Behind the Mask

Epilogue - Where Everything Ends and Everything Begins

TW// Suicidalthoughts, violence

Days and nights became a blur to him. Elias wasn't sure how many years had already passed. He wasn't a kid anymore, but then again he stopped being one a long time ago. The mask no longer serve any other purpose, but to bring terror to others just by mentioning it. So, the mask stayed on.

The Rose Sparrow, which had never meant any good, was now feared more than ever. The stories said that if you come across a black ship with black sails and a black flag, a red sparrow with a red rose in its beak, that would be the last thing you ever saw.

Elias was sitting up on the highest mast - he would now, when they attacked certain ships, just watch from afar and intervene if someone might be hiding or trying to escape. Sabur had ordered that because Elias would go too far when rage got to him. Sometimes they were also looking for someone who could benefit them with a job, but Elias had forgotten who they needed, more so he didn't care.

They were sailing through a storm. The waves were big, crushing the side of the ship. The air smelled of electricity, as lightning struck like gunshots. Rain poured down in waves and it was hard to see. That was an advantage to them. The merchant ship still hadn't noticed them.

It reminded Elias of that night when they attacked the royal ship. The night when he saw them. Elias leaned against the mast, letting the rain pour down his face. His stomach still twisted with pain when he thought back to that night.

He looked down at the ship's deck, where the crew was already preparing the canons. Sometimes he thought about jumping, imagining his body crack at the impact. It would end quickly. Yet, something told him that his instincts would kick in and he would somehow ease the fall.

Sometimes he would also think about tying himself with weights and jumping into the water, but his father would always show in his mind, reminding him that he was stronger than that.

Elias laughed to himself - he was not strong. He was just feared.

The fight had already started and it ended almost just as quickly. Afterall, they were just a merchant ship. Elias watched from The Rose Sparrow, down the pirates gathered everyone together. Pit was holding a knife to the Captain's throat. They were talking, but Elias could not make out their words.

They killed the crew and then the Captain. They would raid the ship, destroy it to pieces and move on. Elias sighed, ready to move down the mast when he saw something in the corner of his eye. He reached for the dagger and flew it down the ship. He slipped the mask down on his face, grabbed a rope and swung down to the ship, a sword already in his hand. He pointed the sword at the boy's neck, just as he turned around.

His brown eye was wide open, terror draining his face off colour. Elias' mind flashed from the two soldiers to the wide eyes of the Captain's son.

Not now.

Elias tried to push away the images. He acted too quickly and wasn't prepared. Why didn't he see him? Elias always made sure he was aware of everyone on the ship. But he didn't see him. He properly looked at the boy. He wa short, yet he didn't look like a child. His features were too grown up.

"Where were you hiding?"

Elias wasn't aware he said those words out loud. When there was no response he repeated himself. The boy finally managed to answer. "B-behind the barrels."

Elias looked towards them. I didn't see him. How? He looked back at the boy who flinched with fear. Didn't Sabur say they needed someone short who is stealthy?

Elias lowered his sword. "The boy stays alive."

"Why do we need this shary?" Asked Pit. It was good Elias was still too surprised because he would've shot Pit on the spot. He hated that word - shary.