A/N I do not own the characters in this story…
Wow, so many reviews (NOT!!! I haven't gotten any reviews yet! Come on, people! I thought it was GOOD!)
It was not hard to find the cove that Anne mentioned… what was hard was getting the crew out of bed. They were all lazy and sluggish in the morning, and the only person who seemed even somewhat cheerful was Anamaria, who had gotten over herself and was happy to have a new sword. The new lass, Daniel, which Jack suspected was actually Danielle, was not cheerful either, because of the splitting hang over which she seemed to have. She had no clue how to help the crew cast off, and would probably have gotten in their way in their hurry, so she just stood around and watched.
Jack pulled deeper and deeper into the little cove, farther and farther until he was about to give up, and turn back around, because obviously they did not have the right cove, when they could see just a little bit ahead was a tiny little beam of light, cascading down into the water on the floor of the cove. Only then could they see how deep the water was, even though it was murky and you couldn't see any deeper than two feet under. Jack did as instructed and pulled the Pearl into the shadows, when he realized that the cove was not as narrow as it seemed… there was lots of space in the shadows.
As told in Anne's letter, very shortly after the Pearl was hidden, a ship called the Heron pulled cautiously into the cove and stopped just before the beam. Jack peered into the boat, barely making out figures on the ship. Just then he saw someone stand on the railing of the ship and star directly at the Pearl.
It was someone with fiery red hair, their hands bound. A woman. Anne. Jack almost choked.
He hoped she wouldn't give away their whereabouts. That might be bad, unless it was part of the plan. He listened closely and shushed his crew, trying to hear the conversation on the ship as it pulled closer to them, the rowers coming to a halt.
"What are ye staring at, Miss Bonny? Ain't nobody here to save yer skin."
Anne was dragged off the railing. "I believe you're wrong." She said calmly.
There was laughter to be heard. "I believe you're crazy. There isn't anything here but you, and us, and that treasure, sitting in heaps down there, just waiting to be claimed."
"Yes, you would think that." Jack watched closely for some sign, ripples, a splash, anything, wondering what was going on and what he was supposed to do. He was quite in the dark. Literally.
"Give me your permission to go!" A man shouted at her.
"No." She said calmly. Jack heard a slight gasp and almost started shooting when he heard her voice.
"I'm fine! Not yet." There was more men's laughter.
"Well, then, darlin, you're going to have to go yourself and get the treasure. Go, now! And if you even think about escaping, you'd best be careful… ain't nobody on this side of the island, and I have good aim with this pistol."
"Finally." Anne said, and Jack heard a splash. He dove into the water as quietly as he could and opened his eyes, barely able to see his own hands in the darkness, but thankfully he could still make out the beam of light. He swam toward it as fast as he could, hoping that Anne would be there, like she said.
He swam toward it, only to find that, once he got in, he wasn't swimming any more. He was… floating. It was the strangest sensation, and he couldn't explain it any more than he knew what was going on. He was about to panic because all he could see was the bright white light, and he thought he had died, when he heard Anne's voice.
"Finally. I never thought you'd get here." Jack turned his head and saw her there, floating, right next to him, the white light making her red hair dazzle and stand out.
"You can stop holding your breath, Jack. There's air in here." Jack let go of his breath and felt himself gasping… he hadn't realized it, but he was probably turning blue. He could not understand any of this. But he didn't have to ask.
"I don't get it either." She confessed. Jack then realized how cold it was here. "I swear, Lizzie was some kind of a witch…" Anne was still talking, as if to make up for the fact that Jack had nothing to say.
Anne sighed. "I suppose I have some explaining to do." Jack just nodded. "Well, too bad, because I can't explain, at least not now. Understand this… no matter what I say, I don't mean anything. And if they hurt you… I'm sorry." Jack was about to ask who, and what she was talking about, but he didn't get a chance, because she was dragging him upward. Toward the surface.
When they broke the surface of the water, Jack was surprised to find that it was water that they were in… it still looked just like a beam of light, shining down on water. A rope was tossed down from the Heron, and Anne grabbed it and Jack and they both were hauled aboard.
The man who Jack thought was the captain seemed red with fury.
"Where is the treasure?" The man shouted, grabbing Anne by the hair and pulling her face up close to his. She spat in his face, and Jack stifled a laugh. Until he hit her and she fell on her hands and knees onto the deck, and spat blood onto the wood.
"And who is this?" The captain asked, ordering some men to hang on to Jack. Anne stood up and looked at Jack as if to say 'don't say anything.'
"That is Captain Jack Sparrow. I told you we were not alone." Anne started to say. "I found him down there by the door. He tried to steal the key. Not that he could do anything with it." Anne spat at Jack too, and Jack was surprised at how realistic it sounded.
"Is he alone?" The captain asked suspiciously. Anne nodded to Jack.
"No." Jack said, ignoring her. Anne took a deep breath through her teeth. The captain smiled and Jack could see a few blacked out teeth and a few gold ones.
"And do you have the key, Anne?" The captain asked turning back to her. She hesitated, and then glared at Jack. "Yes."
"Well, then, I have made a decision. What say you, Captain Sparrow, that we make an accord… you order your crew not to attack, and get twenty percent of the plunder, as soon as this bitch gets it for us."
Anne shook her head slightly at Jack, and he got the message. "I don't agree. There are too many holes in that accord… what if you attack us? And twenty percent? Too little… and what of the girl? If she doesn't cooperate? And what happens after?"
Anne looked satisfied… but at the same time slightly distressed. The captain of the Heron looked confused.
Anne suddenly gasped very loudly and clapped her hand over her mouth, narrowing her eyes at Jack. And then he understood why. The captain didn't, of course, but Jack did. He understood very well. Anne had provided him with everything needed. The location of the treasure… check. Permission to enter… check. But Anne had the key… if he killed her to get the key, she would die, but he would get the treasure.
But if he killed Anne… he would be the guardian, and that means he wouldn't be able to enter the trove. So it wouldn't work. But he didn't need to kill Anne, anyway. He just needed to get this stupid crew out of the way. But hadn't she set him up for that, as well? His crew on the Pearl was waiting in the shadows for him to give them commands. So why didn't he?
Because… well, it might put Anne in danger… if she was the guardian, and the captain knew it, then all he would have to do is put a gun to her head and the whole plan would be dead, because the captain could take back the key, and torture Jack into giving permission, and…
But was that the only reason he didn't want Anne to die? She enjoyed putting him through hell…
But was there something else? Something she had said came back to him…
There's more to life than treasure.
But not all treasure is silver and gold.
Jack didn't quite understand what he had to do… but what he did know was that they were all in an awkward situation… too many twists and turns, complicated issues.
The treasure was down there.
Anne had the key.
But she couldn't go.
Jack had the permission.
Why was this so hard? He simply could not think of a single way to solve this. Unless…
"Anne… you have the key…?" Jack said to her.
She glanced at the captain nervously, and then turned to Jack.
"Yes, I have the key." She said, but then pointed to the beam of light. "The treasure and the opening are over there."
Jack could tell instantly what she had done. HE dove into the water and swam toward the light beam, as fast as he could, ignoring the shouts behind him. Farther and farther, until he broke through, into the white again. But this time he did not wait… he swam farther, until he came to a door. And in the keyhole of the door was a tiny gold key. Jack reached out and turned the key, and the door swung open.