Going Merry
The wood of the Going Merry creaked softly under the night breeze. The sky was clear, starry, and the moon cast a pale glow over the deck. The smell of the sea mingled with the lingering trace of desert sand, creating an atmosphere of transition—something between a destination left behind and the unknown ahead.
Zala sat against the mast, the Kairoseki handcuffs weighing on her wrists. The cold of the metal seemed to spread through her entire body, draining her energy, her will, her identity. She was still, her eyes lowered, as if becoming invisible were an option.
Robin sat atop a stack of crates, legs crossed, fingers sliding gently along her arm. Her gaze carried that amused, sharp glint.
Alvida, on the other hand, leaned against the railing, her club resting on her shoulder, her posture relaxed, but her eyes… those dark eyes held a controlled fury, a latent irritation.
"You talk like you understand him."
Robin smiled, tilting her head slightly.
"And don't I?"
Alvida clicked her tongue against her teeth.
"You like to convince yourself of that."
Robin's fingers traced an imaginary circle on the wood's surface.
"Maybe because it's true."
Zala closed her eyes, breathing slowly.
'They're both so busy trying to one-up each other that they've forgotten I'm here. That's good. The less attention, the better. Leave me out of it. Ignore me. Forget me.'
Alvida twirled the club between her fingers, the dry sound echoing across the deck.
"I was here before you."
"But that doesn't mean you understand more than I do."
Zala's eyes darted side to side without lifting her head.
'What the hell are they trying to prove? That they know that man better? That they're closer to him? That's sick. How could anyone want that? This makes no sense. I just want this conversation to end already.'
Alvida let out a low laugh.
"You think you're safe, don't you? That because he likes hearing your pretty words, it means you have some kind of edge."
Robin tilted her chin, studying her.
"Then why do you seem so bothered by it?"
Zala felt a shiver.
'This is going to end badly. I know it will. One of them's going to snap eventually, and I'm right in the middle. Maybe if I move slowly, quietly, I can slip to the side of the deck without them notic—'
A voice whispered against her ear.
"Interesting, isn't it?"
Zala froze.
Her heart leapt so hard she thought she might vomit for a second.
"Both of them trying to stake their claim, as if I were something to be owned."
The heat of the body behind her was palpable. The scent—sandalwood, ash, and something metallic, maybe blood—made her muscles lock up.
She swallowed hard.
'He wasn't here. I would've felt it. I would've heard it. How the hell did he—'
"You think too loudly."
Zala gasped, panic rising.
"W-what?!"
The sound slipped out before she could stop it.
Robin and Alvida stopped instantly.
Both sets of eyes turned to her.
Zala wanted to die.
Literally.
Alvida frowned, the club spinning in her fingers.
"Something wrong, prisoner?"
Robin merely raised an eyebrow, appraising her with interest.
Zala felt the hairs on her neck stand on end.
The warm breath against her skin.
Riser was still there.
Behind her.
So close that if he wanted, he could snap her neck without effort.
Appearing out of nowhere.
One of his most infuriating abilities.
And for someone unaccustomed to it, like her…
It was terrifying. 😨
Even more so when it was the man who defeated Crocodile.
Her former boss.
The owner of the throne she served.
Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
"Breathe."
His whisper was a command.
She inhaled sharply, forced, too scared to move.
"Good girl."
A shiver ran down her spine.
Robin and Alvida were still staring at her.
"I… I just…"
Riser touched her shoulder lightly.
Not hard.
But it was enough.
She jolted like she'd been shocked.
Her body reacted before her mind.
"AAAAH!"
The scream cut through the silence.
Alvida blinked.
Robin blinked.
The wind rocked the ship.
Zala spun around wildly, eyes wide.
Nothing.
No one.
The space behind her was empty.
But…
She could still feel it.
Robin smiled faintly, touching her lips with her fingertips.
"So he's back already."
Alvida narrowed her eyes, scanning the deck.
"That bastard always does this."
Zala's skin prickled.
'He was here. I know he was.'
Robin stood from the crate, smoothing the folds of her blouse.
"Well… I think we've had enough fun for tonight, don't you, Alvida?"
The other woman grumbled, slinging the club over her shoulder.
"Tsk. If you say so."
Zala stayed still, still trying to steady her breathing.
'This isn't normal. That man isn't normal.'
But then, something worse happened.
A laugh.
Soft.
Low.
Just for her.
Behind her.
Again.
"Sleep well, Zala."
Her eyes widened.
She whipped around—
Empty.
No sound but the rustling wind.
Her heart slammed against her ribs, cold sweat dripping down her neck.
Robin watched, a subtle smile curving her lips. Alvida gripped her club tighter, her dark gaze sweeping the deck.
"Tsk… Bastard."
The laugh came again.
Closer.
She felt it.
The heat behind her.
The presence that made her hairs stand on end, like death whispering in her ear.
"Fear has an interesting taste."
The air froze in her lungs.
Alvida spun on her heels.
"Enough of this crap, Riser."
The wind blew hard. The ship creaked.
And then he appeared.
The faint moonlight illuminated the figure leaning against the mast, arms crossed, expression lazy. His golden eyes glinted, amused.
"Didn't enjoy the show, Alvida?"
She slammed her club against the wood.
"You finished everything you wanted here, didn't you? Alabasta. The Straw Hats. All settled."
His smile widened slightly.
"Yes."
Robin tilted her head, studying him closely.
"So now we're alone."
Silence spread across the deck.
Zala felt a chill run down her spine.
'Alone.'
The word echoed in her mind.
She swallowed hard.
"What… what's going to happen to me?"
Riser slid his gaze to her, lazy.
His smile sharpened.
Zala shuddered.
"If I were handed to the Marines, I'd die."
His gaze didn't waver.
"If I escape, you'd hunt me down."
His golden eyes gleamed faintly.
"So… what do you want from me?"
Riser stepped away from the mast.
His steps were slow.
Zala felt the pressure build.
"Why do you think you have a choice?"
Her stomach churned.
"I…"
The air grew heavy.
The deck felt smaller.
She breathed fast, her mind spinning.
Riser stopped in front of her.
A cold glint in his eyes.
"Do you think you're special?"
The words hit like a blow.
Zala clenched her fists.
'No… no… no!'
She felt it.
The fear growing.
His words were like a knife, cutting through any hope.
"I… I can be useful… I can—"
He raised an eyebrow.
"You can die."
Her legs buckled.
The ground felt distant.
Her breath faltered.
She knew she'd die someday.
But not today.
Not like this.
The handcuffs weighed on her wrists.
The air caught in her throat.
Desperation choked her.
The words spilled out without thought.
"Please."
Riser didn't blink.
"You're begging?"
Zala fell to her knees.
The dull thud echoed on the deck.
She bowed her head.
Her hands trembled.
She wanted to hate him.
But all she could feel was fear.
Riser's smile widened.
"Funny."
Zala squeezed her eyes shut.
She'd never felt so… small.
Robin and Alvida watched.
But neither interfered.
It was a game.
To him, it was a game.
A game she'd already lost.
The silence dragged on.
The wind swayed the sails.
And then—
He laughed.
Low.
Taunting.
"Calm down."
His voice carried something different.
Something that made Zala hesitate.
"It's not a night for deaths tonight."
Her eyes lifted.
And for the first time, she saw.
He was enjoying himself.
It was a game.
Nothing more.
Her blood boiled in her veins.
But she could do nothing.
Her fate wasn't in her hands.
Riser turned.
"Get up."
Alvida frowned.
"What?"
The wind swirled around them.
Robin crossed her arms, intrigued.
"Let's take a walk."
The air warped.
The world trembled.
Fwosh!
Energy enveloped them.
Zala gasped, her body being pulled.
Alvida growled.
"Damn—"
Light.
Wind.
The world spun.
And then—
Silence.
They were no longer on the ship.
The night swallowed the Going Merry.
Their destination was now elsewhere.
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Also, don't forget to check out my other fanfic:
Reincarnation in Smallville
A new life, a new Clark Kent — with all the memories of his past life intact.