Chapter Text
Arthur wakes up on a sandy shore. The sounds of waves gently coax him to open his eyes. He’s not sure if he’s alive or dead.
This couldn’t be heaven or paradise. It’s muggy, and the sun is shining brutally on his exposed skin.
He blinks once, then twice, trying to regain his sight in the bright sunlight. He’s tired and weak, but nonetheless he groggily pushes himself up to sit on the shore.
Is this Cuba? He wonders. How the hell did I get- oh…
For a brief moment after he woke, he forgot about the ship…the fire…screaming to Dutch from where he stood at the bow, watching them paddle on without him, calling his name. He feels his heartbeat race at the recollection, beating at the same frantic pace as it did when he stood there…terrified.
He then remembers falling, hitting the water.
It felt oddly cold.
The large flames on the ship turned into small distorted candlelights, as he drifted further down below the surface. He remembers the sounds of men screaming.
The horrible creaking of the ship as it sank into the ocean.
Another sound sparks in his memory. He heard it when he struggled to breach the waters.
What was it?
It was like a squeal, but not like any animal he heard. It was almost…soothing. Like something was singing or humming in an extremely high tune.
He felt both calm and frightened at the vocalization.
Probably just the ship, he thought to himself.