Pirates of the Caribbean- A Heartless Treasure

By Jesteria Dapper

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the POTC characters or related indicia. But you already knew that, right?

Summary: "Not all treasure is sugar and gold, mate," quoted Jack Sparrow. He was right, especially when Brianthia came along….

Chapter 4- La Isla de Sangre

Will tried to lock the bulky door to the shop as quickly as possible. His hands shook with anticipation, making the task trickier. He sniffed the cool air that filled his lungs with hope. Sweat trickled down the side of his face as he worked. Come on! he thought. Come on! At last, the door locked, Will slid the brass key into his vest pocket. Then he ran.

The streets were empty. Deserted, as they had been half-an-hour before. A raccoon was going through an overflowing crate of trash, its eyes gleaming in the moonlight. Will's feet seemed to glide over the smooth pavement. There is no time to lose, he thought. My father is…….alive.

Then Will stopped in his tracks. No, it couldn't be. My father can't be alive.

Oh yes he can, said a voice in the back of his head.

How? Will thought.

Think about it, whispered the voice. Bootstrap sent a coin to you, which means that he stole it. If he stole it, then he was cursed. He lived but was dead. He ate but starved. He drank but was parched. When you paid with blood, you ended his curse, as well as your own…….and now he is alive, once more…..

A small smile came across Will's face. It's true, he thought. My father is alive.

The moon came out from behind the clouds. It was as full as Will had ever seen it, and an exuberant face smiled down to him, as if supporting him in his decision that his father was alive. Will chuckled, forgetting all about Jack Sparrow's unfortunate demise. But no, Will thought again……….my father is dead. If he was at Tortuga, then he was killed, along with everyone else.

Look ahead of you, said the voice. Will wondered exactly what this voice was. A conscience? An inner demon? An angel?

Look ahead of you.

Will looked ahead. A man, shadowed in almost complete darkness, limped along the other side of the street. He clutched a wooden cane in his left hand. Coughing slightly, he moved as if he were a snail brought to life.

No, it can't be…….thought Will. It can't be…….

Will moved closer to the man. "E-excuse me sir?" he murmured.

The man looked up. An evil grin, filled with yellow teeth…….

Will gasped as a fist landed in the middle of his stomach. He fell backward as a man, a pirate, stood tall and laughed. A trap, a trick, a laugh.

Anger flared in Will's eyes. He scrambled to his feet, grabbing for his sword…..

My sword! he thought. I left it in the shop!

The man's left hand reached out and grabbed Will by the throat. Shoving him up against a brick wall, the second handholding a small dagger.

"William Turner," said the man in a snakelike voice, "you're coming with me."

"I—think—not!" gasped Will. He tried to grab the dagger, but it slashed his wrist. Will's foot met contact with the man's shin, causing him to drop the dagger, which rolled down into the nearby alley.

The man growled, his second hand gripping Will's throat. Will stood helplessly, choking, as the man said, "No more funny business…."

A gunshot. A gunshot that pierced the air at the speed of light. The man gasped his grip loosening. Will pulled the hands away, panting. The man fell to the ground, blood spilling from his chest.

Through the cloud of smoke that had developed from the gunshot, a woman came into focus.

"Elizabeth!" Will ran to his wife, only to be pushed away.

"Do I look like Elizabeth, man!" shouted a harsh voice.

"Ana—Anamaria?"

"Yes!" she shouted impatiently. "Quickly, you must come! Jack's in trouble!"

Will shook his head. "Jack's dead," he said bluntly.

Anamaria slapped him hard across the face.

"How could you say that, huh!"

"B-because," said Will. "I was told by Governor Swann that Jack was—"

"Don't believe everything you hear," Anamaria said shortly. "Quick, you must come!"

"Come where?"

"To La Isla de—"

"Muerta? No, I've had enough of—" Anamaria slapped him again.

"Let me speak!" she shouted. Her tone was ravenous, as if she was going to tear him limb from limb any second. "You must come with me! Jack is your friend and you can't let him down!"

"Okay, okay, tell me where he is!"

"La Isla de Sangre……the Isle of Blood."