The first part of a short story entitled "The Isle of the Death Dogs". A new part will be posted every week.
There was a slight tinge of salt in the air as Zero made his way down the deserted beach at a dead run. The sweat that was dripping from his short, dark hair mixed with blood as it fell into his deep red eyes, nearly destroying his vision. Clutched in his left hand was a small, quarter sized amulet; in his right a razor sharp katana blade with no handle.
Two feet behind him were five large cyber-genetic dog-like creatures drooling feverishly at the prospect of their upcoming meal. It was a meal they would never taste.
Flash back 26 hours…
The four dark figures standing at the helm of the Dirty Hooker cast no shadows in the midday sun. Only the solitary bottle of rum that was being passed between the men made any natural impact upon the bloodstained planks of the ship. The mood was ominous as they closed in on the dreaded Isle of Dog-Death that loomed just over the horizon. Captain Maddox, a short, heavy-set man approached from the rear.
“None has ever made it off ye dreadful place alive! Ye fools if ye think ye will be the first!”
The tallest of the four spun around with a stealth but harsh quickness.
“I have,” stated the Pirate Ninja known as Womp bluntly to the balding sea captain. He took a long swig of the bitter rum. “Twice.” He stared the short man down with his blood red eyes.
As quickly as he could blink, cold fingers gripped the Captains fat neck. The breath left his body with the suddenness of an afternoon tornado. He struggled to move away but his body lost all will. Fear gripped his very soul.
“If you call us fools again…” said Smerff, the drunkest of the four, “I will make sure you get to know this bottle in the most carnal of ways.”
His grip loosened and the Captain backed off a good ten feet. Even after the hand was removed from his throat he still felt cold. It was as if the devil himself had touched his soul. He stuttered to speak but was cut off suddenly.
“Doc”, said the shortest of the group to the only one left staring intently at the open sea, “Can you see?”
Without breaking his gaze, the Rogue Pirate Ninja answered, “15 on the left side, 17 on the right, 13 in the middle, with 4 wanderers. All dogs.”
“That’s ridiculous, its open sea, and no one can possibly…” the Captain chimed in before letting out a yelp. He quickly grabbed his backside and ran towards the bow of the ship. The four men smiled to each other.
“I told him to shut the fuck up.” Smerff said with a grin as he pulled a full bottle from his dark, weathered knapsack and passed it over to Womp.
“Double the numbers on the far side.” Doc continued. “And they know we are coming.”
