Author's Note- I've been having laptop troubles recently (my charger's broken, therefore I have no battery, therefore I can't use it...), so I apologise for a)how long it may take me to update- I have to fight my family for the main compter, and b)if there are any typos- I don't think there are, but I'm not used to this keyboard and so I keep hitting keys I'm not meant to.

Other than that, enjoy!

Chapter 9

I stare unsteadily at the ground underneath my feet, slightly disturbed at the way it bucks and tremors as though determined to throw me. This effect is only enhanced by the strange swirling and wavering of colour from the rocks and ground that my torch passes over.

I thought this problem would have passed fairly quickly, but even after we have crossed the jet-black sand that form the beach in the bay, and then scaled a relatively steep cliff, I still don't feel that I can entirely trust my legs to support me if I really needed it.

Jack casts a sly glance over his shoulder towards me, and I catch a small smile playing on his lips as he watches me. I choose this moment to take a particularly bad stumble on a misplaced rock.

"Not quite got your land legs back, eh, Sierra? No matter… Give it a few more hours…"

I grit my teeth and concentrate on watching where I am placing my feet, instead of thinking up some sort of clever response.

We pause for a short break near the top of the incline. I glance up at the stars above, marvelling at how many there are. Never before have I seen such a large number.

This quantity seems to be multiplied as the stars reflect on the ground underneath out feet, aided by the light from our torches. The effect is completely amazing.

"How did such a strange island form?" I ask myself aloud. "Surely it cannot be from natural causes…"

Jack answers my question for me.

"Actually, it was 'natural causes', as you so phrase it… or at least, as natural as a volcanic eruption ever can be classed. This rock formed when the fires cooled- and so the island was born. Of course, this means it's almost devoid of any life- only the toughest can survive in such a harsh climate."

Jack hands me a flask- full of water for a change, instead of rum. I take a quick sip, then re-cork it and stand to follow Jack again, who has already continued on the route. I stumble to catch up.

"Jack… Do you even know where we are heading?" I look up momentarily to see him casting about with his torch, seemingly searching the ground.

"No." He replies, still staring intently downwards. "But as I've said before, that's never been a problem for me…"

He flips open his compass, following the direction it points with his head. He then adjusts his direction slightly to the left, without breaking his stride. I keep my head down, trying to concentrate on the dimly-lit ground under my feet. This soon proves to be a mistake when Jack stops suddenly, and I, not having noticed quickly enough, crash into his back.

"Steady, Sierra… I know it's difficult for you, but now is not the time… I need to concentrate, so try and restrain yourself, agreed?"

My mouth drops open in complete surprise and indignation.

"Jack?! How can you be so… Aaargh!" I scream in annoyance.

"Shh…" He waves his hand behind him, leaving me to fume quietly to myself while he bends low, taking particular interest in one rock.

"Sierra, come here…" Once again, Jack motions to me, but this time to beckon me forwards. I am tempted to be stubborn and resist, but curiosity gets the better of me and I stoop down beside him.

"What is it?" I question.

Wordlessly, Jack reaches out and grasps one of my hands, pulling it down towards him. I am forced to bend even lower as Jack places my hand on the rock in front of him. I immediately feel that the surface is rough- although it is a regular, 'formed' type of roughness, unlike that from the natural surface of a rock. I bring the torch in my other hand down closer, enabling me to better inspect the surface.

Although the rock is of the same strange, reflective material as found the rest of the island the writing is completely new. It is of an odd, angular design- like nothing I have ever seen before. I cannot even begin to guess at the characters or their meaning, yet Jack seems to be quite comfortable with reading them- in the flickering light from my torch, I can see his eyes glinting as they flick back and forwards across the script.

"Jack? What does it say?" I stare quizzically at the pirate.

Still without speaking, Jack gently moves me out the way, and then starts pushing on the rock. However, the harder he shoves the more it seems to wedge into the ground, and soon he gives up, panting heavily.

I step forwards.

"Let me try…"

Sparrow opens his mouth, looking as though he is going to make a witty comment, but then he shuts it and pauses, a strange look on his face. He moves back to let me get a good position, and I crouch into a firm stance, ready to pit my weight against the rock.

No-one is more surprised than me when, as I throw all my weight forwards, the rock slides so easily, as though it is on a hinge- it almost requires no effort at all to push, whereas Jack was making it look like it was stuck fast. I tip forwards through my own momentum, dangerously close to the black hole which has appeared from under the rock. I desperately try to regain my balance, but to no avail- my weight is centred over the hole too much- and I pitch forwards.

Strong arms reach around my waist, pulling me back upright. The force which they exert pushes the breath from my chest, leaving me gasping for air. I am dragged away from the hole and onto safe ground.

When I am standing back on my own two feet, I turn around to thank Jack for stopping me from falling- only to find myself staring straight into his chocolate-brown eyes. The words desert my mouth, and I am left to just stare helplessly, conscious of how close we are- and how my face seems to have turned to fire.

Jack gives a wicked grin, completely aware of the effect he is having on me. Loosening his grip on my waist slightly, he looks down towards the tunnel leading down into the centre of the island. Then he turns back to me, still standing with a completely stupid look on my face, and still trying to grasp hold of some more sensible feelings. He glances down at the way that I am grasping the lapels of his coat, which I had not noticed I was doing up until now.

"What did I tell you about this not being the time, Sierra? We have other matters in hand." He says this as though it is all my fault- however, it is not me who currently has the other person's waist securely encircled by my arm. This completely offhand comment, so typical of Jack, causes more everyday feelings to creep into my head, although mainly indignation and annoyance- which had not long dissipated from the previous occasion when he had wound me up, not five minutes before.

"So… Ladies first."

In one smooth move, Jack lets go of me at points towards the entrance to the shaft, breaking the tension. Mentally shaking myself, I walk over to it, keeping my eyes cast down in a pretence that I am looking for the ladder while in reality I just don't want to look anywhere near that goddamn pirate, who seems to know better than I do how my feelings work, and how he can manage to stir up unwanted ones.

Without Jack's compass, I am certain that we would become lost down here in these passageways and caverns. The tunnels are dark and twisted, so maze-like that soon after entering I lose any sense of direction. All I can do is keep hold of my light and use it to illuminate a safe path through the rocks scattered about, and pray that Sparrow knows what he is doing.

Jack pauses for the numerous occasion at a fork in the tunnel, consulting with his compass on which path to take. Soon he turns down into the left-hand passage, and continues on his way. I follow suit and start walking behind him again, noticing at the same time how the rock, even down here, is of the same material as that on the surface- it glimmers and swirls as the light from my torch passes over it.

After another brief period, we merge into yet another cavernous space. However, this one is far larger than any we have passed though before- the walls extend upwards into blackness, disappearing out of sight so I cannot even begin to guess the true height of the ceiling.

In one corner, an underground river emerges from a certain height up the wall face and cascades down into a crystal-clear pool below. The water shimmers with a thousand lights reflecting from the walls, making full use of the tiny amount of light which manages to streak down through a crevice somewhere high above my head- the only link with the outside world. Through this crack, I can see that the sky has got lighter since we entered this underground maze- meaning that the sun is starting to rise on the new day. We have been down here longer than I thought- this seems to prove the old tales I have heard of people losing track of time in such places like this, with no positive results.

However, by far the most majestic thing in this cavern is what sits right at the centre. It is a huge stone chest, made from some sort of black rock- polished to perfection, it gleams in the little light there is. Around the sides of it, there is more of the strange angular writing that we had seen earlier on the rock at the entrance, but in contrast the lid is completely smooth and clear. Although this chest is so simple in design, it truly is a beautiful thing.

Jack makes a small noise of appreciation.

"Very nice… Your father certainly knew a good ting when he saw one… And it has, without doubt, an excellent capacity to hold treasure…"

I start to walk closer, but Jack stops me.

"No use, luv- we're not going to be able to shift it, even just the lid- by itself it must weigh a tonne. No, here's what we'll do- I'll go fetch some of my able-bodied crew to help move this load, savvy? And you, I think, should stay here..."

He points to the ground between us, as though indicating a precise spot on which I should stand.

Although I'm not exactly thrilled with the prospect of waiting around here on my own, I can see what Jack is saying makes sense- just the two of us will never break into that chest. I nod in agreement to his proposal.

"Good."

He looks pleased, and immediately heads over to the entrance to this cavern. However, he stops as though on an afterthought, and turns back round to face me.

"Don't worry… We won't leave you down here by your onesies for too long…"

With one last wink over his shoulder, he disappears off into the twist and turns of the passages to the surface.

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ilovejacksparrow121- Here to stay? Excellent! And you know, I really didn't plan, in the beginning, for there to be attraction between Sierra and Jack- I never thought I was that good at writing things like that. But if there is, that's good, I guess! I thiunk you influenced me when you said that, to write the bit in this chapter just before they enter the caverns. How is it- okay, or not?

Second Star to the Left- Haha, this is a really bizarre comment, but your user name is my horse's showname! Funny ol' world, innit? Anyway... Ooh, another new reviewer! And there are things called mirror fish? It wasn't just my very overactive imagination creating things? Wow. Lol. Me? Any food is good, though I'ven never had oysters. And trust me, you don't want me to cook anything for you... I managed to burn soup the other day, and I'm not kidding. Hehe.

Wolf.at.Heart- Don't you just hate it when you can't remember something? I do it all the time, and it frustrates me no end. And the rest of my family, when it's something they told me to do and I forget. Hehe. Anway, I fully intend to keep up the good work!

RumQueen- Wow, another new reviewer! Ciao! And thanks very much- I've always loved writing but normally I never have the commitment to follow a story all the way through... Luckily, this one's different! And as for the plot, I'm pretty darn pleased with it myself, so I'm glad everyone else love it as well! And I personally think it's about to get better- we're nearing the grand finale... type... thing...!

Chocolat Pirate- Gives round of applause Well done, mate!And if you want romance... I guess I'll give it to you!... If I can do it... Yep... I didn't actually mean it to resemble a POTC quote, I guess I just do it automatically! And it's from the deleted scenes- when Mallet and... the other one... are discussing what they're going to eat when the cursed is lifted, "just so we're ready when the time comes"! And you own the script? What, an original copy? Jaw drops I want one!!!!!