Chapter Two - Section Three

Nathan slowly maneuvered to the long dark bend that lay in front of him. It’s foreboding presence only grew heavier as Nathan got closer. Though he had a loaded shotgun in his hands, the weapon did nothing to console him. Watching his fellow man being slaughtered in front of his eyes did nothing but harm his psyche. The trees grew larger as he wandered ever closer. Their omniscient eyes were all fixated on Nathan, never relenting as he invaded their territory. Suddenly, Nathan heard slow crushing footsteps sounding from behind the trees. He heard twigs snapping and leaves crumbling underneath feet which were not human. Heavy and monolithic, the steps grew louder. Nathan froze. He frantically looked in all directions around him, desperately looking for the source of the noise, but this was to no avail. Instead of waiting to find out what exactly caused the noise, Nathan bolted for the bend. Away he ran, past the foreboding trees with their punishing, omniscient eyes, away he ran from the dark and now deserted town, and away he ran from the monstrous spawn of Poseidon that killed many innocent folk.

The road seemed to go on forever. He came to winding sections after winding sections. He heard no more footsteps behind him but his own. Nathan put down his bag and pulled out some provisions. He took a bite of a blood-red apple, the juices flowed down his lips onto the pale grass below. Suddenly, a distant sound captured his attention. He looked in the general direction whence the sound erupted. It occurred again, this time Nathan could make out some distinct qualities; it was similar to that of wood snapping, only amplified. It did not make any sense. However, still poised, Nathan decided against his common sense and trekked over to the location whence the sound was born. Clenching his shotgun tightly, he peered over some tall rocks to see farther. He could not see anything. Farther he proceeded, ever so cautiously until he heard the snapping of wood again, still just as loud. As he walked closer to the origin of the noise, he noticed a dock, made of wooden planks. Waves crashed against the pillars holding up the dock. More and more of the pillars snapped from wear, tear, and age. Shafts of wood fell into the black sea, leaving no trace of their previous existence.

On the edge of a dock stood an elderly gentleman, about seventy years of age. He had hair as white as a ghost and severely tanned skin. He had the appearance and bearing of an old sea salt. He wore a navy blue overcoat with gray trousers. He looked like an ordinary captain, but his eyes were weathered gray. They were but voids into barren thought. His lips curled in disgust as he spat into the ocean and turned around. He looked at Nathan for a second and said:

"Go away. Poseidon's wrath is here, escape while ye can. It won't be pretty, I assure ye, son."

"Sorry, sir, captain, may I ask what you are doing here?"

The old salt replied condescendingly, "Whaddya tink? I'm watching my precious sea being swaller'd up by Poseidon himself. The ole' bastard's out to get us."

Nathan thought the old man was insane, but considering what he saw back at the town, he was willing to humor the old man. He inquired simply:

"Why?"

"'Cuz he hadn't been worshiped for thousands o' years, now he's out to get us. Ye've seen those disgusting faceless creatures back at the Wharf, aye?"

"Yes, I have. Now what does that have to do with-?"

The old man interjected, "It has everyting to do with this damned mess. Those slimy bastards are nothing but pain 'nd death. That old shanty shotgun o' yers won't do a damn ting to them. Give it up, sonny."

Sorrow and regret filled his eyes. His voids opened wide as he began to stutter uncontrollably. Out in the distance I could make out some humanoid figures. The walked up out of the water onto the shore. They had no faces.