DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl or any of the characters included in the package. I do like to play with them and often end up giving them back worse for the wear. (Especially Captain Jack Sparrow!) ;
CLAIMER: I do, however, own the plot of this story and all my OC therein. Some stay around, some don't. That's life, ne?
Part 13: Trapped
The group processed slowly through the dark passageways of the pyramid; their only light was that which came from the single lantern that Dozell held high as he led them towards the central chamber where the Treasure awaited. Chelsea walked close behind the young leader as if she was ready to latch onto his arm for safety at any moment. Kona and Hunter walked on either side of their owner, their heightened senses alert. Jack and Will walked side-by-side and the tension between the two was smothering. Ana brought up the rear, walking behind her captain should he need assistance.
Will stole several worried glances over at Jack only to look away quickly each time, unnerved by the way the pirate captain carried himself so tensely. There was something in Jack's eyes that was familiar—in a bad way. It was the same look the pirate had worn when he was conflicting with that possessive voice. Will slowed to fall into step with Ana, allowing Jack to continue on alone.
The pirate captain didn't seem to notice the blacksmith's absence; he was too caught up in the conversation in his own mind.
"Pharaoh,"
"Fer th' last time-"
"Very well Jack Sparrow,"
"Thank you, although it's still Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy? Now what d'you want?"
The woman stepped once more from the fog and smiled gently at Jack, the gesture never reaching her dark eyes. "I come to warn you."
"'bout what?"
"Even as we speak you are treading on dangerous ground."
"Really?" Jack's tone made it obvious that he was unconvinced.
The woman nodded. "Yes."
"Just who are you anyway t' be warnin' me, eh?"
"That you may not know. Not yet."
Jack's eyes narrowed in irritation. "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Why d'you refuse t' answer?"
The woman sighed lightly. "There we are. I see you are not all gone."
Jack's brow pinched in confusion, but before he could ask of her meaning, she was gone, leaving him to the peace of solitude in his own mind.
"Tha's interesting."
"Yer right Will,"
Jack blinked several times in rapid succession, banishing the remnants of the strange talk to the back of his mind.
"You see? Could it be the same thing…?"
"Better not be."
"What if it is? What if he turns on us again?"
"Ye can stop talkin' 'bout me behind my back like I'm a rabid dog, mates," Jack drawled casually, twirling a hand in the air as if to wave off their concerns. Turning his head slightly, he watched Will and Ana from the corner of his eye and was amused to see that the blacksmith's cheeks were flushed and Ana was looking caught quite off guard. He grinned to himself.
"How did you know we were…um…?"
"Talkin' 'bout me? Simple. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?"
"Well Cap'n, it'd be nice if you could stay in this world wit' th' rest o' us, savvy?" Ana snapped back, giving him a gentle push forward as he slowed down and readied to mock them for being caught in their 'secret' conversation.
As Jack looked over his shoulder to argue further with Ana, he bumped into Chelsea and nearly tripped over Hunter, whom had stopped suddenly. "'ey, Dozell, what's the holdup?"
"Do you hear that?"
All in the group fell silent and motionless, listening intently. The faint echo of a whinny reached their ears, then seemed to echo itself, louder the second time. The source seemed to be somewhere ahead of them in the tunnel.
"A horse? Do you think it's one of ours that got loose?" Will questioned, stepping forward and squinting into the darkness out of the torch's reach.
"How would it have gotten around in front of us? I didn't see any connecting tunnels…" Chelsea whispered almost fearfully.
A slow set of steady four-beat clicks bounced off the corridor walls.
"Well, I think we're about t' find out," Jack growled, pushing his way to the front of the group.
Slowly, as if forming from the darkness in the tunnel ahead, a pale colored horse appeared, but it wasn't moving toward them. Instead, it stood with a hind foot propped elegantly and its head held high, stance alert. Light continued to pour forth onto the animal until it seemed to shimmer with other-worldly illumination. The horse's coat was an insipid cream color, accentuated by a mane and tail darker than the night sky. A dark patch of hair stood out on the horse's creamy left hindquarter.
"Definitely not one of ours," Will whispered, afraid that if he spoke too loudly he would scare off the magnificent beast and shatter the moment of awe for everyone.
"It's beautiful…" Chelsea breathed, admiring the delicate yet powerful horse before them.
"Nratu…" Dozell whispered loud enough for him alone to hear.
The horse's ears pricked and a whitish light seemed to shimmer on its poll for a moment before solidifying into what appeared to be a horn. Small yellow sparks surrounded the newly formed horn, causing the majority of the group to step back in uncertainty. Only Jack and Dozell stood firm.
The ghostly horse reared back on its hind legs, flailing shining hard front hooves about in the air before touching down. As its forefeet reconnected with the stones, a metallic clank resounded through the air and heavy, solid gold leg guards appeared and encompassed the horse's front hooves and legs up to its knees.
"What the-"
The unicorn reared once more, throwing its head from side to side with a defiant scream that sent shivers down the spines of the humans and raised the hackles of the dogs. Returning to the ground, the unicorn lowered its head and charged toward the small group.
"Run!" Dozell cried, spinning around and rushing the others back down the corridor from whence they had come.
Turning and stumbling, the group began running back the way they had come, none daring to look back for they still heard the metallic thunder of the unicorn's clad hooves.
Ana, who was now in the lead, gasped and slowed considerably. "Wha's that?!"
Forming from the darkness in the tunnel ahead in the same manner as the unicorn had, the hound of fire that had chased them across the desert appeared. It did not move toward them but the eerie and foreboding sound of its lonely howl did. Now that they could get a better look at it, the hound was a strange sight indeed. Not only was it cloaked in fire and feeling no pain or burning sensation, it wore a mane of golden fur about its neck. Its tail was the same golden color while the rest of it was midnight black. The creature wore gold plating on its muzzle and sides as well as two golden horns atop its head.
The group came to a standstill, caught between two mythical beasts in the narrow corridor. The two creatures moved menacingly towards the group, taking their time to instill even more fear.
While the gazes of the others were locked fearfully on the formidable beasts, Jack looked about frantically for any kind of exit. A sly grin lit his face when his gaze landed on a triangular doorway just tall enough for someone to crawl through.
Jack drew his cutlass with lightning speed. "There! Go!" he ordered, pointing out the niche with the blade's tip.
The others dropped to all fours and scrambled for the small crevice, slipping through it one at a time into the unknown on the opposite side of the wall. While they were low and vulnerable, Jack watched their backs with his cutlass raised defensively. Keeping one eye on the others' progress and the other on the creatures that were still advancing, Jack backed his way toward the crevice to allow quick his escape. Finally, Dozell, the last, slipped through the small doorway and Jack dropped and crawled through quickly.
The connecting tunnel was much longer than Jack had originally thought and soon his knees were scraped and bruised from scrambling over the rough stones. Finally, he saw the light of Dozell's lantern and he quickened his pace. Once on the other side, Will offered a hand which Jack accepted. As the pirate captain drew to his full height, he realized with a cord of dismay that the chink through which they had entered was the only way out.
"Well, tha's disappointing," Jack drawled somewhat angrily, sheathing his cutlass.
Ana moved to stand at his side in hopes that her presence would relieve some of his stress. He had been so tense lately; surely it wasn't good for his health.
Or his sanity.
"What will we do now? The only way out of here is the way from which we entered and then we'd meet with those beasts again."
"Very nice of you to announce the obvious, Turner," Dozell muttered.
Will's pride pricked slightly at the tone of implied stupidity in Dozell's voice and he took a dangerous step toward the younger man. He stopped short in surprise when a gentle sloshing sound came from his movement.
Everyone looked down and gasped.
"Water? In here? How?" Chelsea exclaimed backing away and seeking a shelter where there was none.
Jack moved away from Ana and began examining the walls, not seeming to realize that the water was rising quickly; it was already past their knees.
While all of them either began to panic or search for an exit, the water rose higher and higher. Soon they could not stand without being completely submerged and they were forced to tread water. Dozell dropped the lantern into the cool liquid to keep himself afloat more easily. A sharp hiss echoed throughout the chamber as the lantern's flame was extinguished by the strange water.
"We need to get out of here before we drown," Will said urgently.
"But how?" Chelsea asked, trying not to whimper in fear.
Dozell snapped his fingers. "The chink!"
Dozell's exclamation was accompanied by a noticeable splash and Jack was gone. Before the others could react, the water's level rose even more sharply and they were all dragged into the liquid's cold, killing embrace.
Jack dove as fast as he could, swimming down toward where they had entered the chamber. Something had to be blocking the entrance or else the water would have drained away by now. As he reached the spot where the opening should have been, he was terrified to find that there was nothing more than the solid stones of the wall.
For the first time since entering the chamber, Jack began to panic. If there really was no exit through which the water could drain, they were all as good as dead. He shoved himself away from the wall and looked about. Frustrated at being unable to see anything in the inky darkness, he accidentally released a bit of air from his mouth.
That was when he saw it.
A faint, silvery-blue light was some indeterminate distance from him, but it was definitely moving closer. There was something distinctly comforting about the light that lulled Jack's panicking mind into a false sense of security. Slowly, ever so slowly, his eyes began to fall shut even as the light drew nearer and became blindingly bright.
As Jack slipped into a thoughtless sleep, the last bits of air he had been hanging onto were released from his lungs.
[a/n: As always, HUGE thanks to all reviewers!]