Gibbs was right. The entire sea was shrouded in fog. A few meters in front of the ship could not be seen. However, as I moved to the helm the distant outline of an island could just be seen.

Jack took the wheel from Cotton who stayed and stood behind the captain as he stared at his mysterious compass. I walked along the side of the ship towards the helm as the crew gathered. Masts poked out of the water as the bottom of the Interceptor brushed along another.

We were in a ships graveyard.

"Dead men tell no tales." the parrot called as it sat at the bow. Everyone stood looking over the railing at the mess.

"Put's a chill in the bones how many honest sailors have been claimed by this passage." Gibbs said. Jack steered through the ruins using his compass, allowing only the bottom of the boat to touch any while Cotton looked over his shoulder, making the captain feel slightly uncomfortable before he snapped the compass shut.

Will watched Jack as Gibbs walked past him.

"How is it that Jack came by that compass?" Will asked as Gibbs went to secure some rigging. Hearing this I turned my gaze from the graveyard and followed Will.

"Not a lot's known about Jack Sparrow before he showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after the treasure of the Isle de la Muerta." Gibbs said "That was before I met him, back when he was captain of the Black Pearl." he smiled he took a swig of his rum as Will spun around to look at him.

My eyes widened. Jack was the Black Pearl's captain? How did it end in Barbossa's hands?

The thing Jack wanted most… it was the Pearl. But why did he need Will in order to get it? What could Will do that other's couldn't? Did his have to do with Will's dad? Was Bill Turner part of Jack's crew then? When Jack was Captain of the fastest ship of the Caribbean?

God all this thinking was hurting my head.

"What?" Will asked. Gibbs froze with his canteen at his lips. "He failed to mention that." Will muttered

"Deliberately probably." I thought

"Well, he plays things closer to the vest now." Gibbs admitted as they turned to look at Jack at the helm.

"Is that why he has trust issues then?" I wondered crossing my arms, the two looked at me. Had they not known I was listening?

Gibbs nodded to my question.

"And a hard-learned lesson it was." he admitted "See three days out on the venture the first mate comes to him and says everything's an equal share. That should mean the location of the treasure, too, so Jack gives up the bearings." Will nodded in understanding as Gibbs shook his head in disappointment.

Barbossa tricked Jack and kicked him off his own ship?

"That night there was a mutiny." Gibbs said.

Answer; yes.

"They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die but not before he'd gone mad with the heat."

"So Jack was sane once?" I asked surprised, my eyebrows raising. Gibbs pursed his lips and sighed

"So that's the reason for all the…" Will rose his arms and stumbled slightly, shaking his head and blinking as though he's just woken up from being knocked unconscious.

"Reason's got nothing to do with it." Gibbs admitted. He sat down and Will sat opposite him, I stood between the two listening. "Now Will, when a man is marooned he is a given a pistol with a single shot — one shot. Well it won't do much good hunting or to be rescued. But after three weeks of a starvin' belly and thirst, that pistol will start to look real friendly." Gibbs made a gun motion and put his fingers to his temple. That was harsh, maroon a guy just so he can kill himself.

Pirates.

"But Jack — he escaped the island, and he still has that one shot. Oh, but he won't use it, though, save for one man. His mutinous first mate."

"Barbossa." Will realised

"Aye." Gibbs nodded

"How did Jack get off the island?" Will wondered and I looked at Gibbs. What insane story had the captain told?

"Well, I'll tell ye." Gibbs said happily "He waded out into the shallows and he waited three days and three nights till all manner of sea creature 'came and acclimated to his presence. And on the fourth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, lashed 'em together and made a raft." Gibbs grinned.

We were all silent for a minute.

"He roped a couple of sea turtles?" Will didn't believe it

That was just silly. He probably just got lucky — as usual — and a boat picked him up.

"Aye, sea turtles." Gibbs nodded. Will furrowed his eyebrows

"What did he use for rope?" Will asked. Gibbs opened his mouth but found he didn't know the answer. I turned to find Jack standing behind Will, listening. I tapped Will's shoulder and he and Gibbs turned to the captain also.

"Human hair… from my back." he answered. Gibbs nodded with a grin. I just sighed and rolled my eyes. Sure, stories were built from truth, but roping sea turtles is just ridiculous.

"Let go of the anchor!" Jack ordered

"Let go of the anchor, sir!" the crew chimed

"Young Mr Turner and I are to go ashore." Jack decided

"I'm coming." I said immediately

"No—" Jack began seriously, I pulled the pistol and aimed it at Jack again

"Who's almost cut and blew your head off several times?" I questioned, cutting him off. Jack eyed the barrel as he bit his tongue before turning away from me, no longer bothering to argue. I smirked in victory and moved to the boat, putting the pistol back.

"Christine," Will began

"Not interested." I said as I climbed into the long boat.

"Captain! What if the worst should happen?" Gibbs asked following Jack to the longboat. Jack thought

"Keep to the code." he said

"Aye, the code." Will watched him suspiciously as Jack followed me into the long boat.

"I'm glad we could come to terms." I smirked with a tip of my imaginary hat.

The long boat was released from the ship and the three of us moved towards the island.

The first thing we did was find the pearl. We sat by the rocks as Jack pulled out his telescope. Will leaned close to Jack looking at the ship also as silence dawned around us. I just leaned against the edge of the ship staring at the cloud covered sky waiting. I doubted the pirates would just anchor their ship and stay there, it'd be easier to get picked off by staying in a single place.

"Is she there?" Will asked, breaking the silence

"No." Jack answered lowering the telescope.

"Where is she?" Will questioned

"Probably on the island with the rest of the crew." I sighed. If they weren't on their ship and they'd docked by an island what other option was there."

"Not on the island." Jack corrected "In it."

"In it?" I questioned sitting up

"It's begun." and Jack pushed his telescope closed.

Jack, being the only one to know where the pirates were, rowed while Will held the lantern. I sat in the front, avoiding Jack's elbows which I swear were directed to me every so often, as I watched the cave come into sight and then the darkness surrounded us.

The walls of the cave widened and Will's light filled those we passed. I saw skeletons, some whole, some cracked and broken and some with swords sticking into them.

"What Code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?" Will asked, I turned to glance at him.

"Pirates Code." Jack answered as he rowed "Any man who falls behind, is left behind." Jack answered as they looked at the skeletons around us.

"Bit harsh." I mumbled.

"No heroes amongst thieves ay?" Will muttered. Jack looked annoyed and glanced at me. I shrugged, technically it was true. Pirates were selfish and self obsessed. They'd do all for themselves before even thinking about another.

"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way to becoming one." Will furrowed his eyebrows at Jack's words, who didn't even look at Will as he spoke.

"Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga," I followed Will's gaze as he looked into the water below us. It glittered and shined of gold that sat on the river bed. Jack followed his gaze "…and you're completely obsessed with treasure." Will looked at him annoyed as we reached the end of the river. I grabbed the rock and pulled out a piece of rope as I stepped from the wooden boat. Will and Jack following as Will pulling the boat onto the little ridge and took the rope from me. Jack walked past me further into the cave as Will threw a lasso to hold the boat in place.

"That's not true!" he snapped as I followed Jack. "I am not obsessed with treasure." he mumbled as he followed us. Jack creeped up to a hole in the wall that viewed the main cave. Barbossa and his men were gathered in the cave as Barbossa stood on a pile of treasure.

"Not all treasure is silver and gold mate." Jack admitted, I glanced at him and raised an eyebrow as he looked at me.

"Not all silver and gold is treasure." I switched his words and his eyes narrowed only slightly. I smiled as Will crept up to us and looked through the gap in the rock at the gathering. I followed his gaze as I saw Elizabeth. She stood behind a stone chest on top of the pile of treasure. She looked down at the pirates frightened.

"Gentlemen, the time has come!" Barbossa began, his voice echoing through the caves. "Our salvation is nigh! Our torment is near at end!"

Torment? What torment? What was going on? Why did they need Elizabeth?

It almost seemed like a ritual.

"Elizabeth." Will muttered seeing her as she looked over the pirates.

"For ten years we've been tested and tried, and each man jack of you here had proved his mettle a hundred times over and a hundred times again!" Barbossa cried. The pirates all cheered

"Suffered, I have." one muttered

"Punished, we were. The lot of us — disproportionate to our crimes!" I snorted in disagreement but listened intently to every word, trying to make sense of the reasoning behind the pirates actions.

"Here it is," Barbossa kicked the lid off the stone chest to reveal it filled with the identical pieces of gold. Elizabeth looked down at it as Barbossa ran his fingers over the gold "…the cursed treasure of Cortés himself." Will glanced at Jack.

Cursed…? Cortés…

I remembered that name. I had read a book about it a while back. A story about Hernán Cortés, who reigned terror with his armies, killing anyone in his path. In an attempt to make him stop, the Aztecs gave Cortés a payment. However, it only fuelled Cortés greed. For this the Heathen Gods apparently placed on the chest, a curse.

Was Barbossa seriously saying he and his crew were cursed and that the stories were real?

"Every last piece that went astray, we have returned… save for this." he pointed Elizabeth and I noticed the medallion around her neck. It was the one she took from Will.

"The medallion…" I muttered, ignoring the look Jack gave me as he heard my voice. Was it seriously part of the Aztec gold? I glanced at Will who was staring intently at Elizabeth.

How did Will get it? He wasn't cursed… I didn't think.

Will scrambled to get forward and do something.

"Jack!" he knocked some of the coins near us over as Jack grabbed his shoulder and pulled him down. I ducked immediately hoping no one heard the jingling of coins.

"Not yet." Jack said as they also ducked out of sight. "We wait for the opportune moment." Jack turned and left, Will immediately following. I glanced back at the pirates, checking no one had heard us before following the two boys.

"When's that?" Will questioned, standing behind Jack "When it's of greatest profit to you?" he accused. Jack stopped and turned to Will with annoyance. I stood behind the two

"May I ask you something?" Jack asked before he walked to Will, getting up inches into his face as he held his hands up. "Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?" he asked. I thought.

"Maybe the fact that you don't trust us." I mumbled more to myself, but both boys heard and gave me a look. I shrugged. It was true.

"Do us a favour…" Jack said again, turning back to Will, who did the same. "I know it's difficult for you, but please, stay here and try not to do anything stupid." Jack then turned and disappeared into the cave.

"Jack!" I snapped and gave Will a look before turning and going after the pirate. I caught up easily.

"You want us to trust you, trust us." I said as I stopped Jack and made him face me. "What are you planning on doing?" I asked

"Negotiating." he answered

"With what?" I asked confused. What could you have that Barbossa doesn't? Or needs for that matter?" Jack smiled

"Jack!" I said annoyed as he refused to answer.

"And who among us has paid the blood sacrifice owed to the heathen gods?" Barbossa asked, I turned my attention towards his voice.

"Us!" The pirates shouted

"And who's blood must yet be paid?"

"Hers!" Elizabeth? Why did they need her blood?

"You know the first thin I'm goin' to do after the curse is lifted?" Barbossa asked. Jack turned from me and continued to ran around the cave. "Eat a whole bushel of apples." I moved from my spot to find somewhere to find out what was happening. I poke my head around the rock wall to see Barbossa grab Elizabeth by the neck and forced her to bend over the chest. He grabbed a knife from on top of the coins. "Begun by blood… by blood undone."

Barbossa grabbed the medallion from Elizabeth's neck and placed it in her hand. He then proceeded to cut Elizabeth's palm with the knife. She gasped at the slight pain and then looked from the small cut to Barbossa.

"That's it?" Elizabeth asked. Barbossa placed his palm over her hand, causing her to close her fingers over the coin.

"Waste not." Barbossa said before he held her hand over the aztec gold and opened Elizabeth's fingers, dropping the medallion in with the others.

Barbossa needed the blood on the coin? But Elizabeth wasn't the owner… she took it from… I turned my head to where Jack had disappeared. Will. Jack could negotiate with Barbossa because Will was the one Barbossa wanted, not Elizabeth. Barbossa needed the blood of the owner of the medallion.

The crew all fell silent as Barbossa released Elizabeth and moved from her side, closing his eyes and waiting. Elizabeth examined her hand with a slight hiss at the stinging.

I moved for my spot to find Jack, careful as I walked past opened parts in the cave as to not be seen. He was going to give Will up in order to get the Pearl? As if! Sure he was a pirate but he seemed… like he had more of a conscience then the others. He just had trust issues…

"Did it work?" a pirate wondered as I walked

"I don't feel no different."

"How do we tell?" Suddenly a shot rang out through the caves and I instinctively ducked. The shot hadn't been at me and I continued on. I felt I had gotten lost in these labyrinth of tunnels. There hadn't been that many?

"You're not dead."

"No." one said thankfully "He shot me!" he realised

"It didn't work."

"The curse is till upon is!" Will really was the one they needed. I stopped as I looked down. Jack was lying on the cave floor, an oar by his body.

Why was Jack on the floor?

"You, maid!" Barbossa snapped "You're father, what was his name?" she didn't say anything "Was your father William Turner?" he grabbed Elizabeth

"No." she said with a slight smile.

Father? They needed Will's father? So was the medallion Will's dad's first?

I bent down and, after moving his knotted dreads, found his pulse. He was alive, just knocked out? I moved my eyes to the oar. He had been knocked out? Who would knock Jack out? The pirates would kill him and would have reported it first, right? If they mutinied him and he turned alive that seemed right.

The only other person here was… Will…

I rolled my eyes. Jack told Will to stay still. Will couldn't do such a thing and so, he knocked out Jack.

"I'm gonna shoot him." I muttered.

"Jack!" I shook the captain. He didn't stir. "Jack!"

"Where's his child?" Barbossa demanded, his voice echoing as I looked up. "The child that sailed from England eight years ago, the child in whose veins flows the blood of William Turner. Where?" So it was the family line they needed, not just Will himself.

I heard a smack and then the rustling of coins. I looked around again as I shook Jack some more.

"Come on you moron, get up!" I ground my teeth.

"You two! You brought us the wrong person!"

I turned Jack over as he laid on his stomach and pinched his jaw. How the hell do you wake a pirate without drawing attention? I looked around, I needed water, something to splash him with.

I got up and headed back to the boats, finding it a lot easier then I had Jack. I looked around before finding a bucket and filled it, carrying it back. I spilt a bit here and there before I held it above Jack's head. I tipped it, not spilling the entire contents and then placed my hand quickly over Jack's mouth as he gasped. I placed a finger to my lips, telling him to shut it.

"The medallion! She's taken it!" I looked up stunned, Elizabeth was gone? Did Will get here? "Get after her! You feckless pack of ingrates!" Barbossa barked.

"We need to leave now!" I whispered to Jack. He noticed the oar next to him and picked it up.

"Will…" he began

"I know, you can shoot him later." I said helping the captain to his feet. "By the way, I can't believe you were going to trade Will for a ship!" I snapped at him. He looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed as if he was confused. "Don't look at me like that." I hissed as I lead the way, Jack carrying the oar as he followed.

"No oars here."

"Where's the oars?"

"The oars have gone missing. Find them!"

I stopped as I noticed the boats were surrounded by pirates.

Oh crap.

They were looking around frantically before one of them spotted Jack and I. Suddenly, we were surrounded.

"You!" one pointed at Jack who was behind me

"You're supposed to be dead!" the one next to him claimed.

"Am I not?" Jack looked down at himself.

He suddenly grabbed my hand before turning to walk in the opposite direction, only to find a pistol pointed at his face.

"Oh." Jack muttered. I turned back and the two that had spoke also had guns on us. Looking around at them all I knew there'd be no point in even trying to defend myself. The gun pointed at my forehead had the safety clicked off as well as a few others who held up swords and daggers.

"I hate you." I said to Jack. He looked at me confused before looking around at everyone else, one of the guns getting pushed closer to his head.

"Palulay…" he began, his words all slurring together as if he was hung over. He was only knocked out, was his brain that jiggly? "Palu-li-la-la-lulu," he attempted again as the two pirates before us glanced at one another. "Parlili… parsnip, pasley, par - partner, partner…" Jack muttered

I sighed.

"Parley." I muttered crossing my arms.

"Parley! That's the one." Jack pointed at me and I rolled my eyes. He was a twit. "Parley! Parley!" Jack grinned looking around at the pirates.

"Parley?" Pintel ground through his teeth yellow together, he moved his gun closer to Jack's face as the captain pulled me further away by the elbow. "Down to the depths whatever man that thought up "parley!"" Jack lowered Pintel's gun and leaned towards him.

"That would be the French." Jack nodded. I raised an eyebrow

"Said who?" I questioned. They all looked at me "Morgan was welsh and therefore English and Bartolomeu was Portuguese." I said simply "There's no french in there." I said simply.

"Latin based." he said and I raised an eyebrow

"They also invented mayonnaise." Jack added, I cocked an eyebrow

"I like mayonnaise." one smiled to another next to him

"And you're so sure because?" I wondered. Jack looked at me as if it was a stupid question, I however still demanded an answer.

Jack opened his mouth but didn't have one.

"So in other words you're not." I said simply

"Says who?" Jack asked

"Me." I said simply.

"Shame about the french though." Jack suddenly said "Obsessed with raisins. Humiliated grapes really, think about it." Jack raised a hand and the pirates actually had calculated looks on their faces doing so.

"Don't know," the one in front said confused

"Terrific singers the french." he whistled "Eunuchs. All of them." Jack continued, I wonder was this his way and getting out of a pinch?

"Thats not right." one thought

"What's with you and eunuchs?" I asked Jack, he raised an eyebrow

"I used to date a eunuch." the same pirate admitted

"Seriously, that's the third time I think I've heard you mention them." I continued ignoring the pirate

"They're everywhere." Jack thought

"No they're not." I shook my head

"Yeah." he nodded

"A bedroom guard?" I raised my eyebrows and he nodded

"For oriental courts." he continued

"No." I shook my head again. Jack raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth the argue before the one cursing parley spoke.

"Shut it!" he snapped. We both looked at him.

"That's rude." Jack said

"We're trying to argue here." I agreed.

"Argue on your own dime." Jack and I both looked up to see Barbossa walking through the crowd. His eyes set on Jack, who only leaned on his oar grinning. I didn't think he'd be glad to see Barbossa but I guess as Will was gone he could play as much as he wanted… well until they killed us.

"How the blazes did you get off that island?" Barbossa questioned

"When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate." Barbossa waited "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." the captain smiled his toothy grin. I sighed. We were doomed, unless his weird amount of luck kicked in.

"Ah, well, I won't be making that mistake, again." Barbossa said as he walked towards his old captain. He turned to his crew "Gents, you all remember Captain Jack Sparrow?" he questioned. A few chuckled and they nodded.

"And who might this be?" Barbossa asked looking at me.

"No one." Jack shrugged. My eyes narrowed dangerously as I turned to look at him. Jack flinched.

"Christine Langford." I answered before turning to Barbossa. I smiled sweetly, faking it. "You happen to kidnap my cousin." the smile fell.

"Well," Barbossa smiled "Tills a small world." he answered and then turned to his crew. "Kill 'em." he said simply before turning to walk away. The pirates all pointed their guns at the us and I felt panic arise in me. Jack however was still grinning.

"The girl's blood didn't work, did it?" Jack asked, not at all swayed by the guns pointed at our heads. I looked at Jack annoyed, he'd better not…

Barbossa stopped in his tracks.

"Hold your fire!" he ordered and turned back around to Jack. One in particular cussed in disappointment but lowered his gun "You know whose blood we need?" Barbossa realised. Jack grinned

"I know whose blood ye need." Barbossa glanced at me and then to another crew member. A gun was pointed at my head again and I saw a slight panic in Jack's face. I looked at him, just by speaking I'd seen Jack get out of situations… I guess it was worth a try.

"You can't just steal any person apparently." I said simply turning back to Barbossa "Did you not think the medallion could have landed in Elizabeth's hands?" I wondered. Barbossa eyed me "She may not be a pirate, but seeing someone with such a medallion could worry the girl of the owner's possible hanging." I shrugged.

"You know the owner." Barbossa realised. My expression stayed cold as Jack looked between Barbossa and I worried.

"I do." I said simply "Not just their name." I glanced at Jack "But personally." Barbossa looked at the two of us. He then looked at the tall bald men behind him. A pirate grabbed my upper arms and began to push me towards the boats.

"What did you do?" Jack demanded

"What I've witnessed you do quite a few times now." I muttered glancing at my captor. "Babbled." I said simply. Being able to uses me as leverage apparently appeased to the captain.

"By the way," I said and looked at him again "You give up my friend and I'll cut your head off." I snapped angrily. I had no intention of handing Will over to these pirates and I'll be damned is Jack did.

I was pushed into one of the boats and Jack was pushed down next to me.

"If I'm not to give up you friend when why did you offer to?" Jack asked, whispering in my ear

"I'm not actually." I said simply "I'm not a pirate, I will put others before myself." I said, almost insulting him. He did look taken aback and I gave him an innocent smile.

Someone pushed the boat away from the ledge and after a while of just floating out of the cave — as we had no oars — we found them. There was a trail of oars leading through the water to where the Interceptor had been sitting. Though now, it was gone.

Will left us. Okay so no surprise he left Jack, but he left me! I can't believe he just left!

I grounded my teeth in aggravation as the pirates collected the oars and handed them around to the boats.

Soon the black ship, with ripped sails and fog surrounding the vessel came into view.