The Ladies of Horror
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The Marauder
by Kathleen McCluskey

The final soul had been brought aboard. Some of them men were thankful that the day had finally come to face the beast. Others sobbed as they knew it was time to face all of the crimes they had inflicted upon an unsuspecting victim. The captain brought out the shackles and the men were harnessed to each other. They walked as a single unit, clanging and banging as the ship did its best to stay afloat in the sea swells. The captain was melancholy as he knew that this would be his final trip. He was the first one stuck on the cursed marauder. He wanted so badly to be back on his own vessel with his beloved Jolly Roger flying above.  He knew some of the men on a personal level before they were flung into the darkness of the unholy galleon.

Down, down the steps of the massive ship the men stumbled until they reached the underbelly of the vessel. The men had never seen this part of the boat. It’s where the necromancer of the sea dwelled. The tempest looked at the prisoners. She shook her head in disgust. She knew of the devilish acts the men had committed. She walked passed them and flicked at their long beards, their unkempt hair and pulled on their shabby clothes. Turning her back on them, she raised her arms. A light began to emit from the wall of the ship as a large crack began to form. The men began to get frightened, “She will sink us”, one man shouted. The light grew brighter and the men could see a shadow coming out of the vortex. He pushed his way through ring. His large tentacles emerged first. Some of the men began to cry, some prayed to their deity while others were paralyzed with fear. The beast was in full view now, his grey and yellow body filled the wall across from them. The priestess spoke, “Here are your fifty men that I had bargained with you. Consider this debt paid. I will assume that I am free now.” The beast looked at her and she vanished. The vessel along with all of the prisoners fell to the sea floor where the beast could eat their souls at his leisure.

Returning to the surface was the ship, without a captain and searching for her new crew.

Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

More from Kathleen McCluskey:

The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror

Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.

Available on Amazon!