Tainted Tides

Chapter 18

*Ant's POV*

My voice shattered as I called after Robbie, hoping his limp form would respond to my emotion; hoping that somehow, knowing how much he meant to me, would keep him with me.

Of course, there was no response. Robbie simply laid on his front, eyes wide open, rain beating down on his unresponsive body. I wanted to run to him, to somehow bring him back, but before I could, a large gust of wind blew through me and caught our sails, once again lurching the ship until it nearly tipped over. I couldn't let everyone die. Not when Robbie had sacrificed himself for the sake of their survival; for the sake of Dec's survival. My vision was tainted with spots of red as I thought about Dec being the cause of Robbie's demise.

I turned my body back to the steering, allowing my instincts and muscle memory to attempt to salvage our situation. As I spun the wheel in the direction of the tip, to level us out, my mind swam with thoughts about what had just happened.

Why?! Why did Robbie try and save Dec?! Why was Dec even IN that spot?! Doesn't he know better?!

The ship leveled out in response to my actions and some pressure from the wind, eased as our orientation changed.

Of course, he knows better! He was a fucking Captain!!! Dec knows how much Robbie means to me... He should have been more careful... He must've done this on purpose!

I shot a cold glance to Dec, who was still sitting on his bum beside Robbie's body, staring at him with a stupid expression.

How dare he take Robbie's life?!

I brought my gaze to the bow of the ship, investigating how far we had to veer off-course to escape this storm. Near the horizon, the water seemed calmer, indicating that was the outskirts of the storm. Judging by the wind, heading in that direction would be the fastest way to escape. With another short glare at Dec, who was now kneeling over Robbie, I decided I'd deal with him after.

I spun the wheel, angling our rudder toward the edge of the storm. I turned back to see Jordan Banjo, tending to the sail near Dec and Robbie. He released his grip on the rope slightly, letting the sail angled to catch the wind and carry us to our destination. My limbs moved automatically and orders to my subordinates fell from my lips without a single thought. The only thing I could think about was Robbie. Tears spilled from my eyes in sorrowful rage, mixing with the cold rain streaming down my face, but retaining the unmistakable saltines as they occasionally fell on my lips.

"ROBBIE!! WAKE UP, ROBBIE!" Dec cried behind me. His tone was panicked and sincere.

It ripped me apart from the inside.

You already got what you wanted!! He's dead!

Dec screamed and pleaded behind me, while I guided the ship to safety, using every ounce of control I had in my body to not abandon my post and take retribution on Dec.

As we neared calmer waters, I heard Dec yell at Robbie's limp form once again, "Robbie... Wake up!"

The bubble of rage swelled within me, seconds away from a catastrophe, but I held it back. A single coherent thought searing into the forefront of my mind.

Drop the fucking act, Dec!

*Dec's POV*

Robbie's body stayed, laid out before me, limp. Rain streamed down my neck, and under my collar, running cold rivers down my burning back. I turned to glance out the front of the ship, noticing we were almost out of the storm.