November 25th, 2010 -

Road of Sloth -

"Blimey, look at that ship, it's fuckin massive mate. I ain't ever see anything like it. I would have to do a heck of a lot of harpooning before I could afford that priceless trinket," Fang sighs.

"Sir, how many times have we told you. Please do not touch the glass display case," The irritated worker hollers.

"Bite my tongue, lassie. I didn't mean to do you any harm. I was just too mesmerized by the ship's elegant design, it's sapphire and emerald trimmings, and even it's angel white sail flapping to the wind.

"Are you going to buy it or not?"

"No, no, no, NO, a payment for the real thing would take me several lifetimes to fulfill. But I wouldn't mind taking home this cute little model. Like really, how much can this cheaply assembled ship model cost?

"Well, let's see, that cheaply constructed ship is actually manufactured from a specific type of wood. It's also Read Beard's signature ship. Not to mention the product is in mint condition, being never removed from its packaging. Considering all those details, I would hazard a guess for about 10,885,800 in cash.

"Uh... can I at least purchase the instruction booklet?"

"I'm afraid that's another million."

"Okay, I get it, I get it. You probably jacked up the price, so I can't get my grubby little mitts on it. Well, mark my words, Sally."

"It's Susan"

"One day, I will get that ship, and you can't do anything to stop me.

Road of Gluttony -

Fang downs his sorrows in a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy. Even with the dreary weather outside, Fang tries to keep his family's spirits high for Thanksgiving. Fang raises his glass, demanding the attention of the whole table. "I'm glad everyone could make it here today. Even Uncle Carlos and Diana traveled a long way to be here. And that means something. We might be going through a financial crisis right now, and we might not ever get our TV back. But we're the Gritters for pete sake. We can make the impossible happen and conquer this simple money issue."

The small crowd of turkey eaters appears slightly inspired by Fang's thoughtful words.

"Is everyone with me."

"YEAH"

The group clinks their glasses together, chanting the phrase, "For the Gritters."

The gluttonous sharks proceed to gobble up half of the table in a frantic food frenzy. Fang sits displeased with his cousin's behavior, wishing them to show a little bit of shark decency. He also becomes a prisoner of his mind, contemplating how he could pay the rent next month.

A little girl with braids tucked beneath her fins manages to free Fang from his anxious trance. "Daddy, daddy, did you get the ship."

"Ship? I don't know what you're talking about, sweetie."

"You promised you'd get me Captain Red Beard's ship for my birthday."

"Oh, well, about that."

"No excuses this time, you pinkie promised me."

"Casey, I'm..."

Her grumpy face intensifies.

"Totally going to get you that ship for you."

"Yaaay! That's the spirit. Thank you so much, daddy."

"Yeah, you're um welcome," Fang says, engaging in a guilty hug.

"That's why you're the best daddy."

"I know, I know. But..."

Casey runs away, clicking her heels from happiness.

"Casey, I'm... broke."

——————————————————

November 26th, 2010 -

Road of Greed -

"Eyy, the sky looks ideal for some good old fashioned sailing with your old pop," Fang notes.

"It's pretty cloudy out, and the sun just disappeared behind the clouds," Casey comments.

"I know, isn't it fantastic weather, perfect for fishing."

Casey rolls her eyes at her father's raw enthusiasm and proceeds to strap on her life vest with a quick tug, "Ugh, why do I have to wear this thing, dad, it's way too tight."

"The tighter, the better. And trust me, for the rough seas we'll be encountering, you'll want to keep it on—safety first.

"Daddy, you're too paranoid."

"You're not paranoid enough, the seas are a dangerous place, I wouldn't be so careless," Fang familiarizes, lifting the metal anchor.

"Why are we going fishing anyway, daddy, isn't it the day after Thanksgiving supposed to be for relaxation, not work."

"We'll be resting on the starboard side. Trust me; you'll love it."

"Okay, fine, I guess one trip can't hurt."

"And after this excursion, I'll buy you that esteemed ship you wanted," Fang adds, handling the wheel.

"Oh, really, thank you! It looks so pretty from the pictures."

"Yep, after I sell a few fish, of course, I'll get you that prized trinket in no time."

"Okay, draw the sail lassie. Let's get this fishing day started."

Casey opens the sail and releases the knot from the dock. Fang operates the ship's motor, sending the vessel into the great beyond. The boat crosses the vast ocean with spirit in its step, climbing large waves and leaping over rocks.

Casey stares out into the gleaming sunlight, her body radiating like an angel in the hot sun. The fearsome wind continually pushes the ship's sail in a gruesome battle for control. Fang steers the mighty automobile with a simple wooden wheel.

The powerful craft enters a sun-baked sky, and Fang readies one of his fishing nets. The net is dispersed beneath the rocking waves, snagging an assortment of various types of fish. Fang reels in the rope web and tosses another empty mesh towards the bustling waters. This time, the fish count is significantly less than before but still enough to get the job done.

"Wow, that's a lot of fish. How much do you get a day?"

"Oh, ten times this, this is a small portion compared to what I usually get. I often rake in thousands of fish per day."

"Thousands! Are you bluffing again?"

"No, I assure you that statement isn't a fallacy—Captain's honor."

"I can't ever tell with you. But I've come to expect that. You are my dad, after all."

"Hey, um, what's this harpoon for, it kinda looks out of place for this small fishing liner?" Casey remarks.

"That's for the big boys. Whales, dolphins, Krakens, you know the bigger ones. I've never had to use it bu-

"Noooo, don't shoot the dolphins, they're so innocent."

"Okay, maybe I'll lay off the dolphins, just for you."

The cruiser makes its way through some cumbersome waves. The crew experiences a short rain shower followed by a rush of darker clouds beginning to build. The frequent surge of dewdrops increasingly darkens the color of the water. The wooden craft is knocked around numerous times before Casey speaks up, "Don't you think we should head back now; it's getting a little um stormy."

"Nonsense, it's just a little rain shower, plus I don't have enough fish to buy you that ship yet. But a few more batches of fish could do the trick."

"Dad, I care about our well-being over some plastic ship. The waters don't look safe enough to continue."

"Casey, if I don't purchase that ship for you, then you won't talk to me, you won't go on adventures with me."

The massive glacial waves quickly escalate in magnitude. Fang struggles to maintain the ship's forward motion, seemingly snagged in between two directions.

"Daddy, I love going on adventures with you."

"What happened last time I didn't buy you that limited edition art book."

"I stopped talking to you," Casey shamefully responds.

"Yeah, and what do you think is going to happen this time if I don't fulfill your desires. I'll tell you what; I'm going to be a lousy parent. You'll leave me just like she did."

"Dad... I'll never leave you."

A lightning bolt strikes a nearby lighthouse.

"Okay, let's turn this sucker around. No more chit-chat, it's time I get this baby home."

Fang grips the steering wheel, and Casey mans the sail. The two hop over assailing waves and lethal tides. The boat slowly dips into an ever-forming abyss, occasionally popping out of the pit. The lightning mixes with the sound of thunder concocting a scary backdrop for the scene.

An enormous Kraken bursts from deep below the surface, latching onto the ship. It wraps its slimy tentacles around the mast and suffocates the boat in mid-air. Casey attempts to pry one of the Kraken's appendages from the timber, "Casey, what are you doing? Don't get close to that monster."

"What? I can't hear you over th-"

The beast grips onto Casey's torso and waves her around in the air. As she's flailing, she screams for her father to rescue her.

"Take me, not her," Fang shouts, readying the harpoon.

"Hold still, ya bloody wanker."

Fang fires the harpoon gun at the creature.

Fang accidentally pierces his daughter.

"Casey, CASEY. No, no, no."

The beast drops Casey's almost lifeless carcass on the deck of the ship.

"Stay with me, honey, daddy will save you," Fang promises, tending to her injuries.

"Dad... I love you. You didn't need to buy me that... ship. I just wanted you to be the better... parent. I wanted mommy to regret leaving you," Casey mutters, struggling to breathe.

"CAAASSSEYY, STOP. NO, NO, NO. Stop this fucking nightmare. Please, you can't do this to me. Please."

"Goodbye... daddy."

The Kraken sinks below the waves, with ship pieces still attached to the monster's rough tentacles. The raging whirlwind subsides, and the sun returns to the cold, bleak sky.

"Curse you squids," Fang cries, gripping the handrail.

"Curse you godforsaken squids. You little bastards deserve to pay, you deserve to suffer, you deserve to rot in fucking hell," Fang utters with tears streaming down his troubled complexion.

Fang releases a blood-curdling howl into the dawn-washed sky.

"I'll get you scumbags one day, mark my... words."

"...One day."