Chapter Eighteen: All Fall Down
It's not fair, Sky Captain realized as he plummeted to his death. I never got to tell her how I feel. After he and Blackbeard were sucked through the gaping hole in the flying castle, Sky Captain had extended his arms and legs spread eagle, hoping to slow his descent long enough for a last minute rescue. Blackbeard, however, was dead set on going straight to Hell and taking Joe with him. Each man had his hand wrapped around the other's throat, and they rained blows into each other's faces like street fighters.
Faster and faster they raced to oblivion, caring only to savagely beat the life out of the other by any means possible. And yet, even as they drew closer to Death's door, Sky Captain refused to yield. Something spurred him on to fight for life. Just say it, he thought as he struggled to break Blackbeard's bear hold. Admit that you love… Sky Captain's cries were drowned out by the wailing winds enveloping him. He felt his lower ribs bend farther than they should have and snap like brittle twigs.
They tumbled through the air, a violent, contorting shape. Blackbeard released his grip on Sky Captain and made a pass at his skull, hoping to break his neck. Sky Captain used the moment to his advantage, twisting himself out of Blackbeard's reach.
Joe jackknifed his body then went rigid, soaring past Blackbeard like a human bullet. It was a brash, suicidal maneuver, but he wasn't really in a position to entertain options. Fortunately, Blackbeard was so consumed with ending Sky Captain's life that he took the bait, mimicking his movements and racing after him. Sky Captain reached inside his pocket and felt the comforting weight of his switchblade. There'd be only one chance to get this right.
Aided by his massive frame, Blackbeard screamed through the sky in hot pursuit; with his fists extended in front of him and his great black cape billowing in the wind, he resembled a fallen angel. The irony was not lost on Sky Captain, who flipped over and went spread eagle so that his back was now facing the looming ocean. Scorching chunks of debris shot past the men, scorching their flesh, but Sky Captain hadn't noticed. For him, time stood still in anticipation of this one moment. Blackbeard was upon him, thick flakes of spittle flying from his enraged mouth.
Summoning every last ounce of willpower in him, Sky Captain pulled his left shoulder into the air. His body followed, creating a corkscrew motion. Blackbeard was moving too fast to respond to the deceptive maneuver, and knew it. As Sky Captain twisted out of the way, he pulled his switchblade and drove it through Blackbeard's right eye. The king of Xantari spasmed violently before being crushed by one of the great stones torn off the ruins of his fortress galleon.
That done, Joe closed his eyes decisively and stretched out his arms like they were wings.
"It was a good life," he whispered. "But it could have been great."
He smacked the ground hard, falling on his arm and breaking it. The ground? No, not quite. Cold steel soothed the burns and cuts on his back. He squinted into sun and felt its warmth his face. Two blurry silhouettes appeared on the edges of his vision.
"Heya Sullie, long time no see!"
"Don't think for a moment that you had me worried."
He tried to stand but fell over on rubber legs. Two hands caught him and lifted him up. Despite a few scrapes and bruises, Polly and Rock looked good as ever. Even better. They stood aboard a flying platform. Joe recognized its design as one of Totenkopf's, and smiled as he recalled his adventure on the mad doctor's island. God, had that only been a month ago?
Rock took a swig from his flask and offered it to Joe while Polly prepared a sling for his arm. Joe wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry, but mostly he wanted to thank them.
"Took you two long enough," he said mischievously.
Stay Tuned for Chapter Nineteen: May That Be Your Last Battlefield