text: [Themes: historical]
  
  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...
  
  > Continue
  You shake off your fears and continue to walk with a triumphant stance. You gesture to the men behind you to stop as you look out to the ocean horizon, taking in the view. Then you turn to the man who had come from Captain Teach's ship and gave him a message.
  
  "Tell Captain Teach that I got the message and that I will stay loyal by his side. If there is anything I can do, then he may use me."
  
  The man nods then exits the ship with a rope that was attached to the side of the ship. You stand with Fin who begins to talk once more.
  
  "To think that a pirate could be dethroned so easily... Does it not make you nervous?"
  
  You stand as confident as before as you say your next words, "If I were not afraid, I would not be human. It would be boring without fear, would it not?"
  
  Fin looks at you with a gleam in his eyes as he begins to walk away.
  
  "I agree Sir. I am glad I am under your command. I never would have imagined myself here before but now that I am, it is a life I never want to trade!"
  
  With that, Fin returns to his duties and you stand with your mind slowly returning from anxiety to serenity.
  
  Let us see where this life takes us...
  
  > Time passes
  A few weeks later...
  
  Waves crash against the boards of the Vindicta as you stand at the helm, staring at Captain Teach's Revenge which is headed toward a location you had marked on your map a few weeks ago.
  
  The Caribbean. More specifically, the islands of Martinique and Grenadines islands.
  
  After several minutes, you hear Fin exclaiming about something and it does not register until he runs up to you.
  
  "Ship spotted at the bow! Captain Teach is sailing straight for it! It appears to be frigate like ours, sir!"
  
  You look in the direction that Fin had stated and can confirm what he had spotted, which was a large vessel on the open waters. Staring at the vessel, it appear to be strikingly similar to what your ship had looked like before Captain Teach took you into piracy. A merchant ship? What are the odds...
  
  As you sail closer toward the target, you suddenly see the Revenge turning starboard, allowing the port side to be facing the frigate.
  
  Fin looks curiously at the Revenge and asks you a question, "Is he fleeing?"
  
  "I do not believe so. Captain Teach is not a man who gives into fears..."
  
  Then a crash of thunder splits the sound barrier as the cannons on Captain Teach's Revenge erupt and blast several cannonballs into the side of the frigate. The cannonballs pierce several parts of the frigate and you see a few men drop into the waters below, their bodies oozing with blood. Chunks of wood and supplies fly in several directions as you see men running back and forth on the top deck, clearly in a frenzy.
  
  As you gawk at the onslaught you had just witnessed, Captain Teach shouts and signals for you to board the vessel. Following his order, you take Fin and few others on rowboats toward the damaged frigate. As you travel toward the ship, you narrowly dodge bits of wood and amputated bodies that lay adrift in the waters. It was the first time you had seen a dead body and the smell of salt mixed with bloody flesh did not sit well in your stomach.
  
  Eventually you hook onto the ship and climb aboard where you see Captain Teach negotiating with a man who you assume is the captain.
  
  "I demand you to hand over this ship or I will be adding more souls to Hell."
  
  Captain Teach's face slowly produces smoke, enshrouding his demonic face in mist. The man that Captain Teach is threatening stares in fear, his body trembling and sweat dripping from his forehead.
  
  "Just take everything!" The man suddenly shouts, his voice quivering with fear. Captain Teach laughs then speaks to one of his men.
  
  "Go back to the Revenge and tell them to follow. I need to drop off some cargo." The pirate exits the ship quickly as Captain Teach takes the helm of the ship and begins to head toward the islands in the distance. You repeat the message to one of your men who goes back to your ship while you stay on the frigate with Teach, Fin and a few others.
  
  A few bodies litter the deck as several of the frigate's crew either stand terrified or are sitting in shame. Some of the pirates are inspecting the ship and discussing with each other about the ship itself. You begin to walk around and look around the ship. There are a few supplies on top of the ship although you assume that most of the supplies are below the main deck.
  
  You head toward a passageway located below the helm and once you enter, there are a few stairs heading into the lower decks. You start descending, expecting to see stacks of cargo when suddenly, you are hit with a grotesque stench.
  
  What is that smell? Then you see the source of the stench. In the dark, at least a hundred sweaty slaves are chained up together as they sit in the bottom of a humid ship. Their faces don grief and putrid demeanors as some of their eyes begin to focus on you. Their eyes are blank, unfilled with any fire or passion within them.
  
  Suddenly one of them speaks up, his accent drowning out the clarity in his words.
  
  "Who... Are you?"
  
  You respond carefully as you are afraid that one of them might take your words harshly if you are to say the wrong thing.
  
  "An outsider. I am a pirate and we have taken this ship."
  
  A few of them then begin to look at you with a new flare in their eyes and some even rattle their chains as they change your sitting posture.
  
  The man who spoke, speaks again, "Pirate? Are... We free?"
  
  Your mouth opens as though you are ready to speak however your voice stops short. you stand in silence as you stare at the slaves.
  
  Just leave them be...
  
  "Please... Let us... Free..."
  
  > walk away
  You turn your head and ascend back up the stairs without a single word. You hear the rattling and groans behind you as you leave but you pay no attention to them. In only a few moments, you find yourself back in the fresh air, where the light pours into your eyes as you attempt to readjust from the darkness you had just witnessed.
  
  Fin is standing at the bow of the ship and stares off into the distance as you approach. When he hears your footsteps, he snaps out of his illusion and turns to meet you.
  
  "Need something, sir?"
  
  "No, I just wanted to join you." You stand beside him, taking in the views of the ocean itself as it brings back nostalgia. After a few minutes of silence and reminiscing, you open your mouth to speak.
  
  "This reminds me of when I first got the Vindicta. The ocean is still so divine to me yet I never take the time to admire it as much I used to. Yet, here I am, living on the sea as a pirate."
  
  Fin takes in your words then responds after a few moments pass.
  
  "Living as a pirate is not so bad. I quite enjoy it actually, it beats the life we used to have. Merchant life was bland, but this? It excites me to no end!" Fin flashes a smile as he looks at the islands that slowly approach the ship. Suddenly, Captain Teach begins to yell out some words that ring across the ship.
  
  "Land approaching! Prepare for dumping!" Your face becomes one of curiosity as you turn to see Captain Teach at the wheel, his face full of adventure and daring. Dumping?
  
  The ship then reaches an island, close enough that you could jump from the ship onto the land itself. Then in an orderly fashion, Captain Teach's men begin to take the crew of the frigate and descend with them on boats into the waters. You look over the railing of the ship to see the men of the frigate being tossed onto the island as though they were trash. Captain Teach throws a bag of supplies down onto the island and laughs as Teach's men finish dumping the "cargo."
  
  "Anyone else left?" Captain Teach asks you and the other pirates however they tell Teach there is no one left. You object and tell Captain Teach about the slaves in the lower decks.
  
  "They were carrying slaves? How interesting... Maybe we could score some of our own. However that will be dealt with later. Keep them on the ship and let us leave before they start whining."
  
  Once all of Captain Teach's men are back, he begins to sail the ship back onto open waters along with the rest of the fleet. As Captain Teach is contently driving the ship, one of his men pipes up.
  
  "Sir! Are you not returning to the Revenge?"
  
  Captain Teach's face shined with a flash of brilliance before he looked at the man and answered his question
  
  "From now on, this ship will be my flagship and I name it the Queen Anne's Revenge! Tell the men on the Revenge that Richards is now in charge and that any men that wish to join me on this frigate may meet me here." Captain Teach gives a good laugh then takes a good look at his new flagship. "What a beaut she is..."
  
  After a few more minutes, Captain Teach tells you that you are no longer needed so you return to your own ship with Fin. Once your feet hit the deck of the ship, you retire to your cabin as Fin returns to his daily duties. You sit in silence as you rest your eyes, drifting into slumber...
  
  What awaits me next in this life?
  
  > Time passes
  The next day...
  
  "All hands on deck! Everyone to their stations now!"
  
  You run across the deck, the thunder of your steps ringing in your ears, as you dodge several of your own members attempting to get to the helm of the ship. Suddenly a crash of sound explodes in the air as the Queen Anne's Revenge fires her wall of cannons toward the target. Some of the iron bullets strike the ship, splitting the bow and splintering several chunks of wood on the side of the ship.
  
  You command several men to go below decks and to light up the cannons for a backup volley. As you do, several small firearms from the top deck of the enemy ship are being fired by the crew and one bullet barely grazes your sleeve. You wince in fear however shake it off then take cover in the entrance of your cabin.
  
  About five minutes ago, Captain Teach and his fleet spotted the merchant ship and attempted to board it, assuming it would be an easy target. However, the ship immediately parried as it saw rowboats approaching. They used pistols and muskets, firing upon the men in the ocean who barely made it out. This then erupted into an invitation for battle as Captain Teach raised his black flag and unsheathed his sword.
  
  "Give them no quarters! Send them to Hell!"
  
  You can hear Captain Teach's fearsome voice ringing across the ocean as you grab your flintlock and head out onto open decks. Suddenly as you head out, you see a flash of fire on the side of the enemy ship as it instantly fires a volley of cannonballs in the direction of the fleet.
  
  Most of the cannonballs land into the water or fly overhead however one cannonball manages to fly into the top deck of your ship, sending wood soaring in every direction as you and your men trip or get blasted back by the impact. The searing metal melts anything within direct contact and reeks of charred wood. You lie on the deck, your brain rattled by the impact of the cannonball however you quickly recover and force yourself up.
  
  Suddenly you see Fin running over, a blunderbuss held within his hands. Sweat is dripping from his forehead as he begins to worry about you.
  
  "Sir! Are you wounded? That last volley managed to hit us although fortunately no one seemed to die. Those dastardly men will pay for this!"
  
  Fin's face scrunches up as he stares out at the enemy ship, tightening his grip on the gun. You hold up your flintlock and get ready for action as you stand next to Fin.
  
  As you look out, you remember that you should have a volley attack being prepared which might do enough damage to end it however your sense of revenge has thickened. You feel as though there are better ways to deal with your enemies...
  
  > Board ship
  "Fin! Follow me! Let us take them on personally!"
  
  You and Fin run into a rowboat and cut the ropes, allowing yourself to drop onto open waters. You begin to row toward the enemy ship which attempts to flee.
  
  "Once we head there, be ready to attack!"
  
  "Yes sir!"
  
  However you would never get the chance. It was in that instant, the enemy ship fired another volley, one of the cannonballs hitting your rowboat directly. The boat split in half as you are immediately crushed by the impact of the blast. Your body turns into mush as several parts of you start to sink into the bottom of the sea.
  
  Fin loses his legs and screams as he attempts to stay afloat. However he soon drowns as he passes out from the intense pain of salt eating his flesh wound.
  
  There you died, in the battle with the Great Allen. Captain Teach would eventually win and burn the ship however he was deepenly saddened to find out about your death. He would continue to use your ship, replacing you with his boatswain and would be become the most infamous pirate of all time.