I was lying in the infirmary with my ex-buddy Tors. Every inch of my body ached, and I could barely move.
The duel was declared a draw, as Tors and I both collapsed unconscious. I saw Sasha talking to her father. I sympathized with her; he was just worried about her and the crew.
What will happen next? As I wondered, everything started to go dark...
Wait... Am I dying? What the hell?!
Numb fingers and hands. Feeling sick and dizzy. I see. Someone poisoned me with creeping death. Was it Tors? No, he's too honorable for that.
Still battered and bruised, I stood up weakly. My comrades, seeing me rise, knew something was wrong and readied their weapons.
"Tsk. I thought you both might still be alive," Kiel and Winters appeared at the door, weapons ready.
"Surrender, Roys. You're practically dead anyway. One of us has the antidote, and the only way to survive is to give your allegiance to us. We have a document here saying you'll hand over leadership to us with half of the funds. You can either die honorably and give the antidote to Tors or join us, and we'll kill Tors. It's up to you."
"I should have known the rumors were true, Kiel. You're a slimy weasel," I spat angrily.
"Ha! Don't be naive! In this world, only the strong survive. There's no room for honor and weakness! My father was honorable, and he sacrificed himself for his team, and for what? Our family was forgotten after a few years. The Council gave us a portion of the promised food and rations, claiming shortages. They didn't look hungry to me. I say they hoarded food for themselves! So excuse me, Roys, for not believing the nonsense the High Council has been spouting all these years. They're a bunch of frauds and liars, and one day, I'll expose them and wipe them off the face of the Earth! They robbed me of my honor; I'll rob them of theirs and their lives too!" Kiel fumed, his eyes wild as he gritted his teeth, trying to calm down.
He threw the document to me. I read it, and he was true to his word.
"Alright, Kiel. You win, I surrender. Now give me a pen, and let's sit at the table over there and talk like civilized men. I didn't know you were carrying such heavy baggage. Why don't we talk?"
Kiel paused, looking me in the eyes. His eyes softened; there was still some good in him. He wanted to believe in honor and duty.
His mouth trembled as he tried to control his emotions. He looked like a lost kid, longing for his father. I might still be able to reach him, to change his ways.
"Do you promise on your parent's grave that you'll fulfill the contract once you sign it?" Kiel asked, tired.
"I will. I promise to abide by the contract, or the dishonor will be mine. If I don't, I'll kill myself. This I vow. Just promise to give the antidote to Tors and spare his life."
Kiel looked stunned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Roys was willing to sacrifice his life for Tors after his betrayal? Kiel was silent, shaking. Then Winters gave him some coins. Apparently, they had a wager on whether I'd sacrifice myself for Tors. Kiel won the bet.
Kiel smiled. "Haha! See, Winters? He really is an honorable man! Chivalry isn't dead! I've won our bet! Now, give Tors and Roys the antidote."
Winters looked annoyed and angry. He glared at me and Kiel, then signaled his comrades to hand over the antidotes. As he approached me with one arm outstretched holding the antidote bottle, I felt a sense of danger and instinctively moved my body, jumping back. I had no strength left and no weapons. It took all I had just to evade.
Suddenly, Kiel's supposed ally beside him put a dagger to his neck.
"Winters! What's the meaning of this?" Kiel demanded.
"I knew you were weak, Kiel. A little sympathy, and your defenses crumble," Winters sneered. "Your weakness disgusts me."
"We're taking over. The Warlord promised us riches and women if we take this ship and spy for him. We'll sacrifice all of you and take over. We'll say you died doing your duty. A win-win for us."
"Winters, I should have known better than to trust you!" Kiel said defiantly.
"Ha! There's no honor among thieves, Kiel," Winters said. "Men, bind everyone else. We have the ship!"
Suddenly, a dagger hit Winters in the chest. He looked confused, then down at the dagger stuck in his heart. "Who dares?" Winters shouted angrily, looking around.
Sasha, ever silent and stealthy, stood ready to throw another dagger. "I guess she dared," I thought quietly.
Winters staggered out of the room, bleeding profusely. People approached him warily as he mumbled incoherently, holding his weapon.
He was a dead man walking. So was I. I stood up weakly, walking toward Winters, ready to take the antidote from his hand when he died. He stumbled outside to the howling wind.
Outside, the wind was angry and ominous. Winters clung to the rails, looking down at the darkness below.
"Cowards! Buffoons! Idiots! How dare you strike me down! You'll all pay!" Winters shouted into the wind.
Suddenly, he removed his winter coat, revealing explosives strapped to his body.
"Are you crazy? You'll kill us all!" Kiel shouted. "Stop him! Everyone, stop him!" They rushed toward Winters.
Time seemed to slow. Adrenaline surged through me, making me feel more alive than ever.
I ran toward Winters, ready to take his dagger and stop him from detonating the bomb. If he pulled the trigger, the ship would explode. I didn't want that.
I tried to grab the dagger in his right hand, but the sloped, slippery deck made me stagger toward him. Winters slashed at my head. Unable to dodge, I blocked with my left hand, the dagger's tip protruding from the back, nicking my ear. My ear bled profusely. Slippery slope indeed.
With a burst of energy, I knocked the antidote from his left hand. It rolled toward Sasha, who dived for it, safely retrieving it.
Tors appeared weakly at the door, relieved to see the antidote in Sasha's hands. She tossed it to her father, who drank it. She then ran toward me and Winters to help.
"Damn you both!" Winters snarled, trying to bite my face but instead sinking his teeth into my shoulder. I grabbed his left arm to restrain him, but he punched me in the gut and kneed me in the groin. Oh, bollocks. My bollocks.
Winters shook his head like a rabid dog, tearing at my shoulder. He was a rabid dog.
Gritting my teeth in pain, I pushed my body against the blade stuck in his chest, trying to bury it to the hilt and hasten his death. Winters howled in fury, biting my shoulder again, trying to tear off a chunk. Screw this guy. I punched the side of his head with my right hand. Big mistake.
Suddenly, Winters went limp. I tried to support his body as it sagged. A second dagger was embedded in his forehead.
"Screw you, Winters! Go to hell!" Sasha shouted.
Winters, seemingly revived due to her shout, laughed maniacally. "Fools! I win!"
Damn, I forgot about the trigger. He had removed it.
The bomb would explode in seconds, taking the ship with it.
With all my might, I grabbed Winters by the neck and pushed him overboard. We both fell from the ship screaming and falling down really quickly.
The last thing I remember is trying to choke Winters with my right hand within the inch of his life.
The dude looks at me with hate as he punches my left rib trying to break it. How is this dude still alive!?
The bomb explodes. The sky lit up like it was the fourth of July. Must have been a beautiful sight.
Talk about going out with a bang and in a blaze of glory.
(To be continued)