Cecilia crouched behind the gnarled tree, her heart racing as she peered around its sturdy trunk. The sound of footsteps grew louder, and she caught sight of Eduardo drawing nearer. "Come out now!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the dense underbrush. "You're only making this harder for yourself! If you surrender now, I promise it'll be quick and painless!" She held her breath, watching as he vanished into the thick foliage, momentarily losing sight of him.
Desperate, Cecilia bit down on the ropes binding her wrists, determined to free herself. After what felt like an eternity, she finally managed to loosen the knots. Cautiously, she glanced around to ensure the coast was clear. But as she turned, Eduardo loomed before her, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Eeeeeh!" she gasped, terror flooding her senses as she fell on her back.
"You never listen, do you?" he taunted, his eyes glinting with malice. "If you had just come out when I asked, I wouldn't have to punish you!" He lunged for her legs, but she kicked out, breaking free from his grasp. As she scrambled to escape, Eduardo seized her ankles, dragging her back with a fierce grip. He flipped her onto her back, his hand tightening around her throat. "I'm so sorry, but you have to die! You know you should blame that brat when you see him, tell him, it's his fault you are dead!"
Cecilia's eyesight began to get blurry, and the crushing force on her throat was making it difficult to breathe. With what little strength she had left, she tried to hit her assailant, but her struggles only fueled his determination to kill her. Just as she was about to lose consciousness, she saw a tall, dark image grab Eduardo around the neck and throw him away, releasing the deadly vise around her neck. She coughed violently as air once again filled her lungs.
"Are you alright?" Cecilia could see the genuine concern and worry etched in the captain's face.
Cecilia nearly shed a tear to see Chris, but then she saw someone looming behind him. "Captain behind you!"
But it was too late, Eduardo had already smashed a piece of wood onto Chris's temple. The effect, however, was not what he expected. Chris was unharmed, not even fazed. He turned to Eduardo, who trembled when he saw that it didn't even harm Chris. With a powerful shove, he sent the human flying several feet away. With a clear expression of conclusion, Chris examined his hands, "It's been years since I was in full strength," he told himself.
She helped Cecilia to her feet. "Get behind me," guiding her to safety. Cecilia quickly got behind Chris and held on to his elbows
"You!" Eduardo exclaimed, seeing Chris standing between him and his prey. He looked around him and saw another broken-off branch… he picked it up and charged to attack.
Chris paid no attention to the charging man; something else was on his mind: "I wonder..." Eduardo stopped when he saw Jun emerge from behind Chris.
A chill of dread washed over him as he beheld Jun's slow transformation. The boy's skin turned a sickly gray, with dark veins pulsating grotesquely beneath. Hair fell away in clumps, ears stretched into grotesque points, and his nose morphed into a sinister, sickle shape. Jun's eyes hollowed out, becoming dark voids, while his mouth opened wide, revealing a terrifying array of sharp teeth dripping with crimson slime. His form hunched over, arms transforming into thin, gnarled branches tipped with deadly claws. His legs elongated, mimicking the limbs of a lurking predator. Once the transformation was complete, he flashed a chilling smile at his stepfather, who could only respond with a scream of pure horror.
With a wicked grin, Chris unveiled Jenny, the tiny puppy, from the shadows of his coat. He whispered darkly to the creature, and it leaped from his palm in a flash. The innocent puppy twisted into a terrifying giant hellhound that was stalking its prey. The fluffy fur was gone, replaced by a black, spiky, bristly coat that stood on end, radiating hunger. Its paws, grotesquely large, were armed with jagged claws that could shred flesh. The hound's eyes glowed a menacing crimson, its ears erect and alert. Its gaping maw, filled with razor-sharp teeth, opens wide enough to swallow a man whole.
Cecilia's eyes widened in horror as the monstrous hound lunged and seized Eduardo, dragging him into the shadows of a tree. The gruesome sounds of flesh-tearing and bone snapping filled the air, accompanied by Eduardo's blood-curdling screams that echoed in the night. But soon, the chilling cries faded into an unsettling quiet. When the creature emerged, once more, it had transformed back into a seemingly harmless puppy.
"Is he…is he dead?" Cecilia asked, her voice laced with fear
"No," Chris chuckled, "I made him see and feel what I wanted him to. He felt every pain and terror inside his head!" He explained. he then turned to Cecilia, "I wasn't able to use that power for decades now, glad to know I haven't lost that ability."
When they went to see Eduardo, they found him lying on his back, drooling, his eyes in a blank stare, while he murmured indiscernible words.
That night, on the gold deck, Cecilia happily watches Jun play with Jenny. She turned to Chris, who was silently standing beside her. "Thank you, Captain, for saving my life," she said sincerely with a smile. "You're a big softie deep inside."
Something stirred within him when he heard her words. When he regained his composure, Chris waved off her gratitude. "Think nothing of it, it was nothing," he said with a calm voice.
Jun approached the two, and he handed Jenny to Cecilia. "You have to go back, girl, it's not your time yet." He gave his best friend one final hug and kiss. "I will miss you. Take care of Melinda for me, okay?" The puppy yelped and whined as if understanding what the boy meant. Jenny then turned into a ball of light that slowly ascended into the air, and then it sped away back to her body. With tears brimming in his eyes, Jun waved goodbye to his best friend.
"Captain, look…" but she was not able to finish what she was going to say, as Chris was no longer around. She spun around looking for the captain, but he was nowhere to be seen. "So rude," Cecilia sighed.
Chris stepped into his quarters, sank into his chair, and lifted his head as he surveyed the wailing portraits. He lingered in that position, indifferent to the haunting cries of the images. Leaning forward, he rested his left arm on his knee and waved his right hand in a circular motion, from which black mists began to emerge. Gradually, these mists shaped themselves into a serene spectral horse. Rising, Chris extended his hand to gently stroke the mane of the apparition. "How have you been? My old friend,"