The rain and wind rocked the ship so hard it seemed to be coming out of the sea itself. Rose tightened the anchor knot once more - there was no room for mistakes and no second chances - before nearly being hit in the face by a loose piece of rigging.

Rose swept her sodden, tangled hair out of her hair and grabbed the loose rope. Wrapping it around her hand twice, she lept off the bulwark and swung above the stormy inky sea.

Lightning cracked across the sky and the wet rope slipped through Rose's hand. Rose slammed into the side of the ship. A small noise escaped her mouth as all the wind was knocked out of her. She grabbed the side of the ship and pulled herself up onto the bulwark, one hand scrabbling at her chest.

A few deep breaths dulled the pain of being winded but not enough to keep it off her mind. Gritting her teeth, Rose grabbed the rigging and climbed up to the one sail that was still unsecure.

"One thing breaks and we're all dead." The muttered words were whipped away by the wind. An almost scream echoed up from the ocean and a current of wind caught in the rigging, bouncing it up and down. Almost like it was trying to throw Rose to her death.

Somehow, Rose managed to get to the mast and hang onto the boom. The sail's ropes whipped around like sea serpents, almost tearing from the wood of the boom. Rose grabbed one and it strained against her hand, sending long burns down her palm.

Wincing, Rose tied one end of the sail down against the boom. Almost done. She just had to get to the other side of the boom and-

A piece of wood came out of nowhere and hit her in the face. It knocked her off the boom and nearly threw her to breaking her back on the deck. Rose's hands scrambled wildly in the air for something to grab onto. A piece of rope skidded through her hands and she desperately tried grabbing that. It slowed her decent and eventually stopped her.

A little growl escaped Rose's throat as she pulled herself up the rope and back onto the boom. Her hair fell into her face as she finally finished securing The Mermaid's Pride.

She leaned back against the mast and sighed. The ship was safe. The crew - her family - were safe. Only she wasn't. But that could easily be fixed.

Janus looked up as something slammed into the side of the ship.

"What was that?" He snapped.

"How am I meant to know?" Remus said, flicking his nails. "My guess, though, is that it's your precious Captain."

"Don't." Was all Janus said.

"Don't what? You know I could make all this go away." Remus said, turning to face Janus. He pressed his hand against the glass. "I could save your silly Captain and crew. All you have to do is help me escape. And then my brother'd call this all off."

Janus looked like he was considering it for a second. Then he swallowed and shook his head. "No way. You're insane."

Remus' neutral expression turned to a snarl and he slammed the glass with the heel of his palm. "That's the fucking point!"

No, I don't know what this was. Don't ask. What this is, though, is 101 pages.
Bye,
Blaize