A/N: Well, everyone recovered from picturing Jack with his shirt off? No fainting, I hope? Lol. Anyway, thanks as usual to all you who reviewed. Quick note to Cici7: I very much appreciate your honesty and constructive criticism. Yes, I am aware at this point the story is a bit generic, and there are several that go along similar lines. But I promise you, there will be some of my own, original ideas coming up soon, starting in this chapter, actually. I really hope you'll continue to read and offer me your advice. Thanks everyone, enjoy!

Chapter 7

The crew climbed into small row boats, as we rowed through a dark tunnel. I could feel Mr. Gibbs' eyes on me, as though he knew what had occurred only a few hours ago. I smiled at him secretively, and he smiled knowingly. He had become quite a friend to me in the past days. I suspected Jack had a talk with him. Eventually we reached an enormous room full of more treasure than I could have imagined.

"Alright everyone, when you finish unloading your boat, return to the ship. We know there's plenty more where that came from. Also fill up a sack with gold coins, you might be needing 'em for the trip" he grinned, the crew laughing. We all began unloading the boats.

Over the course of the day, I stole a few glances at Jack, who smiled irresistibly at me. He disappeared early evening. After many hours of unloading, it was dark, and most of the men had retired to the ship. Only a few crew member remained to finish, Ana Maria and I being among them. When we were finally finished, the few of us remaining crawled back into the boats. "Ride with me," Ana Maria said, a smile on her face. At first I was concerned. But I figured that Mr. Gibbs warming up to me had made her decide to make peace.

"Um…thank you,"

"Mr. Watkins?" Ana Maria called to the boat in front of us.

"Yes m'lady?"

"Where's the Captain?" she inquired.

"We sent 'im back to the ship 'bout an hour ago for some rest. Gots a long journey ahead of us," he called back to her, then rowed off. Ana Maria let them disappear before we began rowing unusually slowly out of the tunnel. I knew better than to criticize her, however, seeing as to how we were just starting to tolerate each other. When we finally emerged, we started toward the Pearl when Ana Maria stopped in her tracks.

"Damn!" she cursed. "I've forgotten my gold back in the cave," she grumbled. Since she had made an effort to make peace, I figured I might as well do my part.

"Go back to the Pearl, get some rest. I'll go get it for you," she turned toward me.

"Would you really do that? Thank you so much, Hallie," she grinned. I smiled, then headed back to the small boat.

The ride took longer with only one rower, and I was exhausted by the time I reached the large room. I then left the boat to find Ana Maria's sack of coins. After several minutes of searching, I was still empty-handed. Perhaps in her exhaustion she had forgotten to fill one. Grabbing an old sack, I proceeded to fill it with gold, heaving it into the boat. I then began to row back to the ship, very slowly, my arms aching. It seemed to take hours before I finally emerged from the tunnel and onto the beach where the Pearl was docked. Dragging the sack behind me miserably I stumbled out of the boat. Finally, looking up, I stopped dead in my tracks. It couldn't be. Panic-stricken, I ran to the water's edge, and fell into the sand. I couldn't breathe. I screamed as loud as I possibly could for a few minutes, but it was so. The Pearl was gone. It was a trick. Ana Maria had plotted to maroon me on Isla de Muerta, an island nobody can find unless they already know where it is. Our crew was the only crew who knew where it was, to my knowledge, and they weren't returning for a very long time. I fell to the ground, sobbing bitterly, when my hand came into contact with something metal. I looked down, and there was a pistol. I looked inside. It contained a single shot.

"DAMN YOU, ANA MARIA!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. I curled up in the sand, crying myself to sleep, thinking only of Jack.

A/N: Don't kill me, every story needs a twist, lol. I'll update soon so as not to keep you in suspense, if anyone is actually that wrapped-up in this story. Reviews welcome, comments and/or constructive criticism. Thanks!