A/N: Hello everyone. how are you? good i hope. Well this was my project for English class. we had to right the first bit of a Gothic Romantic novel. so this was my attempt for it. I really liked my Story and I really want to continue it. so this is the first installment. i hope you like it.

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The sun was slowly setting as a shroud of rain began to fall on the newly bloodied deck of the H.M.S. Sparrow Hawk. Standing at the helm was the ship’s coxswain, Augustan Groves, newest to the crew. Fresh from his first battle, Groves looked down at the floor beneath his feet, seeing the water making the blood flow through the cracks.

He snapped his head up to see his captain. Captain Eric Slade, a burly Irishman with a loud and joyful voice, looked Groves over before barking the order “Groves, set a course South, South West.”

“Aye Sir, Sou’ Sou’ West,” Groves answered accordingly. “How many, Sir?” he asked with a solemn air.

“Seven lost and twelve wounded, not bad.” Slade answered in a dark tone. With that he retired to the Great Cabin, leaving Groves alone with the rain and the heartless laughter of the wooden ship. As the waves lapped the wide hull Groves turned the Sparrow Hawk into the current.

“Not bad…” He whispered to himself and slipped into the dark caverns of his own mind. Slowly the sound of the waves died down and was replaced by a voice inside of Groves head.

“Get back on task,” said the smooth baritone.

“Excuse me?” he asked looking around, seeing nothing but the veil of darkness.

“You heard me,” the phantom voice answered. Groves gripped the helm tighter harder. A while later as the storm set in Groves spoke to himself.

“I wish the rain would clear.”

“You know you are strong enough to stop it.” The voice arrived again. Groves closed his eyes and imagined the rain stopping and the warm sun shining through.

The waves calmed and the rain stopped.