WARNING: Talking about death, feelings were hurt in the making of this chapter

Patton looked up as the brig door burst open.

"Pat! Pat, Pat!" Virgil yelled, running down the stairs and grabbing Patton by his hand. "Pat, you need to come up right now. Something bad, we need you right now!"

"Hey, Kiddo, calm down." Patton said, squeezing Virgil's hand. His eyes flicked to Logan, who still seemed asleep in his tank. "Okay, what is it?"

Virgil swallowed and didn't answer. He pulled Patton up the brig stairs and out onto deck.

"Kiddo, what about the-... storm." The storm was gone. The clouds had rolled away, as if overnight, the sun was beaming down on the deck and the roaring, howling wind had been reduced to a little breeze in the sails. In other words, it was fair weather. "What's going on?"

Virgil didn't say anything, he just led Patton over to the side of the ship. "Kiddo, what's going on?"

Virgil took a deep breath and didn't look Patton in the eye. "Pat, it's Janus. We think he... We think Remus... we think he's dead, Pat."

Patton stared at Virgil, his mouth dropping open a little. He shook his head slightly. "No. No, he, he can't be... He's not dead." Patton said weakly. "No, he can't... he's not, he can't be-"

"Pat-" Virgil tried to say but Patton ripped his hand out of his grip. "Pat, listen."

"No, Janus isn't dead."

"He's the only part of the crew missing and there's blood on his lantern. And Remus is gone, Pat. It adds up." Patton shook his head.

"No, he's not, he can't be-" Patton looked at Virgil and something inside him seemed to deflate. He swallowed, tears glossing over his eyes. "He's dead?"

Virgil looked down and nodded. Patton looked down at the broken lantern on the deck. The stains on it had dried to a rust colour that could easily be mistaken for old metal but they were undeniably bloodstains. Patton bent down and picked the lantern up, setting it on an upturned barrel the crew often used as a small table.

"D'you think it hurt?" He asked, his voice laced with tears and weak. Virgil crossed his arms.

"Would you prefer the story if it didn't?" Patton shook his head. "Then I'd imagine so." Patton covered his mouth but a little half-sob still escaped into the air. In one movement, Virgil wrapped his arms around the taller pirate and hugged him tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Pat." He said quietly. Patton closed his eyes and hung his head.

"Sorry won't bring him back." He whispered, his voice breaking. Virgil didn't say anything and just hugged Patton tighter. Patton scrubbed at his eyes furiously. "Who found out?" He asked quietly.

"I did." Virgil mumbled. "I heard a thud and a scream..." He trailed off, realising this probably wasn't doing Patton any good.

"And Remus' tank? It was empty?"

Virgil nodded. "And someone had unlocked it. Pat, I'm so, so sorry."

Patton shook his head. "It's- nevermind." He wiped his eyes again and removed himself from Virgil's hug. "I need to go."

Get ready for the most fucking angst I can pack into chapters for the... rest of the story, roughly.
Bye,
Blaize