Endless

A Recruit

A final scream ran out from the navy officer as I shoved my sword through his heart. The crew were cleaning off the rest of the British navy.
Flames licked the side of the boat. There was only minutes until the ship sank. The mast was falling in and debris decorated the deck floor. Ignoring it all, I walked into the officer's cabin. It was very large, but most of the space was taken up by work things. On the centre of the room was an oak table with maps spread out. A compass held them down. Against the wall was a cabinet with a portrait of the king sat up beside some silverware. I opened the cabinet and took the silverware, examining its quality.
Against the back of the room was a small bed, and I draped the blanket over my shoulder, mimicking the cape the king wore in his portrait. "Here's to you," I said and tipped over a candle, "your majesty."
And I walked out of the room and back to the deck. The crew were getting back to or ship. Levi called out, "Captain! Hurry! She'll go down in a minute."
I walked over to the plank and began to return, however a scream stopped me in my tracks. It came from below deck.
Levi looked with confusion at the noise.
"I thought we cleared everyone?" I yelled towards him. He looked back and shrugged.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. Then I turned on my heel and went below deck, down two floors, covering my mouth.
The deck was filled with black smoke and red flames. I brought out my sword deciding to make this a quick trip.
There was coughing and spluttering coming from a cell, and a figure was close to the ground. I walked over and used my dagger to break the lock. I strode in and made a move to kill them.
"No! Please!" The figure moved out of the way and put his hands up. I looked at him. He was mostly covered in soot and dirt from lying on the cell floor. From what I could tell he was no older than 20. He had blue eyes and messy black hair. He looked thin and unwell.
"Please! Don't kill me!" He begged and looked up at me. He seemed surprised. "You're a pirate, yes?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" I said angrily, moving forward menacingly, preparing to strike.
"No! No! I didn't mean it like that!" He said waving his hands in apology. "I meant that- that if you will spare me, I can help you." You averted his eyes, fearful of my sword pointing at his neck.
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
A barrel next to the cell tipped over, more flames reaching us. We were getting closed in. From above I could hear Dorian calling out. "Aviva!! Hurry!"
The guy before me moved anxiously. "Please! I can tell you where to find more of the navy if you want! I'll work for you! I'll do anything! Just please don't kill me!"
I had seconds before the floor collapsed. I thought over my options. I gritted my teeth. "Fine. But you're coming with me."
I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him onto his feet. Together we mounted the stairway, choking on the ash. When we reached the deck the sun made us blink harshly.
Dorian ran across the plank to us, checking if I was okay. I nodded in reply, still trying to breathe right. "C'mon." I murmured, then we crossed onto the Queen Anne's Revenge, just as the navy boat sank behind us. The crew watched with smiles as the flaming boat was engulfed by the water.
Levi took the prisoner from my arm, and James walked towards me. "Who's this?" He said, annoyed, then pulled out a bottle and handed it to me.
I took a swig of the rum he had offered me, thanking him. My throat cleared, I replied, "some prisoner they had in the cells. Says he can give locations of more navy scum."
James turned and looked at him. In the sunlight his appearance was a bit clearer. His clothes were tattered and they hung off of his body. His hair, it turned out, was actually quite a light colour, and my mistaking it for black had been because of the soot that rested in it. He was tall, and seemed as though he would have been quite strong before his evident capture.
"You." I pointed at him. "Where do you come from?"
He looked about him nervously. Levi shoved him forward.
"I- I come from a ship." He said. We laughed.
"We've seen plenty of those boy," said Jack, our best archer. "Gonna have to be more specific."
The guy looked uncomfortable. "Alright," he said, "the Western Sailor. I'm a pirate too. Or was."
"Western sailor, eh?" James said, raising an eyebrow and looking at me. "I haven't heard o' that one."
"We weren't that well known." He said, looking embarrassed. Then he saw something out of the corner of his eye and cried out. "Is this Blackbeard's ship?" He exclaimed, terrified, pointing to the head on the mast, long withered  but still recognisable. "Look here, I didn't mean any trouble- I didn't know- Blackbeard?- I haven't- I didn't- I don't-"
"-Calm down you'll give yourself a heart attack." Said Dorian. "Yes this is Blackbeard's ship. We are the crew of the Queen Anne's Revenge. Our captain killed Blackbeard and our captain'll kill you too. Unless you answer our questions and give us what we want."
"Right," he said, looking more scared. He turned to Levi. "I'm from the Western Sailor and I know how to find some of the British-"
"Direct your answers to the Captain Devilsblood boy!" Barked Levi.
"Right" he said, and turned to James, "sorry Captain Devilsblood-" The crew erupted into laughter. The guy looked about him wildly.
James grinned. "I ain't the captain." He said and directed his hand to me. "This be our captain."
I raised one eyebrow and grinned. "Welcome aboard."
The guy stared at me. The crew laughed even harder.
"I'm sorry Captain." he begged.
I waved my hand brushing it off. "Let's start over. Prove to me that I need you alive. You haven't yet told us your name. Let's start there."
He nodded and breathed in. "My name's Ryder, I'm from the Western Sailor and I can give you the locations of the nearby Royal British Naval Boats. I can-"
"Yep that's good enough." I said and he frowned. "Welcome aboard Ryder. Can you fight?"
Ryder looked confused. "Yes I think so but don't you need more information?"
"No we're good to go. You'll be on the second floor down, sleeping next to Bill."
And I left to go to the steering wheel. The crew dispersed and Ryder was left standing alone on the deck.
"So....what?" Ryder said looking about him.
"Can you point out the locations on this map of the navy?" Dorian said, appearing behind him.
"Umm yes..." Ryder said and then proceeded to point at the paper, whilst Dorian marked on it with a pencil.
"Good." Dorian said nodding. "On you go then." And Ryder walked off, looking behind towards Dorian and I, confused.
"Well?" I said, as Dorian walked up to me.
"We've got our next points." He said.
"Bearing?" I asked.
"East, south east." He said, as I adjusted the wheel to fit my compass.
The ship turned to fit, and we began our next voyage.