Chapter One (Part Three): Big Plans and Bigger Egos
The saloon had settled into a steady rhythm again.
Laughter, music, and the low hum of conversation filled the air as the earlier tension faded into the background. At one of the central tables, Felix the Cat sat comfortably with a drink in hand, swirling it lazily as a few sailors listened in, hoping for more stories.
Felix leaned back in his chair, boots propped up, looking completely at ease.
Like nothing in the world could catch him off guard.
âand thatâs when I realized,â he was saying smoothly, âif the treasureâs guarded by somethinâ slimy, itâs probably worth twice as much.â
A few chuckles circled the table.
A chair scraped loudly across the floor.
Felix didnât even look up.
ââŠHere it comes,â he muttered under his breath.
Bendy slid into the seat across from him like he owned the place, grin wide, eyes shining with excitement.
âYouâre Felix, right? Adventurer, treasure hunter, slime-dodger extraordinaire?â
Felix took a slow sip of his drink.
ââŠDepends whoâs askinâ.â
âNameâs Bendy,â he said proudly, gesturing to himself. âFuture legendary adventurer.â
Felix finally glanced at him.
Looked him up and down once.
âWell,â he said, setting his drink down, âI like the confidence.â
Bendy leaned forward immediately, not missing a beat.
âGood! âCause I got a proposition for ya.â
âOh, this oughta be good.â
Bendy planted his hands on the table.
The nearby sailors went quiet for just a second.
Then leaned back again, folding his arms.
âDead serious!â Bendy said. âMe and my pal Boris! weâre ready! We can handle danger, monsters, treasure, all of it! Just let us on the Starfall Voyager with you and your crew.â
Felix stared at him for a moment.
Not mockingly, just amused.
âHey,â he said, pointing at Bendy with a small grin, âI like the confidence, shortstackâŠâ
Bendyâs grin twitched slightly.
ââŠbut sorry,â Felix continued, taking another sip of his drink, âadventurinâ like I do? That stuffâs dangerous.â
There was no harshness in his tone. Just a kind of easy, joking honesty.
Bendy crossed his arms, leaning back.
âYeah? So?â he shot back. âDangerâs kinda the point, ainât it?â
âSure if you know how to deal with it.â
Bendy opened his mouth to argue
âWow,â a voice cut in smoothly, âturninâ down eager recruits already? Youâre losinâ your charm, Felix.â
Both of them turned. Sheba had stepped up beside the table, arms crossed, a playful grin tugging at her face.
Felix rolled his eyes slightly.
âOh please, donât start.â
Sheba tilted her head, glancing at Bendy, then back at Felix. âWhat? Heâs got spirit,â she said lightly. âThatâs more than I can say for some of your crew.â
A few nearby sailors snorted into their drinks.
Felix gave her a flat look. âYouâre real funny.â
âI try,â she shot back, completely unfazed.
She leaned on the table slightly, looking Bendy over. ââŠBesides,â she added, âyou used to be just like him, remember? All big talk, no plan.â
Felix pointed at her. âHey, I had a plan.â
âYeah,Yeah,â Sheba said with a grin, âand it involved runninâ in headfirst and hopinâ for the best.â
Bendy perked up immediately. âHey, thatâs my strategy!â
Sheba gave him a quick approving nod. âSee? You two would get along just fine.â
Felix sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
âIâm surrounded by comediansâŠâ
He glanced back at Bendy, his expression softening just a little.
ââŠLook, kid,â he said, more calmly now, âit ainât about guts. Youâve clearly got that. But out there?â He jerked his thumb vaguely toward the ocean. âItâs not just monsters and treasure.â
His tone dipped just slightly.
âThere are places you donât come back from.â
For a brief moment, the words hung heavier than the rest.
Bendy didnât back down.
He leaned forward again, grin returning.
âGood thing I donât plan on stayinâ gone then.â
That got a small chuckle out of Sheba.
Felix just shook his head, a reluctant smile creeping in.
ââŠYouâre persistent, Iâll give ya that.â
Sheba smirked. âCâmon, Felix. Let him try. Worst case scenario, he annoys the crew to death before anything else gets âem.â
Bendy pointed at her. âHey!â
Felix laughed under his breath, lifting his drink again.
âWeâll see,â he said casually. âNo promises.â
Bendyâs grin widened instantly.
âHey, Iâll take a âweâll seeâ!â
Across the room, Boris watched from the window, still uneasy.
Outside, the waves crashed harder.
And far beyond the docksâŠ
The laughter around the table slowly picked back up, but something had shifted. Not enough for most to notice, but enough for the air to feel⊠heavier.
Felix the Cat swirled his drink again, watching the liquid spin for a moment before glancing toward Sheba.
His usual grin had softened just slightly.
ââŠHey,â he said, quieter now.
Sheba raised a brow. âThat tone usually means youâre about to say somethinâ I donât like.â
Felix huffed a small laugh. âYou wound me.â She didnât look convinced.
Bendy, meanwhile, was still riding the high of a possible âweâll see,â completely unaware of the shift in mood.
âSooooâŠwhen do we leave?â he chimed in, leaning forward eagerly.
Felix didnât answer him right away. Instead, he looked back at Sheba.
ââŠIâm headinâ out again soon,â he said.
Sheba shrugged lightly. âYeah, figured. You never stay in one place long.â Felix nodded once.
ââŠThis time, Iâm not just chasinâ treasure.â That got her attention real quick, Shebaâs arms uncrossed slightly. ââŠOh?â she said.
Felix leaned back in his chair, gaze drifting toward the window the same dark ocean Boris had been watching. ââŠIâm headinâ for the Devilâs Shoals.â
ââŠWait THAT place?â he asked, excitement mixing with surprise.
Sheba didnât react right away,her eyes narrowed just a little. ââŠYouâre serious.â
âBeen hearinâ the same rumors as everyone else,â he said. âShips goinâ missinâ. Waters actinâ strange. Voices in the fogâŠâ
He tapped his fingers lightly against the side of his glass. ââŠSounds like more than just stories.â
Shebaâs tail flicked once, slower this time.
ââŠFelix,â she said carefully, âthat place ainât like the others.â
âYeah,â he replied simply. âThatâs kinda the point.â
Bendy leaned in immediately, eyes practically glowing. âOh, this just keeps gettinâ better.â
Sheba shot him a quick look before turning back to Felix. ââŠAnd youâre just gonna sail in there?â she asked. âNo plan? No backup?â
Felix smirked faintly. âSince when do I not have a plan?â
Sheba gave him a flat stare.
Felix ignored them both, though a small grin tugged at his face.
âIâm takinâ the Starfall Voyager,â he continued. âMight even bring a few of the other stars along get a proper crew together.â
Her expression shifted, not fear exactly, but concern.
ââŠYouâre really goinâ all in on this,â she murmured.
Felixâs gaze returned to the ocean. ââŠSomethinâs out there,â he said. âAnd if itâs strong enough to scare off seasoned sailorsâŠâ His grin came back, sharper this time.
ââŠthen I wanna see it for myself.â
Bendy clapped his hands together. âNow thatâs what Iâm talkinâ about!â
He pointed at Felix. âAnd youâre definitely takinâ us with you now, right?â
Sheba rolled her eyes slightly.
Felix glanced at him, amused. ââŠKid,â he said, âyouâre either real brave⊠or you got no idea what youâre gettinâ into.â
Bendyâs grin didnât falter, but was still a bit cocky. âWhy not both?â That earned a quiet chuckle from Felix.
Sheba, however, looked back toward the window. Outside, the waves crashed harder than before.
ââŠFelix,â she said again, softer this time, âjust⊠be careful.â He didnât answer right away.
Just took another slow sip of his drink. ââŠAlways am.â
But even as he said it; another wave slammed against the docks, louder than any before. And for the briefest momentâŠThe sound almost felt like something answering back.
Far beyond the shoreâŠIn the direction of the Devilâs ShoalsâŠsomething stirred beneath the dark water.