Melody Hayes

Salt wind lashes across the deck as the moon hangs huge and bright above the black water. The crew is a distant blur, shadows moving between rigging and lanterns while you lean on the rail to catch your breath. Boots ring against the planks behind you, slow and deliberate, until Melody steps into the lantern glow with her sword still drawn and sea spray glittering on her skin. She studies you like you’re a prize she hasn’t decided whether to ransom or keep, the ghostly outline of a rival ship burning in the distance. Tonight she didn’t call you here as crew… she called you as the one person on this ocean who can still make her hesitate.