ENJOY! And a special thanks to JillValentine44, Argh to the matey, to the matey Argh Argh.
CHAPTER 9: This is a Game
Two months crawled past for the crew of the Pearl. Jack and Connor had no set in stone plan for what to do, they would have to rely on instincts. The Pearl drew closer to Ireland each passing day and they would arrive at their destination in only three short days.
Connor placed herself in their cabin trying to solve the mystery of why Thompson wanted her there. He knew where Atlantis was, obviously, so he could easily take any of the treasure that Jack and them had left behind them previously.
'The treasure.' The thought popped into her mind. She had told him that her share was in a small cove in Tortuga. Lie. He warned her not to mess with him but she did not take heed. He wanted revenge. She had escaped him in England, married Jack, but he wasn't going to let her go so easily.
Arms around her waist brought her out of her thoughts. "What ye doing luv?" Jack asked her.
"Thinking. Jack I know why he took Tyler." She went on to explain what had happened in Tortuga and why he was doing this.
"Don't worry Connor, we'll get him back." Jack told her as they crawled into bed.
They weighed anchor where they had two and a half years ago. Jack and Connor were the only ones who knew where to go and so they went alone into Atlantis. They didn't marvel at the breathtaking city this time, as all their thoughts were on Tyler.
Not knowing where to look they headed to the palace. Following the same hallway as before knowing Thompson would also look for it. Entering slowly they took great caution. They glanced around the room, and not to their surprise, all the treasure they had left behind was gone. But there was no sign of Thompson, any of his men, or Tyler.
"The Guardians." Connor whispered. "Oh God, Jack, what if the Guardians found them and killed them all, including Tyler."
Jack had left Connor's side and walked around the room, he stopped at the doorway that led to the adjoining room. "That's not possible luv."
"Why?" Connor asked, coming to stand next to Jack. She gasped as the sight that met her eyes. In the other room were the guardians, strewn out, on the ground. Every one of them were dead. Weapons were scattered everywhere and blood flooded the floor. But not a single member of Thompson's crew were among the dead.
"Looks like there was a party, and look!" Jack exclaimed as he walked over to the other side of the room. Connor followed, avoiding the dead bodies.
On the far wall was the leader of the Guardians, pinned upright against the wall. A note was pinned to his body as was a jacket. A sword pierced his heart holding him upright. A look of horror was written on his face and blood dripped down his white shirt.
Jack unpinned the jacket and note, handing both to Connor.
Connor read the note aloud, "Dear Sparrows, I see you have made it to the first stop in this game. For indeed, this is a game. There are three stops on this voyage and you have found number one. When you arrive at number three we will negotiate Tyler's return and some other matters will be discussed. I personally love games, so let's begin this scavenger hunt shall we. You have no more than six months to arrive at the final destination.
Clue number one. You both know this place, neither with any desire to return. Connor grew up here for a year while ye both got a mark, with the name in it, to prove your troubles. A small company makes it appear that they all hate pirates, and poor Jack, I am afraid that you will have to go on land for this one. Good luck. Thompson." (AN Extra credit for anyone who can guess it).
Connor looked from the note to Jack, who was staring intently at the dead man. He stood silently for a few minutes before turning to face her. "Where is that luv?" He asked softly.
"I don't know, it could be anywhere and all of this isn't making it any easier to think. I just don't know." She broke down then, letting the tears ride down her cheeks. Jack took her in his arms and comforted her.
"Why Jack? Why Tyler, why could he have just taken me if he wants me so badly? Jack I don't understand." She cried, clutching the jacked that she knew was Tyler's to her chest.
"Shhh.. . it doesn't matter, cause we are going to get him back. I promise ye that luv."
"How?" She sobbed.
"We'll figure it out."
When she had calmed enough to swim they swam back to the ship. Each noticed the stares of their arrival, the unasked question of where Tyler was. But they ignored the crew and walked into their cabin.
"We'll stop in Ireland to restock, then we'll head out to wherever it is this is." Jack told her after the door had been shut and looked.
"If we can figure out where it is. I don't know. Jack what marks do we have that could possibly have the name of this place in it?" Connor asked, reading the note again, looking for anything she had missed.
"I don't know luv. Where did ye grow up for a year?" Jack asked, reading over her shoulder.
"Everywhere. I seemed to move a lot." She whispered.
Both sat in silence, trying to think of the next destination. But soon the sun went down and night rolled in, and still they sat. Connor's frustration grew as she read the note again for the tenth time.
"Damn it Jack, leave it to Thompson to come up with something this creative." She muttered.
"Bloody bastard does have some tricks up his sleeves doesn't he luv." Jack said, coming over and standing next to her.
He pushed up his sleeves to reveal his arms as he placed them on either side of Connor, looking over her head at the note. They stayed like that for a minute before Connor glanced up at his arm.
"Jack!" She screamed. She jumped out of her seat and grabbed Jack's arm.
"What?" He asked concerned.
"A mark that we both have that has this place's name in it." She let go of his arm and rolled up her own right sleeve. She placed her arm next to his to reveal the pirate brand on their arms.
"Bloody hell." Jack exclaimed.
"The East India Company gave us these. India, Jack. And," She leaned over the note again, "this small company makes it appear they all hate pirates. East India Company. Jack, we're going to India." She said. (AN Was anybody in able to figure it out)?
"Aye, but where at in India luv?"
"East India. From there, we'll just have to wing it and find the next clue I guess. Jack, we may just get there after all. This is a game Jack, and we are now moving the pieces." She said.
Short I know, but school has been so hectic, I haven't had any time to write and I wanted to get another chapter up.
So Connor and Jack and the Pearl are going to India. Will they find the next clue, find Tyler, or get to the final destination in time. Or will they lose the game. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
CHAPTER 9: This is a Game
Two months crawled past for the crew of the Pearl. Jack and Connor had no set in stone plan for what to do, they would have to rely on instincts. The Pearl drew closer to Ireland each passing day and they would arrive at their destination in only three short days.
Connor placed herself in their cabin trying to solve the mystery of why Thompson wanted her there. He knew where Atlantis was, obviously, so he could easily take any of the treasure that Jack and them had left behind them previously.
'The treasure.' The thought popped into her mind. She had told him that her share was in a small cove in Tortuga. Lie. He warned her not to mess with him but she did not take heed. He wanted revenge. She had escaped him in England, married Jack, but he wasn't going to let her go so easily.
Arms around her waist brought her out of her thoughts. "What ye doing luv?" Jack asked her.
"Thinking. Jack I know why he took Tyler." She went on to explain what had happened in Tortuga and why he was doing this.
"Don't worry Connor, we'll get him back." Jack told her as they crawled into bed.
They weighed anchor where they had two and a half years ago. Jack and Connor were the only ones who knew where to go and so they went alone into Atlantis. They didn't marvel at the breathtaking city this time, as all their thoughts were on Tyler.
Not knowing where to look they headed to the palace. Following the same hallway as before knowing Thompson would also look for it. Entering slowly they took great caution. They glanced around the room, and not to their surprise, all the treasure they had left behind was gone. But there was no sign of Thompson, any of his men, or Tyler.
"The Guardians." Connor whispered. "Oh God, Jack, what if the Guardians found them and killed them all, including Tyler."
Jack had left Connor's side and walked around the room, he stopped at the doorway that led to the adjoining room. "That's not possible luv."
"Why?" Connor asked, coming to stand next to Jack. She gasped as the sight that met her eyes. In the other room were the guardians, strewn out, on the ground. Every one of them were dead. Weapons were scattered everywhere and blood flooded the floor. But not a single member of Thompson's crew were among the dead.
"Looks like there was a party, and look!" Jack exclaimed as he walked over to the other side of the room. Connor followed, avoiding the dead bodies.
On the far wall was the leader of the Guardians, pinned upright against the wall. A note was pinned to his body as was a jacket. A sword pierced his heart holding him upright. A look of horror was written on his face and blood dripped down his white shirt.
Jack unpinned the jacket and note, handing both to Connor.
Connor read the note aloud, "Dear Sparrows, I see you have made it to the first stop in this game. For indeed, this is a game. There are three stops on this voyage and you have found number one. When you arrive at number three we will negotiate Tyler's return and some other matters will be discussed. I personally love games, so let's begin this scavenger hunt shall we. You have no more than six months to arrive at the final destination.
Clue number one. You both know this place, neither with any desire to return. Connor grew up here for a year while ye both got a mark, with the name in it, to prove your troubles. A small company makes it appear that they all hate pirates, and poor Jack, I am afraid that you will have to go on land for this one. Good luck. Thompson." (AN Extra credit for anyone who can guess it).
Connor looked from the note to Jack, who was staring intently at the dead man. He stood silently for a few minutes before turning to face her. "Where is that luv?" He asked softly.
"I don't know, it could be anywhere and all of this isn't making it any easier to think. I just don't know." She broke down then, letting the tears ride down her cheeks. Jack took her in his arms and comforted her.
"Why Jack? Why Tyler, why could he have just taken me if he wants me so badly? Jack I don't understand." She cried, clutching the jacked that she knew was Tyler's to her chest.
"Shhh.. . it doesn't matter, cause we are going to get him back. I promise ye that luv."
"How?" She sobbed.
"We'll figure it out."
When she had calmed enough to swim they swam back to the ship. Each noticed the stares of their arrival, the unasked question of where Tyler was. But they ignored the crew and walked into their cabin.
"We'll stop in Ireland to restock, then we'll head out to wherever it is this is." Jack told her after the door had been shut and looked.
"If we can figure out where it is. I don't know. Jack what marks do we have that could possibly have the name of this place in it?" Connor asked, reading the note again, looking for anything she had missed.
"I don't know luv. Where did ye grow up for a year?" Jack asked, reading over her shoulder.
"Everywhere. I seemed to move a lot." She whispered.
Both sat in silence, trying to think of the next destination. But soon the sun went down and night rolled in, and still they sat. Connor's frustration grew as she read the note again for the tenth time.
"Damn it Jack, leave it to Thompson to come up with something this creative." She muttered.
"Bloody bastard does have some tricks up his sleeves doesn't he luv." Jack said, coming over and standing next to her.
He pushed up his sleeves to reveal his arms as he placed them on either side of Connor, looking over her head at the note. They stayed like that for a minute before Connor glanced up at his arm.
"Jack!" She screamed. She jumped out of her seat and grabbed Jack's arm.
"What?" He asked concerned.
"A mark that we both have that has this place's name in it." She let go of his arm and rolled up her own right sleeve. She placed her arm next to his to reveal the pirate brand on their arms.
"Bloody hell." Jack exclaimed.
"The East India Company gave us these. India, Jack. And," She leaned over the note again, "this small company makes it appear they all hate pirates. East India Company. Jack, we're going to India." She said. (AN Was anybody in able to figure it out)?
"Aye, but where at in India luv?"
"East India. From there, we'll just have to wing it and find the next clue I guess. Jack, we may just get there after all. This is a game Jack, and we are now moving the pieces." She said.
Short I know, but school has been so hectic, I haven't had any time to write and I wanted to get another chapter up.
So Connor and Jack and the Pearl are going to India. Will they find the next clue, find Tyler, or get to the final destination in time. Or will they lose the game. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!