'There it is...the Gold'

'But...But...But...'

'Stop studdering'

Standing knee deep in cool blue water was a woman wearing a lose white shirt with a red sash tied around her waist. Her hair,wet and untied was plastered against her skin,glistening and revealing that she had been in deeper water moments earlier. She glared back at the lanky man still in the dingy and bit back what was truely on her mind,she could not blame him for fearing what they were doing,but the fact that he seemed to always be scared of whatever they did was what annoyed her.

'Isn't this treasure cursed?'

'Most of the treasure out there is cursed! What's your point?'

'Well...Then,why do you want it?'

'Because I'm a pirate...and so are you,the last time I checked...unless you lost your nerve'

'No..what I mean is...isn't what we normally blunder and pilfer good enough?'

'No'

The woman had almost become amused with the way the arguement had been going but her face fell serious once again,a dark look spread across her eyes and her mind became clouded with thoughts. The man just looked forelongly at his captain,she had turned her gaze away from him now,he wished there was a way he could convince her that this was a fool's errand. He would risk his life for her but this was just plain stupid,going after treasure,knowing that it was cursed...knowing what the curse was and still not caring...no,there had to be something deeper going on here then just going for cursed treasure...He had known this woman long before they became pirates,and understood that she generally had other motives for her actions that she never indulged...not even to him,which hurt a little...

'What's happened to you? Ever since...Ever since...Well,you've changed-the whole crew can see it.'

'What are you saying Daniels?'

'Just that...'

'Hmmm?'

'I don't want to see anything happen to you. I'm worried about you. You don't need to do this. You can stop...just...please stop'

The woman had been gazing at her ship but the words of her first mate and best friend caused her to close her eyes and sigh deeply,what he said had some truth to it though that only made her decision all that much harder...she hated it when he made her head listen to her heart,it hurt and that was a sign of weakness,she could not allow herself to be weak...never again...she growled inwardly at herself for letting her mind slip to the thought of what hurt her and caused her to change...but it was fate and that was just that. Slowly she reopened her eyes,her mind already made up and a strange determined yet almost sereen look crossed her face,she allowed her eyes to show the true feelings she had been keeping inside of her the whole time. When she spoke,her tone was not harsh nor dark like it had been moments before,but soft and comforting like one would when trying to calm a young child,her old self showed through despite her still commanding stance.

'When you joined my crew, you promised to do what I told you..correct'

'Aye'

'Then do me one thing'

'Go back to the ship an tell everyone that I'm dead'

'WHAT!?'

Daniels stood suddenly,causing the boat to shake and threatened to capsize-he was forced to sit back down or fall face first into the waters that the woman stood in so calmly.

'No! I can't do that..Why!?'

'Well, its become clear to me that I can only do this on my own'

'Wha...But...'

'DANIELS!'

The woman snapped,spinning back around to face him,a pistol in her hand and ready to shoot him if he continued to deny her orders. He could see just now how much pain she was in,and the fact that he had to do this,not because his captain had ordered him to...but because his friend had asked him,it pained him as well...He gave a nod,more to himself but an equally determined look appeared on his face with a lopsided smirk.

'So,This' it,captain? I never thought this' how it would end'

'I know but we have had our adventures,close calls and fun..its time for me to step aside and let someone else have the fun'

'Sappouse so'

'I'll never forget you Daniels'

'Aye,take care'

'We'll meet again one day...I promise'

Daniels knew the conversation was over with another nod he pushed the dingy away from the shore and began to row back to the ship near the horizon. The woman watched her old friend become a small speck on the ocean,with a sigh she shook her head and looked over her shoulder. There was her fate,within the walls of the deep cavern behind her,with a smirk she turned her back to the sea and walked into the dark unknown with a smile on her face and a soft tune on her lips.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is say good-bye to the one's you love.

Following the path of life,we make our choices-some are for the better and some are not...

When you end up messing with the powers of the unknown-your path changes drastically.

No matter how hard you try,even if you are all alone-what you do will affect everyone who knows and loves you.

Walking the path between light and darkness...expect the unexpected...and become just another shadow in a sea of shadows...