Serev's Story

Chapter 2

They were down to three. Tad was alone with Serev and Flewin, all the others had done their part as worms. The two apprentices had gone the day before, Pev having caught nothing, so Jorg had been used to rebait the hook. Jorg had caught a hideous, tentacle covered creatures that had ripped one of the crewmen in half before the spears killed him.

Chisolm still had the lead on the size board.

Tad hoped his body could catch another tentacle monster to take some of the crew with him when it was his turn. He knew he had only days to live, and he couldn't stop thinking about the hook piercing his flesh, and a fish engulfing him.

Tad knew he was next, the crew had mentioned that if they reached their destination before they ran out of bait, the women could be sold as slaves. Nobody liked their fate, but Tad thought being alive did have a better sound than being on the hook.

"I'm surprised the crew didn't take us below for their pleasure." Flewin whispered that night.

"I wish they had!" Serev muttered, "I would have killed them with my bare hands." Tad didn't doubt that for a moment. "They're never putting me on that hook, I'll die first." She muttered.

"I wish I could have done that." Flewin said, sadness in her voice. Tad realized she was talking about the past, evidently life at the tavern was not a fun place. He had heard rumors that you could have one of the girls there for a few coppers, but that had never appealed to him.

"If we make it out of here, I'll teach you how." Serev promised, putting her arm around the shoulders of the young girl. Flewin rested her head on Serev's shoulder, and visibly relaxed.

"Good, teach me too!" Tad whispered. The girls looked up at him with sorrow, knowing he would be gone in another day or two.

Tad woke with a start the next morning, at a light touch on his shoulder. He was shocked to see Captain Lynch sitting on a small wooden stool next to the cage, staring at him.

"You're a smart boy aren't you Tad?" The Captain asked quietly.

"Captain?" he replied in confusion.

"I mean, you know your numbers, your letters, you've have had some teaching."

"Oh, yes sir, my father had me tutored, I needed to know the numbers and letters if I was to take over his business." He looked down, taking over the business was out of the question now.

"I thought so." He looked thoughtful for a moment, then stood up. "Good day to you then Tad."

Tad didn't know what to think. First, he had found out his name somehow, though he had never asked any of the worms theirs before; and second, why wish him a good day when today was most certainly his day to be on a hook? He felt sick to his stomach, though he was also afraid to vomit near the girls, who were still sleeping.

Instead, he sat with his back to the cage bars, silently weeping while hoping to see any sign of land that might lay ahead.

When the girls awoke, they slid over to sit on either side of him, holding his hands in support. It was probably the nicest thing anyone had done for him since his mother passed away when he was a small boy, and he wished he had more time for it in his life.

When the crew finally brought them some food, it was a very thin broth made from the scraps of whatever beast had been killed most recently. When the broth was this thin, they knew it was time.

When the crew came over, grinning and laughing, Tad was ready. He stood by the cage door, just wanting to get it over with so he didn't have to keep waiting and fearing it. They opened the cage, and he started to step forward, only to be shoved roughly backwards. "Not you boy!" barked the man with the hook, "Get the woman!" They pointed at Serev, who looked shocked.

"No, take me!" said Tad, not knowing what took over his tongue.

"Captains orders, she goes first." Came the gruff reply.

Tad turned to Serev, "I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed.

"It is no worry Tad, I knew my time was coming, I'm prepared." Serev's voice was strangely calm. She stood slowly, stretching, and then strode out of the cage.

"I've been waiting to stick you, little lady!" the man with the hook leered at her as the two crewmen on the side moved to take her arms.

Serev spun to her right, inside the grasp of the crewman on that side and flipped him over the railing. Whirling again she spun a kick to the head of the man on the left, who grunted and fell boneless to the ground. Turning to the Hook, she stepped to the side of his wild swing and then grabbed the top of the hook. Hooking her leg behind his, she flipped him onto his back. "I've been wanting to stick you too Hook!" she said quietly, then grunted and rammed the hook into his belly. His wailing scream might have been the most satisfying sound Tab had ever heard.

The rest of the crew hadn't really been paying attention, this was just a normal fishing trip after all. But the scream made them realize that nothing was going right this time. "Get her!" came the captain's command.

Serev didn't wait, she hoisted the first mate over her shoulder, and dove over the side.

The crew rushed to the gunwale, pointing and yelling. Tad and Flewin had no ideas what was going on. Their cage door was still open, but neither dared move. Moments later, the ship lurched, almost stopping in mid-air. The winch strained, but the men hoisted up an immense beast, it looked like a whale, but Tad had never seen one with fangs, it was terrifying.

The Hook had broken Chisolm's record.

There was no sign of Serev.

That night, a light appeared in the dark ahead of them, they had reached land.