My story began as a simple cabin boy…
There I was, manning the “Steamboat Willie” the feeling of content swayed through my body along with the sea waves crashing along the sides of the steel fortress I steered. It didn’t take long however for Captain P. to rear his ugly mug from the stairwell only to bark out orders to me.
“Whaddya’ think yer’ doin’!?” He exclaimed, baffled as I was pulled by my backside now forced to stare at the captain. In silence I couldn’t respond, it felt as if my organs were misplaced/mismanaged by the sheer force of his pulling. I managed to pull myself back together somehow someway — he continued to bark orders.
“Get back down there an’ do yer’ job, I ain’t payin’ you ta’ diddle-daddle!” P. pointed to the stairs, in response I mocked him but that’s when he rose a fist and I backed away in fear only to trip and stumble my way to the bottom of the steps. A mild injury, but that didn’t soil my mood. The bird found it funny, cawing and laughing at me. Without thinking twice I reached for its neck and snapped it in half — there it rested in my hands. Captain P’s precious bird lifeless and cold.
Many thoughts raced in my head…
“Do it, M. Do it. No one’s gonna’ miss the captain.”
“KILL EVERYONE ON BOARD.”
“Put an end to his tyranny.”
All of them rang as if a bell went off in my head, I couldn’t take the noise any more.
As we made it to the docks, the animals we began to load in were loud and obnoxious. Didn’t bother me none, I helped Captain P. load them in with my happy go lucky facade. Clearly he didn’t see the dead bird — good. I wonder what else I can get away with.
Minutes turned into hours, the ticking in my head emulated a clock as I stared off into the distance listening to the sounds of the other animals with in the boat. In my hand danced a lead pipe the wind blowing gently against my fur feels heartwarming. Almost tranquil.
“Hello,” rang a voice. It wasn’t in my head. No, it was…
“Please stop the boat! I am running late, please!” shouted a female voice as she ran along side the boat. What am I to do? She’ll ruin everything. Once again I put on the happiness facade and helped her inside the boat. Great, M. You let a stowaway inside. Great. No matter, she seemed very sweet.
“Thank you so much, sure hope the captain won’t mind.” She said settling her bag down.
“Oh I’m sure he won’t.” I replied with a chuckle. It was odd though she decided to chase a boat this late at night? Nevertheless I begged the question to her…
“Say, why are you running?”
“That’s a good question,” Replied-she dusting herself off. Once again my train of thought began to cycle between bad or good. Deal with her or have her become a scapegoat. Either way, M. It’s not gonna be pretty.
“I was running because I was late for the first ferry, yours just happened to be there by chance.” Sweet thing she was. That giggle almost swayed me.
Hours rolled by as she fell asleep on her bedroll, I nearly dozed off myself. Finally — I thought, reaching for the lead pipe. One by one the animals would go. First the cat, by the tail I grabbed it only to nail it against the wall as it mewled I looked over to see if she had noticed; she only turned in her sleep. I was in the clear. As the meowing stopped and faded into the night I ventured onward to continue my slaying.
The cow wasn’t an issue. The dent in my pipe however caused for concern, blood dripped from the steel tool as I sat it down. This feeling I am gaining what could it be…? Shaking my head I looked over to the female, still resting in her bedroll — raising the lead pipe over my head I shook in fear. No, I couldn’t. Not to her. That voice…I’ll surely miss it.
“C’mon M,” I whispered walking away from her slumbering body. “Ya’ got bigger fish to fry.” With every step I took to the captain’s room my heart began to pound faster and faster, drums racing through my body as my veins boiled with rage. His sleeping body laid happily on his hammock, disgusting. Raising the pipe over my head, a scream exhaled from underneath the room. Damn it was her, she spotted the cat.
Captain P. awoke, seeing what I was up to he immediately reacted attempting to fight back. His strength was immense, his hand gripped my wrist as I made for the killing blow — a formidable beast he was. But that didn’t make me lose my motivation to end his pitiful existence.
“Yer’ a sack o’ shit, M!” Shouted the Captain enraged as he kicked me away from him. Somehow the pipe remained in my hands, without saying a word I charged at him. In a clean swift motion I bashed his skull in not once, not twice, but thrice. Panting like a wild animal, his blood stained my uniform. I reached for his captain’s hat and placed it upon my head. Now there’s one more problem to deal with.
“…how could you?” she said in a shaky tone as she approached the stairwell. Her body trembled at the sight of the gruesome scene. Without hesitation I chuckled to myself and responded confidently.
“With gusto.” Walking up to her my arms stretched outward to her neck, my grip began to tighten as I stared her in the eyes. How I will miss the sweet tender sound of her voice, but that doesn’t matter. Nothing else matters. As she slapped my body with one final attempt, she faded away. I did it. She and the captain are no more.
Stepping around the corpses, I made my way to the wheel. My hands resting at port and starboard. Blood stained my uniform naturally, I didn’t care. My toes began to tap as I whistled a tune after the boat exhaled a loud cloud of Steam.
I was finally… happy.