A/N: We're getting down there, guys! Two more chapters after this. I'll do my best to have the rest up by the end of the weekend. As always, thanks to my fantastic reviewers. You've made this so much fun to write! I really hope you enjoy!

Chapter 10

"According to the lass, if we head due west for a few days' time, we will reach the west side of Isla de Muerta. Sparrow always anchors on the east side, so even if he does return, the ship should go unseen," Captain Nathaniel told his first mate, Daniel. For the past days, I had been undergoing the same situation as when I was captured by Captain Banks and his crew months ago. I was expected to clean and cook, and I received brutal beatings when something wasn't satisfactory, and sometimes when it was. I had lost all hope of ever seeing the man I loved again. Even if I did, he would never forgive me for betraying him. My left eye was swollen shut from a beating from the previous day, and I pressed a cloth soaked in cold water against it. I felt nothing anymore. With no hope of ever seeing Jack again, there was no point in living. I felt dead inside.

A few days passed before I heard Daniel call to Captain Nathaniel.

"'Ey, Captain! Isla de Muerta's on the 'orizon!" Captain Nathaniel scrambled over to take the wheel.

"There she is, mates! Pretty soon, we'll be the richest pirates in the Caribbean!" he cackled greedily. It made me sick. "Couldn't 'ave done it without ye, love," he ran his filthy fingers through my hair, and I tore his hand away from me. He then slammed me against the railing, dangling me off the edge of the ship over the shark-infested waters. "Now that I think about it, we really won't be 'aving any more use for you, love," he snarled in his cold, sinister voice.

"You don't know where the tunnel is, though…that leads to the treasure," I shouted desperately.

"Tunnel? I know nothin' of a tunnel. 'Ow do I know you're telling me the truth, poppet?"

"You don't…but can you risk taking the chance?" he paused, then pulled me back onto the deck, then the back of his hand impacted my face, causing me to fall to the deck.

"I suppose we can 'old onto you for a little while, then," he muttered, leaving me on the deck, terror-stricken. That was the first time in my life I wished to die.

~*~*~

"Captain! Isla de Muerta is on the horizon!" Gibbs called to Jack. He rushed to the wheel as quickly as his usual swagger would allow.

"Finally!" he shouted. "Please let 'er be alright," he beseeched almost inaudibly. Gibbs offered a comforting pat on the back. "If she's not there, I will spend the rest of my life searching for 'er," he promised to no one in particular.

"We should be there by nightfall tomorrow, Jack. You should get some rest, you'll be 'avin yourself a long night soon," Gibbs reminded Jack.

"Aye, suppose you're right. Thank you, Gibbs, you've never let me down," there was more meaning to what Jack said that was left unsaid, but they both understood.

"Aye, Captain."

The next day went by impossibly slowly, as Isla de Muerta loomed closer and closer. Just as the sun was setting, they finally hit land.

"LAND, HO!" cried Mr. Gibbs.

"Gibbs, I want you to come with me. The rest of you remain here with the ship. If we're not back in an hour's time, keep to the code," Jack told them. He had a strange feeling of foreboding in his stomach that he couldn't shake but worried him greatly.

~*~*~

"LAND, HO!" Daniel cried. "We've reached Isla de Muerta, Captain," Daniel told Captain Nathaniel as they docked at the opposite side of the island as The Black Pearl. The entire crew, including myself, filed off The Avenger.

"Now, show us where this tunnel is," Captain Nathaniel demanded. In about half and hour's time, we reached the tunnel. I could see the excitement in the crew's greedy eyes. Captain Nathaniel looked to two of his crew members. "Take the girl and lock her in my cabin. She shall not be trying any ill-planned escape attempts," he demanded. I tried to run as I heard this order, but it was too late. The two revolting pirates restrained me, and dragged me back to the ship. Once we returned, they threw me into the Captain's cabin, laughing the whole time, then locked the door behind them. I bolted for the door, banging and screaming, but they were gone. I was trapped for the night.

~*~*~

"No need to worry yet, Jack. She could be in the tunnel." Gibbs reassured his Captain, who was beginning to panic.

"Gibbs, you go into the tunnel and see if she's there. I'm going to search the rest of the island for 'er."

"Jack, do you really think it wise to split up?"

"Tha's an order, mate!" he shouted, and disappeared." Gibbs sighed, as he began to make his way down the dark tunnel.

Jack searched the island desperately.

"HALLIE! Are you 'ere, love?" he called over and over again. As he reached the east end of the island, he saw the silhouette of a ship. "What the--"

"Well, well. Who 'ave we 'ere?" Jack spun around to find himself face to face with Captain Nathaniel.

"What the 'ell are ye doing with my plunder?" Jack demanded. Captain Nathaniel's face dropped.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"Captain Jack Sparrow. Me friends call me Jack, though," Jack told them sarcastically. Captain Nathaniel laughed.

"Well, well, well, Jack…"

"Tha's Captain Jack Sparrow to you, Nathaniel," he spat.

"Ah, so you do remember me then? S'been a while since we sailed on the Pearl together, Captain," he added sarcastically.

"How could I forget? Unless Barbossa informed me incorrectly, the mutiny was all a brilliant idea from your deranged skull…escape from the Royal Navy, did we?" Jack snarled bitterly, as he spat at Nathaniel's feet. Nathaniel grimaced with fury.

"Throw him in the brig!" he demanded of his crew. Jack unsheathed his sword, as he killed three of the crew members almost immediately, slashing them through the hearts. He was far too outnumbered though, and was quickly restrained by two crew members. His effects were taken, as well.

Gibbs had made it through the tunnel, still empty-handed. He was a little more than shocked to see that a large majority of the plunder was missing. He had decided to keep going through the tunnel the rest of the way to the east side of the island to meet up with Jack. Going as quickly as his feet would allow, he reached the other end. When he was about to emerge from the tunnel, unfamiliar voices made him crouch back down. He could faintly see Jack in the moonlight…but he was being restrained by two pirates, and they were taking them to a ship docked on the east side of the island! Gibbs was about to make a hasty decision and start slashing throats when he realized how outnumbered he was. Sprinting the opposite direction through the tunnel, he made his way back to the Pearl.

Jack had been taken aboard The Avenger, and then below deck into a small prison cell.

"This isn't very nice, mates," One of the crew members threw him against the wall, slamming the barred door behind him. He sighed heavily, slumping down on a small cot. "This 'as become a bit of a nasty 'abit with me," he muttered. "I'm so sorry, Hallie." he whispered to himself, covering his eyes with his hat.

~*~*~

I sat on the Captain's cot, hearing footsteps and voices outside. Finally, I heard the lock click as Captain Nathaniel opened the door to his cabin.

"We set to sail, poppet. You're free to get out of me cabin…unless of course you wish to say," he smiled suggestively. He was obviously very drunk on rum, probably from celebrating his theft of Jack's plunder. I scowled at him, pushing past him onto the deck and into the brisk night air. "Oh, before you go love, we gots ourselves a prisoner. Ye be in charge of 'im," he slurred, passing out on his cot. I slammed the door behind me.

"Great, more pirates," I said to myself. Fetching a pitcher of water for this prisoner, I headed down the wooden steps.

A/N: Sorry, I know that's a terrible place to leave you hanging!! I promise I'll get the next chapter up tomorrow though. Feel free to review, always more than welcome! Bye for now.