Soldier, Poet, King

Chapter 15, Pt. II: Would That I

"Alright, everyone! As this is the first real and true battle since our reunion, I have great expectations for us all," Stede clears his throat, looking down at you all as you approach the vessel, "Look scary, be safe, and most importantly have fun! Did I do that okay?"

"Yeah, you did great, Bonnet. Way to go." Izzy shakes his head at the puppy-like need for validation.

"I've been working on my Captain's voice, and I think I've gotten most of the kinks out. If anyone has some constructive feedback, I'm all ears."

"Now is not the time to be asking for criticism, ol' chap."

"R-Right... Anyway, brave faces, everyone! It's showtime!"

You grow silent as you creep up on the seemingly unsuspecting vessel. If they know you are coming to attack them, they make no sign of it. Jim and Archie choose to board first, followed closely by Stede and Oluwande. Adrenaline courses through your veins as you climb the rather flimsy rope ladder up and onboard, the lack of screams from the boarded crew unnerving. Following Frenchie up, with Izzy just behind you, you immediately learn why there are no sounds of fighting. There is no one left alive to make them.

Bloodied corpses litter the deck, the stench of old death hanging in the air. It appears as though some sort of horrible ritualistic murder spree had happened, leaving not a single body unsullied. Empty eye sockets of the victims stare back at you, puddles of coagulating blood growing cold on the deck as you all shuffle forwards. Desecrated bodies hang from the yard by rope, deep carvings in their faces and chest. Your stomach churns as you take in the wretched sight, finding yourself unable to tear your eyes away from the massive level of violence that lays waste around you.

"What happened here?" Stede's face is contorted in disgust.

"Congrats, Bonnet. Of all the ships you could have picked, you picked the only one where everyone's already dead. I think it's best we turn around and leave before-"

A loud crash sends ice down your spine.

"We've got a live one!" Stede's eyes widen, looking once more to Izzy for guidance who merely raises his brow in expectation. Pulling his sword from his sheath, he gives the other a firm nod before bounding across the deck. Jim is the only one who races after him to find the source of the noise, leaving the rest of you surrounded by the decaying carnage. At least we never left a ship looking like this afterwards.

"Does anyone else have kind of a creepy feeling about all this?" Frenchie mutters beside you, his hand finding yours. I'm glad this hasn't changed, you stroke your thumb against his skin as you remember last night.

"It's not just the feeling that's creepy, it looks like a potluck from Hell happened here," Roach grimaces, kneeling down to inspect the deck, "And what's with all those weird lines on the ground?"

"They must be really into geometry." Black Pete squats down beside Roach and swipes his finger through one of the lines, leaving red pigment on his fingertip.

"Is that blood?"

Roach leans in close to Black Pete and licks the man's finger, smacking his lips as he pulls away to qualify the flavour. Black Pete gives him a look of disgust as he wipes his dirty finger on his trousers.

"Well, it's not paint."

"Ooookay, we've been here long enough," Izzy rubs his fingertips to his temples, "I'm going to fetch the Captain before one of you contracts a blood-born pathogen. Frenchie, make sure nobody else ingests anymore blood. I don't think it's from a goat, if ya catch my drift."

"Okie dokie. You got it, love."

"I- Eh-...Mmh." Izzy makes a strangled sort of grunt in the back of his throat. His jaw clenches at the term of endearment but doesn't argue back, "Y/n, make sure he does what he's told, yeah?"