AURUM

. a curse reborn .

- chapter 6 -

Without another word, the man motioned to Myra to follow as he turned to leave the pub. Myra indeed felt some relief, glad to get out of this repulsive place, but was only to find the world beyond the tavern walls was no better.

The streets outside were as wild as ever. Coming from a modern (meaning 21st century) and fairly wealthy neighborhood, Myra was once again shocked by what she saw. When first setting foot in Tortuga Myra had a definite mission and that was what guided her. There had been no time to stop and look around. Now, partly on her way to untangling the twisted mystery she'd been caught in, Myra found herself more free to really look at the town around her. Once more she noticed the grotesque amounts of women putting themselves on display, but she also so how absolutely insane this place was. Men were busy hanging others out of windows, punching each other in the face or shooting someone's brains out. A lovely sight? No, not really.

After some minutes of what felt like aimless wandering, Myra was getting impatient.

"Where are we going?" she asked, nearly shouting to be heard over all the commotion.

"Somewhere quiet," was her answer, and that was a destination she doubted they could ever possibly reach.

They turned down this street, ambled up another, only to turn in the direction from which they had just come. Not only was Myra thoroughly confused, but she was beginning have her doubts about the man she was following. Was he really trying to help? Well, she knew he wouldn't really try to help her, but she could no longer tell whether he really was able to. Was she just here to serve his selfish needs?

When he did at last come to a stop Myra was half convinced she should just turn and run in the opposite direction, but she was far too determined and far too desperate. She couldn't give up. Not now.

They'd arrived in a dark, smelly alleyway. Heaps of refuse were piled up along the sides of the buildings, the odor unpleasant and overpowering. But the place was quiet for the most part, though in the distance one could still hear drunken shouts and frantic yells.

"Now," the man said, looking at Myra carefully, "why don't you tell me how you came upon that necklace."

Myra hesitated. What could she say? That she found the necklace in an antique shop and when she put it on it sent her four hundred years into the past? Something told her that the truth was not something he'd believe.

"I don't think that was part of our agreement." Good. Avoid the question. Right. "Now why don't you tell me -" she took the medallion from around her neck and held it out in front of her, "- what's so special about this."

The man gave a defeated sigh, taking the necklace in his hands.

"This," he began, staring at the tarnished medallion, "is one of eight-hundred and eighty-two pieces of Aztec gold, gold that should be in a chest at the bottom of the ocean." He gave her a shifty-eyed glance, turning the coin over in his fingers. He took a few intimidating steps in Myra's direction, dangling the medallion in front of her face. "Now I will ask you again. Just how was it that this ended up in your posession?"

Myra looked up at him timidly, her confidence slightly shaken. Still, she was not going to give in to him. She pursed her lips tightly, her eyes meeting his without fear or apprehension. Myra gave him the most threatening look she had in her as she said, "You aren't here to ask me questions. You're here to answer mine. I'm asking you again-" she pulled the necklace from his hand, holding it tightly within her own, "- what makes this so special?"

A fleeting grin touched over his lips, a soft breath of a chuckle escaping him as he stepped even closer to Myra.

"I just have one question for you." His tome was steady and solemn as he looked down at her.

"And what's that?"

"Can you trust me?"

Myra blinked, a clear expression of confusion crossing her face. "What?"

Click.

The gunshot echoed in her ears and she could feel the cold metal of a bullet pierce her skin.