The cold water drained his heat away and made his socks damp and cold. The boot-sucking mud slowed him considerably. The storm clouds above him flashed from time to time illuminating the crooked trees. Those things weren't his immediate concern because the man in front of took in all

The man was wearing a long blue coat with silver embroideries and a white blouse underneath. He wore brown pants, that were soaked and muddied under the knees. A revolver and a cutlass hung at his sides. Normally, the face of the man was expressionless except for his sparkling blue eyes. But today was different, his face was contorted in a grim expression and his eyes were cold and unwavering. He smiled to the grim man and shouted: "Hey, what got you in such a bad mood, mate? Not happy to receive your share?"

He took a scroll out of his pocket, opened it and began to read:

"I, Viktor Frost, captain of the royal army, have been entrusted with the power, by Her Royal Majesty, to prosecute in Her Majesty's name when I suspect one of her subjects of committing piracy. Do you, Simon Blackheart, captain of the Black Rose, confess this crime?"

"Hah! We both know what will happen. You say you couldn't find me and I give you a share of the loot!"

"I, Viktor Frost, captain of the Royal Eagle, bear witness to Simon Blackheart, captain of the Black Rose, confessing his crimes. The punishment for piracy and bribery of a Royal official is death. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

"Why are you doing this Viktor? We are friends. This isn't necessary! You never cared about the law before!"

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"No arguments have been set forth to change the verdict. Prepare for execution, pirate."

Putting the scroll back in his jacket, he drew his pistol and shot in one fluent motion. "What in tarna....."

A pain shot through the right side of his chest, cutting his curse off with a bloody gurgle. His heart thumped in his ears and his vision swam. Viktor came closer, holding his revolver aimed at Simon's heart. Collapsing to his knees, another shot of pain went through him and darkness encroached. He couldn't, no, he wouldn't die. He had villages to plunder and ships to sink, beginning with the Royal Eagle. Biting through the pain, his right hand shot to his own flintlock pistol. Having hefted it halfway towards Viktor's face, another bang sang through the air, followed by pain that shot through him. This time the darkness overtook him in an instant. He opened his eyes to the sight of Viktor's intense eyes staring in his. With a somber tone he asked: "Any last words, Simon?" Simon opened his mouth, but only a gurgle came out. He tried again and this time an unintelligibly soft whisper came out of his mouth. Bowing forward to hear the whisper, Viktor was shocked to see Simon move. Simon jumped upwards with the dagger he had hidden in his boot in his left hand. Viktor's shock cost him the ability to block the blow and the dagger pierced his right eye. Toppling forwards the corpse landed on Simon's chest and pushed him under the water level. An insufferable pain shot through him when the water hit his wounds, making the world go black again.

He opened his eyes and saw muddy water, being almost black, all around him. Pain shot through him when he tried to heave the body from his chest causing everything to become blurry. He felt the panic creeping into his mind as the world went blurry before his eyes. He pushed and pulled on the cadaver lying on his chest. Every time he used his right arm a flare of pain shot through him, but he bit through it. The pain didn’t matter, he had to escape the water!

His panic settled as his eyes were blurry from the pain in his chest and arm. Biting through the pain that shot through him time and time again he had pushed and pulled at the lieutenant's body, never moving it more than an inch. After a minute of uselessly scratching a corpse he gave in to the void that had been growing in his mind. He breathed in the muddy water, coughed and flailed one more time. Then he saw a tunnel forming. The water moving farther and farther away until the darkness engulfed him hole.