The heat had stopped being unbearable after a few minutes, giving way to the overwhelming dread that only those who have lost pieces of their heart can understand.

“Splinter, no…” The words tumbled from my lips like bile. “Please don’t-! Don’t! Please don’t do this! We can still make it!”

The ropes dug into my wrists as I pulled and pulled and pulled, only succeeding it making the helm stutter and creak. She didn’t even turn around. Just stood at the edge of the stairs with her dynamite held in one hand and red coating her other. I watched as it dripped onto the charred deck.

“They won’t stop, Sneeze…” There. She turns her head just enough that I can see that stupid smirk and one watery hazel eye. “But I _can_ slow them down.”

“Splinter. Splinter no-!” Something smacked me square in the forehead and before I could even react… she was gone.

I could only watch as she dashed over the gangplank to the Opal Ocean and knocked it from its hold connecting the enemy ship to our beloved Scarlet Wave. I could only watch as she dodged sword and musket fire, dipping below the deck. I could only watch at the boom rang out and the Opal Ocean ship rocked violently.

“Drop the sails!”

“Cannons, fire!”

“Break off the harpoon holds!”

Cold. I felt cold. There was no warmth amidst the flames.

Something glimmered on the deck beside me. Gold. Worn. Splinter’s. A counterfeit coin that had been passed between us as a joke for years. I placed my foot over it before I lost sight of it through my tears. Yanking, yanking, yanking at the godforsaken ropes binding my to the helm.

Snap!

Pain radiated up my arm but I couldn’t even scream anymore. Something broke but at least one hand was free. I couldn’t see the floor as I fumbled under my foot, white-hot flames surging down my wrist and through my fingers. But I had it! I had Splinter! I had… what was left.

“Sneeze! Keep us steady on course for the nearest port!”

With a deep breath, I heaved myself up to stand in front of the helm. Everyone was battered, bruised, and bleeding. Most were still tied somewhere, getting cut from their binds with broken blades. Everyone had lost _something_ today…

I placed the coin in my waist coat pocket. “Aye aye, Captain!”