Blackhook could tell when a ship was about to sink. Call it a sixth sense that kept him alive this long. He knew something was off at the warehouse, so he sent Bell to make the deal. He knew something was wrong with the mine, too. Not immediately. As soon as he felt it, he started running back out the tunnels, toward the entrance.

  He almost made it.

  The hill collapsed on him just before he reached the open air. He woke up later, struggling his way out of the heavy earth. His strength got him out. He clawed his way to the surface, gasping for breath, and collapsed unconscious on top of the wreckage.

  He woke up again, crushed and sore. He half-crawled, half-stumbled out of the wreckage of Red Mine. There was a road, leading back to the city. Blackhook fought for every inch of it. To move was struggle. To move was pain. He kept going. Eventually, he stopped, lying face down in the dirt, when a leather boot rested lightly on the top of his head.

  "I suspected others might get out, seeing how we did."

  It was him. The Alchemist. Blackhook tried to lift his head to see, but the boot kept his face against the dirt. Even with Blackhook's strength, the kid was holding him down like it was nothing.

  "Heroic Strength?" The captain asked through clenched teeth.

  "Nope." The voice was confident. Casual. A cold chill flushed through Blackhook's body. This lad was more dangerous than he realized. Much more.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  "So the weapon was fake after all. It was just you and your Legendary Strength."

  The Alchemist didn't reply. There was a silent pause, and Blackhook was about to speak up when the lad spoke again.

  "Tell me, captain. There's an ongoing debate I have with my friends..."

  The Alchemist crouched down, closer to Blackhook's face.

  "If my life were a story, written down in a book. Would you leave a review?"

  A cold weight pressed down on Blackhook's spine. It was the Alchemist's weapon. The club.

  "Or would you just finish reading and walk away?"

  Blackhook felt an intense pressure on him. Who knew what truth-sensing skills or equipment the boy had on him? To lie now would be death. The grizzled captain whimpered, finally facing his end.

  "I would—w-walk away. W-without giving a review."

  The Alchemist leaned in even closer. In the corner of his eye, Blackhook could see the boy had an incredulous look on his face.

  "Seriously? Even you?"

  "Sailors don't—don't leave reviews."

  "You're as bad as Teeth! Anyone can leave reviews!"

  Zig turned and looked at you, the reader. He winked, very slowly and carefully, and turned back to the captain.

  "Ok final question, before I feed you to my horse."

  "A-anything. Please."

  "I have two capes here, you have to tell me which one looks better. It's hard, man. I'm competing with a guy who literally has a skill in looking good in a cape. He also stole rapiers from me. Rapiers were meant to be my thing. You gotta help me out. Look here. A, or B?"

  Blackhook lunged for the boy, while he was distracted with the stupid capes. He was close, so close to taking him down, when the horse appeared. It came out of nowhere, even Blackhook's dangersense couldn't detect it. One minute it was just the two of them, in an empty section of the road. The next minute, all the captain could see was a giant maw filled with sharp fangs.

  Teeth bit down.