I awoke, staring at the wooden ceiling as I wondered, “Where am I?” Hearing the sounds of barbaric laughter and water slamming against wood, I quickly connected the pieces. “I’m in the ocean? But where? A ship?” I stood up and inspected where I was. I see a sink and a bucket in the corner of the room, “a cabin?” The air was husky, shivers went down my spine., I looked beside me. “It's that damned book,” I muttered, seeing a table beside the bed. On the table was a thick leather book that had a gold embedment of the word ‘Guide.’

At the bottom of the word guide was a weird symbol being repeated. The symbol was a cross with a circle at its intersection. I hesitantly grabbed it and clicked my tongue. “Seems like this is another door….” I muttered to myself as the book suddenly glowed. I opened it and flipped it to a random blank page, and words began to etch itself on it. It read “Hello there Markus, it seems like you're awake. We're nearing the end. Currently, you are at Door 999,996. Only 4 more! - Gabriel '' Markus was my name, yes… I remembered it after this damned book reminded me of it on the 900,000 door. Thanks, Gabriel, for reminding me, yet again.

I quickly stood up, almost losing balance due to the uneven movement of the ship. I threw up. It seems even with Gabriel's godly powers, he couldn't take my motion sickness away from me. The book glowed yet again. “I just decided not to take it away, Markus, don't take my mercy for granted. I could've given you something worse, The plague, Malaria, The Black Death and so much more.” He was right, I should be glad he hasn't given me something worse than this. Sighing slowly I made my way through the door that led out of the cabin. The exit was riddled with rusted nails, Gabriel didn't want me to leave the first part without a scratch, petty bitch. Slowly opening the door I tried to avoid the nails. One of them pierced me, “I suppose after this I need a tetanus shot.” I thought to myself and lightly laughed, knowing what would happen not even a month into this place.

Upon exiting the cabin, I was hit with an explosive headache, I quickly fall on my knees and rubbed my head to lessen the pain “Fuck!” I screamed in pain, was this another one of Gabriel's tricks? I don't know. But that wasn't important, what's important was that I moved cautiously looking for an exit while looking out for any dangers or people. Passing through other cabins, they were all empty.

Seemed like I was a Top Brass looking at the state of the other rooms. I pass what looked like the bathroom, after contemplating for a few minutes I decide to enter. “God I hope a snake doesn't enter my ass or something….” I was reminded of what happened in the earlier doors. The bathroom consisted of a mirror paired with a sink, a large bucket, and a small bucket that seemed to be used for drawing water.

I approached the mirror, inspecting my face. “I look so young….” I said aloud, slightly rubbing my face, it was hard to believe, Gabriel didn't do anything to my face. In fact, he made me look better than I originally was. My hazel skin, a deep scar on my right eye, and my black hair and brown eyes, were the same way I remembered my features when I was alive. Although, I don't quite remember the reason for my right eye being scarred. Gabriel must've taken away that memory as well as he did with almost all my memories.

Seems like this door is pirate-themed or something, baggy clothes, a saber on my right side, and the book on my left. Gabriel was kind enough to give me chains that allowed me to put it on me like a sling bag a few thousand doors back.

After washing up I exit the bathroom. A few minutes passed, I scoured around for the exit, it was like a labyrinth, even though it was small, it was so intricate and complex. After what felt like hours of searching, I found a staircase that led upstairs. The book glowed again “Luck often finds herself in the hands of capable men. Although don't expect Luck to stick around with you till the end. Lady luck isn't patient.” Was this a riddle? What significance does it have on this door? Tch. I want to know more but I know asking would lead to nothing. I took a light step to go upstairs.

The planks were old, they made a creak with every move I made. I could feel it bending, it could break at any moment. Each and every step I made was with caution, the laughter was getting louder with each step I took. As I slowly got up I felt a nail piercing my foot. I felt like I needed to scream in pain, but I just couldn't. I don't want to waste time on something I felt a thousand times. I continued and I reached above.

Greeted by bright lights and loud laughter, I quickly covered my eyes from the blinding lights, blinking so that my eyes were accustomed to the sudden change of light. Jesus, was there a party going on or something? “Oh if it isn't the right hand of the Captain!” a voice in the distance called out to me, I quickly looked at the source of the voice and saw a fat man approaching me.

So I was right. I'm a Top Brass on the ship. But who is this guy? The man slowed down and stuck out his hand “How've ya been Howard?” Howard? Who's that? Me? The book began to glow again. The sound stops and so does the movement of the other people. I'll never get used to this part of Gabriel's power…. The book shone brighter, Jesus. Impatient much?

I flip through a random blank page, “Despite me doing this so many times the pages just keep on being blank.” I said in amazement, the message etched into the book this time reads as “I am great, I am mighty, only second to God, my Captain. Even if I were given a chance to win I must lose.” Huh? Was this him complimenting himself? No, there must be more to it. But then again, he had done this more than 1000 times….. the book began to make a sound that made my ears bleed.

Quickly I dropped the book, it closed and landed on my left thigh. The people began to move and the sounds reappeared, “Any- Woah! Are you alright Howard?” The fat man said, sounding concerned. “I'm… Fine.” Slowly I replied. The fat man helped me move and guided me to a secluded place, it was a table with 3 people, it was a long table, like in those dining rooms.

One man sat at the left side, one man sat at the bottom of the right side, and in the middle top sat a man. The middle man had an eye patch covering his right eye, a typical pirate hat with a particular symbol. A cross and at the intersection was a circle. “Why do I always see this symbol?” I wondered looking at the hat, it was the same one the book had. I guess the middle guy is the Captain? The fat man moved and sat on the left side. I took the signal and sat on the top right side.

“So. How are things going Marco?” The eye-patched man said, and the fat man stood up “We are currently doing fine on the supplies right now! Crew members have calmed down after the recent riots!” He sits down, Marco huh? With the current information at hand, I theorized, “So. I'm on a pirate ship where I’m supposedly to be the right hand of the captain of the ship” Hm, I could've thought up something better.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Before I could ponder anymore The Captain spoke yet again, “What about you Howard? What adventures have you brought for the story to tell about today?” Hm? Was I some sort of storyteller or something? No wait. Maybe an information gatherer. “Uh. I…. I didn't have any luck and I couldn't find any story to tell about today.” I stated, The Captain shrugged.

“Well, I suppose there's always next time.” I wouldn't want a next time with you disgusting rats. “I suppose that concludes our reports.” Hm? What about the rest of the people? Why was it only me and Marco who reported? Before I could think any further Marco pulled out a deck of cards, “Wanna play a round boss?” The Captain laughed, Jesus his laughter was creepy, it sounded like a banshee's scream. “I'll take you up on that offer Marco. What about the rest of ya? Wanna join your friend Marco here?” I quickly raised my hand, I think I just found a way to get out of this door quickly.

Marco shuffled the deck, he was quite proficient at it. His buttery fingers made the cards twist and turn without any of it bending or denting, the sounds emitted from the shuffling was soothing. Soothing, not really a word I thought I'd get to use on a door. He deals the cards, “Alright so, we're playing Old Mary. Anyone have a problem with that?” The Captain asked, me and Marco shook our heads and we started. I looked at my cards, it seems like the maid is with them. Marco sets a pair of Aces spades, a pair of 4 leaf clovers and a pair of queen of hearts. The Captain sets a pair of queen of spades and a 3 leaf clover. 2 clubs and 3 of Aces. I set a pair of queens of Heart, and a pair 3 of Spades. It was a game of Old Maid, as we neared to the end of the game it was just me and The Captain.

I had the old maid. It was a joker. On The Captain's turn, I slightly poked out the Old Maid, “Huh? What is this Howard?” The Captain asked, Marco looked at me terrified. Huh, I wonder why…. “The old maid is this one.” I pointed at the card I poked out, Now, if he believes me. I could leave this door quickly. The riddles all point to it. I MUST let The Captain win. No matter what, I can't leave it all to lady luck since it doesn't stay till the end.

I must lose to The Captain since even if I am mighty, I am only second to my God, Captain. But. If he doesn't, then I'm afraid of what would happen if he was to lose. The Captain looked at me with a glint of amusement, he took the Old Maid. What? Why? He took a look at the card and laughed. It was my turn, this was the final turn. I have to make sure of it. He pokes out a card, “This one here is The Old Maid.” Fuck.

I knew which one was which, he didn't point at The Old Maid. What should I do? What is the optimal pick? Which one doesn’t make my death mentally exhausting? Gabriel is probably laughing at my current predicament. With trembling hands, I took The Old Maid, “Do you think I need your help with everything Howard?” The Captain asked, His voice was threatening. I could feel the pressure that came with it, Marco quickly pleaded to The Captain. “Boss! Howard doesn't mean it! He's just a little sick today-” Marco was cut off with a knife to his throat.

He was bleeding, Jesus there was so much blood flowing out of him. I quickly ran over and attempted to cover his gashing wound. I felt his blood flowing out, it felt like waves of thick liquid going against me. “Marco! hang in there-'' I was dead, I knew this sensation. I'd felt it over a thousand times. I was dead. I saw my body, bleeding and falling over. My head was decapitated, I saw The Captain smiling in malice and ordering the two people at the table to carry my body and Marco's.

They sighed, “We won't be like you and Marco, I'll find stories to tell to our dear Captain.” They said, barely above a whisper. We were hanged at the beak of the ship, my body was hanged upside-down, my head was skewered on one of its perches, Marco was hanged the same way as me. I heard a familiar voice, “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Markus, Markus, Markus. You let down your Captain, quite pitiful. I'll leave you there, consider it as a… bad ending.” I hear it, it’s Gabriel’s voice in my head. I hear his snobby, condescending and cruel voice.

I was dead, but I felt everything. To my flesh slowly rotting, to water grazing my skin, and to the blood flowing out of my neck, I felt it. Even though my neck and body weren't connected. I could feel it, my body. How long must this go on? How many times has this been done to me? I allowed my mind to wander, waiting for my body to decompose into bones. I was woken awake from my thoughts by the sound of wings flapping, a bird? No wait, how long have I been drifting away? I smelt it, it was the smell of rotten flesh. It stank, even though it shouldn’t be possible for me to breathe. I wanted to puke, how much I just wanted to puke, but I couldn’t. God, I felt maggots going through my intestines, eating and crawling in my body.

My body was rotting and I didn’t even notice it. It hurts. It was slow. Even being burnt alive was better than this. The sounds of wings flapping got closer and I saw a bird near the corner of my eye. It was a vulture. It perched down on Marco’s lifeless body, piercing his shoulders with its sharp talon, blood began to flow and stain its talon as it delved deeper and deeper into Marco’s shoulder. as it perched I could hear something bleeding. Was it me? No, it was Marco. I can hear the bird ripping through his flesh, eating him.

At first, it ate Marco's cheek, then his mouth, then it ate his eyes. Slowly, I see it. The maggots crawled around Marco's face, the vulture ate them and Marco's face. I saw Marco's chubby face turn into a bloody pulp, then there was nothing. No skin, only the skull remaining. It smelled horrid, it was disgusting. I wanted to puke, what have I done to deserve this?

As I despaired to the death of the only person who seemed to be worried for my well-being the vulture looked at me. Unlike a normal vulture, it had thousands of eyes, it was unnerving seeing all of them staring down at me. I was next, I know I am. I know I'll feel even more pain if it eats me, and I know I can't do anything to stop it. Gabriel probably planned all of this from the start, everything here was meant to hurt me in ways not even the human mind would think of.

The vulture perched on my left shoulder, eating the inside of my ears with its beak. Holy shit it hurts, I could hear everything before it took my eardrums. I could hear its beak slowly clawing through my ear, and as it pierced my eardrums I felt a high screech. It was loud, louder than anything I've ever heard from a Door.

Suddenly, I feel a burning pain on my left ear. It was painful like I was being drenched in acid. It's probably my eardrums and skin arriving at its stomach, slowly dissolving. I hear Gabriel’s snobbish voice yet again, “Did you know? Vultures have the most deadliest stomach acid in the animal kingdom. I tinkered with it a bit so that it'd be just as slow as it is powerful.” Fuck, I knew it.

It felt too painful to be something like a normal animal, he'd done this too much. Every Time I got used to the pain he removed my familiarity with the pain, upping it again once he did. God, I didn't know how much passed, but I'm glad it did. I would go insane, but Gabriel would give back my sanity. I would feel the pain being numbed, but Gabriel would make it hurt even more than it already is.

I came to consciousness from my pain after it wasn't there anymore, I was bones. The vulture had ripped, eaten, and dissolved all parts of my body. I was freed! Yes! It's finally over! “Good job Markus, it's time we move on to the next Door….” Gabriel spoke, I lay there, my body, skeleton and filled with maggots. My soul dwelled in there, and then it didn't.