bmdrose- Thanks! :D

ffffffff- Thank you!

Valor- Hope you enjoy this one!

Nelle07- I know she should learn to keep it shut!

keiraliz- I know lol!

Sparrpw'sWing21- Is she brave or just stupid? You're right about her having to stay put though. I'm glad you like it!

James stared at me, I'd been caught. He knew who I was; I could see it in his eyes. He reached over and lifted off my hat and wig in one motion. My hair tumbled out of where it had been concealed.

"Isabel!" he roared, standing up so suddenly he made the boat rock violently. I stood up too and before he could say anything I turned and dove into the sea. The sound of his shouting was muffled by the water as I swam away. It was freezing, but I was having such an adrenaline rush I barely noticed. I couldn't believe me own daring. I had just run away from my brother to join forces with a pirate. I'd done what I thought was right and this time I was determined not to regret it.

It was further to swim that I thought it was and I got tired half way through, but I press on until exhausted and bedraggled I dragged myself out of the water. I caught my breath before I made my way into the cave. There was no sound of fighting or argument as I drew nearer. There was an orange glow coming from the heart of the cave. I peered around one of the entrances into the cave. Everyone had their backs to me except from Barbossa and Jack who were standing on either side of the chest. Will stood between them with his hands tied. He was alive!

I stopped silently celebrating and paid attention to what Jack was saying. "You order your men to row over to the Dauntless and they do what they do best," he grinned and the cave was full of laughter. I didn't understand. Had he already lifted the curse? "Bob's your uncle, Fannie's your aunt; there you are with two ships, the makings of your very own fleet. `Course you'll take the grandest as your flag ship and who's to argue, but what of the Pearl? Name me Captain and I'll sail under your colours, I'll give you ten percent of me plunder and you get to introduce yourself as 'Commodore' Barbossa. Savvy?"

What was he doing?

"I suppose in exchange you want me not to kill the whelp?" Barbossa sighed. Jack shook his head.

"No by all means kill the whelp," he said, my jaw dropped. I watched with growing fury as he put his hand into the chest and picked up several coins. As he spoke he threw them back in with a clink. "But wait to lift the curse until the opportune moment. For instance, once you've killed Norrington's men. Every-" clink "-last-" clink "one" clink. Each loud clink of metal hitting metal screamed betrayal.

"You've been planning this from the binning ever since you learnt my name!" Will spoke up as I stood frozen with shock and rage.

"Yeah," Jack nodded. Barbossa was looking thoughtful.

"I want fifty percent of your plunder."

"Fifteen," Jack countered. Blood rushing in my ears drowned out the sound of the two men bartering. Jack had condemned me, James, Elizabeth, Will and every other man aboard the Dauntless to death in order to achieve his own ends. My hands were shaking I was so angry. My feet carried me forward without me realizing they were doing so. Jack's face filled with horror. I glared at him. I was screaming at him too without knowing I was. I had gone into a state of shock and so had most of the crew, I think. I don't think they were expecting to see me dressed as man burst into their gathering like this screaming and ranting at the top me voice for the entire world to her. I called Jack every name under the sun. Hot tears of betrayal burned my eyes as I stormed forward pushing the stunned pirates out of the way. I didn't let them spill out though. Will was frantically shaking his head at me, but I ignore him. I reached for my sword. I would fight every last one of these pirates or die trying. I'd start with Jack.

His round eyes were fixed on my face and his mouth silently formed the word 'Isabel'. Just as I began to unsheathe my sword I felt a heave blow to my head. Blood trickled into my eyes and the floor came rushing up to meet me. Then I remember nothing but blackness.

***

I don't know how long I was asleep, but when I woke up the cave was silent except form one person calling my name softly. A man's voice. I could feel dried blood on my forehead and taste it where it had trickled onto my lips. Someone was gently stroking my hair away from my face. With a huge effort I turned my head. Dark brown eyes stared back at me. Jack was kneeling by my side. His features lit up with relief.

"Go away!" I said as forcefully as I could.

"No," he shook his head. "Izzy, you don't understand. I'm still on your side. I need you to know that, love."

"You weren't on my side; you were going to kill me!" I said. "Me and everyone else aboard the Dauntless!"

"No, love, I wasn't, I swear," he said. "It'll make sense I promise. Barbossa's 'gents' are 'taking a walk' and I don't know where he's gone, but he'll be back soon. Lie still and trust me."

I looked at him. He had the same hatred in his eyes when talking about Barbossa and the desperation in his voice to make me understand was clear. I nodded. He smiled. I turned over to my original position and heard him walk away. I was lying inches from the water.

Minutes past and Barbossa came back in. I heard the sound of other feet following his.

"They're away," he announced.

"Right," Jack replied. There was a pause. I concentrated on lying still.

"I must admit, Jack," said Barbossa thoughtfully, "I thought I had you figured, but it turns out you're a hard man to predict."

"Me?" Jack replied. I could almost hear the smile in his voice. "I'm dishonest and you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly. It's the honest ones you have to watch out for because you can never tell when they're going to do something incredibly… stupid."

There was a splash and the clang of swords. I turned around. Will was free and Jack was engaged in a fight with Barbossa and a few of his remaining men were advancing on Will. I drew my sword and ran to help him.

It was more a case of dodging blows than having a fair fight as they couldn't die. At some point during the fight I turned to see Jack stab Barbossa. I was fascinated by the lack of blood. Barbossa didn't even flinch. He sighed and pulled out the sword.

"You can't beat me, Jack," he said and pushed the sword through Jack's ribs. I screamed as Jack's eyes grew wide. He tried to choke out a few words as he staggered back wards in slow motion. I stood frozen, watching his body slowly fall backwards into the moonlight.

My tears were blurring my vision, so at first I didn't take in what was happening. As the moonlight touched his skin the flesh fell away and he turned to a skeleton. I could see where the sword was jammed between his ribs. He pulled something small and golden out of his pocket. It was a piece of the cursed treasure.

"Couldn't resist, mate," he said. He pulled out the sword and he and Barbossa started fighting again. I tingled with relief.

"Isabel!" Will shouted. I turned and only just managed to block a sword that was flying towards me. I fought him until we were standing in patch of moonlight. My sword caught one of the bones in his neck and his head came clean off. The skeleton got to its knees and tried to feel around for his head. I ran back over to where I was surprised to see that Elizabeth had joined the fight. She and Will had somehow managed to spear three skeletons to a pole. They lit a grenade into the middle one and pushed them all back into the shadows. There was a massive explosion and body parts flew everywhere.

Elizabeth and I turned and began to fight the pirate who had by now found his head and re-attached it. I lost track of where Will was and pretty soon I'd lost Elizabeth as well.

The sound of a gunshot cracking through the air stopped all the fighting in its tracks. At first when I turned to see what was going on I thought Barbossa had shot Elizabeth and my heart flew into my mouth, but then I saw Jack was also holding a gun. He had shot Barbossa.

"Ten years you carry that pistol and now you waste your shot," Barbossa sneered.

"He didn't waste it," said Will triumphantly. He was standing over the chest. He dropped two bloodstained medallions into the chest. One had his blood on it and the other had Jack's. The curse was lifted. It was too late for Barbossa. He pulled back his coat to reveal a wound from where the bullet had gone in. Dark red blood poured out of it and drenched his shirt.

"I feel," he said in amazement. Then his eyes became glassy as he looked up at us. His last word was whispered, "… cold."

His body became rigid and lifeless as he fell backwards onto the mound of gold. It was too late for the other pirates and they fell lifelessly to the ground. I knew that the cursed pirates James was fighting would meet the same fate.

Elizabeth and I hugged. We'd done it! We had defeated the pirates and made it out alive. As Will approached Elizabeth I looked over to Jack. The happiness I'd felt vanished. Now it was time to say goodbye. I had helped defeat a crew of pirates, escaped the wrath of my brother, suffered a hangover and stormed into a cave full of pirates, but I didn't know I was brave enough to do this. It was time to say goodbye to Jack.

That was the second last chapter people!

I'm getting quiet sad now it's almost over! :(

Thanks for reading!