𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃𝐒 ━ 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

ii. what matters most

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎

━

"time has come, ya devil"

▬▬▬▬▬𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐐𝐔𝐄 𝐋𝐄 watched with wide eyes as the Brickleback propelled itself above the water from beneath the ship. The power of that single movement sent the Inevitable off balance even worse than before. The seagulls screeched in alarm as they flew off in a frenzy and sea water sprayed everywhere.

People along with random items were thrown overboard as the ship keeled sharply to portside.

Angelique managed to grab some of the ship's rigging before she too was thrown into the ocean. Her hands had turned callused over the years, helping her, but she'd rather not have to hold on to the rough rope for too long.

The beast roared, the sound accompanied with a resounding crack as its maw opened wide to clamp its jaws on the ship's starboard side. Reminding Angelique that the creature was fucking colossal, if its mouth alone was big enough to do that.

Soon, its tail whipped out of the water to wrap around the bow. And as if that wasn't bad enough, the Brickleback's tentacles too were revealed. Dozens of tentacles. They were all trifurcated on the ends like the sea creature version of three fingers in order to grip things better.

One of said tentacles plucked up an archer who was loading her arrow with ease. The archer screamed, and it wasn't long before others were screaming too.

Angelique hung on to the rigging until the ship began to right itself a bit. Only then did she drop down onto the deck.

Almost immediately, she saw a flash of green. Without thinking, she ducked into a roll, avoiding the tentacles suddenly lunging at her. Drawing out her blades, her left gave a short slash that sliced through its appendage, turning the limb into a flopping, bleeding mess.

For a moment, she was able to look around, taking in the situation. Everything was chaos as expected. Sarah had her pistols out in a blaze, Captain was grappling with two tentacles at once, and Jacob... where was he?

Glancing up, she finally found him. He was moving fast. Cutting with his saber, he loosed a few buoys for some of the crew that were overboard, then bounded up the main mast to free Lea from the tentacle that was wrapped around her.

Right behind him, the piper was having the same situation Lea had just been saved from.

"Holland!" she shouted. His eyes caught hers. Angelique pointed.

It wasn't long before he realized what she was telling him to do. The tentacle with the piper was too far for him to slash with his saber. Quick thinking got him to grab a spear nearby. With a grunt and one clean throw, he was able to maim the limb. It writhed, immediately dropping the squealing piper into Jacob's arms.

The Brickleback had stopped trying to chomp down on starboard. Now, its red irises fixed themselves on Jacob, who was right in its line of sight. The creatures eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Jacob's eyes widened in return. He was about to be targeted.

And that was exactly what happened. Several tentacles freed themselves just to chase him. Jacob was doing his best to escape them, all while holding the piper in his harms.