Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Chapter 20

Hey guys my bad I forgot my password and didn't feel like resetting it

Buttons had evidently already found the white flag. He stood by where the mast used to be, looking at the destroyed thing with a dark frown. The sails that had been reliable were being quickly cut off of the broken mast and rolled up. Stede watched quietly as Jim grabbed the flag and headed to the fore mast.

Stede hurried to the captain's quarters and quickly knocked on the door. Lucius opened the door a crack.

"If I open it more, he'll try to run out," Lucius whispered. "He's looking out the window now, though."

"Everything's fine," Stede said, glancing over his shoulder at the broken mast.

Lucius' eyes widened. "That doesn't look fine."

The door was pried open a little. Ed's eyes landed on the mast.

"Jim's climbing the other mast to hold the white flag up," Stede said. "So hopefully they don't sink us."

Ed looked like he was about to pass out. Lucius nodded slightly and shoved Ed back into the room. Stede blinked as Lucius slammed the door shut. He heard them arguing from inside.

Stede turned over to look at Jim. They'd made it to the top. They leaned on the railing, wildly throwing the flag around. Oluwande stood below the mast nervously. They all held their breaths for a moment.

The seconds turned into minutes. They saw the other ship floating closer. Stede saw Sam appear from below deck. Stede saw him stare at the mast with wide eyes. He turned in a circle and then saw Stede. He rushed over, stumbling a little.

"We're surrendering, hopefully," Stede said quietly.

Sam scowled, leaning against the railing of the stairway to the quarterdeck. "What the fuck happened to me?"

"We'll talk about that later. Hornigold's here."

Sam froze. He turned in a slow circle and looked at the mast again, swaying slightly. "Oh. What?"

"Hornigold. Two ships. One ahead and one behind us," Stede said simply.

Sam didn't speak for a long time. "Where's the rum?" He asked, defeated.

"I'm not going to tell you. Ed's hiding right now, so maybe we can turn the tides on them with a bit of fuckery," Stede said.

Sam blinked at him. "Did I already die? Am I in hell?"

"You should probably get your sword," Stede said cooly.

Sam wandered away, swearing under his breath. Stede turned to look at the ship ahead. It was getting closer. Quickly. He put a hand on the dagger he had by his leg. He wasn't even sure if it mattered; he didn't want to fight. Surely they wouldn't win.

Stede slowly approached the bow. He squinted, trying to see more details of the ship. He frowned slightly. He was abnormally calm. He leaned against the railing, immediately standing up when it creaked.

Time seemed to go by too slowly as the ships crawled toward them. Eventually, Stede could better see the deck of the ship that got closer to them. Stede's eyes widened.

Charles Vane was tied to the figurehead of the ship. A black cloth was shoved into his mouth. His eyes were wide and wild.

"Oh, fuck," Jim said quietly. "That's Vane, isn't it?"

Stede nodded slightly. The ship anchored in front of the Revenge. Stede watched silently as groups of men loaded into three dinghies. So maybe they were outnumbered. They'd be fine. Stede watched as they cut Vane down, cringing as Vane plummeted into the water below. One dinghy picked him up before he drowned.