Paradise, Horseshoe Island,
As the sun's light faded away, the street lights of Blackwater powered on, shining light onto the roads, the sidewalks, the buildings, and the people.
One building in particular stood out as its own lights powered on. A beautiful array of colors sparked to life that read,
Blackwater Theatre of Entertainment :)
Walking in and out of the theatre were a multitude of people, many exiting the theatre with a bright smile on their face. Adults spoke positively of their experience while the children reenacted the different characters they saw in the show.
One child in particular stood out the most as he rode the broad shoulders of his father. That child was Arthur, who regaled his parents with the show they had just watched using his hands to mimic the characters as they struggled to fight off the world-ending wolf with the help of their companion, a small deer that was chosen to be the guardian of the world.
"It was so cool! When Jack and the deer chased the wolf throughout all the seas and even to the top of the Red Line and then when they finally caught up to it. They worked together and managed to seal it away in a place no one has ever reached before! It was awesome!!!"
"Haha, I'm glad you enjoyed it Arthur. Maybe next week your father could take you to the port for a swim in the sea but only if you're willing to help out your father behind the bar. I think it's time you start to learn the business and how we manage it because one day it will all be yours in the future." Callisto laughed and smiled gently as she brought Arthur down from Thomas's shoulders.
"Awww but mommmm, that's not gonna happen until like foreverrrr!"
"No buts young man, one day me and your father will grow old and then it'll be all up to you to take care of the bar and maybe even us unless you're already tired of your mother and father?"
"Whatttt??? Noooo, I love both Mother and Father lots and lots. Why would I get tired of the people I love? That doesn't make sense?"
Arthur touched his chin as he thought on why wouldn't someone wanna take care of their loved ones? Eventually settling on maybe it's because some people don't love their mom and dad the way he does, maybe their mom and dad weren't as good as his were?
Satisfied with that, Arthur put the question behind him and grabbed his mom and dad's hands as they swung him up and down making Arthur cry out in joy when he noticed his mom had turned her head towards the bell.
*GONG GONG GONG*
Thomas's once happy expression turned serious as he twisted his neck to face the bell of Blackwater. He swooped both Arthur and his wife off their feet, placing Arthur atop his shoulders and carried his wife princess style.
"The bell was rung three times, that means pirates are invading the island so I need to get you two to safety before joining the defense. Damnit, this couldn't be worse timing, most of the marines at the outpost are gone escorting a celestial dragon." Thomas looked down at his wife signaling while making his way to the bar
Callisto nodded her head understanding the message her husband was conveying. Thomas would leave Arthur and herself at the bar after which he would make his way to assist the other men in defending Blackwater. She and Arthur would hide in the cellar hidden in the basement until Thomas himself returns to let them out.
Faint sounds of crackling fire, gunfire, and cries of pain could be heard as the fighting started to make its way into the city itself. The once pristine roads were covered in missing limbs and stained with blood. Tied up horses snorted as they paced in place, feeling the violence in the air.
Thomas took a turn, going down a poorly lit alley that would lead them directly onto the street where the bar was located.
"Don't worry Arthur, everything's going be okay son, the fighting hasn't entered this deep into the city so you'll be saf-"
*BANG*
The sound of gunfire struck like lightning, quick and without warning.
Looking down at his abdomen, Thomas could see blood seeping through his worn-out white collared shirt.
*BANG*
Another bullet struck Thomas, this time in his left thigh causing him to fall to lose his balance but reacting quickly, he used the momentum from his sprint to launch his wife and soon near the end of the alley. He first glanced to ensure both Arthur and Callisto were okay before turning to face behind himself where the bullets came from. In the poor lighting conditions of the alley, all he was able to make out was a rough figure, a massive one at that.
The figure stepped into the light, giving a glimpse into his most obvious features a man. He possessed a scar that stretched from his forehead down through his left eye ending on his cheek. The man had a coat over his shoulder and held two pistols in his hands, the barrels smoking. He was tall, standing a whopping 7'1ft (243.84cm) and possessed arms the size of tree trunks.
Seeing who the man was, Thomas's eyes went widened in disbelief, "No...no, this can't be. Why would you do this, I thought we were friends..."
The man's mouth widened into an evil grin as Thomas finished his words.
"... Gerald"
Holstering his pistols the Gerald spoke, "Well that's to bad I missed, I was aiming for your lungs with one of my shots and the other at Callisto but it has been a while since I last used a gun."
Gerald stepped forward into the flickering light completely which allowed Thomas to see the man he once called friend covered in blood wearing a cloak with a skull on its back.
"I took you in, I gave you a roof, shared my bread and water with you. We nursed you back from death's embrace and this is how you repay us you bastard!"
Gerald got close to Thomas, squatting down to look his savior in the eyes.
"Blhaha, ay that's right, I do owe you and that pretty little thing of yours my life. Why if it wasn't for you two naive fools I would've died on that beach 3 years ago but you see I couldn't remember who I was. Not my name, my parents, nothing at all except one thing, an itch.
"You see, I've always had this itch, you thought it was my head trying to bring back my memories and well you were right."
"I spent 3 years on this island trying to figure out what that itch was until finally... I managed to scratch it. Remember that fight I got into with that smug bastard Jason and I ended up breaking his Jaw a few weeks back. Well turns out all I needed to do to scratch my itch was feed it violence. After that, my memories finally returned to me, memories of me tearing people limbs, ripping their heads, and so much more. Oh and I finally know my name, it's Harold, but my crew call me Joker blhahaha."
Harold's laugh boomed like a banshee's shriek.
Thomas tried to stand back up but fell down onto his knees. Unwilling to just give in just because of his injuries, Thomas pushed past the pain his body was feeling and forced himself onto his legs.
Muttering a few words under his breath, Thomas glanced back at his wife as he watched her fightback the tears that threatened to come out of her eyes. He saw as she hardened her resolve
Callisto's eyes at this point were a well of tears that threatened to burst at any moment but she kept them in. She knew she had to be strong, for Arthur... For Thomas. Her words confirmed to Thomas that she heard his words.
"You can't die, you hear me Thomas. I'll beat you so bad you'll wish you were dead." Callisto's tears finally won, her once kind eyes turned red from her sorrow. Grabbing Arthur she ran with all her might. Her goal? Reaching the bar and ensuring Arthur's safety.
"Of course sweetheart, your beatings are a lot more scary than death..." taking a deep breath and exhaling, "Death can have me...when it earns me so until then I'm all yours honey." Thomas smiled
"Fatherrrr!!! No mom, what are you doing!!! Father is going to beat the crap out of Gerald [The pirates real name is Harold, but Arthur just doesn't understand since he's just a kid] like he always does!!!"
Arthur's face was one of pure and utter terror but his small blue-green eyes held hope. Hope in the strength he knew his father had, he was the strongest person in the world. There's no way anyone could beat him, especially not creepy Gerald.
"Thaha, ow, don't worry Arthur I'll be right behind you son but until I get back, you listen without question to your mom you hear me lad! Tell me you understand!"
"I DO!!!"
Arthur screamed out to make sure his father heard him.
Thomas flashed them a quick confident smile, before turning back to face the monster before him.
"Blhahaha, oh Thomas, you're strong I'll admit even I'm not confident in taking you down at your peak but you're not at peak anymore are you. Not with those 2 bullets in you and especially that illness you have blhahaha!!!"
Staring Harold in the eye, Thomas said nothing but his actions spoke for him instead. Thomas fought through the pain signals his body was sending him and uppercutted Harold with all the strength he could muster from his body.
Harold grunted as the force behind the blow lifted him off his feet into the air.
Callisto, who was nearly out of the alley turned as she heard a sound of pain she knew wasn't from her husband. Arthur cheered as he witnessed his father land a blow.
"You sure are scary Thomas, that blow would've taken my head clean off if I hadn't blocked it blhaha."
Just mere inches away from his jaw, Harold had managed to block Thomas's blow. Strengthening his grip on Thomas's hand, Harold lifted him and drew his pistol from behind his back. Pulling the hammer on his flintlock pistol and putting the barrel on Thomas's chest where his heart was.
"Nooooooooooooooooooo, Thomassssssss!!!"
Callisto screamed out as she ran back to save her husband, leaving Arthur sitting, frozen from fear and disbelief.
'Father...lost?'
The words sounded impossible in little Arthur's head. His father was the strongest, there's no way he lost to creep Gerald but there was no denying the scene before his eyes. His father, covered in his own blood being held up like a broken old toy.
Callisto ran, even faster than when she was running away. Hoping beyond all hope that her husband... her Thomas wouldn't die. But fate wasn't on her side because when she got close enough to grab hold of his hand.
*BANG*
A bullet, just as loud and just as fast as the last two. Except for Callisto, the bullet was slow, she watched in slow motion as the bullet exited the barrel spun through the air and pierced through her husband's worn-out shirt and entered his body and into his heart.
Harold let the body fall into her arms, cradling her once beloved and dear husband. Her sweet, sweet, brave Thomas. Even now she can remember his gentle smile as he looked at her. His warm and gentle embrace that made her feel so so safe.
'At least that's what I hope were Mother's last thoughts before she died.'
*BANG*
The one happy family of three became one...
Chapter 2: Three Became One