AN: Hmm...don't have much to say...except this begins the countdown to the end. Only three more chapters! Ha ha...I am so excited...

Oh, and thank you to those who are still reviewing...I LOVE reviews! Please keep giving them!

As always...enjoy.

We must have walked only for ten minutes before coming to the first trap.

For me it felt like an eternity.

My mind was numb, as with most of my body at the moment. I couldn't think about anything; not Jack, though there was still a lingering feeling of sorrow warping around me like a heavy blanket. Not Belmont, and how he had it in his head to murder us all. Not how to escape from this death sentence. The only thing that remained in my head was to put one foot in front of the other, and that Ella was still walking by my side.

Nothing seemed real; no real danger, no real threat, no real problem. Just a hazy walk down the tunnel.

Then came the trap.

I stopped, initially because the bruise on my side was no longer numb, but burning painfully, making it hard to breathe. But then I realized that, about twenty steps ahead of us, the floor abruptly turned from packed dirt to stone. I stopped Ella, grabbing her collar.

"Don't move," I croaked. "Something is different. And I don't trust it."

Belmont halted behind me. "Good. A decent pathway." He shoved me forward. "Keep moving."

I turned around. "It's different. Doesn't that make you in the least bit suspicious? This maze was designed to keep people away." I faced the stones again and, glancing to the side, noticed a small stone pillar. Peeking in, I saw something liquid, and I dipped my torch in, setting the oil on fire. The orange streak raced down the wall, illuminating the left side of the tunnel, which, now that everything could be seen, had increased significantly when the stone pathway began. The light kept burning onward till it disappeared behind a curve, after which, the stone suddenly gave way to a dirt path again.

Yeah, it was suspicious.

"Nobody go onto the stone until I've finished understanding the instructions," I ordered, for indeed, after studying the map closer, a small picture had been drawn resembling the stone pathway, and a paragraph of instructions was put neatly to the side.

Surprisingly, everyone obeyed, and I stood there with my torch, trying to make any sense of the words in front of me. No matter the way I turned it around in my head, the words had no rhyme, no reason (even in Latin).

Like the Gates of Hell, this path doth lead

To pass and live, your feat shall be

Touch not your soul to jealously or rage

Nor the royal cloak of kingdoms twain

But give your soul to the Blood of the Lord

And the Light of the Spirit

If thou fail, the spears of the devil

Shall cast your soul into the pit of sorrow

"It doesn't make sense," I moaned, slumping up against the wall.

Ella came over. "What does it say?"

I repeated the stanza to her, and she, along with Belmont, Richard, Elizabeth, and Barbossa (all within the vicinity) frowned.

Jack, once again, hardly raised his head.

"That doesn't sound like something a native would write," commented Richard after a pause. "All that business about God and the Spirit."

"They didn't. the Spaniards wrote this. The ones who survived, anyway. And they were crazy." I glanced at Jack, the person who had told me of the stories. He was looking at the pathway now, and where I had perceived practically no emotion, I saw rage. Frustration. Betrayal.

I grimaced and buried my head into the map again, Ella squeezing my shoulder with comfort.

A group of pirates came forward, apparently listening to me as well. "So, we just pray, and then we walk across?" Their eyes looked at me for an answer.

"Doubtful. Natives made the maze; the Spanish just wrote how to get through. Of course, they managed to make so cryptic its practically impossible--"

I was cut short as the same group of pirates ignored my comment and began to walk across.

WHOOSH!

Only two men were able to touch the stones before the same two were suddenly speared by, well, spears, hurtling the bodies to the right side of the tunnel, only to disappear into a pit. A pit no one had noticed until now. The spears themselves had come from the left side, where the light was, and, though it was hardly discernable, small circles could be seen lining the wall.

Belmont peeked over the pit. "So the spears of the devil and the pit of sorrow are literal. What does the rest mean?"

I stood up and shrugged. "I don't know. I just don't know."

Belmont began to laugh, a horrible, maniacal laugh that made my blood run cold. "Well, I don't have all day to spend sitting here in the tunnel. I give you five minutes to figure this out, or," he grabbed Ella from my side, "she walks across without any instructions. Do I make myself clear?"

I my heart leapt into my throat. "Please, don't! I'll figure it out, I just need time. Its just a riddle."

"Once she goes, then so will everyone else you hold dear until a path has been figured out," continued Belmont, his voice getting harsher and harsher.

I paled, staring at Ella. She was staring back. "Read it again. Slowly."

I did as told.

My mind was numb. "I don't get it. Why emotions? Why…?"

Ella was quiet for a brief moment. "The Spaniards were Catholic, right?"

"Yes." My hands were shaking. I needed to focus. Just focus.

"Catholicism uses a lot of symbols. Right?"

Symbols. Religion. "Yes."

Ella walked toward the stone pathway. "The emotions are symbolizing something. Look at the stones."

I came next to her and grasped her hand, just to make sure was really there. The stones, actually, were not just gray stones, but multi-colored; green, red, yellow, purple, and orange to be exact. It was paint that gave the color, and much had chipped away, but each was still a distinct color. They appeared to be in no particular order.

"The colors," I croaked. "But…"

"What are the things in the instructions?" prompted Ella.

"Jealousy, rage, royal cloak, Blood of the Lord, Light of the Spirit."

"Okay, okay…"murmured Ella. And then she smiled. "Jealously is green.

I nodded. Obviously. How could I not see that before? Oh, right; I was going into shock at the thought of losing everyone. No wonder my head wasn't working properly.

"Red is the blood. And yellow, I think, would be the light. But…purple…"

"Royal cloak," I answered hoarsely. "Purple was the symbol of royalty."

"Okay. Than orange would be rage. There. Touch not your soul, or feet, to green, orange, or purple. Only red and yellow."

She smiled. "Follow me."

I nodded helplessly, and closed my eyes as she stepped on the first safe stone, a yellow. Nothing happened. Then she stepped on another yellow. Same.

I could feel my blood returning to my appendages, which were previously freezing with fear. Ella was safe. Safe. Safe…

I followed quickly, desperate to stay by her side. The yellow and red stones led a zigzag path across, a pattern I was surprised that I missed. Now that the puzzle was solved, everything was so clear and…evident. How could I have had missed the symbols? I had taken two AP English classes, for pete's sake. I should know all about symbols.

Despite knowing that yellow and red were safe, the whooshing sound of spears was still heard; either from people tripping, or thinking they could get across the other colors if they just went fast enough. Every time a spear left from its holding place, my heart stopped, praying it wasn't someone I knew. But I didn't dare turn back and look.

The crossing to the other side seemed to stretch on forever, and once I collapsed next to Ella, I realized it had taken no time at all, maybe seven minutes. Belmont arrived with Jack stumbling in front of him, and I had an urge to run up and hug him, but our eyes met, and all I saw was anger. Of course he was angry at me, I got us into this mess. Or so it seemed.

Suddenly, I became livid, viciously and irrevocably livid, at the thought that he dare blame me for all this. Who knows what could have happened?

But, yet, I couldn't seemed to stay angry at him.

The two emotions fought in my head, battling it out as men continued to cross the stones. I was infuriated, yet miserable and guilty. I gritted my teeth and shut my eyes, trying to block everything out. The pocket watch…if only I could figure out how to work it, I could leave. Ella and I could leave. And Richard, probably. Ella wouldn't go anywhere without him. I'd save everybody, and then we'd leave. Disappear. I would never have to speak to Jack again.

The thought of that wrenched me, because I did want to speak with him again. I wanted him to smile, wanted him to be his ridiculously cocky self and insisted that we were going to get out of this because he was Captain Jack Sparrow. I wanted him to laugh, insult Belmont, talk about how wonderful his ship was. Anything but this.

Ella placed a hand on my cheek. "Get up, Finn. You look like your dying."

I opened my eyes, and a few tears fell onto my shirt. "We're going to make it out alive." The promise was hollow, but I had felt compelled to say it.

"I know."

"I'm going to get us home. Our real home."

Ella's eyes held the faintest shadow of doubt, but it went away and was replaced by hope. "I know."

"I want things to be normal again. I want to go to college."

"I know."

I closed my eyes and breathed, slow and steady. I needed to focus. Don't think about anyone except Ella. Don't think about anything but the map. I could trust both at the moment to not give me pain. They were the things that could help. And help was what I needed.

Elizabeth came over, tailed by her two guards. "Here, Winnie, let me help you up." I took her outstretched hands and heaved myself to standing position. Her eyes were miserable and pained, and suddenly I felt very selfish. Yes, Jack was ignoring me, but I hadn't lost a husband. Elizabeth had, and I could still see a glimmer of determination and strength in her face. She had been through much worse, and was still standing.

"How are you?" I asked. It was a stupid question, but it had occurred to me that we hadn't seen each other for at least two months, maybe longer.

Elizabeth sighed. "I'm alive. I'm amazed at the problems I manage to land myself into."

I gave a halfhearted smile. Yes, we were alive. Looking at Ella and Elizabeth, I could feel vigor and faith returning. I wasn't alone.

Belmont surged through our little group, snatching my sleeve, and dragging me roughly to the front again. "We continue, Miss Delaney."

I straightened the map and put my torch out in front of me. Ella had found herself to my side again, and Elizabeth was behind me with Richard next to her. This was possible. I could do this.

We walked again, this time for maybe fifteen minutes, until we came upon a strange sight. A pond was in front of us, clear and flawless.

Very suspicious.

I studied the phrase etched next to the small drawing of the pond before announcing it to everyone.

"The path is straight and narrow

But hidden to those

Who seek the easy path of the Devil

Who shall never escape his burning fury"

Everyone was silent, no longer daring to touch the water, not after the stones. My accusations of these things being dangerous were no longer being taken lightly.

"So…we're looking for a path?" asked Barbossa, who had joined the small circle surrounding me. "A straight and narrow path? Or is this another moment of symbolism?"

"I don't know," I growled, peeved that he was even close to me. I was still a little bitter after what happened at the ball, and though he was no longer trying to kill me, I hardly trusted him.

He raised an eyebrow in amusement. "I am simply trying to offer my services, Miss Delaney."

I wanted to say I had no need of his services, but clamped my mouth shut before anything could escape. I'd probably regret it later. "I'm wondering what part the pond plays in this."

Ella leaned over it curiously. "It doesn't smell like water…I mean, not really a smell…but…" she got as close as she could without touching it. "It's not…humid. It's not water."

I came next to her and sniffed. "Acid. It's acid, I'm almost sure of it."

Confused looks met me as I turned around, and I tried to remember how much science was available to these people, though I stopped as quickly as I started, and instead explained, "The pond will burn you. Don't touch it."

"So the pond is the burning fury…" speculated Ella.

"And most likely also the easy path," added Elizabeth. "But where is the safe path?"

I looked down the middle of the pond. "The safe path is hidden to those who seek the easy path. We don't look at the pond. We need to look elsewhere."

The absurdity of my remark hit everybody at the same time, and upon turning to face the large crowd, I recieved many blank or frustrated stares. The pond surrounded the entire tunnel for at least a hundred feet. There was no where to walk.

Behind me I heard a horrified gasp from Ella, and turning, saw Belmont shove Richard forward, and then point his pistol at Ella. "Five minutes, Master Tremaine."

My face went white, but Richard's became the same shade as a ghost. I could see him muttering the instructions, his lips twitching frantically. He stared at the pond.

Why Richard? Why not me? I was the one with the map. As I stared at Belmont with fury and horror, I realized something. This man was mad. There was no reasoning behind anything he did. Sure, he could pretend to be sane and collected, but inside he was crazy. Insane.

"Not to the middle. That's the easy way," I reminded, coming next to Richard. He needed help, just as much as I desperately needed support. "The first thing anyone would think to do is swim. What would be the last?"

"I…I don't know," he moaned. "There isn't another way. Just this…pond."

"Three minutes," warned Belmont gleefully.

I took Richard's hand. "You can't give up; you don't quit. I know that. We need to think. What would be the last possible thing we would even think of? Even if it seemed impossible?"

Richard stared at the place blankly. "I don't…" he swallowed the rest of the sentence, then closed his eyes, obviously thinking hard. "Scale the wall. That's impossible."

I looked to the left side of the tunnel, where the line of fire stood, the same I had lit at the stone pathway. Nothing was there. The other side, the right side, had nothing but vines in the way. Nothing there.

"One minute."

Ella let out a quiet sob before clasping her mouth. I looked at her fearfully, then back at Richard. But he was no longer where I had left him. He was walking toward the vines.

"Straight and narrow, right?" He pushed the vines away from the wall to reveal a tiny strip of stone protruding from the edge of the wall. "Very narrow. We need to hold the vines to stay on."

Behind me Belmont un-cocked his gun. "It seems all you need is the right motivation. Men, onward."

Richard went first, and I followed, careful to do exactly as he was doing. We were able to traverse the ropes course in safety, and so were Ella, Elizabeth, Jack, and (unfortunately) Barbossa. Belmont nearly slipped, and for a split second, a wonderful, glorifying second, I thought we were freed, but, a man behind him caught the Commodore.

Most everyone was able to cross in relatively good time; there were the three unfortunate souls who tripped and fell into the pond. They never surfaced.

Gritting my teeth again, I looked down the tunnel. The torches were no longer needed, because of the strip of light on the left, but I still held mine out anyway. There was more. And I was scared.

"It's…it's a riddle. At least I think it is," I mumbled, almost too softly for anyone to hear. We were now standing in front of a horrible sight: four ropes, all attached to the ceiling in some fashion. Beyond that, directly beyond that, was a large chasm.

"Well?" prompted Belmont greedily. "What is the riddle?"

"Thou Shall Not Kill

Though Kill is correct

To cross the way

And save the soul

Or thou wilt fall

Into the bottomless pit

The devil hath made

To destroy us all."

I stared at the stanza. "Thou-Shall-Not-Kill. All of those are capitalized; or that's their translated equivalent. And kill is capitalized again." Now I stared at the ropes. "Kill. Ropes." I turned to Ella helplessly, but didn't dare say I saw no connection.

Sensing my need for at least some encouragement, she leaned over the map, and then looked at the chasm. "Bottomless pit? Well, that's probably literal. And to cross the way…that sounds like a bridge." She looked up at me questioningly.

I nodded in agreement. "So…we chose a rope, I suppose…and…pull?"

Ella looked at the ropes again. "Yeah, I guess. What else can you do with ropes?"

"So the wrong one--"

"Ones," she corrected.

"--ones lead to the pit, while the right one gives us the way to cross."

"That sounds pretty close. Very Indiana Jones."

"Very Holy Grail," I agreed.

We glanced over to Belmont, Barbossa, Elizabeth, Richard, and surprisingly Jack, all who were in hearing range of our conversation. The expression was the same: unabashed confusion.

I smiled, or at least as much as the situation allowed. "Don't worry. We understand each other. We have the connection."

More blank stares. Despite the obvious lack of comprehension from just about everyone, I couldn't help but feel…less stressed. Just talking with Ella was making things better. If only she had been their for the past four years…how much easier it would have been…

"Then what is this business about 'thou shall not kill?'" asked Barbossa.

"Advice to you," mumbled Ella under her breath. I almost choked from not laughing.

He waited, clearly not able to her Ella's comment.

"I…am not…entirely sure. It's a riddle," I answered after collecting myself, as if that explained everything.

"That is apparent, Miss Delaney," growled Belmont, shoving his way past Barbossa. "Now figure it out."

I braced myself, waiting for him to cock the gun at another person, and indeed, the gun moved to Jack. I swallowed. "Let me guess. Five?"

Belmont nodded.

Jack raised his head slightly to look at me. Angry. Still.

My face went white, but I fought to regain my rationality. A riddle. I could figure out a riddle. Somehow. I had promised Jack we were getting out of this alive, and even if he never talked…I forced the thought from my mind…I was going to keep my promise.

Shuffling over to the edge, I glanced down. Nothing. I looked at the ropes. Nothing. Nothing to even suggest any type of connection to the riddle. "The riddle is telling us which rope to choose. 'Kill is correct': that's one thing; and only that one thing lets us cross the way. So one rope is symbolizing Kill. But…" I shoved my hands into my hair, clenching and unclenching my fists. Rope…Kill. What connection was there? Nooses are made of rope…which kill…but there were four ropes…this wasn't connecting…this wasn't connecting…

"Winnie, what is that under your foot?"

I looked up at Richard, who was staring intently at my feet. Looking down, I saw a crudely carved shape, and after backing away, saw that it was an 'N.' It didn't look like it originally belonged there, as if, as an after thought, someone had quickly added it on.

N.

I looked down at the riddle again.

Thou Shall Not Kill.

Everything was capitalized.

This 'N' was a capital N.

I raised my head. There was a rope in front of me.

To the left of me, and in front of the next rope, was a 'S'.

And to the right, was a 'K'.

I gasped and moved next to Richard. "Look! Thou-Shall-Not-Kill!" I pointed to each letter in accordance with the word. Ella and Elizabeth moved their heads with my hand, realization dawning.

"And," I ran over to the far right rope, which had the 'K', "Kill is correct! This is the one! The Spanish must have added these on later, to figure out which rope was safe! Of course, the way they did it was absolutely irrational..." I took the rope in my hands and pulled, though I wasn't strong enough, and Barbossa (much to my chagrin) came to assist me. A large click was heard, and from below us, a platform was emerging across the chasm to the other side.

I looked back at Belmont, who had removed the gun, and then glanced hopefully at Jack. He seemed hardly fazed, considering he was being threatened with his life, though that happened quite often. But still angry. Always angry now.

My stomach churned. How could he be so…unforgiving? I was trying…I was trying so hard to make things right…

Ella took my arm and linked hers through. "Come on, Finn. Let's go." She glanced over at Jack, where my eyes still were, and set her mouth in a frustrated line. "We still have a long way to go. You can do this, and I know it."

"Actually," I answered, looking down at the map, "we only have one more…ah…trap to maneuver." I sighed miserably. "And it doesn't look fun."