The Shadow
A short story based upon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvtcwsouILY
The Shadow
Jenny Harlow
I remember when I was young, on stormy nights, my mom would tell me the same old story. As thunder and lighting would crack and split the sky outside, and the fire would send menacing shadows across the floor, she'd tell the story of the phantom ship. Some, in whispers, would call it The Shadow. A proud and majestic vessel, full of treasure and promise. Yet, the story would go on to say that none who ever ran across her made it back to shore. When I was little, I was fascinated with the story. So much so that I would devote my life to the sea, first as the crew member of a fat merchant, and later a little more… free.
The pirates' vessel rocked beneath my feet as I strode the decks. We had taken on fresh food and water, and we were headed on our way at last. I eagerly looked at the chart again, anxious to get underway. The chart showed the smoky outline of a vessel, a small compass, like those found in the corner of a map, moved and tilted. We had our way-finder. I swallowed hard, thinking about our quarry. The Shadow was elusive, but its day was finally coming. “Captain," one of my crewmen called. “We're all stowed, time to cast off the lines."
I set my crew to action and we were off at once. The sea was smooth and deep, our ship glided through the calm waters as if there were no interference from the world at all. I stood at the helm, eyes fixed on the horizon. My trusty first mate, how I loved her, called out course corrections to me. Islands passed, and hours at sea merged into days. I barely took my hands off the wheel, only resting on the edge of collapse. It had been near a month at sea, our supplies were dwindling. Some of the crew were murmuring about returning back to shore and giving up our pursuit. However, as the shadow on the map grew larger and clearer, those murmurs died down.
Sundown approached that fateful night. I took my hands off the wheel and nodded to my first mate. I was staggering in my boots, another long trick at the helm, determined to be the first to spot her. Little did I know what was coming on the tides. The ship lurched, the wood creaked, and everything stopped. The air grew frosty. I could see my breath cloud in front of me. I turned, a crewmate, a cat, gave me a small shrug. I whipped around, as a blizzard blasted around me from behind. There she stood, a gray wolf. Her body glowed a faint blue, her eyes filled with lavender light. Her mouth opened, and a horrible wail escaped. The ship shuddered, the sails rippled, and the icy squall surrounded us once more. “A banshee!" One of my crewmen cried.
“Turn back now…" The wolf said her mouth movements did not match her words. “Turn back, or else your fate is sealed."
I looked around at my crew, expecting to see even a small reaction of fear. Instead, I only found steely gazes, each face fixed in determination. We were close, and we knew it. With a final wail, the banshee faded, her deadly wail spinning up a tempest on the waves. “Push through!" A fox yelled from the bowsprit.
“All hands! Batten the hatches and make ready to fight the storm!" The bosun yelled, anticipating my call.
The storm was violent, with massive waves slapping the deck. More than one of my friends and crew washed off the deck, screaming into the abyss below. The rocking and lurching grew increasingly violent as the ship sailed forward. The shadow on the map was almost opaque now. The map started to burn with a sinister, lavender light. We were getting close. “Ready the cannons!" The bosun cried, running along the deck. “We maybe in for a fight lads!"
Lightning split the air, striking the sea in front of us. For a brief second, in the middle of the pitch darkness, a black-hulled ship appeared. It was beautiful and terrifying all at once. It was all black, from its sails to its hull to the gleaming cannons that showed from her sides. The galleon dwarfed our ship. The map let out a low hum. Before anyone could speak, a thrum filled the air, lavender energy burst over the sea and the squall ended. Just as it had started. There was nothing left of the storm. No strong wind, no lightning, no dark clouds. Only a clear, cloudless night. The Shadow turned about; I could hear my crew scuttling to get the cannons ready. We braced for what we feared was to come. The galleon simply matched our speed and heading, sailing alongside us. It did not move to fight, nor flee our pursuit. Through the cannon slots, as best we could see, no crew was aboard her. The moment of hesitation faded fast, lines being cast and crew moving to board. The Shadow made no move to resist.
My heart pounded in my chest; I knew the moment I had waited for since I was a young wolf drew near. My crew made way, letting me take the first steps aboard the slick, ebony hull. I stood on the mighty ship, in awe. Despite all the stories and rumors, and the whispered tales, it felt inviting. No signs of resistance, no ghostly crew come to meet us, just the gentle ripple of sailcloth, and the occasional creak of wood. I turned and waved to my crew, who shouted victorious. They rushed aboard, leaving only a bare crew aboard our vessel. We ran below decks, finding piles of gold, silver, and jewels that glittered faintly in the moonlight, which trickled in through the grates and hatches. I motioned for my crew to come above, as I headed for my prize. They all stood with bated breath as I approached the deck. I was inching closer and closer to the helm with every pulse of my anxious heart. How I miss that feeling.
I got to the last step of the upper deck when I heard it. Song. Sweet, serene, and chilling to the bone. Sirens. Perhaps they followed The Shadow, perhaps they knew what came next. My crew grew more anxious, and I began to second-guess myself. But something pulled. I could feel myself fixated on the wheel before me. It was black wood with intricately carved ravens decorating the outer rim. It had a slight silver embellishment, making it twinkle in the pale light of the moon. I couldn't help myself. I moved before the wheel and took it in my hands. There was a burst of triumph and euphoria that soon gave way to horror. I started to let out a victory cry. The Shadow, however, was the one who claimed victory. Her rigging snapped and hissed, writhing like a pit of serpents. The ropes found their way around the necks of my crew, snatching them before me and stringing them up like grim marionettes. Not even those aboard my ship were saved, as the black cannons finally discharged. She made me watch. She made my last vision of my crewmates hanging before me, lifeless, heads askew. Their lifeless eyes were full of surprise. Mouths gaped in silent screams. The last thing I remember seeing was their lifeless bodies, thrown overboard to the waiting sirens below. My hands gripped tighter, against my will. A black, all-encompassing shadow snaked up my arm. It bound to my face. I felt my eyes being pulled free in utter blackness, as the shadow seemed to devour them.
I knew then what my fate was. No living mortal would ever see themselves rule the shadow. Ironically, neither would I. Cursed, caught between the moment of life and death, bound forever as the lonely captain of The Shadow. I guess I got what I wanted. I was right, in a sense. All my life, through all those stories and whispers, she waited. She waited for me.