The room of mirrors (Hold)

The room of mirrors

-Prolouge-

It was a nice calm day for the rescue ship to be on the ocean. The cool crisps breeze ran blew against the sails as they started their journey to the Indian Ocean.

They sailed around routinely, like any other day in search of ships in distress.

“Not a bad gig eye, we get fed, get shelter, get money, and we rarely run into any trouble which means we don’ gotta move a muscle,” laughed one of the men, Walter to his fellow mate, George.

“Aye,” George agreed, “It’s such a nice fine day, I’m quite happy. And my wife promised me a nice big roast when I get home.”

“I always knew I should’ve married her,” Walter muttered under his breath so George couldn’t hear.

“SHIP IN DISTRESS,” yelled the lookout, “IT’S A BAD ONE FELLA’S”

All the men froze. They had never really come across anything of such magnitude. Normally it was just a stranded sailing boat that accidently lost its oars but never have the experienced what they were about to-

“What are we supposed to do again?” George frowned.

The captain shoved passed them, almost knocking them off their seats. He pressed his telescope to his eye and scoped out the distraught ship. “Yes,” he muttered, “There’s been a nasty massacre, pirates most likely.” He turned to the rest of the crew, “As part of the sailor’s code of conduct we must help them. Turn this ship around!” he started throwing commands, the men scattered like blind mice, running into each other.

“STOP!” the captain yelled when they were only a few metres distance of the other ship, “Cast Anchor.”

A whole heap of men, hurled the heavy anchor over the side of the ship with great effort. They all began to chatter at the sight before them.

“SHUT IT!” the captain yelled. His first mate, Daniel walked by his side. “Something’s not right about this ship,” Daniel muttered.

The captain ignored him and attached the plank to the other ship. He signalled for all the other men to climb across. All the gunmen went first, the 3 doctors followed, the captain, and then the other men. Only five remained to guard the supplies.

Something felt unnerving to Walter about the ship. Whole bodies were scattered before them, covered in what they assumed to be blood. But it didn’t look like blood; it looked thicker and a little bright. But they smelt dead? What was going on?

“Sir,” Daniel sniffed the air, “Do you smell- paint!”

They all took in a deep breath to find they agreed with Daniel- paint!

George looked carefully around the ship, his sense of hearing suddenly heightened, as shivers ran down his spine with every step taken.

Then he noticed a movement, on the roof of the overhead cabin. It was a man, his blonde hair shone in the sun as he revealed himself.

“Captain,” he said shakily, “There’s someone up there.”

At that moment, all the presumably dead bodies jumped up, all armed with guns and swords, vicious snares planted on their faces. The armed men plunged forward and fought.

“Ah, Zombies!”

“ZOMBIE PIRATES!”

“They were never dead, IDIOT!” the captain snapped.

The man on the roof jumped down and landed in front of the Captain, a loaded rifle in his hand.

“Arr, Attack ye rattbag’ Landlubbers, strip em of all ‘er cargo,” he smirked. The two groups collided with a bang, swords met, bullets flew, and cries filled the morning air. The remaining five members on the ship ran over to assist them.

“Who’s guarding the ship?” The captain yelled.

“Guarding the ship?” One of the men replied. No one was. Then a bullet hit the man in the confused man in the face, knocking him back off his feet with a blood covered hole in his forehead.

The captain attempted to draw his gun but something was wrong, it was stuck. Panic rose in his face as his gun resisted. Without warning, the blonde headed man, came towards the captain with a sword, and plunged it into his chest, pressing on it till it came out the other side. Blood sprayed over his shirt as the Captain fell in a heap to the floor.

The sailors fell silent and stopped there fighting as they witnessed their leader die. Using this to their advantage, the pirates took the remaining sailors in a headlock at knifepoint.

The blonde headed man walked around looking at each and every single one of them, examining them carefully.

“Who of you cowards wish to continue fighting.If you refuse to join us, you will die,” he said. His English had become very clear to them as it was not moments ago. Yet there was no reply. “No one, brilliant.”

“I will not join you,” Yelled George, “You filthy excuse for a human being. When the authorities find out about this”

The blonde headed man just laughed and stamped his foot, “Oh you are a funny one. We don’t really need more clowns in this circus do we?”

Walter shook his head slightly at his friend, signalling for him to be quiet, “Shut up”

Jack turned to Walter who immediately stood still in fear, “Oh, Ye quite the wise one.” Then he turned back to George. “How many men did I say we wanted Smee?”

“As many good ones as you can get Cap’n?”

“Kill this one then,” He said bluntly, pointing to George. The pirate holding him smiled toothlessly. Walter turned his head slightly and closed his eyes.

Shlick

He opened his eyes to see the blood covered deck, and his friends blood covered head, rolling towards his feet. He could see the surprised look on his friends face which was quickly turning white.

He started to dry retch.

“So we have doctors, gunmen, Oh and someone get their supplies would ye” The blonde headed men stopped dead in his tracks and turned to Walter, “What’s be this. Another one that can hold his stomach.No, no, we don’t need another cowardly, nattering landlubber. Kill him too.”

“No, no please don’t kill me. I’ll do what you say. Don’t kill me,” Walter begged furiously. But the Captain ignored him and continued re-naming the other men.

The last thing Walter felt was the knife pressing into his skin, his last words directed to his fellow crew mates who looked at him with deep sympathy, “It is a shame to die in Vain, tell my family I said something smart.”