CHAPTER 4- The Curse

"My mother's been what?" Christa couldn't believe it. Her mother couldn't be, well, dead. Could she?

"I'm afraid Ana Maria Sparrow has been killed in the battle over the Pearl." The pirate said solemnly.

"No." she whispered. She fell to her knees trying to keep back the flood of tears that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Will's been kidnapped?" Elizabeth put her hands over her mouth. "What happened?" James went over to his mother and put his hand on her shoulder for some comfort.

"Both he and Captain Sparrow. They were cornered by the First Mate and Baldwin himself. The curse works efficiently."

Christa looked up, "Baldwin? Mad Henry Baldwin?"

"That'd be the man." the pirate answered him.

"How'd he get the curse?" she thought aloud. "He must be after Dad and Will to get back at them for killing Barbosa. They were good friends from what my father said."

Elizabeth looked down at the two teens. "Well, I think that you two should go to bed. James, you have to recover your strength. I have something important I need to discuss with Jack's crew mate." Nodding, the two of them went to do as asked.

When they were upstairs, James turned to Christa, "Baldwin. So he has my father. What do you think he'll plan on doing with them?"

Christa shook her head. "I'm not sure, but I can't wait around to find out." She began to pace the room.

"You're not planning on going to find them are you?" James asked incredulously. "After what happened with your last brilliant idea?"

"I didn't ask you to come with me you know. I can go alone." Christa shot back. "Besides, I wasn't one who just waited around. I'm going but you can come with if you want. After all, your dad's been kidnapped too."

James stared at her for a few moments, then, "Alright. Let's go."

*

After they had tried to free themselves but to no avail, Jack and Will just sat there, waiting for anyone to come and talk to them. Finally, Henry came to them with a smug look on his face. He started to laugh. "I've finally caught the ever elusive Captain Jack Sparrow and his old accomplice Will Turner, son of Boot Strap Bill. How nice to see you."

"Well, if it isn't Mad Henry Baldwin. I never thought I'd see you out of prison since your little incident in Spain." Jack spat.

"No thanks to you." Henry shot back.

"I hope you know that my wife knows very well who you are and will be after me in a hurry." Jack said.

"Well, then you're outta luck. We killed her during the attack on the Black Pearl." Henry laughed.

"You what?" Jack tried to jump up but was restrained by the ropes.

"You heard me."

"Then my daughter will find me. She too knows who you are. I never could keep a secret from her." Jack smiled though inwardly he was heartbroken. He really didn't want to know that Christa was all alone and that she would probably come after him before you could say yo ho.

"So what. A little girl won't be able to stop me. I'm a cursed man now, you know that." Henry laughed again. To Jack he sounded like a dead animal, and he smelt bad to boot. "Anyway, that's not what I came here to talk to you two about. In fact, I was planning on making you suffer the curse of the gold and see how you like it!"

*

It took two days to travel to the Isla de Muerta. When they arrived, Baldwin escorted the two captives into the gold chamber where the gold waited. Baldwin turned to his fellow crew mates. "Today, we will have our revenge for those who were cursed on the Pearl, Barbosa's men!" The cave rumbled with the pirate's agreement.

Jack and Will gulped. Will leant over to Jack, "I don't even wanna know what Elizabeth would think of this." Jack just shook his head.

"I have no idea of how to get out of this." Jack's eyes never once left the Aztec Gold. He wasn't looking forward to what was inevitably going to happen.

"Now, take the gold like good little boys." Henry urged.

"Are you crazy?" Will asked.

"Not at all, mate. Just take the gold and no one gets hurt."

"No way." Will refused.

"Then you won't like what I have to tell you. You see that man over there, my First Mate?" From Will's nod he continued, "Well, he seriously injured your son, if not killed him. If you want your dear old wife to stay safe then I suggest that you follow my orders."

Will glared at him, and reached out to take the gold. Since it was night and the moon was shining through the broken roof of the cave, he immediately transformed into a hideous skeleton. Jack followed his lead, he didn't want to put Elizabeth in danger either. The pirates all laughed and the two friends were dismayed.

*

James and Christa snuck out the same way they had before, out the window. They quickly made their way to the Pearl. When they arrived, it was just about to leave port. "Hey! Hey!" Christa yelled.

"It's 'lil Sparrow!" some of the crew cried. They threw a rope out to the two teens. "Grab hold, you can get aboard that way."

They did as they were told and the pirates pulled them aboard. "Do you have any idea as to where Baldwin and his men were headed?" Christa asked the nearest crew member.

"We have strong suspicions that Captain Sparrow and Mr. Turner were takin' to the dreaded Isla de Muerta."

A/N- That's all for now. Hope you liked it!