The Sailor and the Spectre

Night Three

Nikolai barricaded himself within his cramped quarters, and leaned back in his ratty easy chair— flare pistol chambered and poised at the ready. All lights were switched on— not that they would really do any good— and a few backup oil lanterns were lit and hung around the room— this time he would take no chances. The creatures had caught hold of his ship, so his only course of action would be to kill them... or die trying. He couldn't bear to live another night in fear for his life.

To pass the time, the sailor began to sing in a trembling voice, but stopped, finding that he couldn't remember any lyrics, for his mind remained focused on the danger lurking without. He strained his mind to remember every last detail of the old mariner's tale; he couldn't afford to deviate from it, for it stood as his only chance for survival. Who knew what the creatures wanted? Even the legend failed to mention that, but, for whatever reason, they chose to ensnare him here, surrounded by the writhing, churning sea.

The electric lights in the cabin began to dim, which signaled the start of tonight's round of entertainment; it was destined to be the last... one way or another. The man straightened himself in his seat and raised his flare pistol. At once the electric lights extinguished themselves mysteriously and the determined sailor was left alone— bathed in the flickering orange glow of lantern light. Foreboding shadows danced upon the walls in macabre fashion— taunting and jeering in mute voices at the terrified man which they performed for.

Nikolai sensed that the creatures had come. Rising from his chair, he removed a lantern from its wall hook and paced uncertainly across the cabin floor, boards creaking below unsteady feet, and unlatched the flimsy door— all which stood between him and the things without. The wind howled across the choppy sea, splashing him with icy water. A storm, dimly outlined in the distance, had appeared and was making its way over the open water to terrorize the immobilized sailor.

Three pairs of fierce, glowing eyes peered at the man, watching his every movement with their unblinking and terrifying gaze. Nikolai stared the centermost creature down, glancing periodically at the others, which, for the time being, rested motionless beside the first. He stood atop the small deck; in one hand lay his flickering lantern, which he set before him, and in the other lay his pistol— a signal flare chambered within the wide barrel.

The air about him began to grow thick with moisture; a fog had rolled in. The lantern shot its rays through the shimmering mists— outlining four figures against the dark backdrop of turbulent seas. Nikolai raised the pistol and leveled it between the spectre's two blazing eyes. He mouthed a prayer and began to squeeze the cold trigger.

But something stopped him. He felt an overwhelming, piercing sensation in his head, as if someone were trying to tap into it. A cacophony of sounds crashed like cymbals in his head, throwing him to the deck in sudden agony.

Nikolai grasped his head in his hands, eyes tearing up from pain. Rolling onto his side, he raised a shaky hand toward one of the creatures, and all of a sudden, all was quiet, save for the storm which still blazed furiously around him. A clap of thunder shook the sky, but none of the figures took any notice, for all eyes were focused on the object clutched in the sailor's fist.

He held up the ruby medallion, calming the spectres. Their eyes softened from green to orange, signally a change in intention. While their eyes were glued to the medallion, he raised his other hand.

A deafening roar rang out through the open air, the sudden, blinding flash of fire bursting in the darkness, and planting a fiery signal flare into the forehead of a spectral being. A loud hissing sound issued from the creature— like red-hot metal dropped into water. The two eyes turned white, and began to dim as its forehead melted away with the fierce power of the rocket. The creature hissed and thrashed like a caged lion, but kept its distance.

The second stage of the flare commenced. It detonated with a bang, a shower of sparks flashing in the night. Nikolai smashed his lantern down upon the deck in an act of defiance to the creatures who had so disturbed his life. The deck was set ablaze in an instant.

He leapt backward without thinking, saving himself from a sudden attack from a spectre. The creature, eyes now crimson with rage, darted forward, raking translucent talons across his chest— one step closer and he would have been killed. Pain sharpening his senses, the sailor rolled to the side, chambering another flare in his pistol. He wisely revealed the medallion once more, stopping the creature's mad fury for an instant.

A splash of water dowsed the rising flames, almost extinguishing them entirely. Nikolai tossed the medallion over his head and through the doorway beneath him— the amulet tumbling noisily down the steps. A spectre burst past him, disappearing below deck, the other sinking into the ocean below, its eyes still blazing beneath the water's surface.

Stumbling to his feet, the sailor ran to the controls, where he had a direct view of the cabin door. The remaining lanterns still flickered wildly on their hooks, illuminating a creature tearing about the room, searching for the lost medallion. Ears deafened, he barely registered the crack as he fired a flare below deck. A few seconds later an explosion rocked the ship, as the flare detonated, smashing lanterns and turning the cabin into a raging inferno.

The tendrils tightened their hold on the vessel, wood and metal splintering and bending under the mighty force. Nikolai scrambled to the bow of the ship as the creature beneath began to turn the ship upright, raising the sailor into the sky as he hung on for dear life. The tempest sprayed freezing water in his face and soaked him to the skin, but still he held tightly to the yet-undamaged wood.

A high pitched shriek pierced his ears as the remaining creature flew up the deck towards the trapped man. Nikolai leveled his flare pistol at the approaching spectre, and pulled the trigger. The hammer fell noiselessly on a spent shell. He cursed, throwing the gun downwards and hitting the being square in the forehead— stunning it for a moment. The sailor laughed a laugh of defiance, standing to his feet. Drawing a long knife from his belt, he jumped from his perch, weapon in hand, hurtling towards the translucent figure.

A few seconds later, the ship plunged into the icy waters.