The Red Midnight War

John sat contemplating Paulo's offer. Should he stay? Paulo was the only person who had been kind to him in years. But he pledged loyalty to Hook pirate or not John was a man of his word. "I'm sorry. I can't. I pledged to Hook. I appreciate the offer." Paulo looked at him in amused puzzlement. "Oh John, how admirable. True loyalty is hard to come by these days. But you must understand, Darling, that James Hook is not all he seems." He said, patting John's face.

"You know, we were ship mates once." John gasped in amazement. "You… what? But he's so old and you're so young. How does that happen?" Paulo tipped his head back and laughed full-throatedly, exposing his stubble-covered neck. "Looks are deceiving, Johnny. But yes, we were close once. We were underlings on a vicious pirate ship. I thought I could trust Hook, but he betrayed me." Tears welled in his dark, oaken orbs. John stared compassionately. "Look, I'm so sorry Paulo. But I am a man of my word." Paulo inhaled raggedly. "It's alright. I understand. You'd better go now. James will be waiting."

Paulo escorted John to a dingy. "I really am sorry, Paulo." John said apologetically as he climbed in. "It's alright, lad." He replied sadly with tears still in his hazel eyes. "When you've been around as long as I have, you become used to this. People leaving." John sighed sadly. He liked the Jolly Roger. Everyone on board tolerated him and weren't cruel to him at all. But with Paulo he felt different. He felt home. But he made a promise. What was he to do. "Paulo, I'll think about it. I enjoy your company, but I can't make this decision without counsel. You understand?" Paulo smirked at him. "Good. That would be good enough for me. Where are you headed exactly?" John looked out onto the sea. "Due south of Skull Rock." Paulo leaned down to John's level and pointed where he had to go, whispering with the quiet reassurance of a patient teacher instructing a wayward pupil. "Now off you go! And I do hope to see you again."

John was lowered down into the sea and began rowing. He noticed the shark infested waters around him and rowed on, hurriedly, full of apprehension. He finally arrived at the Jolly Roger. "Ahoy!" He shouted up to the ship. "I'm back! I'm back!" He heard the crew members scramble about on the deck.

After he was pulled up to the deck of the ship, Smee ran to him and embraced him "We were so worried!" Just then, captain Hook stormed toward John and ripped Smee from him. "Where in blazes were you, boy?! We lost the morning tides because of you! If you can't follow orders, you can't be on my ship!" Just then Smee interrupted "It was his first shore leave, Cap'n. Go easy on him, please." Hook did not acknowledge Smee's request. He pinned John to the spot with his gaze. "Where were you, boy?" John swallowed nervously. He glanced around, eyes glassy with fear. "There was this other pirate, I got hurt. He helped me. I'm so sorry it won't happen again sir." Captain Hook snarled and grabbed John's shirt collar. "Now you listen here, boy. We are pirates. You stay loyal to your crew and no one else. NO ONE is to be trusted. Is that understood?" John quivered. "Yes, captain." Hook loosened his grip on John's neck. "John, did you tell this other pirate anything? Anything about where we are stationed?" The color of John's face drained from him. He knew it was wrong to lie, but feared what might happen if he told the truth. Besides, telling Paulo didn't count. "No, sir." Hook released his hold on him. "Good lad. Now we must set sail we lost valuable time with John's little vacation."

The Pirate ship exploded with activity. The pirates all busied themselves, grabbing ropes and sails and braids. The crew put John to use quickly and John took to the physical task. He relished the salty breeze on his face and the Summer sun on his pirate stubble. He was excited to see a new place and see the world. This was a good day.

Smee pulled John aside. "Where were you really?" John looked at his hands. "I promised I wouldn't tell anyone." He muttered. He met Smees' eyes and confessed, "I was aboard the Midnight Rose. With Paulo MaCarthy. He's a friend of Hook, so I thought it was okay!" Smee's round face fell and he backed away from John, shaking his head. "You don't know nothin' John!"

John's clenched his. He gritted his teeth. "Paulo was nice! He knows Hook! I didn't do anything wrong!" Smee hung his head and sighed. "Jon, sometimes people aren't what they seem. You can't judge a sword by its sheath." John looked in bemused puzzlement. "What do you mean?" Smee squatted into a sitting position and gestured for John to do the same. "A long time ago, the cap'n and Paulo were friends. Paulo did somethin' awful and James told his captain. Paulo has sworn vengeance ever since what he did got him thrown of the Queen Anne's Revenge."

A strange wind floated across the open sea. Then, the ocean quivered gently before rumbling and shaking. John looked to the horizon and saw a distant outline of sharks.

John looked around at his crew in askance. Hook stood at the helm, face pale white. Then his jaw gripped in a tense anticipation. The lookout shouted, "Cap'n! Enemies off the port-" before he could finish, a figure rose up the left side of the ship. Balanced precariously on the nose of a vicious looking shark. The sun shone behind him, making it difficult to make out the figure, but John felt something in the pit of his stomach…it was Paulo. Stretching his hand out to John.

Paulo was accompanied by two of his crew members. One was a tall, slender Asian American man who was heavily armed. The other was a small swarthy woman, scantily clothed and brandishing a bejeweled dagger. All three were ready for battle.

Paulo grinned madly, his shiny flat teeth revealed joylessly. "HOOOOOOK," he bellowed across the ship, his hair tossing in the wind. "I have finally come for my revenge. I challenge you to a duel to the death!"

Hook stared steely eyed at Paulo and stalked majestically down the gangway. "Paulo. You look the same. Do you still cry during thunderstorms?" Paulo sauntered forward to meet Hook, smirking, hand on his rapier. "Hook. You look so much older. And you've grown. In the middle."

Hook shucked off his overcoat, revealing surprisingly muscled arms. "You have no idea how I've grown, Paulo." Paulo chuckled darkly, "Oh, James. After all these years and you still have that sort of…dramatic flare. Some things never change." Hook snarled. "What do you want here, MaCarthy." Paulo scanned the crew on the Jolly Roger and winked to John. "Just to talk, I wanted to catch up." Paulo began to circle Hook and Smee predatorily, like a big cat stalking prey. "I have a proposition for you." There was disgruntled mummer among the crew. Abraham, a brown-haired haggard former red coat and traitor to the English Empire, beyonette at the ready, inched forward not noticing the rope laying across the deck. He tripped, beyonette flying and hitting the ground, releasing a hot bullet from its lips. The bullet flew towards the dark woman from Paulo's crew, scorching part of her dress. She looked up in a blind fury. She lunged toward Abraham, bejeweled dagger held aloft. She plunged the dagger into his heart, her battlecry accompanied by his screams of terror and pain.

That's when it started.

The three crew members of the Midnight Rose exploded into action, attacking anyone in their path. The scene was an awful sight.

The other man with Paulo threw of his hat and slashed viciously stabbed at the nearest pirate. Smee.

"SMEE!" John screamed. Just as quickly as it started, it ended. Paulo and his crew leapt

off the ship, and were taken away in a rowboat led by the sea sharks. Leaving behind the bloody ship.

John sprinted toward the center of what had been a horrendous battle, searching for Smee. Hook searched frantically among the dead, "Smee! Mr. Smee!" He called out desperate echoes answering back. When suddenly, he heard a weak whimper. "C-Cap'n." Hook whirled around and knelt, horrified next to the body of his fallen companion, mouth agape. "Oh cap'n," Smee spluttered out, blood bubbling from his mouth in a fine spray. "I've made a terrible mess." Hook's eyes brimmed with tears as he held his fallen friend. He had been spilled out over the deck of the ship. "Smee, I-I'm," Smee smiled that sad, knowing smile before the light in his eyes was snuffed out. Smee was dead.

Hook howled mournfully at the crystal-hued sky hanging over them. He collapsed in sobs over what used to be Smee. John stood, helpless, crying as yet another person he loved left him forever.

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The setting sun shone gracefully over the golden beach. Deep shadows cast their light over the solemn scene. The entire crew of the Jolly Roger was gathered around the small pyre for their friend. Smee was perched atop it, displayed lovingly.

John's eyes were red and swollen and his hands were still bleeding. The world was too cruel. Such an innocent soul taken from this earth in a violent act of hatred was a travesty unlike any other.

Hook climbed atop the pyre and stroked the hair from Smee's forehead and cradled him to his chest. "Goodnight, ."he whispered inaudibly. "Goodnight." He gently kissed Smee's forehead one time more and stepped off the pyre. The gaunt Frenchman stepped forward, holding a torch. The pyre was lit and the crew watched as the fire spread over the small man sprawled over the wood.

The men started to chant and sing their ancient funeral song in a language long forgotten.

Chomh luath agus a thagann an oíche quieuit

Agus is é an talamh dorcha

Agus is é an ghealach an solas ach a fheicimid

Ní bheidh mé caoin ní bheidh mé caoin ní bheidh mé a chaillfidh a clib

Díreach chomh fada agus a sheasann tú, seasamh ag dom

Agus OH mo seastán stór stór seastán ag dom

Seas ag dom

Seas ag dom

The flames rose and engulfed the pier and John wept. He'd told Paulo where the Jolly Roger would be. If he'd stayed quiet, Smee would be alive. John was the reason that Smee was now bitter ash floating away on the wind. John stood apart from the rest of the crew and wept more.

The moon was high in the sky and the stars glimmered mercilessly on John's tears. The funeral was over now and they were aboard the Jolly Roger again. The deck had been swabbed, but the revenants of the battle still remained. John sat, huddled in the same spot Smee had comforted him. John huddled into a ball and screwed his eyes shut.

"John." He heard. "John, listen." John glanced up and saw a sight he'd never expected to see again. Michael.

Michael was pale and wet, drenched in water and streaks of the blood John remembered so well. "John, what have you become?" John rose to his feet and took a tentative step toward his brother. "Michael? You . . . you're dead!"

Michael nodded sadly. "Because you failed." John stumbled back. "What?!" he exclaimed. "And now look what you have become. A sub-human sinning murderer. You have killed so many men!"

John started to cry, thick, fat drops rolling down his face. "Brother," he whispered, stretching his arms out to Michael.

Michael's face became a mask of hideous fury and his voice deepened. "LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!" he screamed, throwing the tattered bear he'd loved so dearly at John's face. John caught it, but as he touched the beloved toy, it slowly morphed into something horrible. Cubby, dead. His body was rotting and crawling with insects. John stumbled back into the mast and the world faded to black.

John awoke to the weak sun filtering into his bunk and John curled up and sobbed.