Klaus's fingers dug tight into Erick's hand as they approached the ship. The streets had been empty the entire return trip, and even if one of the townspeople had attacked them, Erick had his spear ready to deal with them.

However, he didn't need the spear. The entire town was completely quiet as he approached the ship. Even as he passed by the tavern, it was shuttered and closed. No lights shone in the window to push back the night. If it weren't for the streetlamps still burning, he wouldn't have been able to see at all for the darkness.

"Come on, Klaus," he said as they reached the docks.

The ship that had been attacked was rigged up with ropes across from the Hispaniola, and only one man remained on guard near it. The other soldiers would have gone to bed, which was where Erick needed to be. This one night had been the longest of his life.

"Landson." The guard on duty nodded at him from where he leaned against a wooden pole.

"Gregory." Landson nodded back.

"Who's the kid?"

"I need to take him to the captain," Erick said. "There was an incident in town, and he's a witness to it."

"You want to give him more reports to write?" Gregory laughed. "You're a braver man than I am."

"What can you do." Erick shrugged as he walked up the gangplank. "Justice never sleeps, or whatever they told us back in basic."

Erick made his way over to the captain's door and knocked. He already knew he would regret it, but it was the right thing to do. Soldiers followed chains of command. He had to take his issue up with Captain Hawkins before anything could happen.

"Maybe I'll get some answers now," Erick said, looking down at Klaus, who stared at the metal door.

"What?" Captain Hawkin's voice shook the door.

"Captain!" Erick said, instinctually clicking his boots together. "I need to make a report. There was an incident in town tonight!"

"Landson?"

Thump. Thump. Thump. Bang.

Erick moved Klaus back from the door with him before the captain could reach it. The door slammed against the side of the cabin before bouncing back and hitting Captain Hawkins's outstretched fist. It bounced back a second time before it remained open.

"What do you want, Private Landson?" Captain Hawkins glared at Erick. "Haven't you caused me enough trouble tonight?"

"Sorry, sir!" Erick said, saluting. "I found a person on my patrol who witnessed a murder. I brought him here immediately by protocol."

Captain Hawkins's eyes bulged, and veins stretched across his forehead as he looked between Klaus and Erick. Erick maintained his composure. The captain knew just as much as he did what needed to be done, even if it led to extra paperwork and extra complications.

"Why did it have to be you, private?" Captain Hawkins sighed, and his arm that rested against the door relaxed. "Of all the people on this outpost, why is it always you?"

"I don't know, sir," Erick said, still keeping at attention. "I just do my job to the best of my ability."

"You said murder, right?" he asked as he looked down at Klaus. "You saw someone killed?"

Klaus didn't say anything, and Erick had to kneel next to him and place a hand on his shoulder.

"You can tell him, Klaus," Erick said. "Like I told you earlier. We're the good guys."

"The townsfolk, they murdered my parents." Klaus spit it out like a bitter drink. "When we moved here, they attacked us."

"The townsfolk?" Captain Hawkins frowned.

"The masks," Erick said, looking up to the captain. "He told me they were trying to put masks on his parents and his brother. I thought you would know more about it than me. I'm still new here."

"The masks." Captain Hawkins furrowed his brows. "They aren't normal. I've never had the time to ask..."

"Captain!" From the side of the ship, Doctor Livesay approached with Tanis in tow behind him. "The logbook was stolen! Just now!"

Erick looked up at Tanis and saw the mask on his face. He stood and put Klaus behind his leg as he backed away. He didn't know what was happening, but Lieutenant Tanis hadn't worn a mask before, and it was the same porcelain mask the other townspeople wore.

"What?" Captain Hawkins yelled, staring down at the doctor. "How did you get it stolen? Lieutenant Tanis was there. Wait. Why is he wearing one of those masks?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The doctor looked up to Lieutenant Tanish and shook his head. Erick kept pushing Klaus back and away from them. He didn't know what was about to happen, but his duty was to protect Klaus.

"He...suffered an injury to his face from the thief," Doctor Livesay said, putting his hands in his pockets. "The one who stole the logbook is out and loose in the city. We need to find him!"

Captain Hawkins lumbered forward, and Erick could see the confusion on his face. A lot had happened in just a few moments, and the captain was clearly struggling to process it all. Erick held his spear tight in his free hand as he edged Klaus further away.

"He has a mask," Klaus whispered but still moved as Erick guided him.

"Get ready to run," Erick whispered back.

"Lieutenant, speak to me," Captain Hawkins said as he approached the doctor and Tanis. "Tell me what happened."

Tanis didn't move at all. He stood stock still, his hand on the hilt of his rapier. Erick took in a deep breath to calm his nerves. Everything about the situation was wrong. He needed to think. He needed to be ready.

"What's wrong with him, Doc?"

"He just has a new perspective now," Doctor Livesay said. "Severe injuries can do that to a person, you know?"

"I just..." Captain Hawkins looked down at the doctor, and in that moment, Doctor Livesay made his move.

Slap.

With a speed that belied his age, the doctor thrust up with his hand, taking a white porcelain mask from his pocket and slapping it onto the captain's face. Captain Hawkins reached out at the same moment and grasped at the doctor's wrist but stopped when his fingers closed.

He stood frozen on the decks.

"What did you just do?" Erick breathed out in a hushed whisper.

"Oh, sorry," Doctor Livesay said, his arm still held up by the captain. "I didn't bring a mask for you. I was more concerned about ensuring the captain was under control before this logbook situation worsened. I don't need higher-ups poking around Cragg Hollow when they hear about the logbook. We best keep that a secret between us."

He said it so matter-of-factly that Erick wasn't sure what to do. As he spoke, the captain let go of his wrist and stood slack on the deck. Silence filled the air between them, and Erick looked between the doctor and the gangplank as his heart beat a fast march in his head.

"I see your problem," Doctor Livesay said, crossing his arms and looking at Tanis. "Tanis, be a dear and block the gangplank for me. We already killed the one guard on duty, so one more shouldn't be a problem."

"Step."

Shing.

Tanis moved across the deck in an instant. He blocked the only real exit to the ship and drew his sword before standing in a wide fencer's stance. Erick licked his lips as he looked back at the doctor. He didn't need to be told what the doctor intended for him.

"Why are you doing this, Doc?" Erick asked as he pushed Klaus further back behind him. "You're one of us. Why are you betraying the Military Police?"

"The Military Police?" Doctor Livesay asked, reaching up and pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Boy, it is irrelevant. All that matters is knowledge. There are so many things in this world. There are so many places with strange creatures and powers. That's what I found in Cragg Hollow thirty years ago. I found these creatures that took control of other animals by binding themselves to the creature's brain and controlling their mind."

Doctor Livesay walked over to the opposite edge of the ship and looked out over the bay.

"My research could create an army of slaves— thousands of drones willing to fight to the death for whoever commanded them. I hadn't been born powerful, not like the captain or the lieutenant. All I had to my name was my mind and a simple curse that let me generate fog."

Doctor Livsesay looked back at him, and his bony face cracked with a wide smile.

"So, I used my mind to modify the creatures. I made my plans and laid out what I needed. I used my fog to keep this town out of sight and out of mind while enjoying the funding the Empyrean has provided for my research here. I took hold of this town and have proven that my method will be viable."

"You did this for the Military Police then?"

"No, my boy. Are you even listening to me?" Doctor Livesay laughed. "I don't want this research in the hands of those bureaucrats. They are far too powerful to begin with. No. I want to sell this information to the highest bidder. Do you know how much people would be willing to pay to take control of entire islands and bend the people to their will? The People's Revolution, the Underground Lords, any of the many shadowy organizations across the Erth would pay me handsomely to be more of a thorn in the Scion's sides."

The doctor laughed again as he walked back toward Erick, stopping next to Captain Hawkins, who still stood unmoving.

"Think of the research I could fund. Think of what I could discover with that funding. That's why I made all this possible. What do you think, my boy?"

Erick clenched his teeth tight. He didn't know what insanity had gripped the doctor or how long he had been like this, but the doctor clearly knew nothing. Erick looked down at Klaus, and the kid was shaking as he held onto Erick's hand. Erick knew his answer.

"A soldier of the Empyrean serves justice," Erick said. "Nothing that you have said, doctor, has anything to do with that!"

"A pity," Doctor Livesay said, shaking his head and crossing his arms behind his back. "Hawkins!"

"Pro—" Hawkins tried to speak before he snapped to attention and spun around to face Erick.

"Eliminate him. We will also need to go below and capture the rest of the garrison. Once we do that, we will search this town for the logbook and then leave for new waters in the Little February."

"Understood," Captain Hawkins said as he lumbered forward with his fists clenched tight.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

"Kid," Erick said. "We're about to do something stupid. I need you to run when I give you the chance."

Erick knew there was nowhere to run. With Tanis guarding the gangplank and the captain walking toward him, he felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. He let go of Klaus's hand and held out his spear. He would do his duty and buy Klaus time.

Thump. Snap.

As soon as Erick took his stance, Captain Hawkins lunged forward and grabbed hold of his spear with one hand. He broke off Erick's spear with a twist and a deafening snap. Erick looked up at Captain Hawkins, who towered over him, a fist raised in the air and ready to come down on Erick's head.

Aroo. Ruff.

The wolf shot out from behind Erick, tackling and pushing Captain Hawkins back. Erick stood still for a moment, his broken spear in hand, as he turned back to Klaus with wide eyes. Klaus looked up at him, and his face was white with fear.

"Run!" Erick said, running at Klaus and grabbing his hand.

Together, they ran for the only place Erick could think of to escape. He yanked Klaus's hand hard and pulled the kid up in his arms as he jumped over the edge of the deck. Together, they plummeted into the water.

Splash!