There's always a calm before the storm. Storms are a normal occurrence, especially on the seas. Storms can bring blessings if your in a dessert, causing hidden seeds to bloom and burst with life thanks to the excess of water. It can put out fires that are consuming an old growth forest. But on the seas, they seem to cause much damage to those brave enough to sail on them. This was one of those storms.
While everyone was sleeping, black storm clouds formed overhead, plotting damage in its wake. Seeming to pick specifically on the Phantom Night. Everyone would be soon aware of its presence when it shook the ship with its thundering boom. And what a boom it was. It was so loud it caused you and Arthur to bolt upright from your slumber.
You clutched your hand to your heart in surprise.
"Wh-What was THAT???" you exclaimed, the sleep completely drained from you. Arthur jumped out of bed and raced toward the window. As he did the ship lurched to the side, causing him to go tumbling to the ground.
"Arthur!" you exclaimed, running to him. You knelt down and helped him up.
"Are you okay?!?" you asked, a bit worried. He opened his mouth to speak but another loud thunderous boom interrupted him, causing you both to jump a bit.
"I-I'm fine. But it appears we have a storm to deal with." he said, sounding exhausted.
Another noise could be heard over the roar of the wind and the boom of the thunder over head.
"CAPTAIN! YOU'RE NEEDED ON DECK!" shouted someone in a loud voice, banging on the door. Arthur quickly got up, dragging you up with him. He quickly made his way over to his boots, pulling them on as quickly as he could. Which was pretty quick considering you both were awaken less then a minute ago. He slept with his shirt on ever since you two started bunking together so he only had to grab his coat and hat. He quickly pulled his coat on and raced to his desk, grabbing his hat and plopping it on his head. He looked at you with a serious expression on his face.
"Stay in here until I come for you!" he said, quickly heading for the door. Before you could protest he was gone. You stood there, blinking. Unsure what to say. Unsure what to think. You weren't still fully registering what was happening. The ship lurched again, throwing you to the ground. This storm was just as bad the one when you first arrived. You sat up and scrambled to the couch, crawling onto it and hanging on. The dark storm clouds outside blotted out any light so the room was very dark.
"I wonder how long this storm is going to last' you wondered as the ship rocked back and forth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Arthur stepped onto the main deck his crew was already tending to the ship and making sure it would make it through. He sighed in relief for a moment, being thankful he had such a reliable crew. But this feeling was quickly replaced with a sense of urgency. He knew he didn't have time to stop and ponder anything. He was the captain of this ship and he needed to act now. For the sake of his crew. He raced quickly up to the helm, finding Ian at the wheel in Arthur's absence. Ian looked like he was having some difficulty keeping the ship on course. Arthur slapped Ian on the shoulder.
"Thank you Ian, I'll take it from here!" he said over the noise of everything and everyone else. Ian smiles and nodded to Arthur, going back to help some of the crew man the sails. Arthur gripped the wheel tightly in his hands, his knuckled turning white from the strain. He narrowed his emerald eyes to get a better view as the rain whipped all around him.
'Another storm! So quickly?' he thought as he turned the wheel to keep it forward. The waves fighting with him every step of the way. Waves were already lapping over the side of the ship, sending some of the crew to slip and fall to the ground. Arthur knew he might loose some of his men. But he was determined to save them all.
By now he was soaked to the bone, the cold wind making it seem even colder. But he hung onto the wheel. Not even thinking of letting go.
'I'm not going down so easily old girl!' he thought, glaring at the storm in front of him. Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours. Arthur didn't even know how long he had been here now. Time seemed to be lost at this point. Everything seemed to blur together. The crew, the ship, the noises.
"Arthur!" he heard someone call from a distance. He knew it was Francis, who was by his side soon after.
"Arthur! Zis storm is fierce! We'll be taken off course for sure!" he exclaimed. Arthur shook that aside. He was determined to stay on course. To finish what he had started.
"No! I won't allow it! I will finish what I have started! And I'm not going to let a meager storm get in my way, understand!?!" he hollered over the howling wind. Francis just looked at Arthur in shock.
"You are crazy!" he shouted. Arthur just laughed.
"Of course! How else do you expect me to run a crew like this???" he said. But his good mood was interrupted.
"Brother!" he heard. Arthur's heart dropped. There hanging onto the railing down below was Peter.
"Peter! What are you doing out here! Get back inside!" he yelled over the wind. Peter looked helpless, gripping onto the railing, his eyes barely open from the rain hitting him in the face.
"Arthur!" he cried once more.
"I said get inside!" Arthur yelled again. And then it happened, what Arthur dreaded most. Another wave came rolling high above the ship, crashing down on everyone in its wake, showing no mercy. Bodies sliding back with the wave, as if being carried off by it. When the wave returned to its former place Arthur saw something that made his heart stop as well as time. Peter was gone.
"PETER!" he yelled, looking frantically around for his little brother. "PETER!" He yelled again.
"Arthur!" He heard Peters faint voice call for him. There, Arthur saw Peter had been swept into the sea. His head frantically trying to stay above water. But you see, Peter couldn't swim. Arthur forgot everything, leaving the helm and running toward the lower deck, causing the wheel to spin wildly on its own.
"Arthur!" Francis yelled, grabbing onto the wheel and trying to keep it secure. But Arthur didn't care. Right now his whole crew could fend for themselves. All he cared about was saving his little brother. He raced to the edge, grabbing onto a rope, and dove into the unforgiving sea. He heard his crew shout after him but he didn't care. He had to find Peter. The waves fought against him the whole time.
"PETER!" he called, chocking on the salt water that washed over him. He looked and listened for any sign of Peter.
"PETER!" he called again. He dove under the waves and looked around. There he saw below him a small body slowly descending farther into the sea.
"PETER!" he yelled again, his voiced muffled. Forgetting he was underwater. His mouth filled with water, he had to resurface. He swam frantically to the top, spitting out the water and taking in another breath before diving down again. He swam as fast as he could downward, his coat slowing him down. This caused him to fight even harder. He had to get to Peter. He just had to. He had already lost his parents, he wouldn't lose his brother. Then he spotted him again. Arthur's body released hidden adrenalin, causing him to swim faster then he ever thought he could. He grabbed Peter and wrapped his arm around his small frame. He quickly tugged onto the rope he held and as quickly as he came into the sea, he came out. The water rushing past him as he was pulled out. Arthur gasped when he resurfaced. Breathing hard, tired but thankful he got his brother back. The crew pulled Arthur up as quickly as they could. Arthur hung onto Peter for dear life, refusing to lose him again.
The crew pulled him onto deck, there Arthur's legs collapsed. His lungs hurt with every breath he took. Ian was the first to help him up.
"Cap'n! Are ye alright???" he yelled. Arthur ignored him and looked at his brother.
"Peter?" he called. But there was no response from the small boy. "PETER???" he called again, gripping the boy by his shoulders and shaking him a bit. Still no response. Arthur panicked. He lowered his head to listen for a heart beat. It was there but growing faint.
"CAP'N?" Ian called again. Arthur looked up at Ian, concern written all over his face.
"He's alive but he's not breathing!" he called. Ian looked at the Captain with sad eyes. There was no way to help Peter. He hated to think of the Captain having to watch his little brother die.
"I'm so sorry Cap'n!" he said, getting pushed back by another wave. Arthur hug onto Peter. Unsure of what to do.
'I have to save him! I have to!…But…how-' his thought were interrupted by an idea. You. He quickly picked Peter up in his arms and raced against time and the wind pushing him back. He knew you knew things that were advanced. Maybe you would know how to save Peter. He could only pray and hope.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You gripped the couch for dear life, the ship rocking back and forth violently.
'When will this storm end!?!' you thought, worrying about everyone who was outside. Just then the door to the cabin burst open. You jumped, thinking it was the wind blowing hard against the ship, but you found Arthur racing toward you. You looked at him in confusion until your eyes fell to what was in his arms. It was Peter. You gasped and covered your mouth. You got up and raced toward Arthur. When Arthur approached you he fell to his knees, looking down at Peter.
"Please…" you heard him say. His voice held pain in them. The ship lurched, causing you fall to the ground. You looked from Peter to Arthur and back.
Arthur looked at you, looking into your eyes. Helplessness filled his expression.
"Please." he said, his voice cracking from the sadness welling up in his chest.
"Please" he said again, biting his lip. "Please you have to save him….please" he ended his sentence with a sob, looking down at the small lifeless boy in his arms.  "Please save him…h-he's all I have left…please…please" his voice getting weaker and weaker. Your heart panged with pain.
"Set him on the floor!" you said, knowing time was now racing against you. For you didn't know how long Peter had been like this. Arthur did as you told him, laying Peter in front of both of you. You got to work quickly. You knelt down and checked for a pulse. You felt a very faint one. You had to hurry. You began applying CPR. Placing your hands over Peter's chest and pushing. Arthur watching your every movement. You tilted Peters head back and breathed air into his lungs, then going back to pushing on his chest.
"Wh-What are you doing?!?" Arthur exclaimed, not knowing what it was you were doing to his little brother. You knew this must have looked strange to Arthur.
"It's called CPR! This will get a person breathing again!" you exclaimed, breathing air into Peter again. Arthur nodded, paying close attention. You pushed harder on Peter's chest, trying to get the water to come up.
"Come on, come on." you muttered as you tried to get Peter breathing again. It was at this time that you were glad you paid attention in health class. You knew you would need to use this skill at some point. You knew the pain of loosing a brother. You refused to allow Arthur to understand that pain. You were determined to get Peter breathing again. Arthur, covered his mouth as he looked at his little brother's lifeless form. He couldn't bear it. He feared that he would be the last in his family. Alone. Forever.
"Come on, come on!" you said with frustration. You pushed really hard this time. Suddenly Peter's eyes shot open and he started spiting up water and coughing, gasping for air. You sat up quickly, looking at Peter in surprise and relief, a smile creeping onto your face.
"Peter!" Arthur yelled, grabbing Peter and cradling him in his arms. Arthur held Peters head gently in his hand, yet at the same time hugging him in a death grip, never wanting to let go. Peter gasped a few times, breathing heavily.
"A-Arthur?" Peter said weakly. Arthur shushed him, rocking him back and forth.
"Shhh, shhh. Don't speak. Just breathe. Breath Peter." Arthur commanded. Peter complied, too tired and weak to speak much at the moment. He closed his eyes and leaned into Arthur, who now had tears leaking from his emerald eyes.
"Oh Peter." he said, his voice cracking as he kissed the top of Peters soaked head. You sat there, looking at those two. Finding tears welling in your own eyes. You had never seen Arthur cry before. And he didn't seem one bit ashamed of it You watched the two as Arthur held Peter in his arms. It was sweet. Very sweet.
Arthur kissed Peters head again before looking you in the eyes.
"Thank you. Thank you so much (Name). You've done me a great service." he said, while rocking Peter, sincerity in his every word. You looked at him surprised but quickly smiled back at him.
"Here, place him on the couch to rest" you suggested. Arthur complied, standing with Peter clinging to him. The two looked afraid to let go of each other. Arthur gently laid Peter down on the couch. Peter laid there, his arms weakly lying on top of himself. His breaths were less strained and now had a more steady rhythm to them.  You brushed some hair out of his face and looked at him for a while.
"He'll be fine now…he just needs some rest." you said, still looking at Peter. Arthur nodded, kissing Peter on the head one more time before standing up slowly. You tried standing up yourself but the constant rocking and agitating of the ship make you lose your footing. You slipped and went falling to the ground. You readied yourself for impact, but it never came. You looked up to see that Arthur had caught your fall.
"Are you alright?" he asked with concern. You looked at him and nodded.
"Yes, I'm fine." you said. Arthur slowly helped you on your feet and just stood there, holding your arms and looking at you. You looked back at him. It was like that for a while now. It was one of those weird moments where neither of you said a word. Not to mention the staring was making you uncomfortable…okay really uncomfortable. You wiggled your arms out of his grip and took a few steps back.
"Well I guess we'd better-" you never got to finish your sentence because a great jolt of the ship caused you to fall backwards. Hard. Your body made impact with a loud 'THUD'. Arthur fell forward as well, landing square on his face. The fall hurt you. A lot. But it wasn't the pain in your back that was the worst thing. When you fell your wrist hit the ground hard as well, causing your bracelet to unhitch from your wrist and go sliding across the floor. You realized this and gasped.
"NO!" you yelled, scrambling to your feet to chase it down. It was sliding away from you. Fast. The door was unfortunately swinging on its hinge. As if this day couldn't get any worse your bracelet went sliding out the door. You panicked and chased it faster.
"(Name)! No! Stay inside!" Arthur yelled after you. He scrambled to his feet and went chasing after you.
You ran out to the deck, following your bracelet. Your only hope of returning home. The rain and wind whipped across your face and body, fighting you every step of the way. But you fought against it as well. Following the bracelet as it slid and bounced and scrapped against the rain soaked deck. You couldn't let it go over board. You just couldn't! You ran past Ian in a hurry, he took a double take as you ran past him.
"Lass?!?" he called out but you ignored him. You stared at your target, picking up speed.
"(NAME)! GET INSIDE!" Arthur called out to you. You ignored him too. You dove for the bracelet, sliding across the deck, the bracelet with in reaching distance. You reached for it and managed to snag it quickly. But you kept sliding across the deck, unable to stop. The ship was tilting and tipping so much you didn't know how the crew kept from going over board. You looked ahead and saw you were about to make impact with the front of the ship. You yelled but couldn't do anything to stop. You slammed into the bow, sending pain all through your body. But you still managed to hang onto your bracelet. You groaned in pain and were soon sliding back down the ship. The storm was relentless. It even sent most of the crew sliding as well.
"(NAME)!" Arthur called, sliding back as well. You slapped the bracelet back onto your wrist as you slid, but then you stopped sliding. You looked up to see Ian grabbing onto your wrist with one hand and hanging into the railing with the other.
"I got ye Lass!" he said. You smiled, grateful he was there. He pulled you up and wrapped his arm around you, keeping you secure. You gripped onto the railing for extra support.
"What are ye doin out here???" he yelled over the wind. You shut your eyes as the rain was beating against your face.
"I had to get my bracelet back!" you yelled, ducking your head from the wind.
"It's just a bracelet Lass!!" he yelled back, his hand slightly slipping on the railing.
You opened your mouth to say something but as soon as you did you saw a giant wave coming at the ship, fast. You gasped. It was enormous. You were sure it could take the whole ship down if it wanted to.
"IAN!!" you yelled. But it was too late. The wave crashed against the ship at an enormous speed. You opened your eyes but all you saw was black. You felt Ian let go of you. This made you panic. You groped blindly for something sturdy to grab onto. You found none. As the wave retreated it dragged you with it. You screamed when you could.
"(NAME)!!!" You heard your name being called out. Your head made contact with something hard…everything went black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She took a few steps away from Arthur, he kept his eye on her.
"Well I guess we'd better-" (name) started to say something but the ship lurched again, sending them both crashing to the ground. Arthur landed flat on his face. When he looked up again he saw (name) running out of the cabin.
"(Name)! No! Stay inside!"  He yelled after her. But she didn't seem to listen to him, she was gone from his sight in a moment. Arthur went scrambling to his feet and chased after you.
"No! (name)! Get back here! Its dangerous out there!" he called out again but she didn't seem to be listening at all.
'Why??? Why is she being so foolish???' Arthur thought to himself. He picked up speed but ended up slipping and falling again.
"Gah!" he made impact with the deck but soon got back up. He spotted you sliding across the deck.
"(NAME)! GET INSIDE!"  he yelled again, he chased after you again.
'Is she mad?!? Why is she out here?!?' he thought frantically to himself. He spotted you again. You were heading for the bow and it didn't look like you could slow down or stop. His eyes widened as he saw you slam into the bow of the ship.
"(NAME)!" he yelled, but he soon found himself falling back again. The ship lurched again, sending him sliding away from (name).
'No! No! NO!' he thought as he went sliding around as if the deck was covered in grease. Arthur slammed into the mast with a loud 'THUD'.
He grunted in pain but he didn't care. He looked around frantically for you. But he soon spotted an enormous wave heading for the ship.
"PREPARE FOR IMPACT!" Arthur yelled. The wave soon hit the ship at a frightening speed. Arthur hung onto the ropes by his body. His whole vision was blotted out by the dark ocean water. The wave retreated, pulling Arthur with it, but he hung on tight to the ropes, the ropes slid in his hands causing him pain. That's when he saw it.
(Name) was being pulled by the wave. And she looked like she was trying to grab onto something. He heard her scream in fear.
"(NAME)!!!" he called out. Arthur saw her smack into one of the canons, hitting her head hard, the wave pulling you off the ship and overboard.
"NO!!" he yelled, letting go of the rope. He went racing toward you, not caring about the wind or the rain. The ship rocked, fighting with Arthur. He raced against the wind, the rain beating on his face obscuring his view.
'No! No! No! NO!' he thought frantically. He had to get you back. He wasn't even thinking clearly at this point. Which was made clear by the crew when he when diving into the raging sea, without a rope.
"ARTHUR!" Francis called out to him.
"CAPTAIN!" the crew called back out to him.
"GET SOME ROPES READY TO PULL 'IM BACK IN!" Francis yelled to the crew, steering the ship through the violent waves. The crew scrambled for ropes of any kind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The water was cold, but I didn't care. I had to find her. I had to! I swam as fast as I could, soon though my lungs burned for air. I swam quickly to the surface, gasping in air as the sea tossed me back and forth.
"(NAME)!!!" I called out, looking frantically for her. I tried my best to keep my head above the water but the waves kept crashing down on me. I heard my crew calling for me to come back but I ignored them. How could I go back? I couldn't. I had to find her!
"(NAME)!" I called again. Just then I saw her. She was barely hanging onto a piece of the railing that had broken off.
"(NAME)!" I called again, frantically swimming toward her. Yet the waves kept fighting against me the whole time.
"(Name)!" It was getting harder to speak. Water kept getting into my mouth, cutting of my voice. I gasped for air, keeping my eye on her.
"(Name)! (Name)! I'm coming!" I called out. I couldn't even tell if it was tears or sea water streaking my face now. The waves kept pulling her farther away from me. I saw her body slide off the railing and into the depths of the sea below.
"NO!" I cried out. I took in a deep breath of air before diving into the unforgiving sea. I swam as fast as I could. I looked around for her frantically. I then spotted her. Descending into the sea slowly. I swam fast. That same rush of energy I felt with Peter I now had again. I honestly surprised myself at how fast I was able to swim. What with my wet clothing causing drag. I was getting closer to her. She looked so helpless and limp. Not even moving a bit. In a way it was beautiful and at the same time frightening. I reached out to her, grabbing her wrist. I finally had her safe. I yanked her up and wrapped my arm around her body and then swam as fast as I could to the surface. It seemed to take forever, especially being that I was dying for air. My lungs burned for that precious air. I finally made it to the surface, gasping as soon as I could. The waves were still agitating the sea. I heard my name being called out again. This time I complied and swam toward my ship, holding onto (name) tight. Refusing to let the sea take her again.
"CAPTAIN!"  Hector called out. I swam as fast as I could
"There he is!" I heard someone else call out. They tossed a rope out to me. I swam for that rope. Our salvation from this wretched sea. My clothing kept trying to drag me down into the sea again, along with the waves crashing down on me. It took everything in me to fight against it. I reached out for the rope, feeling it hit my fingertips. I lunged forward and grabbed onto it. I tied it around the two of us and tugged on it. Soon we were both being pulled out of the sea quickly. Turns out seven of my men were helping out. I have such a wonderful crew. Two of my men pulled me up and over the side of the ship.
"Cap'n! Are ye alright???' one of them asked me. I looked up and saw that it was Ian.
"I-I'm fine! I'm fine. I have (name) now." I said, looking down at (name). She didn't move. She just laid there, limp in my arms.
"(Name)?" I said, trying to get a response. Nothing. I was starting to worry very much now. I pulled her closer to my face to see if she was breathing.
"Cap'n? Is she alright???" Ian asked, worry obvious in his voice. I furrowed my brows together and looked at him slowly.
"She's not breathing."