Keller came to find them at the door, blocking in Edmond. "It's the researchers!" He gasped for breath, "They released Davis! He's going for the edge!"

Edmond snapped out of desperation in that moment. Not again. Not Davis. Those damned researchers and their petty idiocy!

The men rushed forward to find the madman. He would either get himself killed or be killing another. Edmond could see Piles in his mind again. The poor man deserved better. He couldn't have more blood on his hands like that. Davis just needed help! He was as much a victim of these circumstances as the rest of them were.

They finally came back to the deck to find DeVitas trying his best to keep Davis from jumping over the edge of the ship. He struggled to keep a grip on him. Yanking at his clothes and arms. Finally, he pulled him closer to shout into his ear.

"Snap out of it!" DeVitas yelled, bear hugging Davis.

A big mistake.

That was far too close of contact.

With a wild roar, Davis leaned forward and took a sickening bite out of DeVitas' throat. The muscle and tissue giving an audible crunch as he came away with a chunk of flesh between his exposed teeth. The blood-soaked Davis' shirt further. He held onto DeVitas' shoulders now while he viciously went back for more.

"No!" Halcreek dropped the rifle and ran towards them.

Like some kind of rabid animal, Davis chewed away at DeVitas' neck. DeVitas couldn't even scream. He didn't have the vocal cords anymore. It was as if he was in total shock. Frozen in place while he was actively being murdered.

Willas ran at them, too.

Everything was happening in slow motion again.

It seemed like DeVitas was taking a lifetime to drop to the ground once Davis was satiated.

Halcreek and Willas barely moved at all while running full speed to Davis.

The ship seemed eerily still on the waves.

Even the wind seemed to stop altogether.

Davis threw his head back and screeched at the sky before lowering his head to face the men. It was as if he had eyes again, somehow seeing them and glaring at them all.

With a vision no one could understand, He barreled wildly to meet Halcreek, teeth open for an attack.

A loud gunshot cracked the still air, ripping through the slow time barrier, bringing everything back up to speed. A spot formed on his forehead just as the back of Davis' head exploded outwardly; his head was thrown back again by the impact.

Halcreek suddenly stopped in shock.

Davis hit the deck hard like a limp bag of bricks. The skull fragments and brain matter littered the deck behind him. A pool of blood began to collect under him.

Halcreek and Willas looked back behind them.

Edmond slowly lowered the rifle.

His hands shook so violently. It was a miracle he even managed the clean shot.

"Captain?" Willas looked at him while standing over the very dead Davis. Without his lips, he just appeared to be smiling extra wide.

Halcreek took this moment to run to DeVitas. The man was holding his own throat in both hands, blood seeping uncontrollably between his shaking fingers. He tried to speak, but only blood spurted from his lips. The man was clearly dying. There was nothing anyone could do at this point.

The researchers were on the deck now, looking flustered.

Edmond found his strength now to raise the rifle at them. They both held their hands up defensively.

"What have you done!?" Edmond screamed at them.

"You released ours." The second man said with a shaky accent, "We released yours!" Very bold of him to be making such a statement with a rifle pointed at him. They were so petty; they were willing to let others lose their lives. It was sickening.

"Shoot them!" Halcreek demanded justice as DeVitas was taking his last desperate breaths in his arms.

Oh, how Edmond wanted to. So badly. He wanted to put a bullet in each of their heads. They were useless to them now anyway. How could they be so vile as to release a madman on them all? Was their research really worth that much to them? Edmond really had half a mind to end them right where they stood.

A loud screech could be heard over the water. This was the second time they had heard a mermaid scream. And it was just as chilling the second time around, too.

The researcher pointed to Davis, "You killed her pet." Just what they needed. Not like the mermaids didn't have enough reason, from the kidnapping to want them dead. Now, the man they had made their plaything lied in a bloody heap on the deck with his brain in pieces.

Edmond hadn't wanted to kill him. That was the last thing he wanted. Yet he blamed himself for DeVitas' death as well now. His men were all dying, and each one was his fault in one way or another. He should have left while he had the chance. He should have sailed. Was it too late now? Were they all doomed?

As if the fog wasn't bad enough, it was suddenly starting to get thicker.

The ship creaked and groaned in the silent air, rocking on the water.

It was near impossible to see anything. Edmond couldn't make out anyone through the fog. Even those standing next to him.

The wet slapping and clawing were heard again.

Edmond knew that sound.

They were climbing onto the ship.

"They're coming!" He yelled out to warn his men.

He could hear shuffling and voices around him, but he couldn't see a thing. Who it was for certain, he didn't know. Were they already on the ship? Was this an attack?

He moved through the fog in the direction that he last saw Willas. He wasn't certain how far off he was, but he managed to make it to the edge without finding him.

"Captain!" He heard Willas call for him.

"Here!" He answered. "Willas!"

After much stumbling around, he and Willas bumped into each other at last.

"Come on!" Willas grabbed the captain's arm. "We can't let them get to you!" He was yanking his sleeve to head below deck.

"I can fight!" Edmond shook his hand free. "These are my men!"

"Your mind is altered, Captain!" Willas pulled him again, "Please! We can't lose you!"

Edmond knew his mind was weak at times. Torn between wanting to defend his men and to keep himself from jumping. While he wanted to fight for them, he knew he couldn't fight against their delusions. He followed Willas.

Willas hurried him into his captain's quarters. He shoved Edmond in quickly and locked the door behind them. "Sit!" He ushered Edmond to his chair. "I won't let anything happen to you." He took the rifle from Edmond in a means to defend him.

Edmond was appreciative of how much Willas cared for him. He knew that he only did the best he could to help out. Although Edmond didn't feel right to leave his men above deck alone. They also had one of the only rifles. They may need it up there.

What was he supposed to do? Hide like a coward? It didn't sit well with him. It just felt wrong. He tried to listen to any commotion he heard above them, but he didn't hear anything. He could make himself useful. He could at least document the situation.

He would update his logbook. Just in case this was his last entry.

He sat at his desk and opened his book. Before he could even put the pen to paper, he heard Willas call out to him.

"Captain!"

Edmond paused.

That was definitely Willas, who was calling out to him. He was sure of it.

Except something was wrong. His voice was muffled.

Because it was coming from the other side of the locked door.

Edmond felt a hand on his shoulder. He slowly looked over his shoulder to see Maryann looking down at him.

"My love." She spoke tenderly.