So now here's a really NEW chapter. I thought of adding one more character to my story, named after a friend of mine whose personality is the total opposite of the one in this chapter. Anyway, I hope ye mates enjoy!

CHAPTER 8: SECRETS REVEALED

The old man was thrown ruthlessly onto the shelves where the rum was kept. He was panting heavily, shock written all over his face. His nose was bleeding and his left eye was already swelling. The bottles were rocking dangerously above him. Sharkbait pulled him at the front of his shirt and growled at his face:

"The Captain asked ye a question! You gonna answer or not?"

The old man looked beyond the pirate grabbing him and with unfocused eyes stared frightfully at the captain. Tom Smith sat down on of the tables with his leg crossed. His eyes were focused at the pistol he was polishing in his hand. The old man gulped and nodded. Sharkbait released him and he slid down the shelves and sat down on the floor. Without leaving his eyes off his pistol, Tom Smith spoke up:

"Ray, old man, since ye left your pirate days and opened this bar, I still looked up to you as a respectable man. Now I'm only asking simple information from you, how could you refuse to share some of your knowledge with me?"

"But Tom, I really don't know where they're heading. Old Jack left my bar about four days ago and he ain't saying a thing to me except ordering his usual dose of rum."

Sharkbait growled: "You dare lie to the captain!" and he moved towards old Ray again whereas the old man cowered in fright. Tom Smith raised his hand and stopped the pirate from his tracks.

"Calm down Sharkbait. Best we act decently. We're not dealing with pirates, just commoners. And we mustn't bother our old friend for too long. He needs to do business too."

He looked around the bar, which had long been deserted after the pirates entered shooting with their pistols here and there. By the corner stood a few whores and a young man who glared insolently at him, but still remained immobile. Tom Smith walked towards the old man and offered a hand.

"Now dear friend. Tom wouldn't want to bring trouble to ye. But take it from me: Sparrow is history. You wouldn't want to take the wrong side would ya? The best pirate of the Caribbean is now yours truly. And let me make this clear…" At this, his face was so close to Ray that he could see the scary, bloodshot eyes of the cruel captain. "No pirate, not even the infamous Jack Sparrow can beat me. On my next trip to Tortuga, you'll see his bones hanging from my ship, announcing my great victory against him. By then, you should have made up your mind."

Ray gulped and nodded at him. Tom Smith smirked and rose to leave. Suddenly, the young man emerged from his silence and shouted boldly at him:

"Don't be so sure Tom Smith. The last time I heard, you were knocked over by a decent lady. If that rumor were true, you think you can actually beat Captain Jack Sparrow? Think again filth!"

Tom Smith spun around. The boy was glaring at him fiercely. Behind him, Ray was pulling the boy by his shoulder trying to stop him from saying anything foolish. Smith snapped his fingers and instantly, his pirates grabbed the boy and pinned him towards the wall. Ray was once again pushed towards the shelves.

The young lad struggled to break free from the awful-looking pirates. But Tom Smith came near him. The lad looked at him insolently and tried to kick him with his free leg. Smith roared with laughter before saying.

"So you think I can't beat old Jack? What makes you say that boy?"

"Look into the mirror and see for yerself!" And with that the boy spat at Tom Smith's face.

Smith was enraged. He grabbed the boy's throat and held on tightly. The lad struggled for breath, his face was gradually turning blue. Ray ran towards Tom Smith and knelt beside him.

"Captain, please don't kill him. I… I'll tell ye everything. Everything ye want to know just spare the boy! Please!"

Tom Smith released his grip and turned to look at Ray.

"So you've finally decided to speak up?"

"Aye… aye… just leave the boy alone…" Ray begged.

"Father don't… don't say it. Let… let the filth do what he wants just… just don't tell him!" The boy tried to catch his breath, but his eyes were focused on his father.

Ray looked at his son with misty eyes and faced the ruthless captain. He pondered on his son's words: will he betray Jack Sparrow for the life of his son? Smith was growing impatient. He pulled out his pistol and aimed at the forehead of the lad. Ray was alarmed and his eyes widened with fear.

"No… no… don't, please. I'll tell you everything. Put that down, please." He pulled at Smith's arm, trying to restrain him from shooting the boy.

Instead, the boy gave Smith a hard stare and said bravely: "Shoot me then, that the entire island will know that Tom Smith can only win against an unarmed man!"

He was really getting into his nerves. Tom Smith slapped the boy with the end of his pistol. Blood spilled from the lad's lower lip, still he gloated the pirate. Ray was still kneeling beside Smith, imploring to him. Finally, Tom Smith kicked him aside and stared at him fiercely:

"Here's the deal Ray Andersen, you tell me what business Sparrow be doing at your bar or I'll blow the brains off your precious son!"

"Jack Sparrow… he came to pick up his order…"

"Order? What order?"

"On his last trip, he ordered some stuff from me. 6 boxes of them. They… they… are dungbombs…" Ray stuttered.

"Dungbombs? That's it? What else did he say? Who was with him?"

Behind Tom Smith, his captive son shook his head forcefully; his eyes begged his father not to tell the pirate. Ray gulped and continued:

"He came with the Turner lad… and a girl, in men's clothes, with brownish, long hair and blue eyes."

Tom Smith rubbed his chin. Now they've finally caught up with the girls. "That's it? Just one girl?"

"Ye… yes. But I heard from Jack's crew that there was another lass aboard the ship, but she seems to be unconscious."

"Did they say where they are heading?"

"No… they didn't. But I heard the two lasses were from Port Royale. That's all I know, Captain."

"Hmm… good work Ray." He patted the old man's bald head like a dog. "Now you've finally see whose side you're suppose to take. I'll see you around old man. Oh… and thanks for the rum."

Tom Smith waved his hand and the pirates followed him out of the bar. The two pirates holding on to the boy released him and went over to the shelves and took all the rum that was displayed. They roared with laughter before leaving the bar and into the cold night. Ray buried his face in his hands. But his son was back on his feet and was about to chase the two pirates when his father seized his leg.

"Don't go Joshua. They're pirates! You can't win against them."

"Father! How could you tell him about Captain Sparrow? Do you have any idea what you have just done?"

"I did it to save you son. Jack will understand…"

"You saved me by sacrificing the lives of two young, innocent ladies and possibly even the lives of the crew of the Black Pearl!"

Ray shook his head. His son was right. It was one price that is indeed too hard to pay. Angrily, Joshua grabbed a chair and sat on it, thinking deeply. Suddenly he spoke:

"We should tell Captain Sparrow that Tom Smith is on his tail. He must know of it!"

"But how? Jack Sparrow wouldn't be back here for weeks. By then, Tom Smith could have caught up with them." The old man shook his bald head again. "There's nothing we can do, son. Nothing."

"Father!" Joshua grabbed the old man by his shoulders and shook him. "We have to do something! Jack Sparrow was more than a captain to you, he was your friend! He trusted you!"

Ray lowered his eyes. He could not let his son see the cowardice and the fear inside him. But Jack Sparrow is a friend, and it his duty to warn him.

"Very well. I will send a message to him with the first ship leaving the docks tomorrow morning."

"Are you sure it will reach him? How would they know where to find him?"

"Then what do you suggest, son?"

"I say we have someone go look for him. He boards one of the ships that are to leave tomorrow and finds Captain Jack at a place he would most probably appear." He paused. "I will go. I'll just change into something clean, then I'll be off."

Joshua stood up to leave, but Ray stood up as well and stopped him. "You can't go! What if you meet other pirates besides Jack? What will happen to you?"

"The secret was revealed because of me. Then I should be the one to warn them." His tone was decisive and his mind was set.

Ray sighed and patted his son on the back. "You've really grown a lot, Joshua. Very well, go with the Mariners tomorrow morning. I will tell them to drop you at Isla dela Muerta."

"But father. You said Captain Sparrow would go to Port Royale…"

"Yes, he most probably will. But knowing Jack, he would surely drop by his treasure cove and grab some gold before he sets off." A grin formed across his face. "Now go. If the ship leaves earlier, you might even arrive the island before Jack does."

Sigh… done at last! Hope you liked it. Send in your reviews please!