Author's Note- Just a little shorty chapter this time- I wanted this as a standalone, instead of part of another chapter, because I think it works better that way. Then again, maybe it doesn't... Meh. Enjoy!!

Chapter 10

Sighing, I decide I might as well use my time wisely- an opportunity to explore a place such as this doesn't come along too often.

I start by walking around the perimeter of the cavern, running my hands over the walls to admire the smooth rock it is made from, and then examine the pool and waterfall- The crater into which the water comes crashing down is infinitely deep, extending into darkness like a mirror-image of the cavern ceiling. Oddly, further down into the water, where otherwise it has changed complete darkness, I can just make out the faintest glimmer of a strange, almost fluorescent blue glow. I have no idea what it may be, but decide to back away from the water's edge, just in case- you never know what may lurk in the deepest, darkest corners of the earth.

At first, I try to avoid the stone chest, thinking that it is better to leave it until Jack gets back before I examine it closely, and also that I will never have a chance to look around the rest of this place if I look at that object too soon- I am sure I will get far too absorbed in it. However, as time passes the urge to get as close as possible to it increases, until I can stand it no longer.

I cross over to it, startled at the size even now- I had understood it to be big, but not this big. Bending down to look at the sides first, I examine the characters I find there- with no hope of comprehension, but I at least find them interesting to look at.

Jack would know what they say, I would reckon…I think to myself.

Standing back up, I run my hands over the polished black stone of the lid, marvelling at its smoothness and how the light reflecting from the cavern roof falls onto its surface like stars, tiny little pinpricks of light. However, while I am doing this I feel my hand hit a rough spot, so obvious because it is so startlingly different to the rest of the surface.

Peering at it from the dim light of my torch, I manage to pick out the shape of a hand, hewn roughly out of the stone in complete contrast to the rest of the chest, which seems to have been so lovingly prepared.

Slipping my own hand into this indent, I wonder what on earth it could be for- it seems so purposeful, and yet is poles apart from the rest of the chest. The shape itself suggests a man's hand, with the fingers wider and the palm larger than on my own hand, and yet it feels so familiar, so… welcoming.

My other hand has continued to slowly wander over the surface of the lid in a completely absent-minded fashion- I hardly pay it any attention to it until once again I feel the rock change abruptly to more roughness. Glancing at this hand, my suspicions are confirmed- there, in the black stone, is another handprint- a perfect mirror-image of the first.

My body seems to have overtaken my mind now, instinct kicking in as my other hand fits itself into the second print. Fascinated, I wonder how these two marks could stir up as many emotions as the have done.

However, any more thought on this matter is thrown abruptly out of my mind when strange things start to happen.

Firstly, the stone beneath my hands starts to glow a brilliant blue. I see this light creeping around the edges of my fingers and try and pull away sharply, worried that something that I will not welcome is happening. I nearly dislocate both my shoulders doing this- I find my hands are stuck fast, held in place by some strange invisible force. I wonder vaguely if I should seem more concerned by the fact that I am glued to some strange surface with no idea of why this is happening, but this is only a fleeting worry- strangely, it doesn't seem to be affecting me too much, almost as though subconsciously I am aware of the situation, and what is occurring. I decide to trust my instincts, and wait to see what events are going to unfold.

From my fingertips and around the sides of my hands, the blue light starts to spread out in intricate patterns, looking almost like branches of a tree. These lines merge and then divide again, crossing over in each other in an effort to follow a pattern that only they seem to know. The air around me starts to glow with the excess light shining from is pattern.

I see that the lines are forming a specific shape across the surface of the stone lid, and strain to see what it is. Slowly I pick out the main shape amongst the lines, and then notice more and more until I build up the complete image.

The outspread wings of the bird stretch from one edge of the chest to the other, making the wingspan almost bigger than I am tall. In the centre of these is the body, covered in an amazingly detailed plumage- I can almost pick out each glowing feather. The piercing, predatory eyes stare out from the head, which is smooth and sleek ending in a ferocious-looking hooked beak. The angle of the head and the eyes give me the uncomfortable feeling that this bird of prey most definitely has his eye on me, and if it weren't for the fact that it is just a two-dimensional image, I would be trying with all might to free my hands- the feet and talons are far too close to me for my liking.

I would never have imagined it possible to make such a detailed picture out of lines of light- each feather, each detail, is so perfectly noted that this is by far the most wild, beautiful interpretation of a bird I have ever seen.

Falcon certainly wanted to make sure his name was remembered…I now recollect how I have heard in stories that Falcon's personal flag for his ship had been of the bird whose name he carried, although I am sure it was not as big or majestic as this one I see in front of me now.

The light of the lines now seems to intensify, shining so brightly I can hardly look. Then, each line deepens and widens, causing cracks in the surface, and in turn these increase in width and depth until the entire lid has separated into individual pieces. I find now that my hands are freed from the force holding them down, although this is probably due to the fact that there is no surface for them to be held onto, as even the rock that was beneath my hands has cracked and split.

Suddenly, the light dies from around the edges of each block, the spell finished. As quickly as the light spread, it is gone, with the surface of the lid following suit- I watch in disbelief as the rock crumbles and turns to fine sand, falling to the round around the chest. The majestic falcon that was there is now no more.

It always seems to be the most beautiful of things that last for the shortest amount of time…It seems like such a pity. Still, I suppose it make us appreciate them even more… This thought seems so true to me. Even so, instead on dwelling on what has passed I soon move on to different, more immediate events- this mainly being what is inside the chest.

"And on that, I think it's time to have a look…" I say out loud to myself.

Another voice replies, chilling me to the core before I even consciously work out who it belongs to.

"Indeed it is… I've waited long enough for this moment, believe me…"

Slowly, I turn around to find myself staring into a pair of cold, lifeless eyes.

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Second Star to the Left- Duuude... that sounds like an awesome cake. Strange, but awesome. Lol. And you like my story? Hehe, I would hope so- I would hate for you to be just reading it and hating every minute of it!!!

Chocolat Pirate- Jaw drops. I... want... your... movie... script!!! Seriously, I'm soooo jealous!!! And, well, I have to deliver what you want, I guess, so you want romance, you got romance! Kinda... although not in the next few chapters... maybe, I'm not sure... Depends how I decide Jack would act in the situation! Lol.