A/N - We're getting near the end now. If I had to guess, there's probably three chapters after this one. I didn't have many plans for this story but, for what its worth, I like how it turned out. Could it have been better? Absolutely, I feel that way about everything I write. But I feel that's true for most if not all authors. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy!
When Kenway reached the shore, he dove into the dense forest after Hellen. His plan had worked. Now, they were out of sight of the Pearl. However, Kenway had lost Hellen during the ruse.
"Hellen? Hellen, where are you?" he shouted, "Come now! It won't be long until the others find us, we have to hurry!" he urged.
There was no response. The entire island was silent. He slowly walked through the dense region, coming to terms with what was happening. He heard a rustling above him and, suddenly, Hellen emerged from the trees with hidden blades extended. Kenway rolled away just as she hit the ground, her blade impacting the mud. Kenway drew his pistole.
"Surprised?" she asked cockily.
"I am actually. I half expected you to kill me on the ship," he explained.
"I wanted to. Unfortunately, you're the man we're looking for."
"What are you saying?"
"Oh Edward… I guess I was wrong about you,"
Before he had a chance to respond, he felt a heavy blunt object impact the back of his head, and he fell to the ground unconscious. He had no idea how long he was out, whether it was for minutes or hours, but when he awoke, it was to the feeling of a hand slapping against his cheek. He slowly opened his eyes and was greeted by Hellen crouching in front of him.
"He's awake," she announced while stepping to the side, allowing a clear line of sight to a tall grizzly man dressed in all black. It was at this point he realized that his hands were also bound.
"It seems you've lost your touch, Kenway," he laughed while turning around to face him.
"Thatch?" Kenway whispered.
"In the flesh," he replied while placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.
"But how? I saw you die!"
"Oh… but I was taken to these doctors and they… healed me," he explained while kneeling down to face Kenway, "And now… I feel better than ever!" Thatch then began laughing whole-heartedly while standing back up.
"And imagine my face!" he began again, "When I heard that you were still alive!"
"Thatch… had I known… I would've come back for you," Kenway promised.
"You know, these people, these… Templars they call themselves… they wanted me to chase you down and kill you," he said with a smile on his face. He then drew his sword, one Kenway was unfamiliar with. It was an elegant cutlass with a very wide blade. He stepped behind Kenway and used his sword to cut his binds. Kenway stood up and massaged his wrists.
"What do you think you're doing?" one man demanded.
"We can do what our "betters" ask of us," he answered while patting Kenway on the shoulder, "Or… we can do whatever we want."
"This is an outrage! Your superiors will not stand for this!" the same man exclaimed while drawing his sword.
Thatch laughed for several seconds while turning around to face the other men at his side. He then reached into his pocket and the man charged, enraged. When he was just inches from striking him, he stopped… though not of his own will. In his hand, Thatch held the Apple and a faint white had appeared around it. A look of panic appeared on his face. His arms repositioned themselves so that they held the sword with the blade pointed at his own chest. Knowing what was happening, the man stared at Thatch, fear flooding his eyes. A second later, he thrusted the sword into his chest and held it there. The light faded from the Apple and the man fell limp to the ground, blood soaking the immediate area.
"Anyone else?!" Thatch shouted while turning around to face the remaining men, his eyes stopping to focus on Hellen.
"Then, follow me!" he ordered. Kenway walked at his side, awe-struck that he could use the Apple.
"Thatch, you can use the Apple?"
"Aye Kenway. And with it, we can prove that the seas are ours," he commented.
"Listen to me. This device is too dangerous. What if someone else gets a hold of it?"
"That's why we're here," he explained quietly. After a few more minutes of walking, the group eventually found themselves in the middle of a village, or rather what was left of it. Huts were burned to the ground and bodies laid strewn about, all wearing clothing similar to his own.
"Assassins?" Kenway asked.
"Aye, strange name but they put up one hell of a fight. Templars said you might've been here. But when Hellen found out about the Apple, we decided to take it," he began.
"Unfortunately, one man fled the island with the Apple and I've been tracking him ever since," Hellen picked up.
"And when you got tangled up, I thought it was fate!" Thatch laughed.
"So, you are a Templar," Kenway spoke, looking at Hellen.
"You sound surprised," she noted. Once the left the village, they found themselves at the entrance of an ancient ruin. Thatch looked at the opening with a smile before looking back at his crew.
"You two," he said while pointing at Edward and Hellen, "Follow me. The rest of you, wait here."
