Chapter II - The Island Of Babylon

I wasn't out that long, as the boat started to move with the wind as I opened my eyes. My eyes were in immense pain, my hands and legs were bounded with chains.

So moving around wasn't much of an option, looking up I tried to see my attractive captive.

"Was it something I said"? I asked a little groggy from the blow to the head.

She kicked me in the stomach and continued to sail the boat. Pain stung deep in my gut and wouldn't go away, it was a pain that didn't fade away.

I decided not to talk as my savior and captive was sailing us to Babylon Island.

Even though I decided not to talk I couldn't help but mumble out painfully, "am I going to prison"?

At first I expected another kick but she didn't that is right away. Kicking me in the knees which made them feel like they might come out of joint she then spoke to me plainly.

"You're gonna be charged and burnt alive for your sins pirate", those words had a bitter finality to them.

"I didn't even want to be a pirate", I said trying to sound defiant.

To which I got a swift kick to the forehead with the bottom of her foots. She also must of stepped in something because it stuck there, and it smelled like fish guts.

"Don't whine! Being a pirate and bearing the mark are unforgivable to all life, whether you meant to or not. Being pirate maybe one thing but a marked pirate is one damned to the devil for all eternity. Whether you knew it or not, you are to be executed".

With a feeling of wanting to vomit my insides out I rolled to my stomach. Then I let out what little liquid was left in my stomach. The taste of it in my mouth made me want to vomit again. Taking offense to me being sick, she came over and stomped on the back on my head, rubbing my face in my own sick.

Now even has a I am a man I am not ashamed to admit I cried. Not like something when I was hurt beyond belief or lost some I loved it was a more bitter cry. A bone eating sense of losing something that I didn't even allow to be gambled. My life was a pit of suffering and was to end with a painful end.

"Don't they just hang pirates on Babylon island? And please don't hit me again", I said sobbing as I rolled on my back.

At least she didn't hit me again, perhaps I was more charming than I thought.

That delusion was soon broken by her words, "you are pathetic.I would pity you if you were any other kind of scum. And you're thinking of the islands council of ministers, their courts hang you. As well as the navy, we of the Coats of Leviathan burn scum like you".

I never knew anything about the Coats of Leviathans, only that they seemed to be looking for Captain Blood Teeth. Perhaps I thought, I could use what information I knew to get myself off the burning pyre.

Still I knew I couldn't just blurt it out, I needed to play it casual. If she doesn't believe me or thinks I am hiding something she might just leave me to my execution. I didn't want to die in prison but both hanging and burning weren't pleasing alternatives.

"I've heard of your group before, I believe Captain Blood Teeth mentioned you", I said trying not to show my hand.

She held the steering rudder not making any sound and her hood hid her face. I must of said something interesting at least, she didn't hit me again.

"You are a member of his crew"? She finally asked as the wind picked up, moving us faster towards the island.

"Yes", I said after taken a few moments to think. I didn't want to take too long to answer. Bad liars have trouble answering simple questions. "I used to be that is", I corrected myself. I wanted to paint myself as a victim of circumstance, hopefully they took that into consideration.

"There is no used to with a monster like him, he isn't like any other pirate that sails these seas. For being on his ship and working with his crew you should know this well", she said with a sound of anger in her voice.

Did she know him? I couldn't be sure but I didn't want to make her mad. She hits really hard.

I tried to cover myself a bit more, "I couldn't pay a tab at a pub on Croater island months ago. I got there from my home island looking for adventure. Instead I was sold to him and put to work on his crew. Whatever a mark is, I think it has to do with that knife and his blood".

After saying my peace I wanted for her to respond, it was awhile before she spoke again.

"You can't save yourself you know, once marked you are to be executed no matter what circumstance. Its the blood, his blood. Cursed by the devil himself it allows Blood Teeth to have powers of life and death. The more he marks the stronger he gets, there is no choice. You must die, his blood is your blood, he is a part of you. Consider it a mercy, he can control you beyond death".

I was scared and felt like lead was weighing down my heart. My life was over, after escaping from my personal hell I was just going to die. Where was my chance at a adventure I dreamed of in my youth. I felt so old then, like I hadn't seen home in years. The trees, the huts, and my ugly family.

"I don't want to die", I said sobbing again as my eyes itched and burned. No more tears, I guess I hadn't drank anything in awhile.

There was a pause but then she said to me, "it isn't my fault what happened to you. But I do pity your circumstances, but I do need to know where he was going"?

At first I wanted to tell her to go to hell, but I knew she hurt me again. Only now did she pity me enough not to harm me, so I decided just to tell her. Maybe then she could kill that bastard after I'm burned alive.

"After he punished Croft for telling the Coats where Rock Island was moved, he said he was going to move it again. Then he was going to stay docked there", I told her and felt a chest shaking sigh escape my lips.

Depressed I turned upwards and allowed the harsh sun to burn my face.

"When did he say this"? She asked me but I was too bitter to talk.

Getting from her seat she drew her dagger and put it to my throat.

"Tell me or I'll cut your throat open"! She said angrily as her spit flew and hit my face. I was glad it wasn't her blood but still it was disgusting.

That was when I could see her through the hood, she had some facial hair. Also a less womanly face, without the voice and womanly figure I'd figure her as a man.

I should've known better but I asked, "are you a man or a woman"?

In hindsight I should've expect the knee to the groin. I should've said, 'go ahead I prefer that then burning to death'. That could've been something a real adventuring sailor would say, a real man would have such sit.

My father once said I had the sense of a coconut with a hole in it, I didn't get the metaphor then and I don't get it now.

"Tell me when or you'll feel worse than this", she or he said as I screamed out in pain.

"Half a week at least, it was a day and a half before that big storm. Please stop its killing me", I pleaded.

Removing the knee the Coat went back to his or her seat. Looking as though he or she was contemplating something, while I laid back in complete misery.

We remained silent as the wind blew, the boat was swift with the wind. With the sun passing to mid afternoon I watched it roam the sky. Leaving me with a sun burnt face but at least it allowed me to feel something. For a long time since hearing of my fate I felt numbed. Almost froze on the inside by how unfair life was or at least my own.

Born into a incestuious family on a romote island I was dreaming of adventures on the sea. Once there a man who I admired sent me into a den of women who got me so drunk I couldn't remember a thing. Then sold me to a hateful bloody mouthed pirate who may or may not be a demonic creature from hell. Finally after months of suffering I escape, only to be condemned by having a mark forced upon me, it was disheartening.

As my captor started to slacken the sail I lifted my head, seeing that we were entering a port. It was a small dock with other small sailboats and a few brig sized ships. There were buildings made out of stone which looked shops. Looking around I saw the dock ended at a stone road which lead up to stairs.

Going up a cliff I saw at the top was a large building of stone, a fortress with a fire burning at a tower facing the cliff. I didn't care about the name of the place but the fire was reminiscent of my inevitable doom.

After the boat was docked and tied by my captor I was dragged to my feet. In those damn heavy chains, it made it impossible for me to walk right onto the dock. I had little trouble getting my sea legs, the trouble was finding my land legs.

Falling over twice before I was held up straight by the forceful strength of the Coat. No women I met had such raw strength, but then again no man I saw had such good birthing hips.

Either it was a feminine man or one hell of a woman. Half dragging me the Coat brought me to a building with another hooded person standing there wearing a similar outfit. This one I knew was a man by the bulky broad frame and amazing height.

"I've found this pirate in the gulf. He has the smell of the mark all over him", said my captor. As the other Coat sniffed at me he made a displeased grunt as he took my other side.

Both lifting me to my feet they took me to the end of the dock and up the stairs. The vendors and people walking about looked at me and were obviously gossiping among themselves. I saw children for the first time since leaving home. Beautiful children two boys and a girl watching me as they played in the dirt. At least I thought it was dirt, the smell of dung was evident as we passed the children.

Sadly that reminded me of home and my youth with my cousins and siblings. Memories of childhood are always more bitter than sweet the more you get older. Maybe it was good I was going to be dead after all. A sense of perspective would've been better for me to have at that moment than a chance for a pardon of execution.

Climbing the stairs was no problem I lifted my legs up which was a little uncomfortable due to the iron chains. The Coats managed to carry me like I was a sack of feathers. Twisting leftwards mid step I got to see the island from the mid point of the cliff.

Trees fuller and far taller than the ones home, distant buildings, towns, ports, and riding hills made me held my breath. A sight that I only heard in stories, true Croater island was just a bigger island than my home. Same kind of buildings maybe a bit fancier and better looking woman but it felt too similar.

The island Babylon skies were brighter the wind blew fresher and the diversity of vegetation was fascinating. What can I say to describe my feelings at that moment. For the first time I think I was experience the same wonderment of a grand adventure.

"It's wonderful", I said forgetting my fate and my pain as I was turned by those who held me by my side.

They didn't respond to my comment, keeping quiet I looked up the stairs and saw they ended at a large iron door. Partly rusted but it looked solid, there was no latch on the outside.

As me and my captors approached it opened on its own, I didn't see anyone at the door. Inside was pure blackness and it scared me terribly. As we entered the doorway the light seemed to vanish.

Hearing the heavy door close there was a finality to it all, not stopping I was taken down stairs. Through a hallways and chambers. There was no light, window, or anything I could see in the darkness. Looking to my companions I saw that they were probably not human. For their eyes glowed in the dark, like a cat or dog in a darkened room.

Soon I started to see fleeting sights of the glowing eyes in the darkness. All around in the dark I had a feeling that there were occupied in the darkness by the Coats of Leviathans. No wonder Captain Blood Teeth feared them, if I was him I'd avoid these inhuman beings. Then again I'd avoid Captain Blood Teeth, he was probably as inhuman as they were, if I had to choose I'd pick the Coats. At least they didn't come close to the cruelty of the Captain, yet anyway.

After descending a pair of stairs I heard the slosh of water, lowering my legs I felt the cold sting of water. Having lost my shoes and shirt I was feeling the cold chill inside of the fort.

"What is this place? Why is there water"? I asked.

A clear manly voice from the darkness ahead answered me, not those carrying me but someone hidden in the darkness.

"This is the prisons of the Fort of Dagon, named after our God of famine. Be careful in touching the water, sometimes mermen and merwomen sneak through the openings in the walls. They love the taste of human flesh, so be careful pirate".

The warning was a veiled threat, looking around I couldn't see the eyes of the one who spoke to move. Further on I eventually felt the chilling water come to my waste. The fort must be built inside of the cliff and it goes all the way into the water underground.

Not even a minute went by until I was feeling the deathly cold of the water.

"Please for the love of the Gods put me into a cell before I die of this cold", I said between chattering teeth.

As if they answered my plea they went opened a door and put me inside somewhere with no water. Hearing the door close and lock behind me I could see nothing but the dark.

"How long do I stay here"? I asked feeling the cold wetness stick in my legs like needles.

The womanly voiced one said, "until your formal trial, followed by immediate execution".

Splashes of feet in the water moved away from me, so I tried calling out. "Wait please, I don't want to be left alone in the dark".

The man's voice who told me of the mermaids said, "too bad. The light hurts their eyes".

"Whose"? I asked as I stepped to the far wall fearing of a cold hand to reach at me from the water.

"The mermen and merwomen, they are excellent guards and are quite adept at opening the cells. Be cautious if you hear their call. The best thing for you to do is be as quiet as the dead".

I took that as a threat wrapt in helpful advice, holding my numb cold legs to my chest I tried to stay calm.

The cold of the jail made me sleepy, and I fell asleep for a good while. I remember I was a wonderful dream of rowing a boat on gentle waters with warm sun. As I heard the distant singing of women and men but I looked around and saw no one.

Still they son was quite nice and I remember humming the tune as I listened to their song. Rowing the boat through the warmth of the sea.

Delightful waters are gentle to sail, swim deep and stay below the waves. Teeth like precious stones dig into the bones, taking parts of you. Skin comes red, hair flows upwards in the water. Soon you will be gutted and eaten for our dinner.

Admittedly the lyrics were not the best I heard in son but the voices were like each one had its own chorus. Echoing in my mind making my fears and anxieties gone. Leaving me content in my dream. Until I heard a scream, waking up abruptly I could hear the cries of someone down further in the dungeon.

"No please, no help! They got me help"! The words disappeared. Full of fear the voice seemed to be drowned into the water.

Silence filled the dungeon, I wondered if the guards really would allow monsters from the sea to eat prisoners.

Delightful waters are gentle to sail, swim deep and stay below the waves. Nothing like fresh kill, blood tastes nicely in the water.

Clear as was the guards lack of empathy for those they jailed in the prison. Also is it clear how merpeople didn't need to write their own songs. Lyricists they were not, frightening but not poets.

Huddles against the wall I waited feeling my breathing heavy and my heart threatening to give out in each beat. As I heard the song of the merpeople as they swam around the prison.

Again I heard another cry of a man this time closer to where I was imprisoned. Silence, then the singing began again rising up again soon followed by another man's cries for help. The pattern continued again and again, coming closer and closer with every repeat.

The next man to give out a cry was not too far away, probably two or three cells away. Holding my breath I heard him scream and then the sound of him going underwater. Dragged to his death, I wished I was back home.

Silence came, I prayed to my Gods that they had their fill and were gone.

Delightful waters are gentle to sail, swim deep and stay below the waves. Teeth like precious stones dig into the bones, taking parts of you. Skin comes red, hair flows upwards in the water. We dine on man flesh, so speak your prayers and joins us under the waters.

Each verse had them come closer and closer to where I was held prisoner. I swore on my life then if I didn't get eaten I'd do something good with my life.

I prayed silently to my Gods if they spared my life I'd do the best I could to make the world better. Tears formed in my eyes, but I didn't let out a sob until I heard them fiddle with my cell lock.

They were singing as they we coming to get me, I looked out at them as saw there many eyes looking back. Glowing eyes like the waves of the sea water in the starlight. Hearing the rusty sound of my cell open I panicked, what could I do to save my skin.

The singing continued and I could feel the cold of their hands reach out for me, nothing else came to mind.

Except an idea so stupid, it was worth a try having nothing else to lose.

I sang back.

Sim-do-dee-la, sim-do-dee-la, sim-do-dee-la

What'cha doing uncle, what'cha doing uncle

there is rum in the jug. Borrowing my brothers skid I went down stream and met with a buccaneer. Taking my cutlass I held him hostage, robbing him of his coins and went on my wa

They tried singing louder but I drowned them out with my suddenly boisterous singing voice. Even as they grabbed me I held onto the bars of my cell and sang even louder. As they moaned and shrieked in displeasure I sang even louder just to spite the swimming buggers.

Sim-do-dee-la, sim-do-dee-la, sim-do-dee-la

What'cha doing uncle, what'cha doing uncle

there is rum in the jug. Taking the coins I showed them to my wife, she hit me and cussed but she still would kiss me. But damn the women for they too good at lying.

Sim-do-dee-la, sim-do-dee-la, sim-do-dee-la

What'cha doing uncle, what'cha doing uncle

there is rum in the jug. As I went to bed to sleep off my hangover I dreamed of pretty girls. That was when my wife stole the coins and called for the law.

Sim-do-dee-la, sim-do-dee-la, sim-do-dee-la

What'cha doing uncle, what'cha doing uncle

there is rum in the jug.

Unable to stand my singing the merpeople gave up and started to swim away. Deviantly I poked my head out of my cell door and sang out, sending my voice after them. Then I closed my cell again hearing the lock snap back again. Shaking from what happened and singing so loudly I let out a sigh of relief.

Walking back I placed my back to the wall and started breathing. Smiling I was overjoyed to be alive again.

"I guess I out sang them", I said to myself proudly.

Hearing again the manly voice from down the dungeon mocking me; "I think it was that you sang so badly they couldn't stand it anymore.

To that I stuck out my tongue and blew him a raspberry. "You're just saying that because you weren't man enough to do your own job, of looking after the prisoners".

Laughing at my comment the voice responded, "they don't care if the merpeople don't get you, you'll just burn at the stake. Tomorrow in fact, they sentence you to death being as you're marked".

He sounded really smug so I decided to get into a verbal tussle with him, "oh yeah and how would you know anyway? Its not like you can see anymore where the dagger touched my anyway, you smug son of a bitch". I said sounding crossed at his behaviour.

Again that smug laughter, "anyone can tell by just smelling you. The blood of a foul damned pirate has marked you, few can do that, leave such a disgusting scent. Your existence causes pain and suffering, it gives strength and power to your captain as long as you live. Killing you is demanded by Dagon and other Leviathans of the ocean".

I felt like he was just talking to upset me, as if he was bored and has taken to causing me torment.

Breathing out in frustration I decided to call him out, "you're full of shit. If I am to be dead by tomorrow then what about the other men in their cells"?

"What men"? He asked in a innocent voice of feigned ignorance.

Through my tightening jaw I said with an enraged cry, "the men you let die to those sea beats"! My voice echoed in the dungeon.

"Careful" said the voice, "you might bring them back". Laughing to himself as he spoke like it was a amusing to him. "Those were just pirates, there weren't marked. They would just have to stay here until the court can hear their case. Shame almost none get to their trial. Not even the marked ones, but I suppose you're one of the lucky few".

Continuing his laughing in the dark, I decided to ignore him and not talk to him. Too afraid of being caught by the merpeople while sleeping I kept awake. The cold wasn't so bad then but where the merpeople touched me started to hurt like a skin rash.

Hours must of past and I may have nodded off but I would force myself to keep my eyes open. The first sound of splashing water made my alert. Was it the merpeople? No, it wasn't they were legs walking in the water. My legs fell asleep so I stood up in my cell to get the blood flow back.

Rubbery and uncertain with each step, the cells of my door open and I saw glowing eyes of a Coat. Looking at me, it is unnerving to be unable to see someone in a dark place but they can see you. It leaves me at a disadvantage in any aspect, confidence being the one I was worried about.

Without any confidence I couldn't think of a way to save my life. If being in the dungeons taught me anything is that I wanted to live. The world may not be fair but I deserve the right to live. What sins I commit from then on would be to balance the scales against the unfairness of life.

Up the fortress I was taken, past the water and through the darkness. Only on Coat, I suppose they didn't expect me to put up a fight. Cold from the darkness of the fort and being soaked the waist down from the water made it worse. I was so glad when a door open and I was brought into a room with a nice large fire.

I enjoyed the warmth and light it gave off but feared it was the pyre they planned to burn me on, still I could see again. Only briefly I saw another man, in chains on the other side of the fire. Standing before three people on a large podium, seated at a long table made of black stone. Each one was dressed in fine robes.

A old man sat in the middle, he was old saggy faced and had lost all his hair and teeth. Ears pointed and curled away from his face, his lips were large and his eyes glowed a faint gold. The one on the left was a women, short hair like a man the color of black, fitted in the background of darkness. Eyes of darkness as well, she had sharp looking teeth and light blue lips. With skin as white and smooth as a pearl. Finally to the right was a man with two eyes closed. However on his forehead was a large red coloured eye ball with a gold light shining in the centre. Larger than the rest of the people he must be at least twelve feet tall, with thick stone limbs. A Cyclops from the stories I heard, people of a south sea.

Most of what I heard of them were bad things, very few had good things to say. Then again they were the ones who weren't missing limbs. Swallowing hard I watched them look at this man who was talking to them, I couldn't hear what they were saying.

I was carried by the coat to the other end of the chamber, coming to an iron door it opened on its own. Inside by the light of the fire I saw supplies, cannonballs, ropes, food, and boxes. Pushed inside I stubbed my numb foot on a cannonball, hurt immensely I gave out an agitated grunt. The door closed behind me, left alone in the darkness.

That place was there they put those waiting for their judgement, the other man outside must be pleading his case. I didn't get a good look at him but he looked like any other guy I suppose. Still he didn't look like he was winning those three over, I figured then they were judges. I must be brought there to wait for them to hear my case. From what I was told justice was not sure to happen. Or at least what I consider justice, innocence does not equate being good or having good intentions.

Then again in my case it was intentions that at the very least had no evil in them. What was I to do, I only guessed my fate would land me in the fire after they heard me out. No one from the Coats of Leviathans seemed to care of anyone they had in their custodies well being. Merpeople, freezing cells, and now waiting in a dark storage room with barrels filled with possible food.

I realized I hadn't eaten or drank anything proper for days feeling the want for food I checked the room. Open crates and barrels as quietly as I could I felt into each one. One was spice, I tasted it, boy it was foul. My clumsiness caused the barrel to almost to topple over. Still some of the foul spice fell out, weighing into my pockets. Although moistened my clothes were no longer completely soaked.

I must've made too much noise because the iron door was opening. Quickly I closed the barrell and stood still, unmoving like a rock. The Coat looked in on me then after a moment closed the door again. In vain I searched for food but found only apples, I hated apples. Ever since I bit into a wormy one when I was in my early teens. I couldn't stop vomiting, skipping all meals for the rest of the day. From then on I swore off apples and anything cooked with apples.

Cider was alright, at least there was little chance for worms to be swimming around in the jug.

My efforts to find food was halted by screaming from the chamber. Pleas for mercy, which got quieter and more distant. Then came a loud slamming of a door then the door of the storage room was flung open. Light of the fire came in as the Coat reached in and grabbed me, holding me tight I was brought before the three judges.

Set before them the Coat walked away, I could see other Coats more clearly lining the walls behind the judges. Next to another iron door. Sighing I turned to face the podium and I waited.

Nothing happened, silence filled the room for the longest time it seemed.

Until the old man said, "do you have anything to say in your defense marked one? Before we burn you at the stake"?

To that I only had one thing to say, "what is the use of a defense if I am just to be put to death. Defeats the purpose doesn't it"?

The women at the podium chuckled and the cyclops nodded as if he agreed.

Giving me a weary sigh the old man said to me, "this is simply a formality. You are marked, there is no hope for you I am sorry to say. Regardless of your crimes this is a offense of the faith that cannot be allowed".

Dejected I put my hands in my pocket, the spice inside of it covered my hands. I looked around and saw glowing eyes in the fire light looking at me, even in some dark they glowed. Freaky bastards, I wanted to yell. To throw a fit, to do anything that could give them pause.

"Is there anything I could say or do to save my life"? I asked looking up at the podium.

The answer was swift and didn't have any time to think of a softer way to answer, "no".

Must of answered that question countless times, so to that I felt a sense of relief. I was dead no matter so why bother.

"Do you have anything else to say"? asked the old man.

To which I replied in a sarcastic and bitter way, "fuck it"! Flinging my arms backwards sending two handfuls of the spice into the fire. What happened next was like one of the Gods coming down to end my life. There was an explosion, fire, rock, and a large light that blinded my sight.

Knocked to my knees by the blast I felt like I was compelled by providence to kneel. On my knees I was blinded, saw nothing but white and ringing all around. I could've sworn I felt like the fires of hell were scratching at my back. Coming to my feet shaking I wondered what happened.

Focus coming back to me I looked around and saw fire, and Coats running around. Trying to say the judges and putting out the fire all around. I could see clearer, so much clearer there was light! Looking towards the light I saw the wall was blasted apart and was still crumbling. The pyre had dispersed and spread around leaving a small flame behind.

There was my chance, my escape. Before the Coats knew it I was running towards the hole in the wall of the fort. They were too busy in the fire to notice, when I stood outside I felt a sense of freedom overwhelm my entire being. It wasn't long before someone pointed out my escape, so I foolishly jumped head first over a piece of the wall. Not checking at what was lying before me, I was facing the cliff on the other side of the fort. Facing the rest of Babylon island.

Luckily it was a sloped cliff with thorny bushes and hard wooden tropical trees. Getting cut and bruised I rolled down the slanted slope of the cliff I came to a drop.

No more slope I landed on a palm tree a few feet below the drop. Falling over it failing to balance my landing I fell over the top, grabbing the trunk of the tree I slid down. Scrapping my skin against the wood of the palm tree as I fell down to the ground. By the time I stopped sliding I was a foot from the ground and my arms were bleeding. The skin was ripped off as by the bark of the tree.

Wet with blood, I gave a cry of pain,through my tears I smiled. I had escaped the Fort Dagon. Still I heard above me a bell giving out a alarm and sound of people coming to the cliff. Obviously I needed to run into the jungle of the island in hopes of losing their pursuit. I could then think of a way to get off Babylon Island and hopefully get home.

I had enough adventures, I wanted to be safe on my home island. Home where the only strangers were crews of trading ships and my ugly family. Incestual relations didn't seem so bad compared to mean strumpets, pirate captains, sea monsters, and being sentenced to die. Running into the jungle I went through fine, tree, and brush to put distance between my and the voices.

How did the explosion happen? I thought to myself as I ran for my life, was it the Gods? No, they would've killed the Coats for trying to kill one of their faithful.

Then I remembered what I did before, I threw the spice towards the fire. Why would they keep spice with cannonballs and rope? Unless it was gunpowder! What luck! Through my ingenious use of dumb luck I happened onto a escape. If I was really lucky they'd think I did it on purpose, get a reputation. Of the adventurer that escaped Fort Dagon, even though in truth it was purely a mistake.

Glad to be among the warmth of the morning sky I quickly got my land legs back. As running for my life and tripping over on occasions had rid myself of the slow transition. Numbness left my limbs but was replaced with soreness and aches from the fall down the cliff. Blood was drying on my arms but mud and grass was covering my bloodied arms. Also the rest of me, taking a break I stopped to catch my breath.

Gasping for air I found myself fatigued and in need for some kind of refuge. As even though the jungle was getting denser as I went further in I could still hear the Coats. Right behind me, I cursed Captain Blood Teeth before continuing my flight.

Wishing he was the one hunted I came upon a stream, which I used to clean myself and cool down. After taking a deep drink of the water quickly I went upriver. Hoping the river would mask my moments and scent I hope to misdirect them.

A tracker would suspect I would go downstream and go the path of least resistance. Going upstream I hope to throw some of them if not all of them off of my tail. Going a dozen feet I walked into a bush to hide where I left the stream and continued into the jungle.

I wasn't not hunter or tracker, I was sure the Coats were trained experts but I wasn't going to make it easy. After the stream I came to a hillside some distance ahead. Quickly I went down it, avoiding the bushes and trees I came to the bottom. Looking up I saw the smoke rising from the direction of the fort. Glad to see the distance I put myself and the fort I stopped to breath a little bit more. Then I heard the Coats coming, so I hurried onwards into the depths of the jungle. Where the sky was blocked out by the foliage of the trees.

Vines and exposed tree trunks made it harder for me to move, it slowed to a crawl when I mist covered the ground. Somewhere along the way I missed the transition, it was almost too sudden how the jungle changed. Taking on a sinister look, I stopped after I almost tripped and rested at the roots of a large tree.

That was when I noticed the sound was gone, the Coats pursuit was gone. Were they being more stealthy? Where they going around to head me off? Perhaps they gave off? Such questions I just asked myself so I could get a moment rest. My time with Captain Blood Teeth was strenuous but trying to escape the Coats was near the same vein.

Still I was glad to be alive still, moving on I didn't want to be caught and sent back for my execution. The deeper I went the darker it became, until it seemed like the last bit of twilight before the night. Able to see the world around me it was however shaded in the darkness. The mist continued to give it a sinister appearance. Like something from a horror tale around the fire. Stories of man eating animals, bottomless sinkholes, and ghosts.

I've never seen such things, but from what I have witnessed I wouldn't be surprised. My movement was slowed down significantly. Tired but also feeling the ache in my bones I was just walking through the jungle. Fearing I'd lose precious time by not moving faster. Even with that fear I couldn't bring myself to move any faster. I was exhausted and very near breaking down.

A horrible sense came over me then, as I felt like I was being watched. Something in that darkness was prowling, was it the Coats. Fearing them or something else was closing in on me I bolted as fast as my legs could move. Moving in rapid limps I was desperate to find anything to lose the feeling.

That was until I saw it, a light in the rising mist I saw it not too far off. Whatever it was, I hoped it was safe refuge. Before I could take one step though I heard a loud snarl, that shredded at my hearing. Frozen in fear I was shaking but I managed to turn around.

Two monstrous eyes, glowing yellow with a vertically slanted pupils like the cats on my island. Small creatures that we kept as pets and occasionally food. In what little light there was I could see its outline.

A giant cat! It was a giant black striped orange cat. At the time I didn't know it was a tiger. During that time I didn't know the name to a lot of the creatures I've seen. To me that tiger seemed to be a cat that grew too large.

The owner should've killed and ate it while he had the chance I thought. After taking sight of the cat I ran towards the light, hoping to find some kind of building I could hide inside. Pounding of the tigers paws on the ground and the sound of it extended claws tapping the ground gave chase. Following me it gained speed until I fell over having lost my footing and landed into water. Feeling mud at my feet I came to the surface and splashed further away from the tiger.

Neck deep in the mucky water of the bog I found myself in I could hear the tiger come closer. Looking back I saw it stopped at the edge where the grounded ended.

Swinging at me with its large paws I tried to move but found my feet were stuck in the mud. Sucking me down slowly I was neck deep in the water and my arms were trying to keep me afloat. Again the tiger swung his paws and I tried to move away from the swipe. Missing me but I shunk a little deeper into the mud.

I was stuck in an unfavourable position, if I avoided the tiger I would be drown. If I tried to stop myself from drowning the tiger will kill me, I was trapped in a situation where I can choose my death.

Between the bog and the tiger, which was the way I prefered to end my life. The tiger eating me would be justice I thought for the cats I had eaten on my island. While drowning was something that bothered me quite a bit. Being sucked into the dark dirty waters of a big was terrible to contemplate.

My chin was touching the water when the tiger swiped again, just over my head. Sweeping with its right paw it had immense strength. Looking to left I saw a tree with low hanging branches. An idea came into my head then, as a way to escape. Arms under the water I got them ready just below the surface of the water. As my bottom lip touched the waters, looking at the tiger I hoped it would swing at me again.

Looking as though it was losing interested I hoped it give a last swipe. Instead it got up and tried to leave but desperate I saw its tail wagging close, I reached up and tug it as hard as I could.

A monstrous snarl came from the beast as it turned around and did a mad series of swipes with both paws. Retracting my arm I tried to get a good grab of the paws.

Pausing the tiger growled at me giving me a toothy expression of anger. With a large wind back the tiger swiped with its rights paw. Mustering all my reflexes I grabbed the paw back of the tigers leg and the force flung me from the mud. Moving upwards and to my right I grabbed onto the low hanging branches.

Quickly grabbing onto them for dear life I climbed up them feeling the tiger trying to give me a good swipe. The tigers frenzied efforts only landed it into the bog water, but to my surprise it didn't drown.

Wet and still rather angry at me the tiger swam back to land shook off the water and ran off into the jungle. Relieved I moved cautiously between the branches climbing up the trees. Not wanting to deal with tigers or any jungle beasts I kept to the trees as I moved towards the light.

Slipper with the moistness of the bog and slimy moss I almost lost my footing a few time. Finally I saw the ground through the mist form below. The bog water ended a while back, as I climbed down a bit lower I look at the light. A lamp, giving off a bright orange light. Near it I saw the shape in the less darkened background a building.

Less than a dozen feet away I climbed down the tree and hurried towards it, hoping I could get help. Clothes were needed as I felt the swamp bugs start eating at my exposed skin. Food because I hadn't had any food for days and my stomach was roiling in pain. Then maybe a place to hide and rest.

As I came closer to the building the mist vanished. I came into a clearing surrounded by swamp trees. A gap between each tree seemed to be evenly spaced. Wooden ramp of rotten moss covered wood was built over bog water. Leading up to the lamp and the small hut like building. Window shades covered two windows but a faint light was glowing behind them. Candle light, I thought. Someone was most likely home, walking over the wood ramp it slanted upwards.

The wood croaked with a terrible moan with each step I took. Shaking I felt a sense of unbelieveable dread. Powers beyond my comprehension was evaluated my worth. I knew it, some supernatural spectre of the dead was holding my life string between its fingers. Although I couldn't see this force I had a premonition that I'd fall down dead if he wished it upon my head.

Coming to the simply wood door, I knocked on it firmly feeling my need for water and food overwhelm my caution. Wind came through the jungle and sent chills on my exposed skin, freezing me to the bones. The lamp went out and the door of the hut opened, as the wind pushed me inside knocking me off my feet. Landing on wooden planks the wood door closed. Lifting my head I looked up and saw before me was a large table with a feast upon it, ham, chicken, wine, water, and fruits. Standing up I didn't bother asking or seeing if someone was inside of the shack.

Eating like a madman starved for years I tore at a chicken ripping off the breast meat. Chewing it off the bones, I then grabbed a pitcher of water and drank it down. Then I went at the bananas and ham, swallowing wine and water as I ate. Wine on my island had no alcohol but the wine I drank did and it was making my vision blurry. Something was in the wine or food because I started to see colors and heard a faint chanting. In words I couldn't understand, but still I ate and drank finding that the huge feast was growing smaller.

After I had picked the last bit of meat from a hog leg I fell off my feet and landed on a chair. As if it was placed there to my convenience. Slowly the chair was moved by an unseen power, but I didn't care. I was full, drunk, and seeing colors. Blank headed I just bore witness to what happened next. The food and dishes that remained faded away and the table stood bare.

Afterwards I must have been seeing things I thought to myself as my mind came back to me, as a two headed person appeared. One head on the left side was a head of a woman, dark skinned, dreads, and light brown eyes. She was lovely and held in her womanly hand a deck of cards with black backs. The other was a man he had a light yellowish kind of tran and had slanted eyes that had an intense green. With long black hair that was tied back into a ponytail.

Both halves of the two headed person looked like parts of two different people. Wearing a robe, with the neck lowered around the chest and heightened around the knees. Black and red the robes had a bizarre pattern of triangles inside triangles. Looking as though they went on forever continuing onto the inside of other triangles, that had triangles inside of themselves.

Looking at the ropes hurt my eyes so I looked at what the two headed person was doing. Shuffling the black back cards, then it placed three of them on points, like a triangle. Leaving them facedown, then after putting the cards away the man's man gestured for me to pick up a card.

I guess I was supposed to pick up one card, so I picked up the one closest to me and looked at it closely. At first my vision was stood blurred but then I saw realistic painting like picture of Captain Blood Teeth.

One side of his face was horrible blackened like he was burnt to the bones. Blood seemed to drip from the mouth of the card, in his hands was the nine tipped dagger and a model of a island. I remembered that from when I was on his ship, he was moving a rocky island around his chart table.

Full body picture to my horror at his feet was what

looked like a crab with my face. One foot of Captain Blood Teeth was planted firmly on top of its back. A picture came to my minds eye of being under foot of the tyrant. I shook my head and dropped the card as I shook, disturbed what I saw.

When the card hit the table it disappeared into black dust.

Again the two headed person gestured me to pick a card with the woman's hand. I hesitated and tried to stand up, but I couldn't something was keeping me in the chair. Again the woman's hand gestured to choose a card.

Breathing out a belated sigh I choose the one at the top of the triangle and turned it over. This one was less disturbing I was in a rowboat and there were two sides, one stormy the other sunny. One side of the card was sunny and had a picture of my home island. However under it was a sea of darkness and two horrible demonic eyes looking out from the dark. A faint image in the dark of a giant sea creature with crab claws and a round body. I was rowing however towards the storm half of the card. In the distance was the rocky island in Blood Teeths hand on the last card. Under the island the water was clear but there was the picture of a woman. Seaweed hair, light blue skin and close deyes, chained up she seemed trapped. The chains lead upwards connecting to the island, she looked in terrible pain I felt bad for her.

The card I held turned to black dust while still at my hand. Then I saw the two headed person gestured with both hands towards the last card. At first I didn't one to take it but I knew I was a prisoner by some black magic if I didn't. So I flipped over the hard on the left corner.

Looking at it I saw me once again, this time I held up the dagger of Blood Teeth. I stabbed my chest with it and from the wound came out blood pouring in the shape of skulls. I was standing upon a dias of stone, on a bare landscape of rock and stone. I was smiling in the card which disturbed me, what was this? Killing myself seemed to be what I was doing, and with a eerily happy smile.

Was this images of my future? Did I get my future told by this two headed person with his and her cards? Was this all a hallucination or real? I tried speaking to the two headed person but my body suddenly slumped in the chair. Unable to move or speak I was paralyzed totally. My eyes stuck open watch the two headed person stand up and take the deck of cards in hand.

Leaning over the table the dealer took out three cards from the deck and put them in my pants pocket. As the body was rising both heads came to either side of my head.

Then they whispered in my ears, "blood isn't destiny".

I awoke then, as if I opened my eyes after a deep sleep. Laying on my back I was looking up at the sun through the foliage of trees. Sitting up I looked around and saw I not in the darkened jungle anymore or near the bog. I felt the sea air blow at my back. Turning my head I saw I was near a beach, the blue sea water rose up and down against the sand.

Standing up I looked around and didn't see the shack, I listened and heard nothing but the sea water, winds, and birds. Still I didn't know if I pursued or not, looking myself over I saw nothing changed. Covered in mucky water, feet had mud dried to the skin, and my arms were still scarred horribly.

Giving a bitter moan as I looked at myself I tried to forget the strange dream I had, figuring it was a dream. Until I put my hands in my pocket and found that there was something in one of them.

Pulling it out I saw the three cards given to me in the dream, but it wasn't a dream. Looking at them I saw new pictures than the ones I saw in my dream. These ones were less detailed than in the dream and didn't reflect my life or self in anyway.

One was a picture of a giant crab in the water, the card was labelled Herarinos. Something about these cards and the obsession with crafts. Me as a crab, a crab under my island, and this seemed to be connected.

The second one was the island that was on the cards and in Blood Teeth's cabin. Rock Island was the name of the card, for some reason Rock Island has been a often occurring theme in my life. Since being taken aboard Blood Teeth's ship I've wondered what Rock Island was? His stronghold? A vault where he kept his riches? Something more sinister most likely, I thought to myself.

I didn't have a great opinion on my former captain.

Third and final card was a picture of a ship, looked like a brig. With the figurehead of a woman with wings, the card was labelled as The Coastal Breeze. The name of the ship seemed not as mystical as the other cards. Pocketing the cards again I walked from the jungle and came to the beach.

As soon as I stepped onto the sand it burned the bottom of my feet. The sun had heated the sand to a scolding hot, looking around in either direction I was blinded by the sunlight. Shining off the sand it nearly blinded my sight. Cupping my hand around my eyes like telescopes I could see clearer, one end of the beach had a fishing dock. Some buildings and people, looked promising.

Looking on the other end I saw a dock, people were loading onto a ship. The light still stung my eyes but I looked harder at the ship squinting my eyes. Holding up the card in my pocket of the ship I compared them to one another. The figurehead was the same, so were the colors and shape.

What was it? Was I in a delusion what strange fate had betrayed my sense of reality? Tired of being poetic I decided to take the advice of the two headed card dealer. Going towards the ship I hurried my step, finding myself less tired than I was once before. Maybe the rest was what I needed, even though it sent me through such bizarre torment.

Even if I was following the apparent advice of a mute two headed woman-man I needed to get off Babylon Island. The Coats would eventually scour the island for me, if they hadn't already. Even if they didn't find me the the navy of the island would probably. The Coats probably informed the council of ministers when I escaped. Both the navy and the Coats could form a stockade and block all passage from the island. If they didn't already, that is why I need to find passage on the ship.

Moving as quickly as I could in the jungly along the beach as I moved towards the ship. The sunlight blared less and I could see more easily, the men of the ship were loading cargo. The trees blocked my sight of the whole dock but didn't try looking that hard. Running faster seeing as they were almost done I wanted to see if I could get aboard.

Almost falling over I saw the men were getting ready to leave, pulling up the plank to the ship.

"Wait"! I cried out in desperation a dozen feet away I waved my arms as I ran towards them.

Thankful that they heard me they stopped as I came closer they could see me running in the trees. The beach had a grassy patch beside the sand so I was running on that so they could see me easier. Standing there they waited for me to come to the edge of the boardwalk. Walking up the hot wood stairs to the boardwalk was painful but I endured it, next time I was going to hold onto my shoes.

Coming up to one of the men at the boardwalk I was going to say something until I noticed the blood. Blood on his clothes and blood all over the boardwalk. The sun kept me was seeing it at the distance. Bodies laid piled near the buildings near the dock.

Seeing this I figured of running but I found myself inside of a net. Covering my head I felt it tighten around my ankles. Knocked off my feet I laid face down on the burning hot boardwalk. As men came upon me kicking me and whipping me until I stopped moving.

"Hey capn'" said one of the men. "We got another guy here, whatcha' think you think we can sell him to the governor"?

Hearing the sound of a footstep followed by a tap of wood a few times I figured that was the captain. At first the image of my nightmare Captain Blood Teeth, putting his devil's over the side of the ship.

Holding my breath I waited to hear what the captain would say.

"Take him to the slave hold, he's young, we'll get a good price", said the Captain. With a voice of a mature sailor with some age to him but young enough to be a man of authority.

"Aye aye Captain Slur" said the man. After saying that two men grabbed the rope that was attached to the net and started dragging me to the ship.

My skin rubbing on the hot wood planks was not pleasant neither was going up the plank. The unevenness of the plank made my bruises hurt and my arms started to bleed once again. Once I was on the brig I saw it was a fine vessel with about thirty or more sailors on board.

Lifting my head I saw a man open a grate in the deck, dragging me towards of it I was thrown into the opening. Once I hit the bottom the rope was loosened around my ankles and the net pulled off of me, leaving me looking face upwards. Seeing the opening close with the grate, sitting up I looked around to see other young men and woman in the hold.

Looking at me fear and sadness in their eyes. The only good thing about my situation was at least I was leaving Babylon Island.

The people in the hold just went back to their own gloom as I sat there not having anything I wanted to contemplate. Instead I crawled to a place in the hold that wasn't in direct sunlight then fell asleep.

I just wanted to catch up on my sleep and hoped they would give up some food soon.