Era of a Red Sky

by Ryan Gilbert

  Grabbing his cheek, he heard the girl say with a stern voice, “Don’t you ever do that to me again.”

  Cracking his neck, he flashed her a grin, saying, “Figured that was comin’.”

  At the wheel, Clint said, “Can you both save yer lovers’ quarrel for later? We’re sort of in the middle of escaping with our lives.”

  The Red Sky and the Navy ship were headed straight for each other, neither backing down. As the two sailed ever closer, Riggs motioned for Clint to move aside as he grabbed the wheel.

  FEBOOM

  The Captain spun the wheel to the side, just barely missing the cannonball.

  FEBOOM

  This time, Riggs was just lucky enough to have the attack only hit part of the rail. He could not ignore the fact that the attacks were getting more accurate as the ships grew closer.

  “Captain, they’re getting…”

  “Fire!” Riggs shouted, interrupting Clint’s statement. As quickly as he could, he spun the Red Sky so that the port side was facing the Navy ship, all of the cannons ready to let loose their deadly barrage.

  BOOM BOOM BOOM

  Cannonballs flew through the air, pounding against the bow of the Navy ship. Several chain shots cut through the masts, sending them toppling to the side as the sound of cracking wood split the air.

  Within moments, the Navy vessel had been turned completely helpless, unable to recover from such a devastating attack.

  The pirates could see dozens of soldiers leaping over the sides of the ship, trying to avoid the falling masts. The crippled ship drifted out of control as it seemed like the wheel no longer had a steady hand holding it.

  The cannons of the Navy fell silent as the crew of soldiers broke apart, some trying to salvage the ship and others trying to escape with their lives. Those in the water tried to swim toward the pirate ship and were met with musket shots. One by one, they fell to the attacks of the pirates.

  “Catch us one o’ those cretins,” Riggs ordered, “I want to see the look on his face when I’m holdin’ his life in me hands.”

  Peering at the few remaining soldiers that still tried to stay afloat, the crew soon decided on the unlucky soul to be brought aboard. Throwing a rope down to the man, they hauled him up the side of the ship, making sure to not be gentle. Coral Jack and Morgan grabbed the man underneath his arms and dragged him to Riggs. From how the man was dressed, he seemed like he was an officer.

  “What do you want with me, you criminals?” he snarled, demanding an answer.

  Without even saying a word, Riggs unsheathed his sword, pressing the tip against the man’s neck.

  “Is this really all the gratitude you could muster?” asked Riggs, laughing in the man’s face.

  “I am Lieutenant James Mears of the English Navy. You will not treat me like a common prisoner,” spat the officer.

  Acting like he was intimidated, Riggs said, “Did ye hear that, mates? He’s a lieutenant.”

  He immediately followed that with a strong punch to the officer’s face.

  “You may be a lieutenant, but I’m a captain,” said Riggs, holding out his arms and soaking in the cheers and jeers of his crew.

  The officer spit on the ground, slowly getting to his feet. He quickly tried to throw a punch, but Riggs ducked to the side of the flying fist, driving a strike of his own across the side of the lieutenant’s head. Mears let out a wheeze as Riggs’ knee connected with his stomach, knocking the air out of him. He fell to one knee as the pirate captain laughed, grabbing him by the shoulder.

  As Riggs raised his fist to punch the officer once again, he noticed the look on the man’s face had changed to confusion rather than pain. He followed Mears’ eyes to where his crew had just parted to let Julia through.

  “You… I know you,” said Lieutenant Mears, blood dripping from his mouth.

  He pointed a finger at Julia, staring at the girl.

  “You’re the Commodore’s daughter.”

  The revelation startled the girl. Curious, she motioned to Riggs to lower his fist, something he begrudgingly obliged to do.

  “How do you know my father?” she asked, kneeling down to be at the lieutenant’s eye level.

  Casting a glance at the pirate captain holding onto his shoulder, the officer said, “I have met with your father on several occasions… before he turned his back on the Navy.”

  “Where is my father now?” Julia asked, trying to keep herself calm.

  “Ha! I would never tell that to a pirate,” said the lieutenant.

  Before Mears could say anything further, Riggs pulled him to his feet, holding on to his collar.

  “Wrong answer, mate.”

  Seizing the officer’s hand, the pirate gave a quick jerking motion with his own hand, causing the lieutenant to fall to the ground shrieking in pain. His dislocated finger rested in his clenched fist as he glared up at Riggs.

  “Answer her or I take yer whole hand off,” said the Captain, brandishing his sword.

  Turning back to Julia, Mears reluctantly replied, “Your father… has been jailed in Yorktown. He’s… awaiting trial… and will most likely be hanged.”

  “And my mother?”

  “Her fate will be the same.”

  A panicked look appeared on the girl’s face as she turned to Riggs. Looking over at her, he could see her silently begging. Before the lieutenant could react, the Captain bashed the hilt of his sword into his face. He was unconscious before he even hit the deck.

  “Riggs… can we please… can we please at least try?” asked Julia, the reality of the situation starting to sink in.

  The pirate captain was silent for a moment, taking a deep breath. Hades and Ororis were out there, bringing terror to the seas. Adding to that terror was the Navy, always on the lookout for pirate ships. One wrong move and they could end up in the same situation as the former commodore.

  Riggs still did not answer his love, instead looking around at the crew. He brought his hand to his chin, scratching at his scruff as he thought. Rather quickly, he pointed to the two newest recruits, Jasper and Morgan.

  “You two, step forward,” the Captain ordered.

  The two Navy turncoats obeyed, timidly stepping forward to stand in front of their leader.

  Reaching out, Riggs placed a hand on each of their shoulders, glaring at them from underneath his scraggly hair. His grip was tight on their shoulders, letting them know he was in charge.

  “Can I trust you mongrels?” asked the Captain.

  Jasper and Morgan looked at each other in confusion before nodding their heads.

  “Yes, Captain,” said Morgan.

  “Good, because we need your help.”

  “Our help?” asked a stunned Jasper.

  “Aye, now shut up and listen. Tell me, what did ye both do with yer Navy clothes?” asked Riggs.

  Sitting inside the prison cell, it felt like several weeks had passed. Hamond’s trial had progressed exactly how he thought it would. Admiral Carter had soured both the jury and the crowd to his former officer, leaving little chance for him to defend himself. Within mere hours, the judge had found him guilty and had sentenced him to death.

  A pirate’s death.

  Ever since that day, the Admiral had kept him locked in the prison, awaiting the date of his execution. He could do little other than sit in the corner of the cell and slowly pick at the grimy food that was given to him.

  *tap* *tap* *tap*

  The noise at the bars drew Matthew’s attention. Looking up from the bread in his hands, the former commodore was surprised to see his superior officer standing at the cell door. He was flanked by two soldiers. In between the redcoats stood a person shrouded in the shadows of the corridor.

  “What do you want, Carter? You have already gotten what you wanted,” said Hamond.

  With his typical, unemotional droll, the Admiral said, “What I wanted? You brought this on yourself, Matthew. You brought it on yourself the second you decided to join that pirate scum.”
>
  Hamond stood up, staggering over to the cell door. He stood face to face with his superior, unafraid of him.

  “My daughter happens to be a part of that pirate scum.”

  Without even so much as a blink of his eye, Carter replied, “So does the man who used to be my son.”

  Sighing, Matthew asked again, “What do you want?”

  “I want nothing, Matthew,” said the Admiral, walking over to the figure shrouded in the darkness, “However, I do believe that you would like something.”

  Reaching forward, he grabbed the figure and shoved her forward, revealing a barely standing Catherine Hamond. Her hair was more disheveled than it had ever been. Her lips were dry and cracked, multiple bruises showing in the light. The former commodore’s wife looked like she was out of breath and barely conscious.

  Matthew’s eyes opened wide at the sight of his injured wife. In a fit of anger, he threw his arms through the bars, trying to grab the Admiral’s neck.

  All he received was the butt of a musket to the side of his face.

  As Hamond fell to the ground, he heard the cell door open in front of him. Holding his swelling cheek, he looked up to see Admiral Carter staring down at him, still holding on to Catherine.

  “Do try to make the most of your last days together,” said Carter.

  With a hard shove, he pushed Catherine into the cell, sending her stumbling into her defeated husband. The cell door slammed shut behind them as Matthew caught his wife just before she fell to the ground.

  “M-Matthew…” was all that she could say as she weakly brought a hand to the side of his face.

  “It is alright, Catherine. I am here,” he said, gently easing them both to the ground.

  The former commodore did not even turn to watch Admiral Carter and his soldiers walk away. All of his focus was on his dear wife. Her being there with him just seemed to compound their trouble.

  It was then that it hit him.

  They were both going to die.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  For several days, the Hamonds did not hear anything about the hangman’s noose. The soldiers that passed their cell did not say one thing to them. They did not know what day they were to be executed. They did not know what time. They did not know anything.

  Matthew had seen dozens of hangings, many of which had been ordered by him. He had seen pirates fall toward the ground, the noose quickly yanking them to a stop. Commodore Hamond had seen many a criminal take his last breath while under his watchful eye.

  He would have never imagined being on the receiving end, and yet, here he was. He was sitting in a jail cell, helpless to do anything to forestall the judgment.

  Beside him, Catherine lay propped against his arm. For the past couple days, her sleep had become restless, disruptive even. She always seemed to wake in a panic, sweat dripping from her forehead. At least this time, it seemed like she was finally able to get some actual rest.

  As his wife lay against him, Hamond gazed down at her, trying to soak in all the details of her face. He knew that both of them were only going to be alive for a finite number of days. He wanted to be sure that her face was the last thing that he envisioned as he drifted off to paradise.

  “AUGH!”

  Catherine awoke with a start, letting out a scream.

  Holding his wife, Hamond tried to calm her as he said, “Darling, I’m here. You do not need to worry.”

  The woman let out a sigh, looking around the cell.

  “There is no way that I cannot worry,” she said, “We are both about to die, and there is nothing that we can do about it.”

  Matthew could do nothing but stare straight ahead of him, a blank look on his face as he let his wife’s words sink in. In the weeks that he had been stuck in the prison, he had become weak. He was a shell of his former self. Little was left to show that he had at one time been a powerful officer in the Navy. There was truly nothing that they could do.

  “You are right… you are right,” he murmured, feeling downcast.

  With her husband’s arm still around her, Catherine started to pray under her breath. The only thing that she could do was hope that God would save them.

  A single ray of sunlight shone through a barred window, just enough to barely illuminate the cell. The square beam forced both Matthew and Catherine to squint their eyes. With their eyes already adjusting to the darkness, it almost hurt to look directly at the light.

  “Move along. Pick up the pace, you dog.”

  A commotion in the halls disrupted the unnerving peace of the prison. Two soldiers strode down the hall, dragging another prisoner along between them. One of the prison guards followed behind, several bits of parchment in his hands.

  “And where was this one found?” asked the man with the parchment.

  “He was roaming the outskirts of the city. He didn’t think we could catch him, but we did,” said one of the soldiers.

  “Fantastic work, soldier,” said the guard, “Where, might I ask, was his ship?”

  At that moment, the prisoner threw his elbow backwards, into the soldier’s gut. The other soldier was quick to halt the outburst with a quick kick to the back of the legs. The prisoner fell to his knees, grabbing his legs in pain.

  “He didn’t say. He said he’d only tell it to the officer in charge.”

  The Hamonds could see the guard look down at the prisoner with a look of disdain on his face. It was like the man at his feet was nothing more than pathetic vermin. They still could not see who the prisoner was, but they did not actually care. He was soon to be stuck in the same situation as they were.

  “Lock him away. I will fetch Admiral Carter, and we will be rid of this… pirate,” said the guard.

  The two soldiers obeyed, unlocking the cell right next to the Hamonds and tossing the prisoner inside. As the pirate rolled across the hard floor, the door swung shut behind him, the key turning in the lock as the soldiers and guard walked away.

  Their job was nearly finished.

  With the footsteps still echoing through the halls, the pirate writhed on the ground, much to the annoyance of the former commodore. At least before, their stay had been quiet. Now, they had to deal with a ruffian who was most likely drunk, cooped up in the next cell over.

  As the man groaned in pain, Hamond said in a loud voice, “Would you mind keeping it down over there? We are trying to calm ourselves, and you are not helping.”

  To Matthew’s surprise, the groans immediately stopped. The pirate appeared to look around at his surroundings. The former commodore could barely make out scraggly hair hanging from the criminal’s head. A faint hint of maroon showed from the shirt that hung loosely from his body.

  “Calm yourselves? Why would that be, mate? Does a noose not suite ye?” asked a cocky voice.

  Hamond slowly stood up, helping his wife to her feet as well. He knew that voice. In fact, it was one he knew all too well. A mixture of emotions rushed into his mind. Elation and confusion melded into one as he stepped closer to the bars that separated the two cells.

  “Captain?” asked Hamond.

  Out of the darkness stepped Captain Riggs, his scruffy face highlighted by the ray of sunlight. There was something on the pirate’s face that the former commodore was not expecting.

  It was not dread.

  It was not fear.

  It was a grin.

  “Were you expectin’ someone else?”

  Grabbing the bars, Matthew asked, “What the hell are you doing here?”

  With his signature grin still on his face, Riggs said, “I’m here to get ye out, mate.”

  “And how do you propose to do that?”

  Wagging his finger at the former officer, the pirate said, “That’s fer me to know and you to find out.”

  In a bid of desperation, Hamond reached through the bars, latching on to Riggs’ shirt.

  “Just let me know one thing, Riggs.”

  “Name it,” said the pirate.

  Peering back at his wife, M
atthew said, “Tell us where our daughter is.”

  For a moment, Riggs let his gaze drift off into nothingness, like he was trying to remember something. Try as he might to avoid it, Hamond was growing slightly impatient.

  “Tell us,” ordered Hamond.

  At last, Riggs said, “Where she is, I don’t know. I do know that she’s safe, but that’s all I can tell ye.”

  “Thank God,” Catherine said from behind her husband.

  Faint footsteps started clomping down the hall, straight toward the two cells. All three of the prisoners could hear them. Matthew still had Riggs’ shirt in his grip, not letting go of it. He still had questions for the Captain.

  “How do you not know where Julia is, Riggs?” he asked.

  “I can’t say, or he’d hear me,” said Riggs in a hushed tone, jerking his head toward the hall.

  “I don’t care, Riggs. Just tell me.”

  Quickly, the pirate captain sighed and said, “She’s somewhere in Yorktown. That’s all I know.”

  “Was that really so bloody hard?” said Hamond with a slight snarl to his voice.

  “Hit me,” Riggs said through closed teeth.

  The sudden request caught Hamond off guard.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Hit me, you pathetic swine!” the pirate shouted.

  Navy instinct kicked in. Hamond launched his fist forward, cracking Riggs across the jaw. The pirate captain fell to one knee, holding his face.

  “Gentlemen, calm yourselves. We cannot have you killing each other before your own executions tomorrow.”

  Admiral Carter stood in the hall, flanked by two soldiers. The look on his face told the prisoners that he was slightly amused, watching his former officer beat down the disgusting vermin. Hamond looked down at Riggs, who was still holding his face. Matthew almost thought he could see a glimmer of a grin as the Captain shot a quick glance at the former commodore.

  “Captain Riggs,” said Carter, “We meet again.”

  Cracking his neck, Riggs replied, “Aye, that we do. Sort o’ wish we hadn’t though.”

  “No, Captain. This meeting could not have come soon enough,” said Carter, his face barely showing any emotion.