One… Two… Three…

Snap.

One… Two… Three…

Snap.

One… Two… Three…

Snap.

One by one, each member of my crew fell victim to the necklace of death. I couldn’t bear to watch. They were my family and I knew I’d join them soon. My only wish is that we went down with the ship, not on solid ground. My thoughts will be only of the Ocean of Brilliance, my home, and it's beautiful, luminescent waters.

“Next!”

My eyes snapped open, my first mate, my best mate moved forward. Each step echoing out over the silent crowd. I wanted to, I needed to avert my eyes, but I couldn’t. They were glued to him as he stepped up onto the trap door. The hangman moved, his boots landing heavily as he climbed up to the gallows. My first mate stood, proud, no fear in his dark eyes, as he faced his impending end with pride. He had known the risks, and he happily accepted them. The hangman slid the thick rope over the pirate's head then carefully drew the knot tightly. He stepped away from my first mate and moved down the steps of the gallows.

I looked out at the crowd, not able to watch my first mate any longer. Everyone watched tentatively and in silence. You could see them squirm with anticipation, wanting the pirate's life to end. Then someone caught my eyes. A flash of bright colored hair in a crowd full of dark and dirty hair. I had only seen hair like that once before. The royal family of the pirate princess shared that color of hair, warm, bright amber. Whoever it was moved swiftly through the mass, closer to the gallows.

“Pirate, you are to face the punishment for your crimes against each of the hold. On behalf of King Aaric Bradwr, I proclaim you will be hung for your crimes.”

I carefully closed my eyes and began to count. One… Two… Three… Snap. May his body find peace and his soul find the sea. I dared to open my eyes, hesitantly searching only to find my first mate hanging, no struggle left in him.

“Captain, take your place.”

I took careful, slow steps up to the gallows. Each step I took, my feet felt as if they were made of stone. I tried to be brave, I tried to face my death with strength, but I knew my eyes betrayed me. I did not show the courage my first mate had shown. I came to a stop, my feet perfectly placed in the middle of the trap door. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. The hangman seemed to take forever to reach me, each step he took sending chills down my spine. I knew this was my end.

I searched the crowd, desperately looking for the amber hair. The hangman slid the rope over my head and around my neck. As he tightened it, his cold hand brushed against my neck. It sent the chills right back down my spine, I hardly noticed how the noose hugged tightly to my neck. I didn’t close my eyes, I watched the horizon, listening to the hangman walk back to his post.

It was a good day to die. If I just watched the sky, watched how the clouds hang, suspended in the vast blue sky, then it was almost as if I were back on the water. Where I belonged. I saw a star, it shined bright, but it was amongst the crowd. Just as the countdown began, I could have sworn it was zooming towards me.

One…

Two…

Three…

Snap.