The Reason

Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Shadow

There's a method to an effective hunt.  An art if you will. 

First, take an accurate count of your prey.

Fifteen? Simple.

Second.  Make the shadows your friend, ensuring that no one could see, or find you during the hunt.

Third.  Instill a sense of fear, panic, and mistrust.  It's not required, but made the chase much more delicious. 

Hanging by his ankles, one of the pirates thrashed like a fish on dry land in a pathetic attempt to free himself, all while calling for help from his fellow crew mates.  To the layperson, his incessant howling and flailing could present a problem, but a good trap needs the proper bait. 

Quick, rapid footsteps slammed against the wooden planks above, following the screams to the lower deck of the ship.  One swift slice of a knife across his throat was enough to turn his screams into wet, bloody coughs. 

The shadows provide enough coverage to watch in secret when they find him, careful not to slip on the blood soaked wood beneath them.  They scramble to save his life, trying to stop the bleeding while pointing fingers at who might be the culprit.  This allows fear to crack their established ranks. 

It's hilarious.

One of them, a burly bearded man, begins shouting orders with confidence and boldness.  Hmm.  The captain most likely.  The fear hasn't quite hit this one yet, even upon finding their ship mate hung and bleeding like a stuck pig. 

Oh well.  The night is young.

The crew scrambles, leaving two behind to deal with the corpse. 

Once the body has been cut down, one of them meets a pair of glowing, milk white eyes staring back at him from the darkness.  He's confused, but before he could utter a single word, a knife is put into his throat, effectively silencing him. 

The other sees the kill and begins screaming something about the shadows coming alive. 

It's fine.  His prey needs to be convinced of the hunter in their midst.

The killer melds with the shadows once more, leaving the other alive for now, as the crew races back to see what had happened. 

The killer skulks to the upper deck, taking the lives of two more men with simple, yet effective, strokes of his blade. 

The sweet smell of fear gradually becomes more potent.

The crew leaves the lower decks, finding more and more blood spilled across the ship. 

"Men!  To arms!"  The captain shouts. 

The shadow smirks, making a mental note to leave him for last.  His fear is not quite ready yet.  There was a hint of boredom to his movements, but he couldn't deny the ecstasy he felt from the hunt. 

The fear in their eyes, the smell of blood in the air, the trembling on their limbs and their eyes as wide as saucers as their small minds fight to figure out what is happening.

The captain swings madly at the darkness, now alone as he steps over the bodies of his crew, he screams for the attacker to show himself, to fight like a man.  To Face him. 

Now he's ready.  His terror ripe and ready to be cut from the tree, and with a finishing blow, he ends his life.  Relishing in the life slipping from his eyes to join his crew in the hereafter.  Judging by the young human cargo below deck, these pirates would be sent to the pit, for the rest of eternity.