The Kraken's Grasp (Concluded)
 

An evil presence settled on all of them then. They could feel the it grabbing at pressing down on them, squelching out all thought of resistance. All was quiet save for the dripping of water as it fell from the great slimy trunk that rose above the ship. Drenched in algae and armored with barnacles and clams that had taken residence there during the thing's long rest, the trunk began to curl itself along the mast. The captain's vision blurred, and he felt a great rush of pain... no not pain... of crushing pressure, like that of the sea, flashing through his head.

As his breathing slowed, he realized that a green aura glowed near to him. It spoke in a voice that reminded him of the sound of an alligator's scaly hide scraping on the rough gravel of Tortuga's shores. "You'll die soon. That darkness presses down on you even now. You're a traitor. There'll be no Fiddler's Green for you. You have the Devil to pay. I offer respite. Serve me. I can give you and your crew your lives to live again.

"Who are you?" his voice wavered now.
"Some call me Roger. Jolly Roger."

The captain shivered. The thick slimy trunks, for there were many now, encircled the masts, hull, and were slithering across the deck. The captain didn't care. What evoked these memories? That was all that mattered now. The inky black presence shifted in his mind now, hiding in his memories as he searched for it, its tentacles attempting to strangle his very being... Tentacles?

"THE BEAST IS IN MY HEAD!" he cried out. Several crew members looked nervously at their captain, fearing he had gone mad. The tentacles closed tighter on the deck, and on his mind. The mast began to crack...

OUT! OUT OF MY HEAD! The mental probe rushed at the beast in the shadows. Surely it would skewer it. But no, the beast knocked it aside. The captain wondered to himself. "This is not a memory. What is this?" It struck him. This was happening to him right now. In retaliation, the beast slithered from the shadows, beak clacking as it got ready for the kill. Sssk. This was not a struggle of body, but of will. He had to fight!...No... He didn't... A sudden urge to follow this creature; to give into its desires, suddenly fell on him. It hissed again. Sssk. Desperately, and with every ounce of strength, he let forth a great scream, shrill and high.... The beast retreated from soul and mind.

AAARRGGHH!!! Who had screamed? He realized it was himself. Hands shook him and and voices he knew cried his name... "Captain! The beast let go!"

"I'm all right. Don't you start acting like a bunch of soft landlubbers!" Hopping to his feet, he realized it was the first time he had stood up straight in months. Feeling like a prisoner set free after so long under the oppression of a cruel master, he couldn't stop the laugh leaped from his throat, as if it too was held prisoner by that dark force. The monstrosity that had held their ship was gone... for now.
"Now Roger," he muttered, "We'll see how this fool-hardy scheme of yours turns out..."

I like it, but that is a weird way to end a story, eh? Better come out with another one to resolve that last paragraph. Otherwise, it was awesome!

Love that word! It is one of my favorites! Continue to write mate. It is a talent that will take you far.

Thanks for you thoughts Nate! It's more like the end of a chapter than a story, as it is preceded by The Sea Serpent's Call, and will be followed by a clash between... Well, you'll just have to find out.

I think that this is a great conclusion to this story. Everything sort of comes together and is explained (but it still took me a few readings to fully understand it, and even then, I probably don't still.) The psychology that you put in this story has made it all the more interesting and intense. What's more, the way you describe the images that are purely in the captain's mind is astounding. The way the captain just kind of recovered at the very end was perhaps a bit too sudden, but it all works, and it all comes together. Great job Keeper. Can't wait to see what else you can come up with.

Think his comeback was too quick? Think about it like this: (Sorry for more psychology) Doing something in your mind is as instant as realizing the problem and choosing to solve it; to not let it get the best of you.