'Sharda!' The voice of a middle-aged woman pierced through the peaceful environment of the sea shore followed by a tiny little 'Coming Ma!' of a five-year-old girl. Sharda, who was collecting sea shells on the shore, hurried inside their house on the shore. Her house was a small single-floored house with two rooms. She went inside the inner room to find her mother hurriedly binding their luggage.

She looked up as Sharda entered "It's time to go. Check if anything's left and carry your bundle. Also, come, help me with this.' She said struggling with her bundle.

'Ma, are we going for a long trip?' Sharda questioned holding the bundle taut whilst she tied it. Her mother hummed in answer.

'But so suddenly, I didn't even get to tell Krishna.' Sharda whined.

'Don't worry dear, he and his family are going with us too.'

'Really?' Even though Sharda was excited about the journey, the fact that she wouldn't be able to see her only friend for a few days also tormented her. But now with new enthusiasm, she checked around the house as her mother instructed.

Twenty minutes later they were outside with their bundles. While Sharda was looking at the distant island, which was supposed to be the destination of their journey, her mother was looking at the house for one last time. 'Let's go Sharda', she said finally. 'your father is waiting for us'. And they headed towards the main deck.

The island on which Sharda lived was a very small one with not-so-rich yet not-so-poor citizens. Sharda's father was one of the main trade merchants of the town. Among the kids on the island, Sharda was the youngest, followed by her one and only friend Krishna, a seven-year-old lovely boy whose father was also a trade merchant.

Sharda and Krishna's father used to commute to the island weekly for work purposes or once in a blue moon.

As Sharda and her mother walked through the long sea shore towards the main deck, Sharda found more and more people joining them in the quest. After a few while, when the crowd became too big. Sharda finally asked, 'Mother'

'Yes, honey?'

'Is everyone going to a trip?'

'Maybe'

'What if everyone is going to the ferry? Will there be enough space? '

"I'm sure there will be, darling', her mother said with a smile.

And before Sharda could ask anything else, she heard someone calling her name. As she turned around to look for the source, she found Krishna running towards her with his own set of bundles. 

'Krishna' she called out in delight "Maa said your family is joining us too", she started as soon as he reached her. 

'I'm sure there will be more', Krishna said half panting.

"Are you not excited about the trip? Sharda asked looking at the frown on his face. Krishna nodded once before lowering his voice as he said, 'My mother was not very happy with the trip. Generally, she'd be the most enthusiastic one for any kind of journey.'

Sharda looked at her mother who sighed for the hundredth time since the morning, A great change considering her usual cheerful behavior "My mother is not very happy either, Sharda whispered back to him.

'Something is up with the adults, look around', Krishna pointed to the other persons in the group. Sharda looked around to find he wasn't wrong. Most of the person were not thrilled enough with their trip.

'We're here', Sharda's mother announced, as they reached the main deck and Sharda spotted her father. Both Sharda and Krishna's father were standing in front of the same ship waiting for their families. Sharda and Krishna handed off their luggage to them as they boarded the ship.

The merchants of the town generally used to share their ships with others. So, a few other merchant's families were also there along with Sharda's and Krishna's.

As they embarked on their quest, Sharda noticed a ship at a distance on the opposite side of their route. She pointed it out to Krishna, who was standing beside her, 'Look at that ship. Do you think it is following us?' she asked him.

'Why would someone follow us?' He counter-questioned and Sharda shrugged in answer.

'I think they're trying to race us.' he voiced his opinion.

"Why?' Sharda asked him.

"To prove that they're better.' He said in a tone as if it was obvious.

They stayed on the deck a little more till the dusk set in. After which their mother called them in for dinner. 'Go call your dad. They're in the captain's cabin', They were ordered as soon as they entered. The aroma of the dishes was too tempting for them to lengthen their time by declining their order, so they hurried towards the captain's cabin where the merchants and the captain were having a meeting.

"The ship, it's almost close. It seems they predicted our track. Now, at this point even if we try to change our path, we might crash into them', the caption said as the kids reached the door.

'You go', Krishna pushed Sharda, 'No you go', she fought back. And their bickering continued until the door opened to reveal the captain standing. "Go" Krishna whispered to her. It doesn't matter who is older when it comes to courage, Sharda is much more daring than Krishna. So she stepped into the room and looked towards her father and Krishna's father, 'Papa, Uncle, Ma, and Aunty are calling you for dinner'.

"Tell them, we'll be there", her father answered. As she was about to step out, she remembered the conversation and looked back toward him "Papa, are you talking about the ship with the black flag? Krishna says they're racing with us' and Krishna slapped his forehead from the doorway. Sharda's father just smiled and said, "Go back with Krishna first, we'll be there soon. '

But they never came back. As they were having dinner with their mother, they heard pandemonium outside the room. Sharda's mother went out to check as Krishna's mother held both the children back. She soon came back with fear etched on her face and looked at Krishna's mother. An unspoken wave of understanding played between them as they soon locked the kids In, "Don't open the door unless one of us calls for you. "They warned. As they were heading out, Krishna tugged at his mother's dress, "What has happened, Mumma?"

In answer, she just whispered "pirate" before heading out and Krishna locked The door behind her. The same fear shadowed Krishna's face from which Sharda deciphered that he understood. 'Who are pirates Krishna?' she asked.

'Bad guys' was all that Krishna could whisper before crashing on the ground. Sharda sat beside him, hugging her knees. The hunger for the sumptuous meal was long gone, as they sat there waiting. The minutes turned to hours, the hot meal turned cold, and gradually, the shouting outside reduced and someone started banging on the door to their room.

Sharda tried to stand up to open it but Krishna held her back, 'It's not Mom', he whispered to her. And they huddled in the corner of the room as the people outside tried to open the door. Finally, the door flew open with a bang and a group of men came in. As Sharda scanned the guests, she understood why they were called the bad guys.

'So they are the youngest blood of the town.' The middle one among them said with the most ominous grin Sharda had ever seen, 'The only lives that are left of the town now.'

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