Notesy notesy - This story is told in summary-ish format... That is to say, it isn't a technical narrative story at this point. This project began as me making up something and verbally telling it to a group on the spot, so the way I have written it is essentially meant to mimic what it would sound like if I were describing it to you. I plan to go back later and flesh it out and add proper dialogue and make it into a real fanfiction, but for now, this is good. AND don't get the wrong idea - this isn't just bullet points or anything... it's actually legitimately pretty entertaining... or I thought it was, at least. Haha.
PLEASE TO ENJOY.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN IV
PROLOGUE
The story opens on a dark, stormy night. A great ship is being tossed back and forth in a thunderous gale. Lightning flashes, illuminating a frightened crew of sailors attempting to man their stations in the storm. A wave crashing on the side of the ship pitches a slough of men overboard, and they are lost in the sea. Sailors on board hold onto whatever they can for dear life. A bearded man in an elaborate Spanish costume bursts from the door to the galley followed closely by another younger man. The younger man holds in his hands a dark, leather-bound book. The two of them argue about the state of the ship and how all their lives are endangered. The bearded man wishes to keep sailing, but the younger man insists that it is suicide to continue in this weather. Thunder crashes above them, and the bearded man points out that there's no turning back -- it's suicide either way. The younger man is at a loss for words.
Suddenly, another crash sends men hurtling across the ship and causes the starboard side of the ship to splinter and cut through the air. The younger man has fallen to his stomach to dodge the flying debris, dropping the leather-bound book as he does. The book slides to rest precariously on another piece of splintered wood. As the younger man looks up, he sees the older man has been impaled by a huge piece of the broken ship. He stands and stumbles to the bearded man, lifting him and cradling him in his arms.
The bearded man is still alive, but barely. His eyelids flicker open and closed and the remainder of his strength, makes a fist and shoves something into the hand of his companion, then reaches up and grabs the younger man's shirt in his hands. Shaking tremulously, he bids the younger man "come back for him when he finds it". And with that, his eyes roll back into his skull as blood begins to drip from the corners of his mouth. The younger man, distraught, opens his fist and finds that the bearded man had placed a ruby ring in his hand. His face immediately crumbles, and tears begin to fall down his cheeks, intermingling with the rain from above. The leather-bound book slips from its place at the edge of the ship, and falls forgotten into the raging sea. Still cradling the older man in his arms, he raises his head and curses the sky as sailors scurry around him. The lightning flashes and the thunder rumbles, and the man's cries are lost in the din of the storm.