Chapter 2

The cave looked like something that had leapt straight from someone's nightmares into the real world. Pillars and such composed of sharp rock jutted upwards from their barren source and the calm ocean, threatening to poke holes in the night sky. On top of its entrance was what appeared to be fangs carved out of stone and rock. To sailors who were just passing it by, the structure appeared to be a giant demon that was about to swallow them whole. But if anyone knew what the cave really housed, they wouldn't be concerned at all with the outside. It was what was on the inside that was the real important matter.

And the bounty hunter who was currently approaching the cave onboard his ship knew what lay ahead. The orders he had been given by his employer, he remembered, were strict and to the point. And they still echoed inside his head.

"Find the thief and bring him back to me, alive. If you're successful, I'll make sure that you and your crew are handsomely rewarded."

The bounty hunter and his crew had ultimately accomplished their goal. They had caught up with their target on an island just a few miles away from this very spot. The employer had said to meet him inside this very cave the moment the thief had been captured; the employer and his men would be waiting for them. Obviously, the bounty hunter had been curious as to what exactly he was getting himself into when his employer had come to him with the assignment. The employer said his name was simply McGivens, he hadn't given a first name. McGivens had apparently been the victim of a recent theft; the thief having snuck into his home and stolen some type of unfinished scrawling. McGivens hadn't said what the object was, just that its safe return was of the utmost importance. After three full days of searching, the bounty hunter had finally found his quarry.

As the ship came closer to the entrance, the bounty hunter suddenly remembered something. He turned his head to the nearest shipmate.

"Douse the lamps, except one."

The shipmate nodded and diligently went about his work and within seconds, only one lamp provided the light for the ominous vessel. Even in the absence of light, the bounty hunter's eyes were able to pierce the impenetrable curtain of darkness. He scanned the area in front of the cave's entrance. Within minutes, what he was anticipating showed itself.

A solitary light flashed into existence inside the cave's mouth; a signal. The bounty hunter smiled to himself as he once again turned to the shipmate.

"Let go of the anchor," he commanded.

Seconds later, the ship was weighed down to the ocean floor. The bounty hunter then went about checking his own personal artillery. He examined his sword closely, made sure that his pistol was properly loaded and in working order, and once he was finished, he turned to a crew member.

"Bring up the prisoner," he said.

As the crewmate carried out his order, the bounty hunter's first mate approached him.

"Should we be prepared for any trouble?"

"No, but just in case, you know what to do."

The first mate nodded. Just then, a completely hooded figure, flanked by two men who had a firm grip on both his arms, ascended the stairs that led to the brig. The prisoner was struggling against his captors, trying to wriggle himself free. His face was not visible, due to the fact that it was hanging. The two men reached their captain.

"He won't stop resisting," the brawnier of the men said.

The bounty hunter simply removed his pistol from his belt, placed it against the prisoner's head, and pulled back the hammer.

"You're no good to us dead," the bounty hunter told the prisoner, "so I would start to cooperate if I were you." His tone of voice was unwavering.

Realizing that resistance was futile, the prisoner relaxed himself. The bounty hunter smiled and replaced his weapon.

"Good. Now, we're to go ashore."

The men who held the prisoner nodded and indicated the swords strapped to their sides in different ways. The first mate also ran his hand over the hilt of his own.

"Now that I see that we're all properly prepared, let's get on with it."

The bounty hunter, his first mate, the two guards and the prisoner were soon inside the small rowboat as it was being lowered into the ocean.

In the course of about two or three minutes, the boat had crossed the threshold of the cave and they were suddenly overtaken by the darkness. Up ahead, the lantern from before still gleamed in the blackness. As the boat passed it, the crew members spied a lone man sitting beside it who seemed to have been waiting for them. When the man caught sight of them, he merely extended his forefinger and pointed straight ahead. In the distance, a small opening was visible from which a dim glow of light radiated.

Sailing on, the boat reached the circular opening, where the glow of light had become a tad bit brighter. As they sailed into the small space, the bounty hunter glanced around, taking in their new surroundings. Torches sat in brackets at different locations along the cave walls. In the center of the space was a spit of land big enough to hold a maximum of about seventy people. On the small island, though, stood a group of about ten or so people. Each man had a sword placed into hilts, pistols clutched preciously in their palms, and rifles strapped across their backs. They had the appearance of pirates, but they looked like more civilized men of action.

The boat docked with the rock, and each passenger stepped ashore. The man in the middle of the group eyed the new arrivals with pleasure.

"Ah," said McGivens, "I see the great white hunter managed to bag his prize."

"Yes," the bounty hunter replied, "and it took a good three days to do so.

"Oh well," McGivens sighed, "at least it didn't detract from the thrill of the hunt, eh?"

"Quite." The bounty hunter glanced at the prisoner and then at the armed men surrounding them. "I see you're not afraid to be a bit overcautious."

"Well, you never know when danger might show it's ugly head, do you?"

"No," the bounty hunter admitted, "you don't. Now if you don't mind, I believe it would be prudent to get straight to business, don't you?"

"Couldn't agree more," McGivens smiled. He nodded towards two of his own men, and they made their way towards the prisoner. The two men curtly dismissed the prisoner's previous guards and proceeded in dragging the captor up to McGivens. "Do you have what he stole from me?"

The bounty hunter nodded, pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket and he tossed it to McGivens, who caught it. McGivens then pocketed it for safe-keeping.

"Now, I believe we had a deal," prodded the bounty hunter. "You have what you want, now why don't you kindly hand over what we want."

McGivens smirked. "Sorry, I don't do business with pirates."

His men then aimed and cocked their pistols at the small group. But all of a sudden, another pistol was at McGivens' head. The weapon was in the hands of the prisoner, whose bonds that were holding his hands together now lay on the ground, cut in half.

"It's a habit I would pick up if I were you, mate."

The prisoner then lowered his hood, revealing his face. The grinning face of Captain Jack Sparrow suddenly filled McGivens' vision.

"Jack Sparrow!"

"Captain! Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please."

McGivens looked around cursed himself. "It was all a trap, a con."

"I could have told you that."

McGivens smirked. "I'm afraid I still have the upper hand here."

"All evidence to the contrary. Now, if you would kindly hand over that map of yours, me and my men will be on our way and we wouldn't be obligated to use force, savvy?"

"Too late to say that."

All of a sudden, McGivens' men engaged Jack's in battle. Picking up on it, both Jack and McGivens drew their swords at the same time. They wasted no time in clanging the metal furiously. They maneuvered all over the area. Each showed no mercy in the blows they landed ; attempting to take their opponent out of commission. The duelers wove in and out of everyone else, their gaze never breaking. Knowing that murder wouldn't be necessary, Jack tried to simply knock McGivens unconscious many times, but to no avail. Spinning in a full circle, Jack brought his blade down upon McGivens', the force of the blow knocking the weapon from his enemy's grasp. Beaten, McGivens then raised his hands in surrender. Smirking, Jack proceeded to punch McGivens' lights out. Job done, Jack started to frisk McGivens' body until he came across his incentive. A treasure map. Sliding his sword back into his hilt, Jack turned to the rest of his group. He was surprised to find McGivens' men all dead.

"I didn't mean for you to actually kill them."

"You just wanted us to render them unconscious," his father, a.k.a the bounty hunter, asked in mild surprise. "Oh well."

"But still," Joshame Gibbs commented, "not quite according to plan."

Jack smiled. "Well, as always, complications arose, ensued, were overcome."

"Anyway," said James Sparrow, "we got what we came for."

"I trust you know what that's a map for," Gibbs asked.

"Of course. It's a treasure map. Honestly, use common sense, mate."

"What treasure exactly?"

"That's why we have a need to stop by Tortuga. A friend of mine who's an expert on treasure legends resides there and he could be of some help. That's our new heading."

"Aye, Cap'n."

"Now, all hands to the ship."

Jack and his crew then proceeded to sail back to the Black Pearl.