Crazy In Love | Buggy

Within the next ten minutes, all the townspeople in the circus tent were unshackled and herded out. The clowns were rough with them - pushing those who weren't going fast enough, flashing their weapons at the people, as if a warning to move faster. It worked.

A few people remained still, that including my family. I watched them with longing, wanting to desperately to be with them. All I could think about is the fact I may never see them again.

The clown who was holding Jean let go of him. Immediately, Jean sprinted towards our parents. He ran so quickly to them that when he reached them, he couldn't even stop in time. His little body slammed into our parents. I saw them struggle to stay on their feet, however, they managed to. They had Jean wrapped up in a tight hug within seconds.

I could tell that they were attempting to soothe and calm him down. He was crying slightly. Jean was a brave boy, but what he had just been through would cause anyone to cry. My parents talked to him, stroked his hair softly, hugged him repeatedly.

In that moment, I felt like a child. I wanted my parents, I wanted them to comfort me as they were comforting Jean. They were such good comforters. More than anything, I just wanted to be able to return to our home with them. I didn't want to go with these clowns.

At the very least, I wanted the opportunity to say goodbye to them. I deserved that, at least. But that couldn't happen, I knew that. Although, there was no harm in asking Buggy for this one kindness. I mean, there was nothing bad that I could do with just one conversation with my family.

Still, I was asking a pirate for a favour. My chances of getting it were low, even if it caused no harm to anyone. Pirates revelled in other's suffering.

My mind thought back to that small moment of kindness Buggy had shown me. A foolish part of me believe that perhaps Buggy had a softer, kinder element to him. That seemed unlikely. Perhaps I was the most naive person ever to believe there could be any kindness in a man like Buggy.

It wouldn't hurt to ask, surely. If I didn't, I knew I would live to regret it. Especially if I failed in helping him finding his treasure, or if I died at sea.

Buggy was deep in conversation with some of his clowns. They were seemingly discussing their plans. I nervously approached them, feeling like a child interrupting an adults conversation.

"Uhm, Buggy?" I timidly asked, my voice coming out quieter than I had meant.

Part of me expected him to get mad that I interrupted him but he actually greeted me with a smile.

"Yes, Betty-Boop?"

That wasn't a nickname I liked but this wasn't the moment to say that. There probably wouldn't ever be a moment to tell him that. He could call me whatever he liked. I decided to just be grateful that it wasn't an insult, at least.

I clenched my hands by my side, and my nerves bubbled up, threatening to spill out of my eyes in the form of tears. I sucked in a breath, trying to be brave.

"This journey... to find the treasure -"

"My treasure," He corrected me. The way he said it felt like he thought the distinction was important. "To find my treasure."

I nodded. "Yes, to find your treasure... it'll be a long journey, right?"

"Most definitely. It'll be months, maybe even a year. Why? Are you trying to back out now? Is a year at sea too much for you to cope with?"

"No, of course not."

Yes, a year at sea definitely was too much to cope with. I'd secretly dreamed of becoming a pirate, but the reality of it was incredibly daunting. I had never even been on a boat, never mind for up to a year.