text: [Themes: historical]
  
  The smell of salt riddled the air as your eyes gazed upon the glaze of sunlight on the open sea. The harsh cries of the local seagulls collide with the crashing of the waves against the pier. You smile at the open view of the ocean that surrounds the boardwalk and give a hearty laugh.
  
  "Now this is what I call home!"
  
  It is currently the year of 1716, a prime time for sailors to explore the open waters. You in particular are about to obtain your first ship. Rogers is your name and you have always been fascinated in the world of the ocean. If it was to sail for merchant goods or to travel for the Queen of your homeland, it did not matter. You wanted to be out on that water and today seems like the perfect opportunity for it.
  
  You hear the creaking of the boards and turn around to meet a man in the usual suit and jacket. His face is rugged and he does not seem to be having the most splendid day.
  
  "What a statement to yell so early in the morning." The man speaks with a demanding voice riddled with a low rasp. He glares at you but you respond in a gleeful nature.
  
  "I just happened to be quite excited. How can the sea not speak wonders to you?" You gesture to the blanket of blue that spreads beyond the dock.
  
  The man scoffs at you and smirks, "The sea only speaks when you are drowning."
  
  You shake your head in disappointment and the man's face become curious. He speaks once more, "Then what are you here for? I assume that you are not just here to sightsee."
  
  Giving the man a nod, you approach him with a gleam in your eyes.
  
  "You do not happen to know where the ships are?"
  
  Suddenly the man brightens up, his demeanor becoming much better than it was a few minutes ago. He speaks with passion, "I happen to be the man for your wants. Come with me and I will show you the finest ships in this dock."
  
  You follow the man who tells you that his name is Sals. He is an admirer of sea vessels and works as a shipbuilder who transports the ships to the docks. He rambles on and on about the different types of ships that he has seen and brags about how excellent the vessels are. You smirk in response to his ecstatic mood as you continue to follow him through the pier.
  
  After a few more minutes, Sals comes to halt then gestures out to the dock with his hand.
  
  "Pick one that tickles your fancy!"
  
  Your eyes widen at the sight before you. Dozens of wooden vessels float seamlessly on the blankets of water. Their sails tucked away and masts standing tall against the blue horizon. Their impressive sizes seeming to swallow the dock and daunt those who dare board their decks. However, there was one that stood out to you.
  
  A single ship with three masts, resting above an incredible body that had cannons protruding all along the sides of the ship itself. The bowsprit proudly projected outward on the front of the ship with the figurehead right below it; a bronze skeleton that seem to be crawling out of hell on the lines holding the sail above the bowsprit. Above all, on the middle mast is a small black flag holstered high up, with the symbol of a skull that seems to be bleeding from its eye sockets.
  
  "Tell me the name of that ship right there." You point at the vessel that you are gawking at and Sals laughs.
  
  "That ship right there? You have quite the interesting taste." Sals walks up right beside you and begins to rattle off on the ship itself, telling you what he knows.
  
  "That right there is a frigate class ship, probably built on the Queen's shores itself. However you probably spotted the black flag up there; it's quite hard not to spot." He points to the black flag that waves so effortlessly in the wind. "That is a 'Jolly Roger' or that is what the folk around here like to call it."
  
  You turn to look at him as his words start to register, "A 'Jolly Roger'?"
  
  He smirks and gestures dramatically at the ship as though he were about to tell a grand story, "Yes! A Jolly Roger! A symbol of the infamous pirates of the seven seas! I have heard that this particular ship was salvaged from a battle near the coastline near here. The pirates on this ship tried to ransack the towns but we got the best of them. Ended up punishing every last one of them and even got their ship as a bonus. Although I assume this ship was not theirs to begin with."
  
  You stand in awe of the ship, imagining the scenes that Sals had described and how glorious it must have been to have witnessed such an event.
  
  "Does this ship have a name?"
  
  Sals smiles then announces the name grandly, "Vindicta."
  
  You take in the view of the ship then ask Sals for a price. He nods and gives you a price in which you pay upfront. He gladly takes your money and hands you a few documents to sign. Both of you sit on a nearby table, filling out any papers that you need to in order to confirm you are now the owner of the ship.
  
  While signing the documents, you look at the Jolly Roger once more and ask Sals, "Those pirates... Are they common around these parts?"
  
  Sals begins to think, his face scrunched as he answers your question, "To put it bluntly, yes. They are indeed everywhere, those rats. Pirates are always roaming around these parts, taking lives and ships as though they own the entire sea. They are just dirty sea rats that have no livelihood. I would much rather see them hung out to dry than out on water."
  
  You notice Sals' temper building so you bring up another topic before he blows, "Hopefully I do not encounter any but I believe I can fight them off if I were to come across them."
  
  He laughs and slams the table in amusement although you do not find what you said humourous.
  
  "Good luck in that. Those scum are not your typical man, they are trained in the art of blood and treachery. Yes, we ended up taking this ship from them but not without bloodshed. Those pirates are just ruthless monsters, the whole lot of them. If you were to see one, then I hope God is on your side."
  
  Sals looks at the Jolly Roger once more, his face once grand now full with hesitation. You do not bother him anymore and sign the papers. He takes them and points to the Vindicta.
  
  "She is all yours. Just take care of her, she is a fine ship and I would not want to see her turn over to those rats again." He spits and pats your shoulder before walking off into the heart of the pier.
  
  Although feeling a bit offended, you look at the ship once more, your mind filling up with possibilities. You could not believe it, you were about to find yourself on the open sea! You give a grand smile then run off toward your new vessel...
  
  [Author's Note: (Killa's Spring Thing Contest 2018) For decades, mankind traversed the world by sea. In impressive vessels of mass proportion, humanity sold their goods, fought for blood or sailed for the smell of the sea. However, the world was changing and humanity has begun to get rid of the sea dogs in trade for safer waters. Although a step into the future, the once infamous pirates of the ill fated waters had begun to fade into history. Captain Rogers, prove to the world that you will not be forgotten. Make them write your name into the books and send one last message to a new age of mankind.]
  
  > Time passes...
  One year later... (1717)
  
  A shriek of a seagull is heard as the crashing of the waves drown out any silence there once was. The skies are clear of any clouds as the Vindicta floats upon Earth's seas. Her sails lashing out against the wind as salty water splash upon her sides as though cradling the ship. You stand at the bow, your arms crossed as you look out at the ocean before you. A shimmering dark blue against the fading blue sky.
  
  After purchasing the Vindicta, you quickly found yourself a few merchant jobs to occupy your time for the next year. Since then, you were able to round up a crew of around 70 men to maintain and drive the ship safely on the open waters. The merchant life is able to earn you a fair amount of money for however you wish to spend it but it was not as enjoyable as you once thought.
  
  The people you worked with in piers were irritable and the long travels without anything happening was a bore. Although you still enjoy the sea, this was not what you wanted to do for the rest of your life.
  
  As you listen to the creaking of the ship as it sways, there is a sudden call from one of your shipmates.
  
  "Captain! Starboard! There's an unidentified fleet!"
  
  You turn to the right and spot what the man is hollering about. Several hundred meters away are three sloops, slowly advancing toward your vessel. You stand confidently, attempting to think of a solution to the problem.
  
  You call out to your crew, "There is no need to panic, just stay calm for now. Let them pass."
  
  Usually when there are other ships on the waters, they pay no mind to you nor do you pay attention to them. Although every time there is another vessel on the waters, you cannot help but start to imagine the worst...
  
  After several minutes of sailing and observing the other vessels, you can confirm that the fleet is heading toward your direction. Several of your men are mumbling and starting to get unruly. You close your eyes, thinking about if the ships were what you feared...
  
  You run to your cabin, searching through your supplies then grab what you were looking for. In a drawer full of paperwork is a flintlock pistol that is about 7 inches in length, a perfect weapon for concealment. You slip the pistol into your trousers, then walk back onto the deck to see if the sloops have made any advancements.
  
  The sloops are a few dozen meters away from the Vindicta and it seems that the ships stopped advancing toward your way. Suddenly a black flag is raised on the mainmast and you see several small rowboats being lowered from the deck onto the waters below. You grind your teeth and then call out to your men,
  
  "Get ready to defend the ship! We may not have any weaponry but do not stand down. If these be pirates then do not do anything rash. You have all heard the stories so do not be fools!"
  
  Your men respond, "Yes, sir!" and then hurriedly start moving around in defensive positions to get ready to defend against the boarding. All of your men stand in a semicircle, standing in various stances to attempt to look ready. However you notice that a handful of men are sweating with nervousness and that many of your men's faces seem ghastly.
  
  Then as though planned, several ropes and hooks are thrown from the waters onto the main deck of the ship. The hooks pierce and latch onto the wood of the Vindicta while ropes are either stuck on barrels or slip back into the waters. A few of your men step back while others tense up as your body starts to pump with nervous shock. Suddenly several men shouting from the top of their lungs began to spill onto the deck as though it were a wave of mad men. Their attires ranged from ragged clothes with ripped bandanas to dirtied waistcoats with tricorn hats. A lot of them were rugged, their teeth rotting and their facial hair seemingly trimmed hurriedly. Plenty of them carried swords that curved at their blades or carried pistols that shone at their barrels.
  
  Then out of the chaos of the swarming men came smoke... As though being lifted, a man dressed in a velvet waistcoat and a tricorn hat rose up from the smoke that seemed to protrude out of his head. His face was ghastly, his eyes wide and face slump. His hair was black as tar, tied into dreads that hung from his head. However his most eye attracting feature were the dreaded hairs that had formed the beard that hung below his mouth. The man stood with ferocity with several pistols in his sling that he cradled. Suddenly he burst into a wicked smile, showcasing his plastered teeth as smoke cointuned to shroud him and cause a sickening aura.
  
  Several men around you stand paralyzed in fear as though the Devil himself had come to greet them. A few of your men start to run away, dropping their weapons and diving into the lower decks. You stand as confidently as you can, however sweat continues to drip from your forehead onto the deck you stand on.
  
  The menacing countenance the man bears, begins to scrunch as he locks eyes with every single men on your ship. Once he gets to the last person, his voice roars in triumph, causing several men to jump.
  
  "I am Edward Teach. I only want one thing. All of your supplies or your lives, I do not care which."
  
  This was it. A real pirate. Standing right in front of you. You should have been terrified, shaking at the knees but surprisingly you did not feel petrified yet you felt... Nervous.
  
  It was at that moment you realize to yourself. This might be a chance for you to change your path in life. Your life as a merchant may be over but it never means that you have to give up the sea...
  
  > join Edward
  In that moment, you decided not with your brain, but with your instincts. The feeling of nervousness has fainted from your body as you stared down the demon in front of you. You flex your muscles then relax yourself as you speak up, giving the pirate a piece of your mind.
  
  "How about I give you a deal?"
  
  Instantly, Edward's entire demeanor had changed. Once the tyrannical face, now completely caught off guard and flabbergasted. His voice escapes his mouth, rising in volume, "Did you just suggest a 'deal'? You have the brain of a dead bird. Who in the world would offer a deal when there is a gun to their head!?"
  
  He draws one of his many pistols and quickly points it at your forehead. His mouth reveals his sickening teeth as his eyes seem to focus on you and the many ways that he could send you to Hell. The other men stand with their faces white as a sheet as they stared at you as though you were insane. You stand confidently yet you can feel your legs shaking as you stare down the barrel of the gun pointed directly at you.
  
  You speak up once more, although this time you restrain your voice in an attempt to not upset Edward anymore, "No need to jump to conclusions yet. I think you will find my offer intriguing, just do not splatter my blood onto this ship before I tell you."
  
  Edward continues to glare at you, his stance unchanging as his grip seems to increase ever so slightly onto his pistol. However he does not respond so you take it as a chance to continue.
  
  "How does... Adding more men to your crew sound?"
  
  Suddenly Edward's eyebrows shift as his gun lowers by just a smidge. Your men's faces become completely perplexed and some seem furious with what you had just proclaimed. There is a pause of silence as Edward attempts to register the words you had uttered.
  
  "You are giving up your own men to save your skin? To think you could be worse than me." Edward gives you a hearty laugh, his teeth clearly visible and rotten to the eyes. However before he can say anything else, you object to his statement.
  
  "Actually what I meant was... I want to join your crew."
  
  In that instant, there was dead silence. No words were uttered, no movements on the ship, only the sound of the water below the deck. Edward has transformed his amused state into one of confusion yet there was a gleam in his eyes. He lowered his pistol and placed it back into his sling with a hint of hesitation. After almost a minute of no communication, Edward looks at you with a fire in his eyes.
  
  "You are quite interesting. Arranging a deal with a pirate, offering to give your soul to the crew and being able to say those words to death breathing down his neck. I admire that determination, however if you are willing to give your life to me then I need a sign of trust. If I picked up every man that wanted to join my crew after threatening them, I probably would be drowning with them."
  
  Your men around you shuffle about, their faces running through several different emotions as yours retains one single expression. The face of determination. You speak with confidence, your voice clear to the ears of those around you.
  
  "Then I offer you half of the supplies on this ship as the price for joining your ordeal. Not too bad, right?"
  
  Edward suddenly shoots out his hand, as his mouth bursts into a wicked smile. You meet his hand with yours, giving a proper and tight handshake.
  
  "It is settled. Welcome to the life of piracy... Tell me your name."
  
  "Captain Rogers."
  
  "Rogers, as long as you follow my rules, there will be no harm to you or to me. Also I need to mention that I am run under the command of Captain Hornigold so if I suspect anything. You will have two men sinking your ship."
  
  Edward gestures his men to go raid your supplies as he begins to exit your ship to return to his. However before he goes, you ask a question.
  
  "Wait, I get to keep this ship?"
  
  Edward turns to face you, his posture triumphant.
  
  "What is a pirate without a ship?"
  
  With that, he departs and rows back to his original ship. The rest of his men finish grabbing their share of supplies and leave as well. You stand with a new fire within you although it is interrupted as many of your men begin to shout and utter words of major disapproval.
  
  "Have you gone mad?!"
  
  "You gave our lives to a dirty pirate!"
  
  "We are going to die because of you!"
  
  "Shut your mouths for just a minute!" You shout at the rowdy men who back off at your sudden burst of anger. You look at every one of them in the eyes before saying anything else.
  
  "If you disagree with my ways then you better find another way to shore or better yet, I will drop you off at the nearest island and leave you to rot. This is my ship and I will be honest, this merchant life has been boring. I want adventure and what better chance do I have than to join the crew of an infamous pirate! I would like it if you were all to stay but I understand if you find it too rough however until we find the nearest dock for you to depart, I do not expect any complaints out of any of you."
  
  Some of the men look in disdain at you however you are surprised to see a few seem excited for the trip. After that message, you head back to your cabin to rest while the other men begin to go back to their activities. You take a seat behind your desk and remove your pistol from your trousers. You inspect the firearm, twisting it slowly in your hands as you think to yourself the situation that has fallen into your hands. As you do so, you look in the corner of your cabin to see the black flag of the previous pirate owner hanging on the wall.
  
  This is it. I am a pirate and there is no going back.
  
  > Time passes...
  One month later...
  
  After joining Captain Teach's crew (by officially swearing yourself to the pirate code a day after Edward boarded your vessel), your frigate dubbed the Vindicta has been sailing on the open seas with the the small fleet of four ships. Not much has happened since then although the stress of having to arrive on deadlines has lifted from your shoulders. Now it was just the sea and you with no one to stop you from sailing on it.
  
  A week ago, the fleet had passed by a small beach near a dock. In this area, you decided to stop your ship and allow any men that did not want to stay, to leave and go back to civilization. By the end of it, your crew had went from around 70 to now 40 men. The large amount of men who left had made you a bit upset however you are content with the men who had stayed.
  
  Currently, you stood at the helm of your ship at the wheel, looking at the open horizon. In front of you were the three sloops of Revenge, (the ship Captain Teach is on) Ranger, (the ship Captain Hornigold is on although you have never actually met the man himself) and Captain Teach's old sloop.
  
  The day has been calm with no threats or any other vessels on the water. You lean on your wheel and stare into the distance when suddenly you hear the shout of one of your men.
  
  "Captain! Two sloops to port!" You look left to see two ships roughly the same size of Captain Teach's.
  
  You smiled as you stared at the two possible targets for plundering. Finally! A victim! Although you were ecstatic, you could not shake off the feeling of feeling nervous. As you looked, one of your men, Fin, (the man who shouted earlier) was running toward you then stopped right next to you.
  
  "Should we engage these two ships?" You stare at the two ships then give Fin a response.
  
  "No, wait for Captain Teach or Captain Hornigold to engage then we shall make our move." Fin nods then runs off to tell the other men what you had said. After a few minutes, the ships in front of you change direction toward the targets and you follow suit. Your men begin to chatter as they work, expressing signs of excitement as well as fear. As you watch the men work and steer your ship toward the targets, you announce directions toward them.
  
  "Men! We are to not board the targets unless told so by Captain Teach. Otherwise we are to remain on this ship keeping watch. Is that clear?!"
  
  "Yes, sir!" The men sound off in a excited manner as they continue to work and keep the ship maintained as well getting ready if they are called for boarding. Suddenly you hear a sharp whistle and turn to the origin of the noise. On the Revenge, you can see Captain Teach standing with one hand on his waist and another on a sword pointed toward the enemy vessels. Right afterwards, he dashes off toward a small boat to board the ships with his crew.
  
  You begin to run toward your rowboats and shout toward your crew, "Prepare for boarding!"
  
  There is a vicious cheer as the thundering of steps on the wooden deck clashed against the sounds of the rough waters below you. You quickly hop into a boat as a few of your men including Fin, join you. You release the boat as it drops into the water; pulling out paddles to row to the enemies in your sight. Looking around you, you see a few boats on the water paddling toward the target. You head toward the ship closest to you which is where you assumed Captain Teach had headed. As you get closer, the large size of the ship looms over you as the shadow engulfs your small rowboat.
  
  Once you get close enough, you reach under your seat and pull out a hook and rope. You haven't done this before but you are sure that you are able to board the ship without much trouble. Captain Teach had given you the boarding supplies a few weeks ago and told you how to use it although you had never used it in practice.
  
  You begin to spin the rope above your head, forming a circle as it continues to spin faster and faster. Then after a minute, you time the throw just right to let go at the moment the hook is about to launch toward the ship. You loosen your grip as the hook soars toward the top of the ship where you can hear a quiet crash against the deck of the ship. Tugging against the rope, you can feel that it is tightly secure so you start to climb up. Your men follow as you slowly ascend toward the top deck of the ship.
  
  After a minute of climbing, you place yourself onto the deck of the ship where you meet Captain Teach standing with a cutlass and the rest of his crew ransacking the ship while tying down members of the vessel. You stand, not knowing how to help in this situation when suddenly, Captain Teach gives you orders.
  
  "Rogers! Go and help tie down the rest of these men. Just in case any of them decide to try anything stupid."
  
  "Yes, sir!" You begin to walk toward some of the men who have not been taken down but are struggling against your allies who are busy attempting to tie their hands with rope.
  
  "Stop squirming! Otherwise I will tie your rear end to the bottom of our ship!" The man being tied still attempts to shake out and shouts vulgar insults at the pirate. Several other victims begin to struggle around him and you begin to question if you are ready for this life.
  
  Suddenly one of the men get out of the restraints and then start running directly toward you in an haste to escape. Your hand instinctively reaches for your flintlock pistol but sweat drips down your hand as nervousness kicks in.
  
  It's now or never...
  
  > tackle him
  Instead of reaching for your pistol, your body moves on its own as your body lunges forward into the rushing man. You thrust your knee into his stomach causing him to groan with pain as he doubles over. You pick him up by the collar of his shirt then throw him toward the other men who have stopped squirming. They only watch with tense eyes as you slowly walk over.
  
  Your victim lies on the deck, holding their stomach as you speak to them, "Try it again if you want your head on the bowsprit next time."
  
  The man only moans quietly as he gets tied up again. The other pirates seem to approve of your actions and laugh at the dismay of the poor souls that got raided. After several minutes, you hear the call of Captain Teach as the other pirates begin to get off the ship.
  
  "We are done here! Leave these souls here! Let the ocean decide their fate."
  
  You hear the excited responses of the pirates as most of them begin to descend into the waters with the ropes. However before you get off, you ask Captain Teach a question about the other vessel.
  
  "What about that other ship? Are we not going to plunder them?"
  
  Captain Teach gives a laugh then an answer, "There is no need. Captain Hornigold has already decided their fates."
  
  With that, Captain Teach heads back into the rowboat he had arrived in and you take it as a prompt to do so as well. You return to your ship using your boarding gear and head into your cabin. You sit down, still running on the andredeline of the situation. The rest of your crew slowly get back to business as you stare at a map on the walls, thoughts still swarming throughout your head.
  
  During the ceremony in which you swore to be a pirate, Captain Teach had told you of the distribution of loot and how many shares each crew member got. He described that he would sort through the supplies and personally hand out the shares after he was done sorting it.
  
  Although you were not worried about the shares, you were more worried about the rush that you had when you were taking that man down. It was unlike anything you have ever done. You have seen bar fights and heard of the many brawls that happen on the sea but never have you had to use your own hands to do it. However it slowly turned from fear into excitement. You wanted to do it again, to feel the pounding of the fight.
  
  You grin to yourself as you lean back in your chair. This is the life I was missing...
  
  > Time passes
  A week later...
  
  You are sitting in your cabin, studying a map of the ocean you are sailing in. It's been mostly quiet the last few days and not much has happened since the last ship plundering. You carefully trace the route you have been traveling when suddenly the door to your cabin opens up.
  
  Fin stands at the door with another man right behind him. "Sir! There is a message for you from one of Captain Teach's men!"
  
  "Bring him in." You gesture to Fin and the man to come in while you mark a location on your map. Once the two men stand directly in front of you, the man next to Fin begins to speak.
  
  "Captain Rogers, Captain Teach would like to inform you that the men on Captain Hornigold's ship have performed a mutiny."
  
  A mutiny? You lean forward and look at the man with curious eyes. You speak with a tinge of worry within your voice, "Captain Hornigold has been demoted?"
  
  "Exactly right. Almost the entire crew has rebelled against Captain Hornigold and now most of them have boarded Captain Teach's vessel. They tell us that Hornigold is running away and want to join Teach now."
  
  You take the information in and look at the map once more as you respond, "Is Hornigold taking a boat?"
  
  "He is taking a few loyal men and his sloop. Although I heard he might take another sloop as well."
  
  You stand up and begin to walk out of your cabin with the two men following behind you. Captain Hornigold has been demoted and is fleeing? Was he truly a pirate?
  
  Your mind is suddenly hit a flash of fear as you realize that Captain Hornigold might have failed as a leader. What if that happens to you? What if you were thrown overboard to the sharks? You begun to question yourself and had narrowed it down to two choices.
  
  You either accept that the fleet has decreased in size and continue to live as a pirate under the command of Captain Teach or give in to your fears and run away before the worst becomes reality...
  
  > run away
  "I am sorry, I cannot. Tell your captain, I will be joining Hornigold."
  
  The man looks at you confused as you gesture him away. He leaves with a glare in his eyes as walks away from you. Fin stands next to you, utterly confused.
  
  "Why would you want to run away? I thought you had accepted this life!"
  
  You looked at Fin with saddened eyes as you attempt to explain.
  
  "I changed my mind. Hearing what happened to Hornigold, I cannot help but fear it myself. Who knows what will happen to us if we continue!?"
  
  Fin grabs you by the collar and spits on you.
  
  "That is why I enjoy the pirate life."
  
  Suddenly, a sound of thundder rings through the air as you suddenly find your body splitting in two. Fin flies back and crashes into the mainmast as your torso goes soaring toward your cabin. Your eyes get one last image of a cannonball crushing your legs and your ship riddled with iron and splintered wood.
  
  Captain Teach had fired a volley into you for treachery and although he feels disappointed, he continues on with his reign. He takes the Vindicta and drags your body over the edge, sending you into a cold and endless grave at the bottom of the sea...