The Scathed

[Crestshot]

Ahoy mates! Time for another chapter, another tale of adventure, another grand... something or other. I misplaced my thesaurus. Anyways, for your entertainment, here's a new chapter. I present to you...

All Hallows Eve



The Cutthroat Wolf landed on the docks of Tortuga two days later. Dusk was approaching, and the sun was beginning to sink into the ocean. Just another beautiful end to a day of freedom for the pirates of the Caribbean.

Kat was at the wheel as she pulled up to the dock. Hector dropped the anchor and the ship jerked to a stop. They tied up the sails and made sure to seal up the ship while working to the music of Tortuga: yelling and guns firing. Kat couldn’t help but smile as they worked.

The ship was finally set to be without them, but before they stepped onto the shore, Kat pulled Hector aside.

“Now you see here, boyo,” she said sternly. “Tortuga is a rough place, so you’re to stay by me at all times, savvy? I don’t care what looks interesting or who offers you gold if you just do them a quick favor. Stay next to me, aye?” Hector nodded eagerly like the boy he was. Kat was worried something may happen, but she had given the boy his warning. All she could do now was hope that Hector used whatever sense he had in that hollow head of his. She hadn’t brought the boy here just to be torn to pieces as soon as he arrived.

They left the ship and Kat headed straight to O’Malley to pay for the spot at the dock. O’Malley greeted her warmly and welcomed her back to Tortuga. He didn’t mention anything about Hector; such questions could be dangerous.

Kat decided it was time to visit Fabiola next. She led Hector through the winding maze of drunks to the gypsy. As they walked up, Fabiola looked up from something she was weaving with a smile.

“Welcome back to solid land, Kat,” she greeted her warmly. Her violet eyes turned to Hector. “Welcome to you as well, Hector Bluepaine,” she said.

Hector’s eyes widened in amazement. “How does she know my name?” he whispered to Kat. She couldn’t help but grin at the boy.

“Fabiola is rather…mystical,” she told him. The gypsy smiled at Hector kindly.

“So, how have you been, Kat?” Fabiola asked knowingly. “Not up to too much trouble, are you?” she grinned.

Kat smirked at her friend. “Well, actually-”

A green glow suddenly flashed up the night sky. Everyone looked up in confusion.

Fabiola’s smile turned to a look of great fear. “Oh no,” she whispered in terror. She turned to Kat. “It is All Hallows Eve! Jolly Roger is using it’s power to spread his influence!” She clutched Kat’s arm frantically. “You must run, the both of you!” Fabiola quickly gathered her things and went inside her wagon.

Kat studied the green sky for a moment, then turned to Hector. “Get in there with Fabiola,” she ordered.

Hector was confused. “But…but Kat-” he spluttered.

“Hector, do it now!” she roared. Hector dashed into Fabiola’s wagon. Kat knew he would be safe with the gypsy from whatever needed to be feared. She only hoped that he would stay put.

She took off at a run for the beach. Before she could get there, her body suddenly became enflamed with pain. She tripped and fell to her knees as her body began a painful transformation. Her skin turned to dust and her bones cracked at the pressure of the air. Her back arched as if trying to escape the pain of her joints falling into place differently. Her hazel eyes squeezed shut as her muscles fell off, and when they opened again, they were colorless balls. Kat tried to take deep gulps of air, but found she couldn’t because her lungs had disintegrated as well.

Finally, the transformation ended. Kat lay trembling on the ground from the aftershocks of pain. Gingerly, she pushed herself to her feet. She went to wipe the dirt off of her jacket, but stopped to see her bony hand. Her mouth opened in horror as she flexed her fingers, checking to see if they were truly hers. The fingers responded accordingly with her thoughts.

A person stepped out of the barber’s on her left, non-skeletal. Kat recognized the bright red hair. “Lawrence!” she cried in joy.

Lawrence looked up. His bright green eyes narrowed. “A skeleton!” he growled. He pulled out his cutlass-the same iron one Kat had given him months ago-and stalked toward her.

Kat gasped. He didn’t recognize her in this form! “No, Lawrence, it’s me, it’s Kat!” she cried, trying to get him to stop. Lawrence kept walking towards her, making Kat back up and raise her hands in surrender. “Lawrence, stop, it’s me, it’s Kat!” Lawrence showed no signs of stopping as he backed her into a tree.

“Lawrence, stop!” Kat yelled frantically, drawing her own cutlass now.

It was at the sight of the sword that Lawrence swung. Kat ducked and the iron sword embedded in the tree. She moved behind him with her blade held loosely at her side. Lawrence was stuck trying to get his out of the tree.

Kat used this opportunity while he was occupied to try and talk to him and get him to understand. “Lawrence,” she said quietly, figuring it was better than yelling. “It’s me. It’s Kat Crest-”

She was abruptly cut off by Lawrence spinning around, his sword slicing through the air for her neck. Kat’s blade flew up and metal clashed on metal. He swung again, this time aiming for the top of her head. The blades came together again with a clang as Kat blocked him once more.

They stood locked like that. “Lawrence, stop! I’m not what you think I am!” she yelled in his face. His green eyes were inflamed, showing exactly why the name Mcrage was so fitting.

He ignored her words and howled with rage as he attacked her left side. Kat’s sword pointed to the ground as she parried. Her whole body turned on the spot while she pushed her blade against his. Lawrence moved again, trying to stab her side, but Kat blocked him again, her sword moving to the right as she moved left away from Lawrence’s sharp edge. He went for her ankles instead, making a giant sweep from right to left. Kat made a jump over it that would have made Jack Sparrow proud. While coming down, she made a split-second decision that she had to end this.

Kat’s feet greeted the Tortuga soil once more. She went on the offensive and slashed at Lawrence’s right leg, the one supporting him most. He saw the move and tried to swing his cutlass around to block it, but he was too slow. Kat cut neatly across his thigh. He buckled and fell to the ground with a howl of pain.

Kat listened to his scream with a heavy heart. She hadn’t wanted to do it, but it was necessary so neither of them lost their lives. Lawrence glared up at her. “Bloody skeleton!” he hissed. Kat’s eyes crinkled in sadness, but she didn’t respond. That would have to be saved for later.

She took Lawrence under his arms, much to his chagrin, and dragged him into the barber shop he had exited only a few minutes before. Once out of the light of the green Jolly Moon, she began to transform back to her usual shape. She fell in pain next to Lawrence as her skin regenerated and her bones became hidden under muscle once more.

Lawrence stared at her in horror as she morphed back into her true form. She lay there breathing heavily, trying to recover from the pain. “Kat,” he whispered.

Kat took a tonic from her pocket and drank it down. She shook her head a little to clear it. Her eyes turned to him. “Hello Lawrence. Good to see you.”



Well. Interesting meeting, eh? Funny story about that little fighting scene-I had a few issues figuring out how to do it, so I grabbed my sister, went into the garage, and choreographed the entire thing with a pair of sticks. I'm telling you, it's not as easy as it looks, haha.

A thank you to my editor, Juliana Maria. Rum is still on me mate!

Well, hows about telling me what you think? I don't mind criticism, but I also don't mind comments either. Whatever floats your frigate. Next chapter next Thursday. Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot