Sea of Deception

Hunter

Cursed

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Hurry with those sails! Come on men! We must cover ten miles today if we want to make it home by nightfall! Come on! Get a move on! Hunters second in command yelled. Hunter watched as the men scurried about, each assigned different tasks: scrubbing the deck, letting down sails, or climbing the netting to reach the crows nest. Hunter remembered the time when he too hurried to quickly finish his task. He crossed his arms and looked out at the water, letting his thoughts take over.

He ran up the deck and climbed the netting on the sides of the ship, which connected to the main sails. He climbed, further and further, until he reached the top. He sat in the nest made by the crafters. His grandfather asked for each of his ships to have a nest for scouting ahead. The men allowed for Hunter to sit in the nest and write one a day. He did not get much time, but he used it to his benefit. He would write about encounters with his father or what his father would be remembered for. But with the limited time, he chose to draw for most of the time. He drew pictures of his fathers face when he saw him that evening. At the ball with his grandfather and his mother. He drew pictures of the young girl who was also at that party. He asked the people around him that night if they knew who the girl was, and he when he approached the mayor, he gave Hunter an answer.

Mr. Mayor, do you know of the girl who was dancing here this night? She was with two other boys around my age. Ive not seen her before, he asked. The mayor turned to Hunter and then looked at the group dancing together. The mayor noticed the girl had not completed her tasks. He turned back towards Hunter and leaned down towards his eye level.

My boy, do not worry about that maiden. She never be seen at such events again. This is her time to enjoy the little time she has before work must begin, the mayor replied. Hunter nodded, confused. He chose not to question the Mayor further and joined the other children to go down to the dock.

Above in the nest, Hunter challenged himself. As time passed slowly, Hunter drew more pictures than journal entries. He believed that he could draw his fathers face more in depth compared to his previous drawings. Each one with much more detail than the other. He also drew the girl as she would look at his age. Every so often, Hunter caught glimpses of her in town. But when he walked over to speak with her, she would vanish. He drew what he could, because usually she would be sporting a different hair color. But she kept the light blue eyes. He was confused but nevertheless drew her in each color. But the blue eyes were the centerpiece. He drew her very innocent looking, as he remembered.

When Hunter was not spending his time drawing, he focused on his training. Every other month he would earn a promotion to a higher position. He slowly worked his way up to his captains position. The day Hunter was given the captains position his grandfather sailed with him. The day marked his twenty-first birthday. Although he was very young, he was one of the best captains in the Armada.

Today is the day to show the parliament what you can accomplish. What are family can accomplish, he told him. Hunter smiled warmly at his grandfather before he turned to his men. Each of them awaiting an order to cast off. Hunter observed their surroundings and noticed that there were several ships waiting to exit the Marina.

We may need to wait awhile, grandfather, we dont want to get caught up. Hunter said while he looked back at the exit of the Marina. His grandfather nodded and they waited together. Some time passed when the ships finally left the Marina, which allowed for Hunter to begin setting sail.

Man your stations, Hunter yelled. The men hurried to their positions and the ship was steered out of the Marina. Hunter turned to the older man who was steering the ship. He said, Set course for la voie darrêt. The man nodded and rotated the wheel two-hundred degrees. Hunter turned to the men on the deck.

Attention, he called. As the men surrounded him, he continued, we are in route to la voie darrêt. We are going to collect supplies and investigate a possible robbery that occurred about a fortnight ago. The men we are going to interview have claimed that night terrors had taken their supplies. We need to find these terrors and end the torment of these men and women.

The man at the wheel turned to Hunter and said, we are ahead of schedule, sir. I think that we could get there well before lunch is over, but dont tell the men that. Let them be happy with the surprise. We have been hard at work to get this far ahead, lets not slow our flow.

Commander! Commander! Ship ahead! the man in the crows nest yelled. Hunter was broken out of his daze. He looked through his telescope and saw a ship with red sails sailing directly towards them. The boards around the ship were painted black. Hunter realized that the entire ship had a black slug spilling all around it. The ship left a trail of where it had been. He could hear shouts from the other ships captain. The cannons were turned and loaded.

Cannons ready! Hunter yelled to the men. They hurried to get to their positions and load the cannons, but Hunter feared that they were too late. He stood next to the man on the wheel, with a hand on his shoulder. He took the wheel as the ship grew closer to them, and within those few seconds, he steered the ship away. He looked towards the top deck and noticed that the captain had dried slug all over his clothes. His hair was long and his sword was rugged. Cannons hit the ship and sent the men flying.

Fire cannons, Hunter yelled. He steered the ship towards their original course, trying to get far from the incoming ship. But it was no use. The ship turned quickly and rammed into the side of Hunters ship. He was thrown forward, off of the top deck. The wheel was blown off at the impact and water flooded the deck. The ship quickly broke at that impact. Hunter was left unable to move from the blow. He was slowly entering in and out of consciousness. The water rapidly soaked through his shirt. Half of his body was lying in water. The men running around his looked deformed. They were covered in black spots. Some had different body parts covered in black, like a grab claw for a hand or a lobster shell for a leg. Others had different body parts of the different sea creatures in the ocean. Hunter scrunched his nose and tried to lift himself. His arms gave out from underneath himself.

He looked around him and noticed all of his men had been cut down. Angry and distraught, Hunter rose with his sword and pointed it at the Captain. Why? he asked.

One is left. the captain said almost relieved. He looked around at his men, his hair flipping the slug in the opposite direction. Hunter looked at him in disgust. His skin was spotted and his eyes were of a frog, misshapen and large.

We must let this one survive. he said again. The men all ran back to their ship, climbing the ropes. The captain got closer to Hunter as the rest of the men left. Hunter heard them cackling from the other ship.

What are you? he asked.

We are your worst thoughts, feelings, your nightmares you dream of. the captain replied. Moments later his face began to change. It into what he thought was his fathers face, then back to his mothers face screaming for Hunter. Then it faced to the girl he had never met. But he could see into the captains thoughts. The girl was held in a cage that was rapidly filling with water. She cried for help. For Hunter. But he could not move. Horrified Hunter looked away for anything to keep him sane.

You are lucky, boy, we will not kill you this time, but cross our path once more and you have a death I can promise, the captain said. Hunter blinked several times.

Please, just leave me, he pleaded. But when he looked back, the captain struck him on the head, surrounding him in darkness.

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Word Count: 1,475