Captain Eli was one of the best captains that ever sailed the great sea, never failing to return through storms or misery that could ensnare any man that stayed on the sea too long. In fact, our dear captain had made quite the name for himself through his travels.
"The Captain that Poseidon fears"
"The Captain that commands the northern winds"
"The Captain of a thousand stories."
These were just some of the titles the common people used for him. Needless to say, many men, young or old, would do anything to be a part of his crew. That sentiment held true for a young man named Edgar. An orphan from birth with no family or friends to speak of was naturally drawn to the ever adventurous sea and the people that tread its dark depths. Although Edgar wasn't completely unaware of the dangers that lurked in the unforgiving sea, he was still compelled to race towards it like a crashing wave races towards the shore.
Edgar had been traveling a long way to come to CollinSwin Port, the very place Captain Eli was said to be at the time. He was back from a seven month journey across the sea and was taking some time to restock supplies and gather more men for his crew. Captain Eli was known to be eccentric when it came to picking his crew. He had various different methods to weed out the ones that were loyal and the ones that just wanted to feed off of his fame. Edgar was hoping that a man of such great standing would be able to see his sincerity and desperation to join his crew.
"Well, they do say he is a man of great understanding since he has traveled the sea…" Edgar was childishly hopeful. But who could blame the young lad? For even Captain Eli was astonished by the many rumors that accompanied him.
Edgar Soon made it to the port with a few days left to spare before the captain would soon depart again. He ran to the lodging house where he heard the captain was staying. However, he ran into issues the moment he walked in.
"I'm so sorry sir, but The Captain is not seeing any more visitors today." The lady at the lodging desk was stern and unmoving in her stance.
"Please! Just this once! I have to see him before he leaves!"
"I'm sorry, as I said, the captain is no longer accepting visitors at this time. Please leave." The woman walked from behind the front counter and to the exit, opening the door for Edgar to promptly leave the building. Edgar bit his lower lip but could not protest if he wanted to come back again tomorrow. As he clenched his fists and began for the door a gruff voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Aye- you made all that noise but gave in so easily?" Captain Eli stood before Edgar. He was a large man of maybe 6'2, with a large gray colored button down coat. His beard was long and wild, Edgar could only imagine it blowing steadily in the wind at the helm of his boat. His eyes were dark brown with wrinkles and sun spots littered about his face. He had old scars scattered around his body as well, one such scar caught Edgar's attention, a scar covering his left eye. It stretched from his forehead to his chin, although his eye seemed to work fine the scar was still deep and very intimidating. The last thing Edgar noticed was the scent of the sea that seemed to linger on this man as if he was the sea itself. The briny and salty tang, clung to the captain like a second skin attached to his own.
"Well lad? Ye came here to see me did ye not?" Edgar could only shake his head up and down vigorously. "Why don't we have a little chat then lad" Captain Eli showed him to the parlor where they could sit and chat. For the first few moments the captain looked Edgar up and down without saying anything to him. Then he spoke sternly, "Listen up lad- I can assume why ye are here, yer looking for a job right?"
"Y-Yes sir!" Edgar was stiff and his heart pounded in his chest.
"Sorry lad, but yer just a youngen, i couldn't possibly take ye from yer parents to the cold unforgiving sea." Captain Eli stood and patted the boy on the shoulder before trying to exit the room.
"Wait! Please… i dont have family…parents…or friends that would even miss me if i died alone on the streets… I didn't come here to beg you without considering my options. I can do grunt work, keep the ship clean- or cook! I can do anything you want me to Captain and be as loyal as any grown man could be!" Edgar felt tears well up in his eyes as he begged desperately to go with him. The captain sighed heavily, most of his crew were abandoned or worse and he couldn't turn away from such a desperate young lad. In fact, he had hired many orphans before, the only difference with this lad is he couldn't be more than a mere 13 years of age. However, Captain Eli wouldn't sleep well at night knowing he left the poor boy behind to fend for himself. The sea may be unforgiving but people could be much more cruel.
"Fine… report to the ship tomorrow morning before the sun rises." With this he left the room.
Edgar couldn't believe his luck! So the next morning long before a shred of light could be exposed, Edgar awaited at the port near the ship. Once finally in front of the captain's famous ship Edgar was in awe. The hull was massive, reinforced with metal bands designed to withstand the rigors of the open sea. The masts were as large as he had imagined in his dreams, strikingly white against the deep blue of the sea. The wooden carvings etched into the boat were just as glorious, mermaids and waves craved deeply into each wooden rail. Edgar couldn't believe that he was finally standing face to face with his dream.
The crew showed up just before dawn, a grizzled band of seasoned sailors from all walks of life. They gathered around Edgar, their eyes fixed on him with a mix of curiosity and pity. He explained, with a voice barely audible over the crashing waves, that the captain had decided to bring him along the night before. To Edgars surprise no one seemed to question his story, one by one they nodded in silent acknowledgement with a few muttering words of welcome before climbing onto the ship. Hans, the captain's first mate, was the first to directly speak to Edgar.
"Ah- yes the captain told me about your arrival late last night. I must say you are the youngest crew member I have seen the captain bring. It makes me worried that there will be nothing for you to do except eat your fill and dolly away." It wasn't as if Hans was being particularly mean, Edgar sensed more of a fatherly concern at his attendance for this voyage. Worried that he may even become discouraged or injured.
"I can do alot of things Mr Hans! I can help clean and cook and any work no one else wants to do!"
"Aye- the captain was right, you are a persistent one. Whether that is something good or bad, well… we will just have to wait and see. Come along." Hans motioned for Edgar to join him on deck and begin todays tasks before the captain set foot on board. Hans assigned him menial tasks like hauling ropes and scrubbing the deck and refilling everyone's breakfast bowl. But the young lad did so with determination and vigor that was contagious enough to get the other men working harder too.
As the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues or orange and pink, the captain came striding down the dock. Once reaching the boat he surveyed his crew with a satisfied nod, his gaze fell upon Edgar,
"Aye, you made it lad." He smiled at Edgar before climbing aboard the ship."Alright crew, as told before this trip should take about 3 months, just a simple cargo job. No need to stress over much, we have all the supplies needed and then some. Let us be sent off then."
He turned and went into his cabin leaving his crew to undock the ship and set out. Edgar felt a wave of nausea as the ship began to sway beneath him. After a few minutes, however, the queasiness subsided, and he was able to adjust to the motion of the sea. He was assigned simple tasks that didn't require much physical strength or specialized knowledge, such as cleaning the decks or hauling ropes. Edgar approached these duties with the utmost diligence, eager to prove himself to the crew.
"How's the lad fairing then?" Captain Eli asked his first mate Hans. Beyond first seeing him when he boarded the ship he hadn't seen much of the lad.
"He seems to be adapting well, despite the initial setback of seasickness. He performs his tasks efficiently and with diligence. But captain, I must ask, why did you bring on such a young lad?" Although Hans was accustomed to the captain's unconventional decisions, he had never seen him even consider the possibility of a child joining the crew.
"I'm not sure," the captain admitted, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "Perhaps I'm just getting old. The boy was so desperate, an orphan with nothing and no one to turn to. It reminded me of my own son, who was about the same age when he was lost at sea."
Hans knew the captain's family had perished in a storm years ago, and his son's tragic fate had left a deep wound in his heart. Hans could see the captain's gaze softening as he looked at the young orphan, and he understood the unspoken connection between the two.
Hans decided not to press the matter further. He knew the captain was a man of principle, and he was confident that there was a reason behind his decision. Perhaps, as Hans suspected, the boy offered a glimmer of hope, a way for the captain to cope with his own loss.
It had been several weeks since the ship had set sail, and Edgar had settled into his new life aboard. He had quickly adjusted to the rigors of seafaring life, learning the ropes from the experienced crew members. The sailors had taken a liking to the young orphan, seeing in him a reflection of their own youthful dreams and adventures. Edgar felt a sense of belonging that he had never known before, as if he had finally found a family.
However, there was one nagging question that had been bothering him. Since their departure, the captain had not visited him once. Edgar had observed the captain from afar, a solitary figure pacing the deck or gazing out at the horizon. He had tried to strike up a conversation with the captain on a few occasions, but the man had always seemed preoccupied.
One day, Edgar approached Hans, the first mate, and asked about the captain's absence. Hans, a grizzled veteran of the sea, hesitated before answering. "The captain's mind is heavy with thoughts, lad," he said. "The sea has a way of stirring up memories, both good and bad."
Edgar nodded, understanding that the captain's past must be weighing heavily on him. He knew that the captain had lost his family at sea years ago, and he wondered if the vastness of the ocean was a constant reminder of his loss, but it still bothered Edgar, he felt as if he had done something wrong.
"Hans," Edgar began, his voice filled with doubt, "Does the captain dislike me because I begged to be here?"
Hans was taken aback for a moment. "If the captain was upset about that, he wouldn't have let you on the ship in the first place," he replied, his tone direct but reassuring. Hans had noticed how the boy had been treated like a younger brother by the crew, perhaps because these men missed their own families, who they hadn't been able to see as often as they had liked since the captain's family died five years ago.
"I think you're overthinking it, Edgar," Hans said, patting the boy's head. "Not seeing the captain often isn't a bad thing in our line of work. It means there's nothing urgent or dangerous happening that requires his immediate attention. Just relax, kid. This is a routine trip. If you stay with us long enough, I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to see the captain."
Edgar was reassured by Hans's words. As Captain Eli's right-hand man, Hans's opinion carried weight. If he said everything was fine, Edgar was inclined to believe him. However, that sense of peace and comfort didn't last long that night.
Deep into the night, as the last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon, a low rumble began to emanate from beneath the ship. At first, it was barely noticeable, lost amidst the gentle sway of the waves. But soon, the rumble intensified, growing into a menacing growl that shook the vessel to its core. The once peaceful ocean transformed into a raging beast, its waves crashing against the ship with terrifying force, hurling crew members from their beds. A piercing alarm sounded, signaling the imminent danger. Edgar, heart pounding, tore off his covers and joined the panicked crew in a mad dash to the deck, eager to witness the unfolding catastrophe. As he reached the top of the stairs, he was met with a sight that would forever be etched into his memory.
Edgar's eyes widened in horror as he beheld a colossal tentacle, thicker than a tree trunk, wrapped around the ship's mast. The crew, panic-stricken, scrambled to obey Captain Eli's thunderous orders. The captain, his face etched with fear and determination, stood at the helm, his voice bellowing across the deck, "All hands on deck! Secure the sails! Prepare for battle!"
"Get your asses moving and spear that damned thing!" Captain Eli roared, his voice barely audible over the deafening alarm. Another tentacle, even larger than the first, slithered out from the opposite side of the ship, its slimy skin glistening in the moonlight. It wrapped its muscular tendrils around the railing, its suction cups popping and squishing with such force that the wood began to splinter.
Edgar was paralyzed with fear, unable to move as chaos erupted around him. Crew members shoved him aside, their faces contorted with terror. He fell to the ground, his gaze fixed on the monstrous creature that threatened to consume their ship. Never had he encountered such a terrifying force of nature, and for the first time, he regretted ever setting foot on this doomed vessel.
Hans, noticing Edgar lying on the deck, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at the monstrous tentacles, rushed to his side.
"Kid! Kid! Snap out of it! You'll die if you stay here!" Hans shook Edgar vigorously, trying to rouse him from his stupor. Edgar slowly opened his eyes, his gaze dull and lifeless, as if he had glimpsed the very depths of hell. Hans hoisted him onto his shoulder and rushed to Captain Eli
"Captain! Edgar won't snap out of it!" Hans dropped the still listless Edgar at the captain's feet. Captain Eli knelt down to the boy's level, his expression grim, before delivering a sharp slap to his cheek. Edgar's eyes snapped open, his dazed expression replaced by one of alertness and confusion.
"Are you with me, lad?" The captain, who had once seemed so intimidating to Edgar, now appeared unnerved and worried. What truly caught Edgar's attention was the flicker of fear in the captain's eyes. It made him seem more human, more alive than when Edgar had first met him. This newfound vulnerability brought Edgar back to his senses. The captain looked around the chaos before directing his attention back at Edgar
"Listen, lad. Go to my quarters and stay there until Hans comes to fetch you." The captain patted Edgar on the shoulder before turning away, his right hand firmly gripping his sword. A surge of courage pulsed through Edgar, but the sight before him was too much to bare. Blood splattered the deck, crew members were screaming and running around in a frenzy, and the ship was engulfed in chaos. His stomach twisted into knots, and he collapsed onto the deck, heaving uncontrollably. Hans picked him up and carried him to the captain's quarters, where Edgar lay unconscious, panting heavily in his sleep.
"Poor kid," Hans muttered, patting Edgar's shoulder. "I knew we shouldn't have brought someone so young, even if he didn't have anywhere else to go. At least he would've lived even if it was alone." Hans took one last look at Edgar, his heart heavy with regret, before drawing his sword and charging out the door to join the battle.
Night slowly turned into day. Edgar slept soundly, oblivious to the thundering noise outside and the ship trembling beneath the weight of the monster. He didn't hear the screams and cries gradually fade into silence. He didn't notice the waters rocking the ship had calmed. He didn't smell the stench of blood and ink wafting in the air. He slept and dreamed of his days at the orphanage. Of his only two friends greeting him with the latest news of the great Captain Eli. Of the meager hot bowl of soup he was served during dinner and the hard but filling bread given to each orphan. Of his rough but comforting clothes and scratchy but warm bed. All these memories swirled through his mind, erasing the terrifying memories of the ship and the hell that awaited him outside his dreams.
Edgar awoke the next afternoon. It took him a moment to come to his senses and realize where he was. He slowly got out of the captain's bed, his hands trembling slightly as he walked towards the door. His heart pounded in his chest, and his stomach churned. He wasn't sure what to expect once he opened the door. Has the monster won? Had the crew died? Was he alone? He stretched out his hand and grabbed the doorknob, taking a deep breath before slowly opening the door.
"Ah, you finally woke up. Glad to see you, lad." Captain Eli was sitting on a stool next to the door, his gray coat tattered and his beard matted with sweat, blood, and seawater. He was cleaning blackish goo from his sword with a damp handkerchief
"C-Captain, what happened?" Edgar looked around, his eyes wide with confusion. The first thing he noticed was that there were far fewer crew members than before. The blood that had splattered everywhere had been cleaned up, and the bodies of the fallen crew were gone without a trace, as if it had never happened. The ship, however, was in a frightful state. The mast had been torn off, the right-side railing was also missing, and there was a large hole in the deck. The side of the ship was cracked, with wood splintering from its side. Despite all the damage, the ship was still afloat.
"Well, that was a sea monster. Nasty devils they are. If it wasn't for the sacrifices of the crew, we wouldn't have made it out alive." The captain's voice remained steady, but his expression was grim and void of emotion. Edgar fidgeted with his clothes, feeling guilty for not being a proper crew member. He had hidden away, too scared to fight back. His eyes welled up with tears, and he began to cry.
"Captain, I'm so sorry! I didn't help! I ran away! I deserve to die for leaving them behind!" Edgar collapsed at the captain's feet, his voice filled with shame and regret. Edgar trembled with anger towards himself. He was despicable, unworthy of being at Captain Eli's side. The captain tousled Edgar's hair but said nothing. A look of regret washed over his face, and a melancholy shine appeared in his eyes that Edgar almost mistook for tears. Before he could confirm whether they were or not, the captain stood up and walked towards the bow. He looked out to sea, his large hands clasped behind his back. He seemed lost in thought, still not uttering a single word. Hans approached Edgar with a tender smile on his face
"Stand up, Edgar. Don't say things like that anymore. It's a disgrace to our fallen brothers, don't you think?" Hans offered a helping hand to the boy. Edgar, still feeling bad, addressed Hans,
"Hans, I think the captain regrets bringing me along..."
"I think so too," Hans said halfheartedly. "But don't take it too hard. His son was about the same age as you when he passed. Even if he regrets it, he would do it all again, Edgar, just the same as now." Edgar pondered this for a moment. He didn't quite understand what Hans meant. If the captain had known this would happen, would he still have brought him along? That didn't seem to make much sense. Edgar began to realize that he knew very little about the captain, Hans, or any of the crew. He realized that going with these people was far more dangerous than he originally thought. Captain Eli walked up to the pair, placing his hands on Edgar's shoulders,
"Edgar, we need to assess the damage," the captain said, his voice barely a whisper. Disappointment etched itself across his weathered face as they descended into the ship's hold. Edgar, ever the loyal companion, followed closely behind, his heart heavy with worry. The once-abundant supplies were now scattered and depleted, a stark reminder of their perilous situation. As they worked, an unspoken question hung in the air: could they possibly survive this?
Captain Eli looked defeated as he counted through the rations over and over. He was mumbling to himself, "How are we going to get through this…" Edgar could feel his hope waning, the emotions from before rose up in his chest once again. He felt as if he had made a big mistake just joining this swarthy crew without asking questions or considering the repercussions. The Captain had in fact told him that this wasn't a place for a child, yet like a fool blinded by the dazzle of a beautiful rainbow, he chased his facade with all his might.
"C-Captain…" Edgars voice made the captain jolt from his worries and fears. The same desperate tone of his own child's voice lingered in his mind. "Are we going to die?" Edgars voice trembled, the fear undeniable. Captain Eli turned to look at the young lad and felt his heart sink. Edgars stare was so lifeless, as if he had already perished with the rest of the fallen men. Well, what could one expect from a child? The captain came to this conclusion as well.
"Edgar," the captain said, his voice thick with emotion. He longed to comfort the boy, to offer him hope. But the weight of their desperate situation stifled any words of encouragement. He couldn't bring himself to lie, to offer false promises. As he looked into Edgar's frightened eyes, the captain felt a pang of regret. He had made a terrible mistake bringing the boy on this dangerous journey. Edgar had hoped, despite knowing the truth, that the Captain would have just lied to him.
The captain and Edgar climbed the ladder to the deck, their hearts heavy with despair. The sight that greeted them was both hopeful and disheartening. A group of sailors were working diligently to repair the ship, but the damage was severe. The captain couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for his crew's unwavering determination. Hans was giving orders and instructing the crew in next steps when the pair walked up.
"Captain, how goes the situation? Are we sinking?" Hans inquired intently about the situation in the cargo space, but the Captain pulled Hans out of ear shot from the other crew members.
"Edgar, why don't you see if anyone needs a helping hand. I'm sure they will appreciate it. Hans gave the same warm smile, but to his surprise Edgar wouldn't budge or look him in the eyes. He kept his head hung low as if he was scolded. Hans clenched his jaw slightly before turning away from Edgar. Now, while Hans doubted that the Captain would ever lay a hand on such a young child, he knew how cold the Captain could be.
Together the Captain and Hans entered the captains chambers where Edgar had once been tucked away safely.
"Hans about the situation-"
"Wait, sir, what did you say to Edgar?" The Captain was taken aback by the question,
"Whatever do you mean hans?"
"I saw the look on Edgars face, Captain, don't deny it. He's a child for gods sake! One who just went through a very traumatic event, shouldn't we try to comfort him? Even just a little-"
"Enough." The Captain's face was twisted into an expression Hans had never seen before. A mixture of guilt and sorrow, the pain that flashed in his eyes was the same as when he lost his family.
"C-Captain…is..is it really that bad…?" Hans clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He was not so naive a first mate to not know what the captain's face meant. They were all slowly sailing to death's door. The worst part, Edgar was going with them.
"There's not much left in cargo, that wicked beast smashed a hole in the side. It won't sink us immediately, however, without enough fresh water or supplies we wont last long." The captain's words felt like a knife in Hans' chest. He felt the same regret that the captain had felt about bringing Edgar along. What was supposed to be a simple cargo drop had turned into their worst nightmare.
"W-What do we do now Captain?" Hans' words were filled with anxiety, it wasn't as if dying wasn't something he was prepared for, but his mind and pride couldn't accept Edgars death so easily. The Captain was silent, his large worn hands clasped together as he pondered the next steps they would take.
"Hans, the only option is to tell the crew the truth and put our heads together to find a way out of this."
"We can't possibly tell them! Their morale will be greatly reduced, captain." Hans knew better than to tell these men that their doom was just around the corner, in the face of fear man could do all sorts of despicable things.
"I understand how you feel Hans, I myself don't wish to trample on the hopes of these good men. However, I am not one to give false hope in the face of such odds." Hans agreed, the captain had never been one to sugar coat the issues at hand. That was one of the reasons the crew admired him so much. Despite that, Hans knew in his gut that this would only spell disaster.
The two emerged from the captain's cabin, Edgar watched solemnly as the captain called the men over for a briefing. Edgar sat upon a barrel next to the captain's cabin. His feet dangled swaying gently with the ship's rocking. He watched the hopeful men gather, full of energy and vigor. He couldn't help but lower his gaze away from them. These men had accepted him and fought hard to survive, all for nothing.
"Men, I will not tell you lies or promise you that things will work out…" The captain's words silenced the chattering men immediately. "Right now, the cargo space has a large hole, we are slowly but surely sinking." An uncomfortable murmuring in hushed whispers began slowly, "And because of the hole, most of our supplies have been lost, we have one barrel of fresh water and enough food for about 2 days." the crowd had once again become silent, "We are far from any land, stranded in a sea where more monstrosities like that sea monster roam. In summary, we are sailing to our death."
The crew's faces were cast in gloom and they were quickly replaced by fear. The few older men, the ones that had spent the majority of their lives on the sea, their faces were twisted in anger and bitterness.
"Then what's your plan?" A tall muscular older male stepped forward. He had a gray beard with black streaks, he had scars on his arms and body showing the years of tempering he had gone through. This man was named Clive. He was one of the only men that kept a distance from Edgar. He didn't mind showing his disdain for the boy from the very beginning, stating something about bad omens. The rest of the crew respected him for his experience and when neither Hans nor the Captain were on board the ship he was the next line of authority.
"There isn't much to be done Clive." The Captain held his gaze with Clive, "We are stranded for the time being."
"So you're just going to let us all die, is that it?" Clive's words were as sharp as a knife.
"Clive!" Hans shouted in frustration. Clive was always a thorn in his side, voicing his unwarranted opinion at the captain in every turn. "Unless you have an idea of what to do, then I suggest you keep quiet." Hans had his hand already on his blade ready to strike. Clive knew he was no match for Hans on his own. There was a reason Hans was chosen as the first mate, his sword skills and leadership was more formidable than the average opponent. However, if Clive could get the crew on his side, then neither Hans nor the Captain would be able to stop him.
"Hans, let me ask you this," Clive moved to the front of the crowd to face Hans directly, "If you wouldn't have been so busy looking after that boy, do you think we would be in this situation?" Hans paused, he wasn't expecting Clive to use Edgar as an excuse for this problem.
"That's not-"
"Your hesitation tells me that it's true. Our men wouldn't have needlessly died, and we wouldn't be stranded had you taken the ship's safety as your priority instead of the damned child!" Clive shouted loudly making sure not a single crew member didn't hear his remark. They may have had pity for the poor lad, but sailors were a superstitious lot that believed even the slightest changes to the ship or crew could result in everyones death while at sea.
"T-Thats right!" another man shouted, "I saw him catering to the child and hiding him in the captain's cabin before even pulling his sword!"
"We were begging for his help!" Shouted another crew member that had been injured, "So many men died crying for Hans to help us, but he was too busy catering to that kid!" Clive had succeeded in turning the tables. He had told the captain from the beginning that having this child on board was nothing more than an extra chore for everyone else. The captain had insisted that this child being he wasn't connected to his dead son but Clive knew otherwise.
"See Hans? We all saw how you abandoned us for a boy you barely know. And now you two want us to lay down and accept our deaths? No, if you are so insistent that we do so then we have no other choice…"
"Clive! Don't you dare!" The captain growled glaring at Clive with daggers in his eyes.
"My fellow crewmen!" Clive turned to his friends, "I call for a MUTINY!"
Edgar had been so engrossed in his own fears and regrets that he didn't make a single movement when the crew revolted against the captain and hans. He didn't make a fuss when he saw Clive slash Hans with his sword gravely wounding him. He didn't notice the captain being beaten by his own crew mercilessly. He did not struggle when Clive tossed him over his shoulder and the crew took the three to the jail cell in the cargo hold. He sat there drowning in his own sorrows and slowly accepting his own death. His throat had been parched for a long while and his last meal was a day ago. Hunger and thirst should have been slowly driving him mad but if it was you wouldn't be able to tell for the child would not speak. He only stared down at the floor full of fear.
A day had passed, the captain was doing his best to tend to Hans wounds but they were too deep.
"Hans, my dear friend…"
"Don't fret captain, I always knew I'd die by your side and it has been truly an honor…" Hans coughed up deep red blood. Clive had slashed his abdomen and his back. Both wounds were deep but not deep enough to die immediately. Clive made sure Hans would suffer before his eventual death. The captain gritted his teeth in anger. "C-Captain, where is Edgar?"
"He's right here with us Hans, he is unharmed." The captain looked to Edgar, the poor boy's face was still sullen by shadows of despair and fear.
"Please, bring him to me captain…" Hans coughed again and more dark red blood spat from his mouth. The captain grabbed Edgar and pulled him to Hans. Although the boy didn't really seem like he was aware of where he was or what was happening.
"Here he is Hans, see? He's not hurt." The captain choked back tears.
"Edgar?" Hans gently stroked the boy's face. The warmth of Hans hand stroking his face made Edgar come back to reality. Hans, who helped him so much, was laying, bloody and exasperated on the ground before him. He felt his heart drop to his stomach and heat well up inside of his chest. It burst forward in the form of big tears that began streaming down his face.
"Hans! No, no what happened, y-your bleeding so much!" Edgar was in a state of panic now, but Hans much preferred this then his lifeless eyes from earlier.
"Edgar, calm yourself." Hans coughed again, this time for a while making the blood from his wounds seep out more and threw his shirt. "I am going to die here Edgar, and for that I am so sorry." Hans smiled and clasped Edgars hands with his own. "Don't ever blame yourself or listen to what Clive said, make sure you take care of the captain in my stead…do you think you can do that?" Hans' eyes began to flutter as he fought hard to stay awake.
"Y-Yes Hans!" The poor boy tried his best to pull himself together, her didn't want Hans to worry about him anymore.
"You'll be replacing me as first mate my lad," Hans chuckled lightly, but it sounded more like a death rattle to Edgar. "Captain…I'm so cold…" The captain grabbed hans hand tightly,
"Sleep now my friend, you have forever been such a loyal companion to me, i am forever in your debt." Hans smiled and closed his eyes, his hands went limp and his chest slowly stopped rising. Hans was gone.
Edgar cried so hard for so long that he fell asleep in the captain's lap still clutching Hans hand. The Captains own injuries from the beating throbbing under his jacket. He was dying too. When they beat him they had damaged his organs, he knew that the moment he coughed up blood. His body was weak and cold, but his drive to save Edgar grew with every passing moment.
The captain was unsure how long they were trapped in the cell, maybe a few days at most. They brought them water but barely enough to survive. Captain Eli was a man of principle so of course he gave the majority of the water to Edgar, however, Edgar was getting sick fast. The captain noticed his fever the night Hans passed, and sitting in this cell with Hans body decaying and with soiled water from the crew Edgars body simply couldn't handle it much longer. The captain was resolved to call Clive down and beg if he had to so that they would release Edgar and spare him such a painful death.
Just as the captain's resolve was formed the ship jolted and crashed. It was as if they had crashed into something. The captain could hear a faint sound of singing ringing in the air. He had come across this feeling a few times before and knew he had to act quickly. This music was from the sirens, and it sounded as if the crew had no intention of turning away from them. The captain grabbed Edgar and used torn cloth from his jacket to stuff Edgars ears. He then ripped more from his jacket to stuff his own ears. If they could get through just one more day, they might not have to worry about that damned crew again.
The captain woke up several hours later to the eerie silence of evening. The waves that brushed against the ship were soft and gentle. The sound of his crew above had all but vanished. He could put together what happened easily enough. He was still weak but he had to get them out of this cage and away from Hans decaying flesh if he wanted to save Edgar. Lucky this was his ship after all. He knew how poorly made the cells were sense he had never had a reason to use them on his own men or outsiders often.
With his mighty boot he kicked down the wooden plank wall that was stationed between the cells and the cargo space. It fell to his strength rather easily, although for the captain in his current condition, it was still quiet the choir. He went to Edgar to awake him from his slumber with what few medicines they had on board. His hands were shaking as he lifted the frail child into his arms.
"Edgar, it's time to open your eyes now, I found the medicine and we are going to be okay now." Captain Eli tilted the bottle to his mouth and Edgar drank a little before throwing it all back up in a coughing fit.
"C-Captain, I want to go home, I miss the orphanage, I miss my friends…" Captain Eli clutched the small boy in his arms, Hans was right, he knew this now. "Captain?"
"Just call me Eli, Edgar…"
"E-Eli…you know why… I wanted to come… to the sea with you?" Edgars voice trembled and rattled as he spoke, Eli knew the illness was killing him.
"Why…Edgar…?"
"I don't remember my daddy, but I do remember my mommy…" Edgars words trailed off a bit and Eli had to shake him a little to bring him back to his senses. "Mommy said…the stars at sea…were the most beautiful thing…she had ever seen…" Eli's heart panged in his chest, it felt like it was breaking all over again. "But… I've been so busy working…I never really got the chance…" Edgar passed out once again. His breathing was so shallow so rugged and strained. Eli gritted his teeth, his own body was failing too but, how could he have been so blind?
This young child, who should have never been here to begin with, only wanted to see the stars. A wish Eli could have granted simply by asking more questions to the young boy who wanted to be on his crew.
"Eli…" Edgars little heart beat was getting so weak that Eli could barely feel it despite holding Edgar so close.
"Yes…"
"What was…your son like…"
"He…He was just like you actually. A fearless boy, with ambition that even grown men would falter from. He was my pride, my joy…"
"Why did they die…" Edgars eyes flutter at Eli, those childlike eyes filled with wonder, burning with curiosity, and filled to the brim with despair.
"I-I made a mistake…I thought I could handle anything the sea threw at me. I thought I had seen it all, enough to be overly arrogant. I had a young wife you see, and a young son. Both so full of adventure and curiosity that I couldn't say no." Eli felt his chest tighten as the guilt began to rise and swell. "I took them out for a voyage…it wasn't supposed to be long, just like this one." More regret poured into his heart, Eli was close to bursting. "We were caught in a storm…it blew us way of course. I let my guard down and we were attacked by a monstrous creature."
"Like the one we fought?"
"Yes…just like that one Edgar. But unlike this time, the creature capsized the ship." Eli paused for a moment, Edgars eyes were so earnest, he didn't want to fill him with more fear by showing Edgar his despair. "The monster began eating those who hadn't made it back to the ship, my wifes dress was too heavy and her swimming too slow…"
"The monster got her…" Edgars words were as soft as a whisper.
"Yes, and my son, whom I was able to bring back to the ship, died in my arms from hypothermia…" Eli was quiet now, his face sullen in the shadows of dusk. The small child in his arms, bare audible over the waves. Eli didn't know what to do, it was as if he was losing his son all over again.
"S-Stars…mommy…" Edgar was mumbling in his distraught state of sleep. Eli wanted to at least show Edgar the stars. He knew, from the coldness of the boy's skin, to his labored breathing, that Edgar would not last much longer.
The ship was still sinking, slowly but surely into the black depths of the sea. It was crooked and destroyed from the many pairals it had to endure. Nevertheless, Eli stood the best he could, and with the last of his strength, lifted Edgar from the floor that was now filling with water. He left the cell with Edgar in his arms. Each step he took was more painful then the last, each stair that he climbed sent another horrible piercing pain through his abdomen. He coughed up blood at a more rapid pace now, but he couldn't stop. He needed to fulfill Edgars wish, he had too.
He finally reached the deck of the ship and fell to his knees still holding Edgar tightly. This was it for him, that was all the strength that old captain had left in him. As he labored through breathing he looked up at the sky. It was filled to the brim with shining stars glittering everywhere. They reflected off of the sea making it look as if it was infinite.
"Edgar…Look, your mother was right, the stars are beautiful…" Eli looked down at Edgar, his eyes had not opened. He brought Edgar closer to his chest and felt his heartbeat, there was none. His breathing had stopped at some point on the stairs. His lips were blue and his skin sickly and pale. Eli Gripped the child's body for dear life. He screamed at the heavens above, he cursed the sea below and he sobbed until there was not a tear left to shed.
The Great Captain Eli, he would go down with his ship. The man who had conquered the seas, the beast who poseidon feared, was a shell. His frame that once seemed so intimidating, was now shriveled, broken down by the beating and malnutrition. On his knees with Edgars boys in his arms he watched the night sky as his ship sank to the bottom of the sea.