Garth squeezed her neck, feeling the blood trying to move under his thumbs. Robin hacked and coughed trying to breath, but she smiled through it. She seemed to enjoy it—a masochist. She squirmed as a passive reaction, deep down her body wanted to continue on. Her lips turned black and blue and her eyes rolled into her head. I can't die, she mouthed while letting go of the breath she held in. Garth had killed her.
                          
Garth backed up from her body, feeling blood continuing to flow through his fingers making them pulse violently. Robin's blood settled on his fingers. She deserved this, Garth thought to himself. It was the punishment that Garth would bring to her sooner or later. She played with the lion and now she was clawed.
                          
"You didn't have to do that," Zekeao spoke from the doorway. Lily hid behind Zekeao's body, shivering with fear. Garth had killed her best friend.
                          
Garth didn't respond with words, rather he yelled a war cry and painted his face with Robin's blood. No matter how many times Garth pressed against the idea that he was a Viking, deep down he truly was a trained savage. Garth huffed and growled like a wild dog. Zekeao shook his head, embarrassed and disappointed.
                          
Crew mates gathered around the door, staring at the beast above his dead prey.
                          
"So are we voting for a new captain now?" A pirate suggested.
                          
"Mutiny," Garth said under his breath.
                          
"This isn't your king's government," the pirate responded, "it's the people's government, and I think we all liked Robin alive and would rather see you dead."
                          
"I'd like to see you try to kill me," Garth taunted.
                          
The boards below Garth rumbled. Something below punched against the wood. Garth stood up straight and stared at the board. Hit me, he thought. The board began to chip. Boney fingers pushed through them, feeling around below Garth's centre. As soon as the finger grazed his foot, hands punched through the floor and pulled Garth into the water below.
                          
Garth pushed against the bone hands wrapped around his leg. They pulled close to the boat letting him try to grab onto the bottom, but they were stronger than his grip. They let the boat pass and kept him in the water, so close to the surface but not close enough for him to survive. Garth kicked and pushed against the hands, but they were locked tight with their cold, tight grip.
                          
Garth looked up to the surface—he couldn't hold his breath much longer. Does the world not agree with Robin's punishment? He thought. Garth pushed his hand out into the air above the water, giving his last sign to the world.
                          
Right as air forced out of his mouth and his lungs forced him to breath, the hands pulled him above the water. Garth flailed around and took quick, loud, painful breaths, looking like a fish out of water.
                          
Rope replaced the hands, now tied around his ankles. He was pulled up from the black boat upside down. Pulled up all the way to the watchtower. Robin leaned against the round rail holding her head in her hands.
                          
"You showed your true colours," she spoke live, "you may not be scared of these pirates but they sure are scared of you." Garth didn't speak, but only breathed heavily and gave Robin a threatening glare. "You said my magic can't get to your head," she continued, "so why don't I get into others? You may want to kill me more than ever but I'm sure they won't let you. There is something here you will never understand: you need me, and I'll toy with you for as long as I want and you can't do anything about it." Garth swung his fist at Robin, she sat just far enough to be out of his reach. "I heard Lily gave away my entire ruse and you still fell for it, ha-ha-ha. 'Astral projection' she said, and you ignored it completely. I thought you would understand it when I spoke while having my throat blocked, but I guess my acting afterward sold it."