I chose to prepare the lifeboat.

As I went to prepare the life boat for our escape, I walked past the hatch, and saw the faint discoloration where the worn wood met the deck.

It was cracked open.

I went to take a closer look and saw that the cook’s knife had been hastily wedged into it to prevent the hatch from closing. On the other side, hidden under a dirty tarp, were claw marks where the beast had escaped.

I thought back at the conversation we’d just had. I thought it was weird how dismissive he was about what happened to the captain, but thought maybe he was just in shock. Could the cook have let out the beast? Could he condemn his crew, and his own captain?

As I pried the knife out I heard another horrible noise come from below deck. I was getting use to the sound. It was closer this time, like it had happened just out of view. I turned to see the cabin boy attempt crawl back up to the top deck, legs mangled quickly loosing blood.

“I did it.” he whispered. “I lit the fuse“.

I moved towards him, but it was too late. He was gone.

The cook turned from where he stood at the other side of the lifeboat, and with one swift motion he loosed the knot to our lifeboat, letting it fall into the sea and begin to drift away. He turned to me, saw the dead boy, and smiled.

I…

[…confronted the cook.]