I have decided to put this story out there based on two reasons. The first being the regrettable lack of Salazar fics out there! The second being an observation I made during the movie. There had to have been ships other than Henry's that visited the Devil's Triangle during Salazar's time there. And Salazar stated that he always leaves one to tell the tale. But if he only leaves one, then how does that one person get out?! Surely Henry did not sail a ship by himself all the way back home! I am hoping to explore that situation and find an answer. I'm not sure where this story is heading, but I hope the journey will be interesting.
It was one thing to be on a ship that was being attacked. It was another to be locked in the kitchen while said ship was being attacked.
Nevertheless, that is exactly where Cornelia Abbott found herself. Seeking passage to the Americas Cornelia signed up to work for her fare as an assistant to the ship's cook. It was a job nothing short of grungy, but it was her ticket aboard the grand galleon called Providence Bound. Not that any sort of divine providence seems to be helping right now! The young woman couldn't help but think.
Above Cornelia could hear the roar of gunfire and men's voices screaming as if in terror. Their fear earlier had come from the onslaught of a hurricane. So in order to seek shelter and wait out the storm the captain had sailed the Providence into a nearby triangular cavern. Once inside, however, a sense of doom took over the crew and Cornelia was ordered by the head cook to retreat to the galley and lock the door. As soon as she had, the fire was swept from the furnace and all warmth quickly subsided. Then came the screams and gunfire. In that instant Cornelia dropped the key in the pitch black darkness of the kitchen. How can we be under attack? Was there already another ship in this cave? And where is that blasted key?! Cornelia's mind seemed to race with questions as she noisily felt around the galley for the missing key.
"Dear God help us…" the kitchen maid prayed, not for the first time. When the word "amen" left her lips, a deadly silence overtook the ship.
"Oh! They're done fighting!" she gasped, "Help! Please, someone!" but no answer came to her. Cornelia stopped to listen for any sound of life. As she waited, footsteps came from above her head. "HELP!" she cried once more.
"Where are you?" came a voice with a strange accent.
Cornelia's heart began to race. The crew of the Providence Bound had lost! There was no one left but the captors.
"Where are you?" came the voice again, sounder closer than before. Cornelia backed away from the door. In the darkness it was hard to see, but a small streak of light from under the door let her know where she needed to move away from. Very, very carefully Cornelia brushed her fingers around for a knife. Not that it would do her much good if they had swords…but still. And at least the door is still locked, she thought.
"Ah! There you are!"
"BLOODY HELL!" Cornelia grabbed a knife and spun around. "How did you get in here?!"
The figure who now occupied the kitchen with her was ill defined in the blackness, but spoke with a Spanish accent.
"Silly chica, I walked through the door. And now you must come with me." The figure reached out his hand suddenly. Cornelia shrieked and thrust her knife forward.
"That is not nice, and not necessary." Said the man, sounding completely unharmed and without pain.
"Look here, I still do not understand how you got in here! The door is still shut, and I locked it, and if it is still locked we aren't getting out until I find the key that I dropped, and even then I still do not understand how you think I will just go with you." Cornelia stated harshly.
"I already told you," said the young sailor, "I walked through the door."
"What do you mean you 'walked through the door'? I just told you, it's locked!"
With a sigh the sailor stated, "I will show you, since you are so unwilling to believe me." With a quick turn and a grunt, the sailor kicked the door down swiftly. Cornelia would have been impressed if she had not already been stricken with fear by what stood before her. The man she had been speaking to was a grey skinned young sailor, whose face was laced with black crevices. An oily substance dripped slowly from his mouth as his smirk turned into a grin, and his dark hair floated around his face. Perhaps most disturbing though, was the gaping hole in his midsection through which Cornelia could see the doorway. "What are you?" she muttered.
"I am a ghost, an officer of the Spanish Navy, and my name is Officer Santos." He held out his hand once more to Cornelia, "And you, mi señora, will come with me."
"To where?" Cornelia's voice was shaking now, but Santos' merely responded with a laugh.
"To meet the capitán, of course!"
Let me know what you think!
