I was hanging onto the rail of the ship for my life. Below me was the frothing water of the Cardina Sea, and below the surface, there was a monster.

I had only been trying to get away from the monsters on the ship. And now either I could let go and face the monster below or climb up and face the monsters above.

Either I fall to certain death or climb to the crew of malicious pirates above.

And then there was a hand. The world moved in slow motion as he pulled me up. The only monster on the ship that had shown me

kindness - if you could call it that.

He had saved my life. He had been the one to speak up against the others’ cruelty while still keeping an icy mask.

He was the one that now sat with me in his arms on the rainy deck, in the night, with tears in his eyes, saying I should’ve been careful, that he can’t do this without me.

The wolf and the lamb. The monster and the innocent.

And then his mouth is on mine and I couldn’t help but think that maybe not all monsters were truly evil, but maybe just misunderstood.