Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Chapter 19

Sometimes I listen to classic rock and all of a sudden I'm like "oh okay that's why this band is famous it's bc they're good"

"Captain?" Jim said uneasily.

Stede crossed the deck and stopped by Jim and Sam. Sam leaned against the railing, looking at the ocean ahead.

"Land!" Stede said with a grin.

Jim nodded. "Yeah, but..."

Sam suddenly leaned forward and threw up off the side of the ship. Stede frowned deeply, watching as Sam swayed slightly. Jim put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey," Jim said nervously. "Sam?"

Sam stumbled backward, falling onto his ass. He was swaying slightly like he was drunk.

"Sam!" Jim said firmly. "What's wrong?"

Sam closed his eyes and fell onto his back with a thud. Stede glanced over at Jim with a deep frown. Stede looked around for Roach, and found him already stopped just behind him. Roach chuckled.

Frenchie knelt down by Sam, gently shaking his shoulder and looking up at Stede with a frown.

"Guess I got the dosage wrong," Roach said simply.

Stede's eyes widened. "What?"

"You told me to give him tea to relax," Roach said.

Stede nodded slightly. "Yes. I did."

"I used the special tea," Roach said.

"Special tea?" Stede replied, looking down at Sam.

"Yeah. The special tea," Roach replied.

"You drugged him," Jim said dryly.

"Sedated him," Roach corrected them.

Stede put his head in his hands for a moment. "Oh God."

Ed limped over and hummed. "Is he dead?"

"No!" Stede said quickly. "Frenchie, Roach, go... put him somewhere comfortable."

Frenchie began to lift Sam up, slinging one arm under his shoulder. Roach went to the other side, beginning to lift him to his feet.

"Be careful with him," Stede said as Roach and Frenchie dragged Sam away.

"Do you recognize that ship?" Oluwande asked from a few feet away.

Stede looked over at him and then turned to look out at the horizon. Oluwande looked into his magnifying glass with a frown. Ahead of them, a long bit of land stretched out. It looked like a rather large island. Just to the left was a ship. Ed limped forward, nudging Oluwande slightly. Oluwande handed him the magnifying glass.

Ed put the glass to his eye and examined the ship. As he looked higher, his breath hitched in his throat. His heart leapt in his chest. A wave of panic washed over him. He wanted to curl up into a ball, but he knew he couldn't. He'd die if he did.

"Oh my God," Ed squeaked out.

Stede looked alarmed. Ed typically didn't look so terrified. "Ed, what's wrong?"

Ed's eyes were stuck to the flag that flew above the ship by the island they were sailing toward. The words died in his head before they could even reach his throat. He was stunned for a moment.

"Is that a red flag?" Jim asked. "Maybe we should try and avoid them."

Ed's thoughts snapped back into his head. He felt something similar to Blackbeard rise into his chest, but it was led by fear instead of anger and despair.