The trigger was pulled by the navy's man, and the sound of the shot echoed through the air. Instantly, darkness descended, but there was no feeling of pain. Soon after, Aiden managed to open his eye, only to find himself on the ground, not due to the bullet, but because of a shadow that moved with astonishing speed.
As he glanced down, blood stained the ground beneath him. Just a few meters away lay the men who had been treating him moments ago, now dead and gruesomely torn apart. Aiden's stomach churned, and he covered his mouth with his hand. It was in this silent moment that the shadow drew nearer.
"are ye alright, young scallywag?" came a voice from the shadow.
"I told ya I would come. Everythin' will be alright," said Julie, appearing amidst the pool of blood.
Finally able to move, Aiden's body trembled as he surveyed his surroundings. He had often heard tales of Julie's skill as a captain, but witnessing her fight firsthand was a whole other level. He couldn't help but wonder if she was a mere mortal, and he remembered her words, the promise that one day she would take his life. A chill ran down his spine, but when Julie started to move away, he instinctively reached out and embraced her.
"Stay here. I'll come get ye once it's safe," Julie reassured him, though he found himself unable to move.
"Ah promise," she said before fading away like a shadow. Aiden was left alone in the dark room, drenched in blood and haunted by memories of his own deeds as Maximillian.
As soon as she departed, the door swung shut and darkness enveloped the space, save for a single point of light reflecting off a crack. There, on the ground, lay a red pendant. Aiden gingerly picked it up, holding it as if it were the captain herself.
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Amidst the screams and sounds of battle echoing from the deck above, Aiden's heart pounded with fear. His gaze shifted to the pendant, its color reminding him of Julie. Embracing it gently, he felt a sense of security in the presence of Julie. With her by his side, the specter of Maximilian and the horrors of his past would never reach him.
******
After what felt like an hour, Aiden's eyes fluttered open. "I must have slept," he thought. The door creaked open, and daylight streamed in, announcing the arrival of a new day.
Julie stood in the doorway, and Aiden felt a wave of relief wash over him. He rushed toward her and embraced her, but Julie seemed uneasy. only then he notice the bullet that lodged the capital in his shoulder close to her chest. The same bullet aimed at him.
"I'm alright, aren't ah, Old man?" she asked, looking at Howarding for confirmation.
"Go get that bullet removed," Howarding directed, pointing toward the doctor on the deck.
"Right Right," Julie replied, making her way toward the waiting doctor outside.
On the deck, several bodies were veiled, wrapped in cloth, a farewell gesture before being tossed overboard. People received medical attention and bandages, while others expressed sorrow and called for revenge.
Among the crew, there were discussions about setting the navy ship ablaze. However, Julie came up with a superior plan. She realized that this was the ideal moment to infiltrate the navy city unnoticed and proposed sparing the ship to "convey a message." The men agreed to her proposition.
Following pirate tradition, the surviving enemies were judged by the crew and sent to the depths of the ocean.
As unfortunate as the situation may be, it presented a golden opportunity for Julie. She now had access to uniforms, a ship, and her comrades' fury towards the navy.
The manipulation of anger holds great power, as few things blind a person more than a wounded ego. The captain was aware of this fact.