The Map

A/N: Usual disclaimer applies as always… although I do own a nice action figure of Captain Jack.
Thanks to AniSparrow for being a great beta, for giving me the pointy breaks between chapters ( Funny how two keys’ll stare you in the face but it needs someone else to bring them to their glory!) and for putting up with my grammatical inability.
Nothing too horrendous in this chapter… a few mentions of nasty things that, as long as you’ve taken into consideration the rating shouldn’t bother you overly (now they’ve changed the ratings to bloody letters, I have not a clue! Thank goodness I hit 18 awhile back and can search with impunity)

OHH! I found out which movie inspired the map on Nell’s back. It was an old black and white Bob Hope film and it was called the Pirate and the Princess… or possibly The Princess and the Pirate. I can’t remember which way round; it was a great movie though. (I love Bob Hope and Bing Crosby movies. High Society is in my top ten favourite films…)

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Chapter 21

Nell almost bumped into Dwent he stopped so suddenly, but when she looked over his shoulder in front of him, she realised just why he had stopped. The cave they had entered was small; a shaft of sunlight pierced the roof of the cave about thirty feet above them, and directly in the shaft of sunlight, in its own little spotlight was a group of chests.

“Is that it?” she asked disappointedly, studying the brown battered dreary looking chests.

Dwent turned to her and the glint in his eyes made her reassess her opinion of the chests. “Aye, miss. I gather that be it.” He stepped forward as Jack stood over one of the chests, and using the point of his dagger, popped the rusted lock and flung the lid back.

Nell gasped audibly as the sudden explosion of golden light made the entire cave light up as the sunlight glinted down on it.

”It’s…” she stepped forward again, not aware of Norrington or Bryant who had come to stand beside her, staring at the open chest. “It’s...” Nell blinked; she’d never before seen such a sight. Gold coins, goblets, plates, necklaces, and bracelets were all piled into the chest.

“Bloody beautiful,” Jack breathed. “That’s what it is!” He looked around at his men grinning from ear to ear. “What say we get this lot back to the Pearl?”

”Aye Capt’n!” came the resounding roar, followed by every man heading to the treasure to start examining it.

Nell watched as even the red-coats were bending over the treasure, only De Mornay and Beaumont were kneeling further from the treasure, but Nell could see the greed shining in their eyes as they drank in the sight of the gold. She turned to Norrington beside her, his hands behind his back and a muscle working in the side of his jaw. His eyes were narrowed as he watched his red-coats fawning over the treasure.

“It doesn’t belong to them,” Norrington’s voice was strained.

Nell looked back at where Jack was opening the other chests. Fabric spilled out of one and lots of bags out of the other. “No it doesn’t,” she agreed. “What will you do now?”

He looked down at her as she stood quietly beside him, her hands folded in front of her, and her beads wrapped around one hand.

“Concentrate on finding a way off this island. We are reliant on Sparrow’s good humour to return us unharmed to Port Royal. But… my responsibility thereafter falls in returning the treasure to its rightful owner.”

“Technically speaking, Commodore, there is no rightful owner,” came Jack’s slur from behind him. Nell jumped slightly, not realising he’d moved from the chests. She turned and he slung a necklace over her head. She looked down, one hand coming up to touch the pearls that lay around her throat; she sucked in her breath at their sheer beauty. Nell looked up at Jack, her fingers playing over the small perfectly round beads.

“I’m sure both the Kings of Spain and England would disagree with you there!” Norrington pointed out dryly.

Jack shrugged and lifted up one hand, holding it out straight to admire the rings he’d slid on; most of which wouldn’t even go past the first joint. “Well, there see, I’m inclined to disagree with you. I’ve always been under the opinion that what the eye don’t see the heart won’t grieve over. Both said men have most probably forgotten all about this little lot and they most certainly have resigned themselves to believing it to be lost at the bottom of sea.” He twisted his hand this way and that, admiring the way the sunlight caught the rubies and emeralds in the rings. “And let’s be facing it gentlemen, I did say you could be taking some back with you… not that you could let on there was more mind; but just enough to be the hero’s of the hour. There’s more than enough for us to all have a share…”

“A pirate giving up some of his treasure?” Bryant’s tone was more disbelieving than mocking.

Jack shook his head in mock pity at Bryant. He slung his arm around his shoulders and, pointing his finger skywards for no apparent reason, he cleared his throat. “You are labouring under a false impression of me, Mister Bryant. I gave you my word and while I would admit to not being able to trust some pirates, this pirate will always keep to his word, unless of course it proves detrimental to my health. You see…” Jack circled one hand in the air. “The way I see it, you lost a perfectly good ship, not as good as the Pearl mind you, but fair enough in her own way. And they were responsible…” he pointed directly at Beaumont and De Mornay. “Now I’ve already told you deals off with them, but I’ll keep to my word on the other account.”

“Why would you do this?” Bryant looked at him askance, not even bothering to move away from him.

Jack sighed and stepped away from Bryant to sling his arm around Nell’s shoulders.

“I gave you my word in exchange for your unquestioning help, in which you have kept to your side of the accord.” He rubbed at his jaw where a purplish bruise was partially hidden beneath his beard. “Well, mostly kept to it…” Jack eyed Bryant. “I can’t really fault you for your previous concerns. And as such it’s only correct that I should keep to my word, being as I’m an honourable type of person, mostly.”


Norrington choked at Jack’s words as he stared at him. “You expect us to believe that?” he gasped, regaining some of his composure.

“Of course! Have I done anything that would lead you to doubt me?” Jack looked affronted as he brought his arm down from Nell’s shoulders. “You’ll get ten percent, I can’t say fairer than that.”

Norrington half turned and looked at the chests and Nell saw a flicker in his eyes and she realised he was indecisive, even if it was only for a moment. “Fact remains, Sparrow; it doesn’t belong to you to give it away.”

“Maybe not. But I really don’t see you in any position to make a change to the circumstances.” Jack lowered his head slightly and moved slightly closer to Norrington. He bent slightly at the waist and peered up into Norrington’s face. “Whoever you answer to isn’t going to be too happy about you losing the Relentless; especially given the way she was taken.” Jack tipped his fingers to his chin, raising his eyebrows in sympathy.

Norrington’s face flamed with hot embarrassment at being reminded how easily he’d been hoodwinked by Beaumont and De Mornay. “But it still remains that I can’t take what does not belong to me,” he said, slowly.

“Not for yourself, no.” Jack shook his head in complete agreement with Norrington, his beads swinging sideways at the angle of his head. “But for your King and country?” Jack smiled slyly. “Imagine how pleased they’d be on return of ten percent; the only amount you could manage to craftily liberate from me before leaving our good company when I set you down somewhere - La Romana perhaps… we’ll sort those little details out later when we’re back aboard the Pearl. What say you?”

“I believe you dangled that particular carrot before,” Norrington replied, and Nell was surprised to see a glimmer of a smile twitching his lips. She stepped closer and was taken aback even further by the humour in his eyes.

“I do believe I did,” Jack smiled in return. “I won’t ask you to shake on it Commodore - that would be tempting your fate too much. Making a deal with a pirate…”

Norrington lifted his hand cutting Jack off. “What do you get in return Sparrow?” the Commodore asked, but there was no censure in his voice, only a weary resigned note that even held a touch of admiration.

“There’s not much in return you could give me other than your continued support,” Jack said, spreading his arms out wide and catching Nell in stomach with his hand. He turned sharply as she gasped out loud.

“Nell!” he blinked almost as if he’d forgotten she was there, but Nell knew better than to take his reaction at face value. “My apologies.”

Nell shook his concern off, she was far more interested in seeing the way things were going to end here and so was Norrington; for as soon as he saw she was alright he turned back to Jack.

“‘Not much’ denotes that there is something,” he said to Jack, quietly. “Clemency? Absolution? A ticket for Privateering?” his tone was faintly mocking.

Jack looked as if Norrington had slapped him. “Certainly not!” he snapped. “I’m not without my honour, you know, and privateering is a step too far, even for me!”

Nell couldn’t help grinning at the affronted tone in his voice. It was typical of Jack to have a warped view of what was wrong and what was right.

“Well what will it be? I can’t turn a blind eye to your piracy once this is all over.”

“I haven’t asked you to have I, Commodore?” Jack grinned again and it was purely sly, the glint in his eyes made Norrington’s narrow.

“What will it be?” Norrington repeated his question.

“You may not be able to turn a blind eye to any and all pillaging and plundering that I may or may not do; but I’m thinking that you could be mistaken where you to hear of certain pirates visiting Port Royal once in awhile, making no trouble whatsoever, on account of visiting good friends in said port.” Jack looked Norrington directly in his eyes even though he was still slightly bent at the waist; his arms were spread wide again, his wrist circling as he waited for Norrington’s reply.

Norrington remained perfectly quiet; his lips pressed together, his eyes narrowed as he regarded Jack. Nell realised she was holding her breath, waiting and hoping that he would agree to Jack’s strangely put proposition.

“It’s doubtful any knowledge of piratical presence would be reported to me if they weren’t announcing their presence by causing trouble. I would be none the wiser if pirates were frequenting certain friends if they kept their heads down and their ships in a bay to the west of Port Royal.”

Jack beamed at Norrington before he became serious again. He nodded his head, sending his beads flying. “I’m thinking that we’ve come to a conclusive and rather congenial conclusion, Commodore. But are you the only one to agree with this acceptable conclusion?” Jack looked directly at Bryant, one eyebrow raised in question at the dark man stood next to Norrington.

“It’s not up to me,” Bryant replied slowly, his voice and stance giving nothing away to his feelings.

Norrington looked down at Bryant, a muscle worked in the side of his jaw, but he said nothing.

Bryant shrugged and lifted one hand to scratch his head slowly, the formal demeanour gone from his stance. “I’m of the opinion that you’ll do what you want regardless of what I do or say, Sparrow,” he snorted softly. “But nothing will come from me should I see or hear about any visits as long as there is no trouble.”

Jack slapped his hands together in a pleased manner and beamed round at them all. “Then we are agreed on ten percent gentlemen.”

Nell bit her lip and looked back at the chests. “Our accord still stands,” Jack looked at Nell and smiled craftily. “Despite the number of times you broke your side of the agreement.”

“I…” Nell whipped her head around to glare at him. “I never… I…” she deflated when she saw the wicked gleam in his eyes.

“You will settle in Port Royal?” Bryant asked and only Nell missed the edge to his voice.

“I don’t know to be honest. I’m a little unsure what’ll I do. If De Mornay is related to Beaumont and I’m related to De Mornay then…” she stopped frowning wondering if she had that right.

“What makes you think Beaumont is related to De Mornay?” asked Jack, puzzled.

“You,” she said frowning back at him. “I heard you say they were more than friends.”

“Ahhh!” Jack nodded his head and then shook it straight away before scratching at his chin and darting a black eyed gaze at Norrington who was looking a little uncomfortable.

“Surely it stands to reason that I would also be related to Beaumont? Unless it’s by marriage they are related but then I don’t really think that would make me any relation at all.” Nell frowned deeper as her mind struggled to cope with the implications. “I don’t think I could bear it if he was related to me…” her eyes slid sideways to where the two men were crouched together, heads bent close, eyes closed in sheer exhaustion accompanied by pain.

A hand rested on her shoulder and she looked back directly in liquid black eyes. “Nell, darlin’, believe me; you’re not related to Beaumont. Beaumont is not related to De Mornay.”

“But…” she frowned unaware of Norrington and Bryant beating a hasty retreat across to the chests, faces flushed.

Jack took a deep breath and slung his arm around her shoulders bending his head so his mouth was by her ear. “You’re innocent and far be it for me to relieve you of that innocence,” he chuckled and Nell shivered as his hot breath tickled her ear. “Well, I do intend of relieving you of your innocence…” His fingers trailed across her throat playing with the pearls lying against her skin. Nell’s breathing hitched and her heart hammered in her chest at the feeling his fingertips on her skin was creating in her. “See - without going into too many details which I really don’t think you need to be knowing, ever; they are close in the way a lad and a lass are close.”

“Huh?” Nell knew she sounded anything but intelligent but it was all she could manage with his fingers caressing back and forth over the pearls.

“In a….” For once Jack found himself at a loss for words and it wasn’t entirely because the feel of her hot skin beneath his fingers was muddling his thoughts. “Well…. some men don’t visit women whores, because they prefer a man.” It was the bluntest he could put it without getting explicit. He waited, almost hearing the penny drop in her mind. Nell stiffened beneath his hold, his fingers stopped at her collarbone as he waited for her reaction.

“But…” she blinked. “But I thought…” she frowned and turned under his arm till she was facing him, all but in his arms. Jack brought his hand down to rest on her waist, his other hand still resting on her collarbone. He regarded her silently, his eyes liquid black and watchful. “I thought that was a form of torture. Why would they do it willing?” Nell spoke quietly and it was a million miles away from how he thought she’d respond.

Jack stared at her in open mouthed surprise. “You know about…?” he stopped looking around him helplessly before piercing her with a dark look. “What did they tell you?” he demanded slowly, wondering how on earth she retained her air of innocence when they had sought to destroy it.

“Just…” Nell blushed as she remembered the discussion they’d had with her. It was one of the darkest in her memory and one that she’d buried far in the recesses of her mind. “They told me what pirates do to prisoners. That was one of the things they told me about… after they told me how pirates rape women, they told me how they rape men.” She shuddered under his arms and pulled away from him completely “Thank you for telling me I’m not related to him.” Nell walked away from him, her cheeks fire red, and crossed to crouch blindly beside where Hock was sorting through the chest of fabrics. He looked sideways at her made some comment Jack couldn’t hear and looked back at the fabrics in his hands.

Jack could feel something building in his gut and it didn’t take him long to realise it was fury, blinding white hot fury. He turned on his heel swaying slightly as he glared at where Beaumont and De Mornay were sitting slumped together. De Mornay’s eyes were closed in fatigue and sweat coated his skin from the pain on his back and shoulder. Both wounds were infected and Jack knew that it would kill him eventually. Jack wasn’t normally one to tolerate ill treatment or torture, but he knew that sometimes evil times called for evil measures, and this had been one time when torture had been the only way he could gain information that would keep them all alive. He knew they’d told Nell some pretty horrible things but he had no idea their education of her had been so complete. A truly horrible thought entered his head making him whip around to stare at Nell. How complete had their education been? He took a step closer to Nell, wanting to demand she tell him what had happened, had they merely spoken to her or had they taken it further than that? He stopped, one hand automatically going to the pistol in his sash, if he demanded she tell him, what kind of damage would he cause her, especially if she’d buried the memory deep and he made her relive it? Turning back again to Beaumont, he strode across, taking the pistol from his sash. He’d find out what he needed to know.

“Capt’n?” Dwent looked at him as he strode over, his face dark and unreadable.

Jack ignored Dwent and went straight to Beaumont. He gripped a handful of black hair jerking Beaumont’s head backwards sharply as he pressed the cocked pistol into his temple.

Beaumont registered surprise and then fear when he saw the look in Jack’s eyes.

“Did you touch her? Did either of you touch her?” Jack hissed through clenched teeth.

Dwent watched in surprise, never having seen Jack quite as furious as he so obviously was now. He watched as Beaumont licked dry lips, fear radiating from every pore.

“I asked you a question. When you took her from Port Royal as a child, did you touch her at all?” He twisted the hand in Beaumont’s hair, making him cry out in pain. Blood trickled down his forehead but Jack narrowed his eyes and twisted harder, pressing the pistol deeper into his temple.

“Not that way,” De Mornay said anxiously, the infection in his wounds making his eyes burn brightly with fever. “We never touched her - gods she was a child. We wouldn’t hurt a child like that.”

Jack lifted the pistol and cracked De Mornay across the head sharply, sending him backwards into the dust. He cried out as his abused back hit the ground and the pain was enough to knock him out.

“You hurt her enough when you cut into her back though, didn’t you?” he hissed at Beaumont. “Did you touch her?”

“Jack?” Jack registered Nell’s voice behind him and he took several deep breaths trying to control the anger in his voice. “Go away Nell,” he growled, not turning from Beaumont.

“Jack. They only told me things - they didn’t touch me. Not in the way you mean anyway. Please don’t do this.” Nell’s voice was low and scared and it touched Jack deeper than any begging the two men might have done.

He thrust Beaumont’s head backwards, slightly surprised to see the handful of hair still clutched in his fingers. He let it drop to the floor, his eyes on Beaumont’s anxious face. He didn’t say anything but Beaumont could read quite clearly in Jack’s eyes that his days were numbered and it sent a shaft of desperation into his soul.

Jack stuffed the pistol into his sash and turning, went past Nell without even looking at her, to cross to where the crew were crouched over the chests. Hock and Norrington were stood side by side watching the whole scene. Jack sent them a dark glare and swayed towards the chests.

“What happened there?” Hock asked, almost to himself.

“I don’t think you want to know,” Norrington replied looking at where Nell was chewing on her thumbnail, her face anxious and scared. He took a step towards her and then stopped, thinking better of it. He had an idea what prompted Jack’s reaction to Beaumont and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know any more. Not that he didn’t want to help Nell, but in things like that he had no idea were to start. He had heard her words to Jack that they hadn’t touched her and he assumed that she’d said something to Jack that had made him believe otherwise. It struck him then that Jack was deeper in with Nell than he had first realised. He had noticed Jack’s flirtatious action, he have to be blind not to, but he hadn’t realised that it went deeper than just flirtation. Jack genuinely cared for Nell. He looked across at where Jack was standing beside his crew watching them pack everything back into the chests. Here came another problem and one he needed to address now. Hands going behind his back he crossed to Jack.

“How do you intend on getting these chests back to the Pearl? I realise there must be another entrance larger than the one we came through.”

Jack looked up at him, his face a blank mask once more. He indicated the chests with a wave of his hand. “We carry them. Beaumont indicated the passageways through here are extensive. He said they marked the way from last time, but he’ll be leading just in case.”

“And is there anything else we should be aware of?” Norrington looked back over his shoulder at the dark passageway they had come through, his mind on whatever had held Nell’s hand.

“We didn’t get that far. De Mornay ranted on about something hot but…” Jack shrugged his shoulders. His eyes went across to Nell who had crossed to the chests. She tapped Hock on the shoulder and held out the necklace of pearls to him. Hock took them from her and slung them back around her neck, laughing as he did so. She touched them and grinned up at him, but the dark shadows in her eyes remained.

“We keep Nell between us,” Jack said quickly, none of the slur in his tone now as he looked back up at the Commodore. “She stays in front of you and behind me at all times. Do not let her out of your sight.”

“Agreed,” Norrington nodded; Bryant came up beside them and also nodded, indicating he had heard what Jack had said.

Jack made short work of organising the carrying of the chests; they were heavy despite Hock rearranging the contents to spread the weight out evenly between the three chests. It took three men to carry each chest, which only left Dwent to watch De Mornay and Beaumont; and Hock, Norrington, Jack and Nell to carry the torches.

The only other way out of the tunnels was a dark round hole that seemed to climb upwards. The going was slow and steady, the light from the torches lighting the passageways, sending flickering shadows over the walls.

Nell walked behind Jack and in front of Norrington and she was glad they kept close to her. Her palm tingled from where she had felt her hand being held, and she wiped it down her britches and concentrated on studying the back of Jack’s head. His hair was still slightly damp from the number of times he’d got wet, and the braids were tangled together. His hat was titled forwards and the red bandana that he had round his head was tied just under the hat, the dirty red cloth hanging down the back of his hair and over his jacket. He was slimly built and very agile. His shirt was an off white but probably at its cleanest given the number of times he’d been in the water since being on the island. She looked down at where she was still wore his waistcoat. It smelt of him, not a bad smell giving he was mostly unclean. It was a distinctly male smell that made her feel safe.

They rounded a bend in the passageway and Nell saw De Mornay and Beaumont up ahead, trudging along wearily. She could see where fresh blood was seeping through the material of De Mornay’s back. He was her uncle. It was a revelation she could have well done without, but had insisted on knowing. She could barely remember her mother, but what she did remember bore no resemblance to the hard dark man ahead of her. Nell remembered soft, gentle hands and a pleasant smell of roses. But he had said she was his sister. Which meant that the blood than ran through his veins also ran through hers. But she held nothing for him but contempt and hatred. She despised him and would feel no regret when he hung for his crimes.
Nell saw the chests being carried in front of them and she suddenly realised with a lifting of her spirits that they had accomplished something. They had found the treasure, now at least the only thing left for them was to get of the island. The fingers of her free hand went to the beads in her pocket. She touched them carefully, running her fingers over them, feeling the etched engravings of the markings on them. A sudden thought came to her that made her stop suddenly. Norrington wasn’t expecting it and walked straight into her. His weight caught her and she pitched forwards onto her knees, Norrington collapsing on top of her. She gave an oomph as his weight sent the breath from her lungs.

Jack rounded quickly, sword ready. He blinked as he saw Norrington flat out on Nell.

“What happened?” he demanded catching Norrington by the arm and helping to hoist him off Nell.

“Nell?” Norrington helped haul Nell to her feet. “Did you trip? Are you well?”

“I’m fine. Sorry!” Nell shook her head unwilling to say anything while they were in the passageway. “I’m sorry…”

“No harm done,” Jack said, watching her carefully before he turned and headed onwards with Nell and the others behind him.

They all came to another halt when they were suddenly faced with three tunnel entrances.

“Bloody hell!” Hock cursed from where he was helping to carry one of the chests with Bryant and Knowles. They set the chest down and Hock sat on the lid. “Which way now?” he asked, rubbing the sweat from his face.

“Markings…” Jack mumbled and with Norrington and Decker, they advanced slowly towards the entrances, examining the walls for the markings they knew were there.

“What sort of markings?” asked Nell as she watched a few of the other crew begin searching the walls.

“Arrows,” Beaumont relied quietly. “Just arrows.”

Nell crossed to the tunnel that Knowles and Bryant were standing in and moved to the wall. She began to search holding the flaming torch above her head. She frowned as she studied the rock walls carefully looking for some sort of scratched mark. Nell could hear Bryant and Knowles behind her on the other side. She moved sideways intent on finding the arrows that would lead them out of the caves.

She stopped, suddenly aware she couldn’t hear any voices. Nell turned sharply and realised she had left the entranceway and gone further down. She felt fear edge into her mind but she made herself remain calm. She turned to face the wall and retraced her steps sideways in the opposite direction, moving the way she had walked in, knowing she hadn’t gone far. She walked for a while, a sinking feeling in her stomach when she realised she was getting nowhere.

“Jack?” she called his name, looking around her frantically now. Darkness stretched out either way of the small area of light that the torch gave off. The fear blossomed in her chest, but Nell realised that if she gave way to blinding panic she would end up worse off. Swallowing heavily and clutching her beads tightly in her hands, she forced herself to walk forwards. Rationally she knew this had to lead to the entrance where they were. But were they still there? Maybe they had found the right tunnel and none of them realised she wasn’t with them. Maybe they were miles away; maybe they were already out of the tunnels. Would they miss her? Would they come back for her? She began to shake with fear as doubts crawled around her mind spinning her thoughts this way and that, until blind panic won over and she stood stock-still and screamed.

Her screams echoed through the tunnel, reverberating back to her until it sounded as if there were a hundred screams echoing in the tunnels and not just one.

Nell took a deep breath, waiting as the last echo died out and only silence remained. She drew herself up, the scream had released her fear - she knew they would come back for her, she knew it. She just had to keep believing it. She would walk in the direction she knew she’d come from and soon enough she’d be back at the junction point. She’d search for the arrow and follow them; knowing they were already missing her and working their way back to her. She wouldn’t think about what else lay in these tunnels. To do that would surely result in her losing her mind; she would concentrate on thinking about what lay ahead of her once Jack gave her some of the treasure. She would think only on that. Nell wound the beads around her fingers and clutched the dagger that Hock had given back to her. She held the torch aloft and walked on, forcing herself to think of anything but the darkness pressing on her back.


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Jack looked around him in consternation. “Nell?” he looked at where Norrington was tracing his finger over the arrow they had found in the middle tunnel; he looked around him again but there was no sign of Nell. “NELL?” he turned around shouting her name as panic edged into his mind. Jack ruthlessly pushed it down; he couldn’t afford to feel anything now.

Norrington looked up in horror as he realised she was not with them. He turned to look for Bryant and realised with added horror that he wasn’t there, and neither was Knowles.

“Bryant?” he called out crossing quickly to the tunnel he knew they had been searching; Jack already there peering into the darkness.

“They were here; Bryant, Knowles and Nell.” Norrington’s voice held a touch of disbelief.

“Decker and Brown too,” Hock added, looking around at the crew making a head count.

”Well where are they now?” demanded Jack to no one in particular. He shouted out Nell’s name loudly into the darkness of the tunnel. He heard it echo around but there was no reply. “Bloody hell!” Jack turned to Beaumont and De Mornay who were sitting quietly in the middle of the cave. “What now?”

“I don’t know,” Beaumont replied quietly. “We are going in the opposite direction. We entered these tunnels and went out via the waterfall. I only know how extensive they are…”

“How did you find the way if they were that extensive?” Norrington demanded sharply, his eyes still searching the darkness of the tunnel entrance.

Beaumont laughed which quickly turned into a moan of agony as Dwent kicked him in the ribs sharply.

“Answer ‘im,” he growled.

“We had…” Beaumont hesitated slightly. “We were lucky, I reckon. A few disappeared down these tunnels, going the wrong way, but we were just lucky.”

“I don’t believe in luck,” Norrington replied, and turned his head to pin Beaumont with a steely gaze. “And I don’t believe a word you’re saying.”

Beaumont shrugged and moaned again when Dwent’s boot connected with his ribs again. He began coughing violently, bringing up mouthful of sick with the effort of coughing.

“We’re wasting time.” Jack said firmly his sword drawn. “Brown, Dwent, Coales, Tobias, you stay here and watch that little lot and them two! Hock, Commodore, you’re with me.” Jack turned sharply on his heel and headed up the tunnel, the torch aloft, and his sword drawn. He walked forward quickly, still with a gait to his stride, his sword swaying slightly as he moved as fast as he could.

“You trust them to be there when you return?” asked Norrington as he kept pace with the other two men.

“They’d bloody well better be,” Hock hissed. “Else I’ll hunt them down and use their inners to hang me washing on.”

Jack made a grunting noise that Norrington took to be agreement with Hock. He stared straight ahead of him, anxious and not a little fearful for the outcome of Nell, Bryant and the crew members. He wasn’t ready to give up on them yet. He would do all that was required to see them safely back with them.

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Nell wasn’t one for whistling bravely. In fact she couldn’t whistle at all and she was under the impression that the least noise she made the better. If she could creep along as quiet as a mouse maybe whatever lurched in these tunnels would assume she was just a mouse and leave her alone. A shudder racked her body as she almost felt something brush against her. “Imagination, just my imagination,” she whispered to herself over and over; long since given up on praying as it hadn’t helped.

“Miss Nell?” she heard her name whispered quietly from the left and her heart leapt into her mouth before plummeting to meet her boots.

“Who’s there?” she called, her voice barely more than a squeak.

A shuffling noise had her backing towards the tunnel wall quickly, her hands shaking so much the flame on the torch wavered dangerously.

“It’s just me Miss; Decker.” The shuffling stopped and Decker came into the torchlight, his face, although half cast in shadow was instantly recognisable, and Nell felt relief make her light headed for a few seconds; then she remembered Jones.

“You’re not dead are you?” she squeaked, realising it was a stupid question even as she said it.

“I don’t think so. Are you?” came the slightly dry reply and Nell almost laughed in hysteria.

“No,” she shook her head. “Where did they all go?” she looked around her.

“I don’t know,” Decker shook his head, scratching at the thatch of dirty blonde hair on his chin. “I was lookin’ at the wall and then… it were strange, like.” He shook his head; the flames glinted off the gold hoop earrings in his ears. “I turned to talk to the red-coat and ‘e were gone. You’d all gone.”

“I thought I’d wandered too far into the tunnel, but I’ve been walking this way for ages, I’d have thought we’d have come back to the others by now. I can’t have walked that far,” Nell said quietly, doubt reflected in her voice.

“Ye be goin’ in the wrong direction, lass. The tunnel entrance be this way!” he pointed back the way she’d come.

“No.” She shook her head. “That can’t be right… I was looking at the right hand side… that would mean this wall.” She patted the wall behind her and drew her hand away quickly when she felt the damp rock beneath her palm.

“Beggin’ yer pardon, Missy, but I was working the left hand side and that were definitely this side.” He pointed to the wall behind her. “I may be a pirate but I do knows me left from right.” His voice was slightly affronted.

“Of course you do, Mister Decker, of course you do,” Nell agreed, unwilling to insult the man. “But so do I and I was definitely on this side too.”

“Which leads us to two conclusions,” he muttered. “Either we both be stupid or this place be cursed.”

“I think we can safely say this place is cursed and neither of us are stupid,” Nell replied.

“Aye.”

“So which way then, Mister Decker?” Nell asked, now it seemed as if neither way would do them any good. She was completely at a loss as to what to do for the best. The sudden fear that they could be lost in these tunnels for good pressed down on her making her breathing hard.

“I say toss a coin,” he shrugged and took a coin from his pocket. “Heads left, tails right.” He indicated his head behind him for left; he flipped the coin high in the air and caught it smacking it down on the back of his hand with his other hand. Nell leaned forwards as he unveiled the coin to show the head.

“Heads it is, missy,” Decker said, and indicated the way Nell had just come. A wave of unease filled her as she was still certain that they would be going the wrong way if they were to turn and go back the way she had come.

“Heads it is,” she echoed quietly and followed him as he began striding up the tunnel. She watched his back as he walked, only reliant on the light from the torch in her hand but he made no indication he was in the least bit unsure of himself. Her initial relief at being with another person began to fade as she watched him.

“Have you seen any of the others at all?” she asked him quietly, watching as he shrugged in reply.

“No, miss, else I’d be with ‘em, wouldn’t I?” he laughed and it was dry and mocking.

The unease in Nell’s mind blossomed at his apparent lack of care that they were separated from the crew and in a very dangerous place. She knew that he was a pirate and therefore a lot harder and meaner than her, but even so, he was showing no signs of fear or unease at all. But then was he just hiding it to stop her from worrying even more? Maybe he thought he had to put up a front with her to keep her spirits up?

“Mister Decker?” Nell stayed a little bit behind him. “What do you think will become of us?” she asked carefully.

“Hopefully bloody rich if we get ourselves back to the Capt’n and those lovely chests,” he cackled happily, not in the least bit perturbed by the fear in her voice.

“No. I meant here, without the others.”

He stopped then and looked back at her, the dancing flames sending most of his face into shadow. “I fink panicking won’t ‘elp none,” he shrugged. “If yer times up, it’s up. Not a lot we can do until we be faced with somefing we can fight against.” He turned and carried on walking whistling a sea shanty. Nell blinked, his reasoning might be sound, but it didn’t ease the growing fear that threatened to send her into a blind panic. She hurried after him, holding the light high anxious not to loose him as well.


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Jack rounded the corner of the tunnel and almost tripped over something. He stumbled forwards keeping his feet as he turned to see what he’d fallen over.

“Bryant! Joshua!” Norrington was on his knees beside the crumpled form of his Second in Command. “He’s alive,” he said, as he pressed his fingers to the pulse point on Bryant’s neck. Norrington checked him over thoroughly, making sure there were no wounds anywhere and then he shook him gently calling his name.

Bryant began to mutter before he opened his eyes, the horror clearly marked in them. It took a few seconds for his eyes to loose the glaze as he recognised Norrington above him.

“Gods.” He wiped his hand over his face. “I saw them, Sir. I saw them.”

“Who? Nell? Knowles?” Norrington kept his hands on Bryant’s shoulders holding him steady as the other man fought to get his breathing under control again.

“Nell?” Bryant looked around him anxiously. “Where is she?”

”That’s what we were hoping you’d tell us,” Jack said, quietly.

“She was behind me,” Bryant insisted. “They all were.”

“What did you see?” Norrington caught his shoulders, stopping him from jumping to his feet.

“Monks, hooded monks! Chanting again, that bloody chanting!” Bryant shuddered and shook his head as if to shake away the images of the monks. “I turned to Nell but before I could turn…” He frowned as the memories came sliding back slowly. “Something hit me… on the back of the head; I remember the chanting and the pain in my head and then nothing till you found me.”

“What were they chanting? Could you understand any of it?” Norrington asked him.

Bryant rubbed his temples with his fingers, the pain in his ache a dull ache now. “It was in Latin… I only heard some of it; chanting about what they’d do…” he shuddered. “It’s in the soul… the windows…” he looked up at Norrington quickly. “It’s their eyes. We mustn’t look in their eyes…”

Norrington nodded and stood up pulling Bryant up with him.

“How do you work that out?” demanded Jack watching as Norrington pulled Bryant to his feet. He wavered slightly clutching at the Commodore’s arm for support.

“They go on about the windows of the soul…” Bryant spoke quietly as he let go of Norrington’s arm to check his pistol and sword. “The window of the soul is the eyes.”

Jack nodded, he’d heard that before and it made sense, when they stopped looking at the lady in the cave she had lost her hold over them. “So if we don’t look at them, they can’t take our souls, yes?” he demanded

Bryant shrugged looking at Norrington before looking at Jack. “I think so. I think if we die here anyway… like Spade or Jones, then they’ll have our souls, but if they come for us… I think they gain access to our souls through our eyes… I don’t know, ” he shrugged again. “It all sounds so far fetched. Souls, eyes...”

“Aye, that it does,” Jack slurred. “But then we’ve seen for ourselves how far fetched things can really get and still be real. Flesh eating insects and chanting monks wanting souls isn’t such a far flung leap of faith from skeletal pirates now is it?” Bryant sighed nodding his head as he looked over Jack’s shoulder at the darkness behind.

They began to move forward through the tunnel; none of them willing to vocalise the possibility that they may not make it to Nell in time; or indeed what they would do if they were too late. Jack lead the way with Hock close behind him, swords drawn ready, eyes alert to anything they may find.

Jack wasn’t willing to even think about what he would do should they stumble upon Nell too late. He wasn’t ready to think over the possibility that he might have to leave her behind on this island. And he certainly wasn’t ready to deal with the sudden onslaught of guilt that swamped him. He had dragged her along, albeit not completely unwilling, but he’d brought her, despite the warnings from Norrington that she should be left behind. He was responsible for her and he wasn’t sure he could deal with the thought he had effectively killed her. He swore long and fluently, she wasn’t dead yet, and here he was burying her already. He wouldn’t believe she was dead, he wouldn’t accept that not until he saw it with his own eyes and he’d make damn sure it didn’t come to that.

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A/N: Well…. I hope you enjoyed that. Thank you so much for all your reviews. It means a lot that you like my story.

I hope that everyone has a lovely summer holiday whether with children or off school / work / Uni. Let’s pray for sun, sun all the way!

Take care of yourselves.