Everything was on fire. The whole scene was a cloud of smoke at that point with screaming echoing from around them. They could still hear the whistling and crashing of cannon fire on the hull of the ship below them and the ripping and cracking sound of chain shot destroying the rigging high above them.

Church was sure his foot was broken. It had gotten shot in the crossfire. He gripped the railing with white hands, trying to pull himself along to a lifeboat. All around him he could hear the screams of wounded men. Down below he could faintly here the sound of the last few men firing off four-pounders at the enemy. But he knew it was useless.

They were all going to die here.

He bit back another scream as he pulled himself forward. White hot pain surged through his leg, but he refused to admit it. If he was going down it would be with dignity, and he was going down quickly, there was no way he could make it across the deck like this. As he began to give up Church felt an arm under his shoulder, lifting him higher and dragging him forward faster.

"Let's go asshole we have to get off this ship." A gruff voice pulled him temporarily away from his pain and into the present. He glanced over to see a young man helping him along.

"Tex." He almost breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm so glad you're-"

"Shut up and keep moving." His voice was stern as he continued to drag church along the deck lifting him over a few dead bodies in the process. Church tried not to notice how they had died. but the missing limbs had made the deck bloodied and vile smelling. The smoke grew thicker. Church wondered how long it would be until he joined them, it would only take one stray cannon to put him out of his misery.

It felt like ages past before they reached the small boats. The remaining crew was scrambling inside and casting out over the water. The two of them shuffled closer with the masses towards the ships.

"Church I haven't been honest with you." Tex started suddenly, slowing the two of them down just a bit.

"I'm very well aware of that," Church gritted, trying not to number the things that Tex had lied to him about on their few years as mates aboard the ship.

"No this concerns you, threes something you need to know." He leaned in and started whispering in Churches ear.

"But where on earth-" Church started, his eyes wide and his heart racing

"Look out!" a cry ran out half a second before Church realized what was happening. Texas pushed hard and sent him flying towards the boats as the foremast cracked and fell over where they had been standing. The rigging snapping rapidly and the other masts following suit. The ship was beginning to sink faster below the waves.

"TEX!" he tried to rush forward to where he had seen her last but strong arms wrapped around Church and put him inside the life boat. They cast off into the water and started away as the ship cracked and sunk down into the sea, a billowing wall of smoke enclosing her.

Tex never reappeared and Church soon collapsed from exhaustion and pain. The last thing he saw off in the distance was the bright white hull and billowing sails of the ship that had caused them so much pain still circling the sinking vessel.