On the ship, she was a captive but soon she would be someone’s slave. She had decided to behave herself after Captain Jake’s threat, and when she watched the crew unload and herd the other prisoners into cages, she knew she had made the smart choice. The soon-to-be slaves were all filthy and appeared half-starved. Nearly all had a haunted and defeated look in their eyes, particularly some of the women. Ellyssa shuddered and choked back a sob as she thought of what they may have endured. Captain Jake pushed her towards the gangplank stretching between the ship and the crowded dock. Fear caused her to resist his urging. “Don’t worry, girl, you’re not going with them,” the ship’s captain told her, guessing at her apprehension. Ellyssa stepped carefully onto the gangplank and crossed over with Captain Jake who never released his grip from the thick leather belt encircling her waist. Her manacles were clipped to the belt in front while the slaver held a leash attached to an iron ring in the back.
