Dream

SPACEExhaustion sweeps you away and carries you off to sleep…
SPACEFlash.
SPACELightning.
SPACEFaces…laughing in the rain.
SPACEA mast.
SPACEHigh flying, lethal-colored “V” that symbolizes death.
SPACEHard-handed slavers in the night.
SPACEWhips swishing through the salty air mean pain.
SPACEFat, gnarled man yells, “Row.”
SPACETall man, dressed in regal violets and purple…his eyes gleam and even glow in the soft moonlight.
SPACEShorter man, sandy-colored hair…yelling at you, cursing and spitting his way to a punchline of pain.
SPACEStorm clouds…thunder, booming in the distance foretell of trouble on the horizon.
SPACEThe purple man’s name is Vertigore. He is the captain of the Salty Death, and his ghost appears to you now in your memories and dreams.
SPACEThe shorter man is Johnny. Crazy Johnny. He earned his nickname daily. You once watched him gouge out a man’s eyes and beat him senseless, then pop the eyeballs into his mouth just to warn the rest of the crew not to cross him.
SPACEVertigore was worse. He was truly sadistic. You never once witnessed fear on him. He exuded intimidation. He was a walking structure of danger and humanity’s venom. He was a callused old pirate, powerful and legendary. No man questioned his orders and no man questioned his might.
SPACEStorm clouds…thunder, shaking in your chest.
SPACEFlash.
SPACELightning…splintering wood opens hole to the icy waters of freedom. An old man called Orif (Huggins knew him by name) frees himself. The keys are passed; you wait your turn.
SPACEFreezing.
SPACEIcy cold water rattles your senses and makes your heart skip a few beats. You gasp for breath.
SPACEThe face. Visage of a man—
SPACENay, a beast—
SPACEStaring coldly up from the quickly sinking decks. Vertigore glares at the clouds above him, as if challenging the gods to do their worst.
SPACEMore lightning.
SPACEFlash.
SPACEYou awaken.