I will forewarn that there is a disturbing scene near the end. So brace yourself.

We got to work a while later, swabbing the deck. As I looked at Jim, he slapped the mop onto the floor. "Yeah, I got your Mr. Mop."

I could tell he didn't like to be put on such a low end of a chain, he was always like that. I remember when we were still kids, anytime we played any game of pretend he would always insist on being the leader. I just blew to the side of my face, pushing my one strand of hair away from my eye.

Then there was this big guy that came over and shoved Jim against the shrouds. "Watch it, twerp," he said, darkly, before walking away.

"Look who's talking," I said, under my breath. "You alright, Jim?"

"Pretty much," he replied, then started back on mopping.

I got to working as he did, but out of the corner of my eye I could see Jim hesitating. He was focused on something else. As I looked at what he was looking at, the crew members noticed Jim looking over, and apparently assumed I was staring too.

"What are you looking at, weirdos?" the largest one asked.

His head then crawled off his body and a face appeared on his chest. "Yeah, weirdos," it finished. Looking at that made me sick, so I turned quickly. I remember during that raid, I seen a shadow of someone cutting off someone's head in an ally. That didn't help me any time later on.

Then I heard this hissing noise. I wasn't sure if I should look, but I did and I found myself looking at a spider-like crew member. "Cabin boys should learn to mind their own business," it said, closing in on Jim.

Jim had that usual look on him. "Why? You got something to hide, bright eyes?" he asked.

That didn't work out to well and I saw the spider move in for the collar of Jim's jacket. I didn't want that to happen, so I dashed in-between them. "Don't!" I exclaimed.

"Maybe your ears don't work so well." As he said that, we both could smell his breath.

"Yeah, ahem. Too bad our noses work just fine." I wanted to say that under my breath, but he heard me.

"Why, you impudent little," then he got both of us by out jackets and slammed us against the main mast. All the crew was gathering around, apparently looking for blood because there was no way for us to fight back. "Any last words, cabin boy?" he asked, getting his claw dangerously close to my neck.

Before he could go for the kill, a clamp got on the spiders claw. It was Silver. "Mr. Scroop, you ever see what happens to a fresh purp when you squeeze real hard," he asked, squeezing the claw. Mr. Scroop dropped us on the spot, but the other claw he used to hold us got too close to my right cheek, cutting it, deeply, from the chin to near the eye.

"What's all this then?" Everyone averted their eyes to Mr. Arrow, coming down the stairs to the deck. I covered my cut so no one could see. "You know the rules. There'll be no brawling on this ship. Any furture offenders will be confined to the brig for the remainder of the voyage." He then stopped in front of Scroop. "Am I clear, Mr. Scroop?"

He hesitated, having a wanting to kill look in his eyes. But he glanced over at Silver, lost the look, and said, "Transparently." Apparently Silver got them all together to make them seem fearful toward him.

Mr. Arrow walked out and then everyone disbanded.

"Well done, Mr. Arrow, sir! A tight ship's a happy ship, sir!" Silver called, then picked up one of the mops. "Jimbo, Gregy, I gave you a job," he said.

"Hey, we were doing it until that bug thing," Jim started.

"Belay that! Now I want this deck swabbed spotless and heaven help you if I come back and it's not done. Morph? Keep an eye on these pups, and let me know if there be any more distractions."

With that, Silver started down to the galley, but Morph looked at me then flew straight to Silver. He was telling him something, then Silver looked at me, as well as Jim. "Gregy, what happened?" Silver pointed to my cheek.

I slowly pulled my hand off and looked at it. A third of my palm was covered in blood. I looked up at Jim, he pulled back, gasping. I looked at Silver, he came running over. "How bad is it?" I asked.

"Bad enough to need it bundled right away, lad." He pulled me over, heading for the galley. I looked back to see Jim, just standing there, like he was frozen.

As we came through, all the crew was in the galley. I didn't know if they were waiting for dinner or what. However, they all looked at me, amazed at the bloody cut I had. I noticed Scroop in the dark corner, smiling at the work he did. I couldn't help but scowl at him. The smile left his face and he looked away. We went to the back, where no one could see us.

I went over to wash it, but I ended up just rinsing it cause the soap made it way too painful. As I got most of the blood off, I went back to Silver, who had a first-aid kit ready to go. He pulled out some bandages and taped them on. "There, now, get goin'. I don't think Jimbo will finish his work without you around." Silver sounded a little more orderly then usual, but I didn't mind it, I wanted out of that bug infested place. As I went through a second time, everyone was still watching as I passed by, but Scroop kept to the shadows, his eyes closed.

I came up on-deck and went back over to Jim. He was back to mopping, but stopped as I came in. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

"It's okay. It should get better after a few days," I said with a smile, trying to make him feel better.

Jim looked down. "Oh, okay." He went back to mopping.

I didn't feel right, hearing him say it like that. He had something on his mind. "What's wrong?"

"Everything."

"As in?"

He set his mop aside and looked at me. "All that you did for me, getting me out of trouble, helping me with some of my school work and all that, and what did you get for it? A scar that you may have for the rest of your life."

"Jim, I-"

"No, you sacrificed too much. You'd be much better off without me." He then went over to the side of the deck.

I walked over, jumped on some of the rope, and said, "Jim, I did what I did to help. I don't think of the costs, I just do it. You're my best friend, so how could I just stand and watch?"

Jim looked at me, then looked at my patched up cut. I knew he thought it was his fault, and I would too if I was in his position, but he shouldn't beat himself up so much. "I know it's not much, but thanks."

I gave him a smirk. "Heh, no problem."

I'd say that was the greatest sacrifice Gregory made yet. Of course if he didn't make that comment, things may have not gone too far, but live and learn. Wouldn't you agree?