The days after that passed by uneventfully, the seas were calm, the small waves lapped gently against the ship. Atlas had avoided the rest of the crew after his chat with Linlin. He decided he didn't need another crazy person making anymore declarations about him.
Instead his mind had been preoccupied with that weird sixth sense feeling he'd had about the sea monster. It had felt like a vivid dream and yet clearly it had been atleast somewhat real, the creature had attacked just as his dream one did.
But no matter what he did he couldn't seem to make it happen again, he tried. He really tried. The frustration of hours spent sat, eyes closed, trying to push his senses outward and feel for anything around him, yet never getting more than a trick of his imagination.
He lost count of the amount of times he'd snapped his eyes open and shot his hand out, 'reacting' to an attack that never came. All he can say is he was happy no one else saw that.
Shaking his head of the memories as he groaned ruefully, Atlas stood up after another failed attempt. He had spotted the seagulls circling lazily in the currents above the ship and knew they must be approaching land soon.
No one had bothered to fetch him or even to tell him where they were going. Linlin seemed to have disappeared after their last conversation and most of the others seemed more interested in the bottom of their drink than him.
Kaidou had acted like a moody brat whenever he'd seen him, huffing as he stormed off somewhere else. Clearly their last encounter had left a mark on his ego. Atlas wasn't that concerned though, if the kid wanted to make it far he needed to learn when someone was their opponent or not.
Atlas didn't attack Xebec even though he had no desire to join him at the start, because he knew that path only lead to death.
Still though, the kid was definitely strong for his age. Atlas half wondered what he was like at his age, but the years had all kind of blended together in the lab. Even the memories from before had grown hazy like a half remembered dream or a reflection in rippling water.
The bitter taste of it all filled his mouth as he moved to the railing and spat out at the sea to loosen the feeling.
"Something not taste right to you?" A deep questioning voice from behind had Atlas stiffening up as he turned to face it.
Standing to his side was a slightly shorter man, still giant compared to the standard human, with long golden hair and an unusual white moustache like an upside down half moon.
"No.." Atlas' deadpan face giving nothing away as he cautiously waited for what the man had to say, Linlin had left him scarred already.
"Gurahaha, not much of a talker? Don't worry kid I heard about what Linlin said. I would be mute too after that!" His laughs coming out a bellows that shook the air around them.
Atlas eased a little as he watched him, the man seemed like a kind uncle. His laugh was boisterous but warm, it made even Atlas' lips quirk in a half smile.
"Yeah, it was.. weird" Atlas summarised as best he could while trying not to step his foot into anything, he was still the new guy after all. It would be all too easy to say a joke and end up stuck on the sea floor not quite drowning but not quite breathing.
"Gurahaha, weird is one way to put it. Down right mad is more like it." Whatever worry Atlas had this man clearly didn't share it.
"Yes haha, I suppose when you say it like that." Soon even Atlas couldn't keep his straight face as a chuckle escaped him before he could pretend otherwise.
For whatever reason though, he couldn't really bring himself to worry too much about it. This man seemed so easy going and welcoming.
The warmth he gave off was like a nice fire in a blizzard after the years spent in the cold lab. Atlas felt his heart shake at the disuse, a foreign concept of emotions and happiness attempting to rise up.
Atlas' face fell, suddenly changing back to the mask of indifference as he crushed that feeling aa quickly as he could. He had nearly let himself lower his guard! What was he thinking?
Had the years of torment from the scientists taught him nothing? No matter how nice they may seem at first you should never trust so easily again.
The man's twinkling eyes dimmed too as he saw it all unfold on Atlas' face. Some of the mirth lost as his laugh grew less loud. He hid it well, Atlas never even saw, but a look of pained sadness flashed across his eyes a second later as he watched the young man go from chuckling softly to cold and unsmiling in an instant.
"Ahh, well I would leave her to it for now. Harmless really, she will grow bored eventually haha." He said halfheartedly as he chuckled to hide the awkwardness. He knew Linlin was not one to give up once she set herself to something truthfully.
"One can only hope." Atlas' dry reply left the conversation hanging, a long pause dragging out the moment.
The two just watched the horizon for a moment, lost in their own thoughts. "Edward, Newgate." The sudden words causing Atlas to snap out of his thoughts.
"Hmm?" Was all he managed as he tried to come back to the conversation.
"Edward Newgate. That's my name. The rest of the crew are a bunch of Misfits like us too, they'll find their own way of introducing themselves." Edward said as he made to turn around and walk away.
Before he did though he stopped. "You know kid, whatever you went through there.. you should move on from it." With that he left.
Atlas stood there, the words still ringing in his head as he replayed them over and over again. "Move on" Ha like it was that easy.
Ten years spent as a lab rat to some sadistic scientist and his spineless lackies and he should just 'move on'. The only moving on he'd do is when Saturn's head lay beside his body.
Then he could 'move on' but till that happened he couldn't forget. Not for himself and not for the others of his village that didn't even get those ten years.
The ship sailed on as finally, the island hoved into view. Tropical paradise with golden sand and palm trees surrounding a sprawling sandstone town. Flat roofs and stout buildings housed pirates and other so called scum of the sea that had no other place to call home.
But what really caught Atlas' eyes was the massive monolith. Rough sandstone hewn into a skull fit for a giant, it's great teeth sunk into the earth as if biting out a chunk from the ground.
To Atlas who had lived so long in sterile white halls and empty rooms devoid of any personality, it was overwhelming.
The place shone with intense character, from the shabby homes and their shabbier owners to the cheers and noise of a life of pleasure he could make out even from here.
It was almost too much. Like a man who had gone thirsty for days suddenly finding a lake the size of a small country Infront of him.
Loooking intently at all the many sights his eyes could now make out, he soaked them in before flashing to the next. Eager to see it all before it could be taken away from him again.
He may not know what this new life had in stall for him yet, but he was already preferring it over the empty one of a lab rat already.
Their ship sailed into port smoothly as if following a predetermined route, sliding in besides the quay to be moored up and ready for them to depart with practised ease.
Atlas stayed by the railing as he waited, still unsure of what was meant to happen. Soon Rocks appeared from within. His form walking out from the shadows of the doorframe and into the light as he moved to the gangplank.
The workers shoreside worked hastily to put the temporary wooden bridge in place and ready as if their lives depended on it. Atlas didn't doubt that it did. With Rocks, his carefree demeanor seemed like a poorly made cover for the madness and cruelty underneath.
The way he moved, each step unbothered yet with the underlying intent to remove anything in his way. It was earie, like watching a lion circling mice that had found themselves in his territory.
Every second they continued to live was simply on a whim of the lion and as soon as he was bored, that would end.
Without a word Atlas made to follow, the others onboard doing the same. Like moths to a flame they didn't need words to know what they should do.
Instead of words, actions were used. Simple and effective, he made to move and his crew followed. Each person in their own way.
John with a flamboyant and drunk gait, looking as likely to trip and fall than to land his next step. Shiki, floating a foot in the air like there was no fun to touching the ground.
Kaidou stood to the back, he was considered a rookie because of his age and it seemed that feeling stuck with him, not walking with the rest. Edward was no longer smiling so easily, his face looking tight and uncomfortable.
Linlin was probably the only other one besides John and Shiki who seemed unfazed. Strutting along confidently like a kid walking into their sandpit, not a care in the world.
A small man in a strange get up trailed behind her, his large navy blue brimmed hat obscuring his face from Atlas as he looked down from above. The white feathered plume bobbing along after it, like a tiny muscateer.
An odd fellow following a mad woman, Atlas chuckled to himself at the sight. The giantess only making the incredibly short man look even more diminutive in height.
Without a single word to the worker on the quay they continued up the main road. Rocks ahead as they all walked as a gang of misfits from a step behind.
Atlas was too pre occupied with sightseeing to care for the awkwardness of the situation as a whole. Maybe if he were paying it more attention he would be unnerved by the lack of closeness a crew could have.
Like they were walking with strangers instead of the people they spent their lives beside. Instead he was watching the streets, the houses and the shoddy street stalls that lined the road.
Colours covered the stalls as wears were displayed. Smells of fried food mixed with spices and scents along with the ripe stink of liquor. He had seen how the streets were packed with meandering passerbys that chatted or traded or shouted at each other.
Now though the streets were emptied as they walked through, cleared in a rush as if catching a sight of them would be enough to upset. Even the drunkards that had been lying in doorways or corners had managed to sober up enough to escape.
Something about that didn't sit right with Atlas. The way they ran from the man that was meant to be leading them and his closest subordinates felt wrong.
How could you lead if those you are meant to lead are too busy running away from you in fear. Still, he kept shut. In the end he wouldn't care, not for as long as he ended up with Saturn's head by his feet.
If it was necessary to follow a man that everyone feared and no one loved then.. so be it. But he wouldn't become the monster. Just help aim a monster to kill another.