Ominous clouds rolled overhead as a wave slammed into the side of the ship. “Oy, We’ve got lightning, Captain,” Naive shouted from the crow’s nest. Captain Grimsley pursed his lips before crossing the starboard side. He examined the skies for a moment then considered their next steps carefully. From the corner of his eye, a lanky fella approached him on the left.
“Captain, that’s not all. We’ve veered off course,” the first mate commented. He pointed at the charts and flashed the compass in Captain Grimsley’s general direction. “I venture that you have a reason to have lost us at sea, No Knees.” His voice was stern, yet not unusual in this situation. “I-I…” No Knees struggled to find an answer. He tried to remember the last hour and couldn’t think of a reason that they’d fallen so far from the original plan other than he’d lost himself in daydreaming. Captain Grimsley shook his head and took hold of the wheel. “Well don’t just stand there. Adjust the sails. Make yourself useful and out of sight. I should throw you overboard for your idiocy.”
No Knees drooped his shoulders but did as ordered, the rest of the crew falling in line. Captain Grimsley took stock of their predicament and considered their best outcome. Thunder cracked, causing the other pirates to shift uneasily aboard the ship.
His attention focused on the water below as pieces of another ship floated alongside them. “Gods of the sea, protect us in this insanity,” he muttered, not really believing in the power. He’d heard about the power it held for other crews though and hoped for the sake of everyone that it would work. The waves rose higher, tossing the Phantasm from side to side. “Hang in there, my pet,” he cooed. They’d need a lot more than the power from some almighty sea god for this storm. Their paths crossed with the hull of a third ship and Captain Grimsley rose an eyebrow. The damage done was not from a storm. Something had chewed right through the middle, leaving shattered wood and supplies behind.
“Alright, crew. Change of plans. Prepare the cannons.”
“Sir?” No Knees looked pale in complexion. “You’ve heard my order, first mate. Shall you disobey a second time in a day?” No Knees blushed and nodded. “Yes, Captain. As you wish.” Captain Grimsley rolled his eyes and released a sigh. “If only I had a crew with half a brain, we might survive the night.”
Captain Grimsley steered the Phantasm to the right and ordered for everyone to ready. As if on cue, the ship groaned as tentacles climbed the edges. “Here we go,” he muttered.
_ _ _
Hey all!
Thanks for reading this short excerpt. I’ve decided to share my work with you all after I host a prompt night on the Discord server I’m on. I plan to share something with you on Wednesdays and Fridays, if possible. I hope that you enjoyed this little nugget as much as I did. (: It isn’t very long, but who knows, maybe it’ll turn into a novel.
Until Next Time,
Shay
Haven of Chaos 