The Ladies of Horror
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The Admiral
by Kathleen McCluskey

The admiral could feel his body lifting, lifting through the wet abyss. His consciousness was slowly coming back to him. The higher he rose, the more and more he could remember of his former glory on the high seas. How he loved being in command, having young sailors look up to him with admiration. He served with pride in her majesty’s navy. Then pain came to him in toxic waves. He could feel his mind being pulled into the darkest regions of his memory. Racing back to him was the torment that ended his life. He could see himself on the bridge screaming, “Battle stations!” He ran frantically as his beloved destroyer began to sink. Guilt washed over him as he sealed compartments of the ship with men pleading for mercy inside. The smell of fire, smoke and burning flesh reached his memory.

As the admiral rose he could see the beloved orb in the night sky. The one that guided him through the darkest of nights, the lunar mistress that held his hand on far too many nights seemed to smile at him. His hand breached the water as he tried to reach for freedom. His burned hand could feel the electricity in the air as lightning illuminated the night sky. The death cruiser had finally come for him. He could feel the other souls of departed sailors as his heart longed to be with his fellow ship mates.

The death cruiser was a legend. He remembered hearing his grandfather speak of such a ship. Now the grim reaper was here in the flesh to take him away from the purgatory at the bottom of the sea. He hoped for redemption from the war. He looked to the sky as he ascended, his beloved moon disappearing behind the clouds.

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!