Once aboard, they tried to rest but knew that the enemy will be upon them any minute now. Damein gets back to his feet a little and barks the order “Unfold mates, trim the gallons and royals.” Everyone went about their positions while smith and Benjamin took Jonathan down to the captain's quarters for some rest. All around their small frigate they heard the splashes of cannon balls fired from the fort. Though their sails were torn, the hull damaged, and the crew tire and exhausted, they managed to escape with their lives and the life of their captain.

Once they were out of cannon fire and away from Flint's ship, Damian let go of the wheel told the crew to drop anchor. He grabbed his clothes and gear and went below deck to change. He was very careful putting on his undershirt and then his red uniform. He could still feel the cattails whip against his back even now. He put that image in the back of his mind and went back to changing. After and hour of changing, Damian reappear above decks and went to his quarters to check on his brother. He opens the door quietly, peeking his head in a little he sees his smith removing the iron mask off of Jonathan's face. Once the mask was removed, Benjamin saw the full extent of Flints cruelty. The stench of burnt flesh and tar was still linked to Jonathan's face. His eyebrows were gone and his lips were chapped and still bleeding. Blisters were common all around his face and on where his eyebrows should be. Smith reached into his pocket and pulled out a small knife to cut the blisters open. Before he moved his hand, Jonathan grabs it, nearly breaking it. Smith was taken aback, he had not expect Jonathan to be awake. Jonathan opened his eyes, his cold, lifeless, eyes. He turned his head slightly to the right to face smith and pulled the knife out of smith's hands. He then spoke in a low murmur.

“I’ll do it, now could you leave this room so that i may change.” Smith, Benjamin and Damian obliged and left the room. Once they were outside, they heard the small grunts of irritation and pain. A few minutes later, it was quiet in the room. Just then the door opened and Jonathan reappeared dressed in his spanish sailor outfit and wearing his iron mask. He walked calmly towards his brother and smith. Standing besides them he talked in a tired yet assertive voice.

“We should head back home.” Jonathan motioned to the wheel and damian went to it and gave the crew it's new order.

“Men...loose sail and catch some wind, we're going home.” The crew's response were silent and obeyed their captain. They then made the long and tiresome journey home.

After a few weeks at sea the crew of the black ravens made it safely back home to puerto rico but the day was gloomy and cloudy with dark skies and a lifeless atmosphere. The ship docked in the harbor and the crew made its way on land. No one spoke a word, they were all lifeless and devoid of any human emotion. While the crew went home Damein, Jonathan and smith ran to the caldwells household. Upon reaching the residency, the saw Flint's barbracy. The grass was dried up and the garden torn to shreds; the house was nearly ripped apart by axes and fire. Damian went to open the door but upon touching the doorknob, the door fell of from the hinges. The inside of the house was worse than it was outside. Food was scattered all across the floor and the scent of rum and whisky filled the air with a hint of fire. All the rooms were in total shackles. the boys then went to look for their mother, if she was still alive of course. While Jonathan and smith went upstairs, damian continued his searches downstairs. He then went to the kitchen where he save evidence of a struggle. On the floor was blood and a bloody machete along with pieces of torn clothes. he followed the trail to the kitchen closet at the far side of the room. He pulled out his pistol just in case and quickly opened the closet door. There he finds his mother covered in what appeared to bed her attackers blood. In her right hand was a bloody machete while her left hand covered her injured side. Her once lovely, waterfall like hair had turned into a frazzled mess. She was shocked at first when she saw me and proceed to rush at me with open arms with the machete still in her right hand. I hugged her back and calmed her down. After an hour later she then told me what had happened. She told that after me, smith, and jonathan left for nassau they were attacked by flint and his marauders. Robert put up one hell of a fight but was killed instantly by flints bullet. Flint then proceed to cut off Roberts head off slowly keep it for later use. His men tortured isabella but she never cave in. he found out where we were at by the note i had left of the table of where we were going. What happened later is self explanatory.

After the talk Damien goes into the kitchen where Smith and Jonathan sat on the few unbroken chairs lying around. Damien go over to the pantry and pull out a bottle of rum and drank the sweet beverage. Though he could never stand rum, he didn't care, Nothing mattered at the moment, heck he wouldn't even care if i drank myself to death, but as damien look down he see Flints insignia on the floor and a feeling of raw anger bubbled up inside me. Damein ended his drinking and threw the bottle at the closet wall. The battle shattered on impact and both Jonathan and smith looked at me with somewhat awe. There was rage in his eyes as well as tears and the feeling of loss. He then looks in kitchen mirror and sees his reflection. In only a few short years Damien was changed forever and had a new purpose in life. A purpose that would go against everything he stood for and take him down a path few follow and make out alive. He wanted revenge against Flint and he would have it.