CHAPTER - 2 [In Search For A Crew, Part-II]

[Rimmy'Bar] today was closed causing many regular visitors to slug and find other bars for drinking.

Currently inside [Rimmy'Bar], Rimmy sat on top of the counter with a somewhat curious look. She eyed the man, who sat near the counter with his long brown coat hung on the backrest of the chair.

"What do you think of them? I couldn't find anymore."

She said to the man with a helpless smile. The man nodded his head, then turned to face the twenty individuals seated across the bar.

"Anyone wants to leave, this will be your last chance. After that, if someone does, they can only do it if they are dead."

He said in a loud voice making sure everyone heard him clearly. The candle lights in the bar, illustrated the inner outlines with flickering shadows.

The man stood up from the chair, then walked before them. His pale face, added to that was his cold look, made some of them gulp in their saliva.

"My name, I shall not need it. From now on, you all will call me only Captain. I have a nickname though, it's Corpse. Captain Corpse."

"Aye Captain!"

The loud affirmation from the middle aged man sitting just before Corpse resonated in the silent bar. With a smile, Corpse gave a nod to him.

"This is what I want. Pirate, what's your good name?"

He asked the middle aged man. Slightly longer beard than Corpse's, short brown hair, a wrinkled face, with a grinning mouth, the man replied with his head high.

"Name is Jackson, Captain."

Corpse smiled then shifted his eyes back to the rest of the individuals sitting behind Jackson. One of them was a very young man, and there was another one who appeared to be at the age where one must be having a foot in the grave.

Chuckling in seeing such a wondrous surprise, Corpse took in a deep breath then continued.

"The sea is dangerous, everyone knows. And it becomes even more dangerous when there's a bounty on your head. Being a pirate in itself is walking on the path to death. But there's always methods to escape death which I will later explain when we have left the island."

Hearing about the topic relating to escape death, everyone's eyes shined brighter and their expectations of Corpse increased.

"Mates! This is a toast to our start! Our journey at sea! As pirates!"

"Aye, Captain!"

Corpse picked up the wooden mug filled with rum, then declared loudly. Each individual including Rimmy lifted up their mug and rejoiced.

***

FLASH!

Two thick branches of lightning extended down from the dark clouds in the sky, bright enough to make the landscape visible for a second.

GRM!

The late roars of thunder shook the sky, waves traveling far and pushing the rain down. The dark rainy clouds rolled in the sky, drops of rain falling down each time they clashed with one another.

"Load the cannons you miserable illiterates! Don't forget no cannonballs behind!"

Shouted Corpse, who clenched himself on the web of ropes on the freeboard. With the heavy rain all his clothes were wet to the deepest parts, his hair stuck to his face.

Each time he wiped his face, more rain water would pour down on his head. He raised his right hand which was free, and blocked the rain drops from hitting his eyes.

Below, fifteen pirates pulled four heavy cannons and left a long trail of lines on the now muddy ground. The other five pirates, one of whom was Jackson, were up on deck managing the ropes used for pulling the cannons on board.

They had started loading all the necessary equipment, weapons, clean water, food and even alive animals.

These all were, after all, required at the sea when sailing for days or months. Once the cannons were brought up, next was the turn of a special weapon created by Corpse.

"Ahhge! Push harder!"

"Push! One, two, push!"

The fifteen pirates on the land hurried and came back with four huge cannon-like weapons, but unlike cannons, these were used to shoot upwards.

"Captain, why do we need mortars?"

Asked Jackson from behind the traffrail. Corpse looked at him then shifted his eyes back on the mortars with a grin.

"Ah we will definitely need them!"

Corpse slammed his hand on the freeboard then rushed the pirates to carry the mortars faster. They had to leave before sunrise because of all the commotion they caused by stealing these cannons and other ship equipment.

"Hahaha! On board, now!"

After the mortars were loaded, Corpse shouted at all the pirates on land. He was also about to climb up when his eyes caught the figure walking towards them from the shadows.

"Why are you here?"

Due to the heavy rain and the loud thunder every now and then, Corpse had to shout at the approaching person. He could already identify which person this silhouette belonged to thanks to the bright light from the lightning.

"Am I not allowed to witness your departure?"

Rimmy shouted back at Corpse. Rain had got her as well, her hair stuck on her face similar to Corpse, she wiped her face then walked towards the ship.

"You're forgetting something."

She said while showing her hand, which was kept behind her back from Corpse's sight. It was a three-cornered leather hat, a symbol of Pirate Captain.

"Set sail!"

Corpse slammed the freeboard once again, then jumped down on the land before Rimmy.

THUD!

Mud splashed on his boots, but he cared not for such trivial things. Rimmy slowly walked and came in front of him with the hat on her hands.

Raising the hat, she gently positioned it on his head so one of the cornered ends pointed to the front.

"Haah…"

She sighed as her hands backed, her eyes trembled with various emotions in them. Looking at Corpse now, he seemed to be going distant.

"Captain?"

Jackson, standing beside others on the ship deck shouted. The ship had already started moving further from the land.

Corpse turned his eyes to the ship, his beloved, and his crew. Then, he shifted his attention back to Rimmy.

"This could be the last time we meet."

He said in a soft voice while adjusting Rimmy's hair. His cold hands caressed her smooth and warm cheeks.

"Go. It's what you want."

Rimmy placed her palms on his broad chest, and pushed him away from herself. Her head lowered and her eyes closed.

The considerate push from her was enough for Corpse to understand, she was putting his fate in his own hands. It was going to be a heavy load, his fate in his hands.

Even the smallest decision he will make in the future, will be a part leading to his fate of the unknown.

"Haha… I will be back."

Corpse smiled at her, then immediately made a dash towards the pirate ship, his beloved. His legs stretched out to full extent as he leaped from the edge of land, his body like a bullet pierced the air and came to the ship's freeboard.

GRAB!

His hands caught the ropes. Pulling up himself on the deck, he adjusted his hat which was slightly off because of his long jump and the push of the strong wind.

"YOU BETTER NOT DIE WITHOUT ME!"

Even with the loud noise of the rain, and the roaring thunder, Rimmy's heaven reaching shout couldn't be suppressed. No, it was more than just a shout.

It was a threat.

"Hehe. Everyone! Hoist our flag!"

Corpse said he walked towards the helm on the right side of the quarterdeck behind the main mast. With each step on the stairs to the helm, his shoulder widened.

His left hand traced along the polished surface of the traffrail, his long brown coat swayed with the wind.

Jackson quickly and quietly followed behind Corpse to the helm with an excited expression. As the ship was sailing towards the deep waters, the sea waves were becoming more frequent.

"Huuu…"

Standing behind the ship's wheel, the steer or more commonly known as the helm, Corpse moved his left hand on the edge of the wheel that had many handles for holding on and steering the ship.

The young man, wearing a blue bandana with tiny skulls designed on it, swiftly tied the pirate flag on the long rope.

"Rise it!"

Corpse ordered with a grin, his left hand steered the wheel and put the ship on its right track. The sharp front of the ship cuts through the large and high waves like thin air.

Gripping on the other half of the rope, the young man pulled it down as the part of the rope tied with the flag rose up.

GRM!

Lightning continued to befall and thunder rumbled down. With bright flashes, Corpse spun the wheel and the ship pushed through with the strong winds.

The pirate flag, completely colored with an emerald glow and a human skull with two bones crossing behind it, swerved and waved in the air at the top of the ship's main mast.

"All hands on deck! We will tear through this storm and make way!"

Shouted Corpse. Jackson immediately repeated his words while getting on work himself. Some managed the ropes, some tightened the sails, while some screwed the cannons and mortars on the deck so they wouldn't rock around.

"Hahah! My Beloved! Show your magic! Sail with the wind! Cut through the waves! Terror the sea!"

Corpse's laughter resonated in the ship. The sails that were tightened by the crew loosened and spread wide to gather more wind energy.

A tremor of vibration traveled throughout the ship. It was as if even the smallest piece of object, the nail, used in the creation of the ship, came alive.

"What's happening?"

"This! The ship's sailing faster! She is sailing faster!"

"Waaahh! Go! Tear the storm!"

The crew cheered as they found that the ship gained a boost and was traveling faster. Most of the ships they boarded didn't have such speed.

"Captain, she is very fast!"

Jackson hurried to Corpse's side and said with a huge smile. Corpse heard his words, it made his heart happier.

"Of course she is! She is the best, that's what my beloved is!"