Chapter 3 – Part 3

31 05 2009

A single eyeball peered through the cracks that illuminated a faint light through them. It moved around, pupil narrowing, a lid closing over it. His knuckles tapped against the wall with a hollow resonance. He lifted his head off the wall studying it closely once again albeit from a distance.

“You’ve convinced them the Heartless is real.” Zill chuckled to himself. “Maybe you aren’t so bad after all.”

She turned towards Grimm who was busy inspecting the wall as the pirates inched towards them. “Any ideas Grimm? And its real, I’ve seen it.”

“We can break through it.” Grimm finally declared.

“No. No!” Crimson blared. “That wall is worth more than your life boy!” Grimm and Zill both gave him an awkward look at the mention of boy, as they both were merely a few years younger than him and his half-arsed pirate accent.

Grimm shrugged, yanking his shoulders back and in one motion slamming himself into the wall. A giant block of it came tumbling down, before it rocketed the floor, causing it o crumble falling along side the bricks in the wall.

The ground let way into  an open skies, as these islands hovered above the skies, below them was nothing but the oceans and land Masses that still remained tattered from the great year.

Laurena, Grimm and Zill fell into the air, their fall breaking ontop of unseen object. They crashed in a bundle, tumbling over bricks, each bruised, nicked and covered in a heavy coating of dust. Laurena opened one eye surveying the scene. They hadn’t fallen to their deaths but instead they settled ontop of an invisible object that was outlined by the dust, filling in its crevices and bricks settled at uneven levels.

Below them the ocean was still visible, though across from them lingered a pad hanging from an industrial sized set of stairs, laced in metal trim. The Pirates steps were echoing up the stairs as they rushed down to capture them.

“Not again…” Laurena said with a huff of her cheeks.

A sound of machinary churned under them, the sounds of a gear slowly turning, a surge of electricity shaping through the air following the mist of dust that had landed on the invisible haul. Slowly a deck appeared under them, the electric impulses fizzling out over the air revealing more of the ships haul, displaying a mid-size mast rising above a control panel.

Wooden panels glistened with metal bracings around their edges, they all creaked with a sign of weight that had long been absent. The wood arced to a pointy tip, generators set on the side like mild wings waiting for liftoff. And finally the rear of the ship was pressed against the staircase deck, which the pirates had begun to fill out, some surprised at the sight of the air ship caught in the loading bay.

Zill was the first to jump up, grabbing Laurena from around the waist, “Be careful.”

“What?” Laurena said surprise in her tone, more at his touch than his request.

Ignition had zero response the first, second, but it gargled on the third jerk. Grimm came around him. “Can it run?”

“Ignition is rusty, we finally found something Crimson didn’t keep in top shape.” Zill continued to tinker with it, kicking a panel that was under it revealing a few gears, tan in color, dyed in black dried oil. “Perfect.”

Laurena came pushing him aside. “Keep the pirates busy!”

Zill turns his head slowly away from the gears to see a pirate jumping on board, sword drawn charging at them. Zill’s agile moves lung him forward, the pirates blade barely skimming his outer garments, instead Zills weight knocks into the pirate shoulder first.

His hand tightens around the pirates wrist freeing the blade into his own hands, it tumbles in the air as a pass on from the pirates hand to Zills. The pirate stares eyes wide, as Zill knocks the gold hilt of the sword against the back of his head, sending him careening forward onto the shipdeck head first.

“Any idea?” Grimm moved up towards Laurena who just looked at the panel with a slight haze to her. She runs her tiny fingers along the panel, once again mimicking the motions Zill had done in attempts to get the airship moving.

She took in a deep breath. “Step back.”Laurena mumbles words under her lips, fingers elevating off the panel a bit, out of the corner of her eyes she sees Grimm move to help Zill, in specific tying the one fallen pirate with a length of rope he found huddled around the curtailed mast.

Laurena closed her eyes, alone for a moment of concentration. The gears begin to turn with a loud whir, the fusion of steam and electrical engines beginng to pick up at her beckoning. Slowly the mast releases, the sail doubling in height and thrice in width.

The deck spreads open, layering out from under itself, like wings it extends itself, layers set one atop another for convenient stowaway, the ship reminiscent of the days shortly after the world parted. Slowly it peeled away from the deck, in a steady motion. No hands touched the panels or moved the sails, for the ship just seemed to will itself.

Upon the rear of the ship Zill bends one leg forward resting on the edge of the ship, overlooking the other oncoming pirates.





Chapter 3 – Part 2

22 05 2009

Knuckles turned white as they cracked with a dazzlingly loud sound, it left a smile on his lips. His fist continued to pound one face after another in an arc till it made a cut between the circumference of pirates and Laurena.

Zill came leaping forward landing knees bent against the arms of the velvet chair, he grabs at the ascot wrapped around Crimsons neck. “If anyone’s becoming a fearsome pirate first, its me. If there is a heartless…”

His grasp was strong enough to draw Crimson close to his face, his nose almost touching Crimsons powdered nose, a dark glare in Zill’s eyes of determined infatuation. ”It will be mine!”

“Zill.” Grimm was busily prying the chains off the Fallen Star. “This isn’t the time.”

In return Zill bares his teeth at Crimson one more time. “Prick.” He jumps off the chair grabbing Laurena by her hand, pressing her to follow him. “Lead the way Grimm.”

Grimm nods dashing out towards the one corridor that linked the abandoned warehouse the Pirates used to an old air field encampment. “Zill.”

“What?”

“Did you really have to threaten the strongest mobster in this area?”

Zill shrugs leaving Laurena to answer for him. “He has the uncanny talent to always worsening any given situation.”

A stampede of feet rushed behind them the sound of live metal being drawn from sheaths and a few guns firing towards their way.

“Idiots, don’t be shootin’ the girl!” Crimsons voice reverberates through the halls.

“Thank God I have her on my shoulder.” Zill announces.

“So honorable.” Lauren says sarcastically, her head barely hovering off his chest, her butt having a tiny bounce as Zill continues charging forward behind Grimm, then he comes to a stop with Grimm halting in his tracks.

“Shit.” Grimm states. He stares at the wall in front of him seemingly man made and recent, it shined with red bricks with a dull glow through their cornerstones.

The stampe of feet stop behind them, Crimson walking through his pack. “I’ve reconsidered my offer harlot, I want the Heartless artificat!”





Chapter 3 – Luck of the Draw

21 05 2009

Dust unsettled from the rickety wooden ceiling, picking up pigmentation from the lights touch shining with a snowy glow. Two sets of eyes peered through cracks in the ventilation shaft.

“Now what?” Zill asked rubbing his neck.

“We get her out.” Grimm said with devout determination.

“Brilliant.” They focused their eyes below once again, the fallen star tied in one corner, standing at the side of a man who wore silver tights covered under red boot and red shirt that did nothing to hide the flamboyancy of their assortment. They glistened between a silvery black in the dimly lit room.

He was whispering to the fallen star but his words weren’t audible past he cankering of the men that surrounded him on both sides forming a wide spread circle. Dice fell in between the crowd, a few tumbles forced the inertia out of them, settling on a single dot on both of their faces.

“No.” One sharply dressed pirate moans. “I wanted to mate this harlot first!” The mascara around his eyes winced and contorted with his disapproval.

The other gave a sharp smile through perfect teeth, their only deformity was that they were gold plated to a perfect shine. “She be mine first!”

The man in silver tights settled into a black velvet chair with silver trim along wooden arms. He rested his glances burrowed deep towards the dice. “She still be mine till I grow weary of her.” His smile is bearish in nature, revealing a pearly set of teeth, one in silver with a carving of a jolly roger upon it. His lips peeked a plump color along his tan skin, eyes smeared with mascara forming elongated eye lashes that parted along to the side of his face.

The Falling Stars voice resonated within the room finally heard over the words of the men and their lord. “I told you!” She pleaded.

“She still doesn’t shut up when she’s captive.” Zill remarked sarcastically.

Grimm pointed out to him. “She was sold into slavery, not captured.”

“Semantics.”

Her voice shouted again echoing through the rafters. “You can be the strongest pirate if you have the Heartless.”

“The Heartless?” Grimm repeated.

Zill smirked. “It’s a rumor, she’s gotta be desperate to convince them to let her go.”

Grimm responded. “She sounds convincing.

The man clad in silver and red. “I am already the greatest pirate, who needs the Heartless!” He threw a fist in the air, his men cheered to his burly voice and poise posture. “Not just the greatest the handsomest of pirates!”

Zill growled punching one of the wooden pillars that supported the rafters. “Who the hell does he think he is? Best pretty pirate? I”ll show him.”

Grimm put his hand on Zills shoulder to calm him down, his own physical strength was no match for Zill’s building fury. Zill gave another punch to the rafter. “Prick”

As the word leaves his lips, he’s crumbled into a heap of crumbled rafters, surrounded by the pirates gang, Grimm face planted right behind him and the Fallen Star staring at him for his reckless abandonment.

Zill doesn’t notice her glances, his eyes fixed on the pirate in silver stockings. “Who’s a prick zill?”

“Crimson.” Zill lowered his head for a moment seemingly apologetic, then he raises his glance back at him. “You are. You can womanize what I sell to you but to call yourself the greatest metro sexual pirate. Who are you kidding?”

“Its the deadliest handsomest pirate you prudent fool!” Crimson brings a fist slamming against his velvet chair. “Have you never heard of the saying if looks could kill?”

“Yours could kill on account of being ugly.” Zill retorts.

Crimson grabs the Falling Star by her hair drawing his dagger around her neck. “You keep talking and I’ll kill Laurena!”

Grimm lifts his head off the ground, joining Zill in a recourse. “Who?”

“Me you dumb dolts!” The Falling Star finally joins the conversation, her cheeks turning a flurried red. “I’m Laurena, just how stupid are you two?”

Crimson loosens his grip on her, a bit taken back by her temper. “And how stupid are you? Who the hell is going to become the best pirate by having a great wardrobe and outstanding makeup skills?”

“Ar…” He said a bit baffled, as a few chuckles rose among his men, cuing him to regain his composure. “ARGH! Get them! Kill them all for assaulting the pride of captain!”

“Guess now we have to rescue her to rescue ourselves, huh?” Zill said regretfully.





Chapter 2 – Part 3

15 05 2009

His heart choked in his throat in the way the door to Zill’s hut always creaked, forcefully scraping against the earth as it drudged open. His heart didn’t merely choke, it felt missing, a vacuum that tugged at the strings that once supported his vascular muscle.

The vacuum in his heart wasn’t enough, once the door swung wide open, a void slumped in his stomach and he was grateful. For what he saw was Zill passed out on the table, bottle in one hand, legs propped up in a spread eagle with a girl in between.

Grimm’s face reflected shock, for Zill and the falling star girl hadn’t gotten along and now she was somehow spread between his legs. While Zill has charm with women, it was always Grimm’s more romantic sympathetic nature that appealed to them and well, falling for Zill was much like asking to be put under a guillotine.

“Zill.” No response to his own name.

“Zill.” He shifted slightly in a drunken haze, grunting then turning before his body jarring against the naked girls body, her body turned over revealing her front to Grim. she had supple breasts and small hips that looked awkwardly proportional, not at all how he imagined.

He turned his sights away, blushing at the thought of even seeing or imagining her naked.

In his hand he clenched a blanket, bringing it over to cover the decency of them both, none of which Zill had.

As the blanket covered on her head, hiding her whole body, the sudden sense of decency seemed to jolt Zill awake, his body shooting up, the girl rolling to the other side of the table slumping into her quite slumber.

“Grimm….Back so soon?” Zills eyes squinted, focusing on his fuzzy figure, a cold chill running up his back. “Its not even…” He glances at the sun rising. “Seven? Eight? Nine?”

In response he shook his head, picking up a few things around the place. “Seven thirty.”

“Quit being such a one minute man.” The words stretch and gargle as he yawns loudly.

“And did you really have to sleep with her?” Grimm turns his sights on Zill again with a plate in his hand, twirling along the roll of his fingers.

Zill’s eyes were dimmed, half shut still. “Why not?”He shrugged almost unsure of what the big deal was with him sleeping with a girl, its not something new and he’s positive he isn’t the first to do it.

“We don’t even know her name, you know.”

“That’s never stopped me before.”

Grimm stopped in his tracks, now facing a new object in Zill’s place. “Where did you get all this stuff? Since when did we have money for alcohol and food that isn’t consistent of loaf and cheese?”

Zill got off the table, letting the blanket completely fall off of him and the girl, a girl who was not the falling star but one of the local girls who’d fallen for Zill’s wicked disinterest and offstandish demeanor.

“That isn’t the fallen star.” Grimm said in shocked disbelief.

He nodded in return. “I know. Wait…” Zill moved towards Grimm inspecting his face. “You thought I slept with her?”

Grimm let out a sigh of relief and Zill let out a deep laugh. “You wouldn’t believe the things Mugster Tran will buy these days…I sold her saying she’s a virgin princess.”

His eyes in turn burn a deep blue, almost a sea of fire in Grimms eyes, he grabbed Zill by the collar lifting him in the air. “What!?!?!”





Chapter 2 – Part 2

12 05 2009

Sterling silver chains screeched along the wooden ground then with a clank they halted, stuck against the brittle leg of a table, it tied back to her own ankle.

She looked up at him inquisitively, slightly in disbelief. Zill didn’t notice her, he was laid back against a stalk of hay covered under a blanket. One leg was bent, hand against thigh, magazine folded between his fingers and thumb.

“Its illegal to do this!” She rattled her chains once again. “You’ve kidnapped me.”

He flipped the page of the magazine, paying no attention to her.

She gave it a few more tugs, her ankle turning a swollen red color, rashed from the rubbing of metal against her bare ankle. “You’re just a miserable person.” Her hand leans over the top of the table, she blindly shuffles around, barely skimming a cutting knife, then hits a loaf of bread. She throws it his way.

It leers towards his head, about to collide head on, before his free hand make a grab for it. He takes a bite out of it, then finally looks her way, studying her.

He swallows his bite. “First of all, you vandalized his house, and of course I’m miserable, because of you I have to have you and Grimm always here.”

Zill extends the piece of bread in her direction. “Hey girl, throw me some cheese too.”

She growls. “I have a name, asshole.”

“Girl works just fine, unless I can call you nice legs.” He responds.

Nice legs makes another huffy noise then extends her arm over to the table again, moving past a vase and a cutting board, her hand grazing the knife on it blade edge first. “Ow…” She pulls her hand down, blood streaming down her fingers, in a slow glaze.

His eyes shift towards her, inspecting her hand, then they turn back towards the magazine, letting out a frustrated grunt. In one swift motion he kicks his legs out off the hay his body follow like a trapeze artist, straightening up, moving towards the cupboards in the room.

Her hand seems so small in his, as he bends over onto one knee, opening up her fingers, placing some ointment then a band aid on her bleeding fingers “You should be careful, legs.”

She looks up at him twin emerald orbs peering at him and in one swift motion grabbed the vase from the table top swinging it down on Zill’s head. It crumbles into pieces over his reddish hairs, his face falling flat into the broken pieces of the vase, his body lumbering in followed suit.

“I told you. The names not legs.”





Chapter 2 – Three Rules

3 05 2009

“Three rules.”

Zill was busy tossing a soccerball, it shuffled from one kneecap to the other, at every fifth bounce, managing to rise high enough to block the sun.

“One; you can’t lock her up.Two; you can’t take advantage of her sexually and three; you can’t sell her.” Grimm extended a finger for each of the rules he recited.

Zill nodded. “Right, do I have to feed her?”

Grim shrugged, “We’re broke and I have to take out my girl tonight…so…”

He smiled at him his eyes lighting up cutting into the conversation. ”So its at my discretion.”

“No, feed her. I still left a little bit under the mattress. So I’ll be back tonight, or if I’m lucky, tomorrow.”

Zill cat-called towards Grim. “You horndog, you.”

Grim returned a mischevious grin. “Let’s hope.

“Hoping is worthless, just do it.” Zill gave the ball one final kick, letting it fly off agains the side off the house. It resounded with a strong shake of the houses weak wooden frame. It rolled down against the grass with a few bounces then settled in front of the incline of a hill.

Zill headed back towards the door of his house as Grimm repeated again. “Three rules Zill.”

He slammed the door behind him, wondering what Grimms deal being so worried about a stranger.





Chapter 1 - Part 3

29 04 2009

The suns rays beat along her face, lighting her up like a shining star. Black hair shined silver, while the blond stained streaks in her hair disappeared with the rays. Her skin flushed a radiant white against the suns glint. Lashes traced along her shut eyes, hiding a lurking beauty.

Their bodies hovered over her, leaned over as to not disturb the fallen star from her sleep, perplexed how the hay was enough to break her fall and most of all what to do with this surprise. Grim moved in closer inspecting her, hesitant to even lay a finger on her for fear of staining her form.

“That’s a wasted wish.” Zill said dryly.

Grim finally took his eyes off her for a moment. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“What should we do about her? Do you realize how much trouble murder will get us in?”

“We didn’t murder her.”He remarked back to grim, his eyes dully fixated on the star wrapped in a tattered top, one sleeve missing, a short tattered skirt, serving as a memento of the long dress it used to be.

“Zill.”

“Zill….Zill…” Grim uttered. He’d noticed her move, finally her weight shifting. A moan escapes her lips, her right arm raising slightly only to fall back down again.

His tone changed. “Miss…Are you alive?”

She raises an eye lid, her retina focusing into the light. Her hand raises cupping in between her chest, she lets out a cough, then her visions focuses in on Grimm. His body a blur of white and blues that focuses in to show his figure, dark haired and fair bodied.

Her lips moved but no words came out, blood rushing to her plum lips, words finally uttered from her, shattering her perfect image. “If I wasn’t alive, would I move?”

Finally she grabs Zills attention, he’d been watching her movements with a silent eye, predicting what benefit and threat she was. He didn’t speak to her, instead he chose to stay out of her sights, sitting along a stack of hay, legs bent and spread he just studied her.

“I apologize, are you okay?” Grimm said patiently, a smile veering towards her. “You shouldn’t be scared.”

Her eyebrow twitched for a moment, “Sorry.” She went silent.

“She should be a bit scared. We could always sell her.” The grin on zills lips speaks volumes of the honesty of his words; for if you can’t have your wish, might as well have a full pocket.





Chapter 1- Part 2

23 04 2009

A clear separation of air and dirt, the waters ran vast, churning under an electromagnetic current, moments of calm that turned to tidal waves shooting upwards of thirty feet. Above that seagulls float at ranges far above following a strong air current that extends to the higher ranges of the troposphere, a place where seagulls would’ve never been seen a century ago. Along where they sailed, dirt chipped off falling down the peaks of floating islands, upside down mountains with green tops, windmills, waterfalls that fell along into the azure sky.

A rock chipped off the cliff side, dividing two islands between an invisible basin in the sky. One figure leaps over it, black pants flailing in the wind. He lands on the other end, knee digging into the ground, dirt along the stretch of his pants. A cart comes flailing from behind, running along a metal wire that connected upon two wooden poles with silver-shining tips.

Zill was the first body, coming down in a glorious splash of mud lining his knees then Grim’s slimmer body came tumbling behind, rolling out of the cart coming into a complete standing position. His arms were pressed against his hips, narrow eyes peering over the horizon.

“Yep. Definitely your hut.” Zill was following his motion slightly more exaggerated, his hand was straight the flat end hovering above his eyes, as if surveying a new landscape. Nothing had shifted in their world, everything was the same except for the smoking clouds hovering over the crumbling hut.

Even the brick blocks that acted as support beams for the hut had crumbled, whatever hit it came with an astounding force. Through the whole ordeal Grim made the same wish, for if it really was a shooting star that came in midday who was he to tempt fate and pass up his hearts

Zill seemed less interested in the fact a star had crashed through his friends hut and while unopened to superstitious thoughts, he knew that a wish was just a wish and it came at no cost; true or not.  So why not make one?





Chapter 1 – A Falling star

16 04 2009

Rosy blond haired fluttered past her ears, trembling in the azure sky around her face. Wind continued to rush along her features, forest eyes possessing an ash hue along the empyrean background. Lids shut over her eyes, breath held deep, her ears taking the susurrus sounds wide within, held in her lungs.

The free fall comes to a halt, the falling star coming in through the top of a straw laden hut, crashing in its mist in a smoke of hay and wooden planks. She didn’t stir having fallen now in a tender slumber and as the star came in a quick blaze, so did she rest with an expeditious heart.

*****

“Come on man! Don’t just sit there while I do all the work Zill!” Grims nostrils flared, his shoulders pulling back, the miniature jack hammer ceasing its drill against the black rocks of the alcove.

Zill’s body was stretched out, on a flat bed of rocks, back and head rested against a average sized boulder. Everything about the nature formed cot seemed uncomfortable, but he laid back, a sable rock twisting along with his wrists movement. “What’s so special about these?”

“I tell you everyday. Energy; they’re essentially coals charge with electrical current.”

“Oh ya? Are they microwavable?”  His eyes squint as the alcove lets in a ray of light beaming towards his resting spot.

“What kind of ques…” As Grim’s words begin to roll of his tongue, in the distance a sound booms. Then once again it booms this time in a rhythmic tone. Grim ceases his drill, eying Zill intensely.

“Its not me.” Zill had already lifted his head off the boulder, body standing at the opening of the alcove a foot along the warm muddy grounds. “Its that.”

Grim’s eyes follow Zills arm, finger extended pointing at what seems to be a shooting start descending straight down, except shooting stars never made consistent sonic sounds in harmonic tones. It was a outre star.





Prologue- This Story

12 04 2009

This story.

Well this story is no different than any story before it. Its built on the premise of love. As any story is always driven by a protagonist out to achieve, prove, or change the world their in. The motive is often love.

Love of a parents, a girl, a friend. Either way that is the sustaining theme of any folklore and literature that has been spoken from Man’s lips and there’s no reason to break convention.

Its always safe to do what works and to write whats known. Perhaps that’s where the similarities end here. While most stories boaster love, expand its truth and ultimately we live or die for love.

That’s not the case here, in this story, love is the singular enemy. Our protagonist fights to take down the master of the heart, but against love. A dreamer with the soul of a pirate and the heart of none.

This story…

…I guess this tale is different but like any story before it, it has already been told time and time again, except now its my story of The Heartless Pirates.