Tainted Tides

Chapter 20

*Dec's POV*

BOOM

My head spun at breakneck speeds, towards where I'd seen the silhouette. A hurtling projectile whistled through the air, rippling the fog as it tore through it, illuminated by the pale light of the creeping sunrise. Robbie pulled me aside, into a crouching position at the base of the forecastle deck - where the Navy ship wouldn't be able to see us. As I crouched, I realized that everyone else was doing the same.

I finally caught sight of Ant, giving silent orders from the center of the crowd. In his eyes, was not a glimmer of mercy. Much like the look he had before he tried to kill me, but this time it wasn't directed at me. It was directed at the Navy ship, which was no longer a silhouette.

The words of the prophecy sprang back to my mind. Past wounds... Betrayal... Maybe Ant wasn't going to betray me... Surely if this had been planned against me, Ant wouldn't look so merciless towards the navy ship. Surely Robbie wouldn't be trying so hard to keep me safe.

The impact of the hurtling projectile along the side of our wooden mast, and diverting to a section of rail along the deck commanded my attention. The sound of splintering wood, rang through the dense air, making my heart scamper with adrenaline, and pulling me out of my concerns about the prophecy. If I kept thinking about it, I would end up dead before the prophecy could even play out. I trusted my instincts and pushed the thoughts of Ant's supposed, impending betrayal as far from my mind as possible.

Multiple subsequent 'bangs' were heard as the Navy ship slowed beside us, a ship-length away. Small metal grapples clattered onto the deck, before they were pulled back by the attached ropes and latched onto the wooden rails. We all turned to Ant, waiting for the order to cut their grappling lines, and let them fall to the sea.

"Let them board, kill anyone who attacks you, but don't kill the captain. Find him and bring him to me," Ant whispered assertively. His tone hushed, yet sharp; like barrels of gunpowder waiting to explode.

Silent nods rippled through the crew and slowly, everyone scattered, hiding in various nooks, crannies, and shadows on deck. The grappling lines tightened and creaked as the enemy crawled down to board our ship in eerie silence.

It felt odd. This wasn't standard navy practice for engaging with pirates. Normally they were ordered to engage from a distance. They must have specific orders to board our ship...

Past wounds bare once more.

I gulped audibly. Pushing the thought from my mind, I drew my sword and gun. I didn't have time to worry about Ant setting me up. The others wouldn't let him. I needed to focus on staying alive.

A primal scream pierced the fog from the the shadows near the forecastle deck, and the limp body of a navy sailor collapsed onto the palely-lit deck, with his sword, clattering from his hand.

It had begun.

As soon as the silence was broken, and the final navy sailors had traversed over the railing, all hell broke loose. The clash of steel along with the the occasional bang of a pistol rippled through the fog, and over the deck, as my crew mates fought for their lives.

A few meters from me, I noticed Ant, hiding in the shadows, and taking careful, murderous aim  with his pistol to save his crew. His shots rang in my ears like a bludgeoning strike to my head. Each bang carried the weight of a life; a soul, that Ant had taken away without remorse.

Wincing at the recurring sounds of gunshots and screams of strangers, I turned away from Ant, trying to force vigilance for my own safety. As I turned away, I noticed a young man, wearing an officer uniform, trawling through the shadows, headed towards Ant. As he neared, he raised his pistol and took aim.