Long time no see! I am so, so, SO sorry for not updating in months! I have been so busy that I haven't had time (or much inspiration) to finish this chapter. I am in the process of moving out of state, and the preparation is unbelievable. But the new chapter is finally here! The end is near, there's only about two chapters left or so, I can't believe it! I hope all of you enjoy the update; I'll try to update faster next time. Let me know what you think! XOXO
"Sam! Sam, will you slow down for a second?"
I had to briskly jog to keep up with his hurried pace. I could tell by his straightened back (and him ignoring me) that he was agitated. I knew he wasn't happy with me because I sided with Nate, wanting to get off the island. I admit that my indecisiveness on wanting to see Avery's treasure through to pay off Simmons, then changing my mind to just fleeing the island was frustrating even for myself. I'm not a fickle person by nature, but I was sick of this island and this Goddamn endless treasure hunt.
Still, Sam had so much passion and was depending on my support, so I felt guilty. I knew the cost of not paying Simmons… it meant torture for me, possible death to my daughter and anyone I care about. I had no choice, both to protect my child and to support Sam. Don't get me wrong, I was still pissed that he had lied, but we both had a similar goal.
"Sam, can you please stop and talk to me," I grabbed his shoulder gently. He whirled around, his eyes blazing with determination, and yes, agitation.
"So, you want to come along now," Sam huffed.
I cupped his face with my hands, staring up at him and trying to get him to calm down and focus. It seemed to work for a moment, I noticed Sam's breathing began to slow.
"I know I've been wishy-washy, but I've come to a few realizations and I've made up my mind," I began, taking a deep breath myself. "I'm going to help you get Avery's treasure for a few reasons-"
Sam gripped my right wrist and gently pulling it away from his face. "You still think Simmons is on the island?"
"I know he is… that man, that monster does not give up, but he's not the only reason I've decided to come with you."
Sam glanced behind him at the path, leading to more forestation and a cliff. I know he was getting antsy on the fact that Rafe's men were closing in. I gripped his cheek again and turned his head back toward me.
"Listen, this will only take a second," I told him, "there's something else you need to know."
Sam rose his eyebrows, "another secret?"
Now it was my turn to get agitated.
"Don't even think of using that tone with me, Drake, not after what you did," I jabbed my pointer finger into his chest, trying to contain my hostility. "There is something important that I had to keep quiet for the past ten years so Rafe wouldn't find out."
"Can't this wait," Sam interjected, looking like he was ready to take a step back.
"No, it can't, dammit! I have a much bigger stake in this than Simmons. I want to tell you this because I care about you, Sam, and you have the right to know. After I fled from Rafe and went into hiding, I discovered I was pregnant again."
I saw the color drain from Sam's face almost instantly. "Wait, so you had another child after Holden?"
I nodded, "it was a complete shock, and Rafe doesn't know. After I had the baby I put her in my cousin's custody so she'd be kept safe. Her name is Vera, and she's nine years old now."
Sam placed his hand over his mouth, and turned away from me. He was silent for a minute, in deep thought. For a brief moment of terrible dread, I thought he was going to end things here and now. A child means emotional baggage and too much responsibility for some people.
"Please say something," I pleaded.
"This… damn, this is a lot to take in. Getting this treasure will get Simmons and Rafe off your back. If you don't deliver Avery's treasure to Simmons, that puts your life and your daughter's at risk."
"Yes. No one knows about Vera, but Simmons is ruthless and has contacts you wouldn't believe." I gripped Sam's arm so he'd look at me again, "Simmons is more dangerous and insane than I can put into words. I'm scared of what will happen, and also if Rafe finds out…" I shuddered at the thought.
"We need to keep moving if we're going to beat Rafe there," Sam informed me.
He was right, we had to get moving.
Getting to Avery's ship was as dangerous as dealing with Simmons. The leaps, nearly collapsing bridges, swinging on decaying rope, and how high we were climbing was a near-death sentence. As I've mentioned many times, climbing is not my strong-suit. I had nearly slipped more times than what I was comfortable with, and Sam had to catch me, putting his life in jeopardy. I was so relieved that he had taken the news of Vera's existence well. What we would do if we survived getting off this island, I didn't know. It was hard to look that far into the future.
Eventually we had found it, descending into a wet, dark cave where part of the ocean had found its way in. Inside was an old ship, undoubtedly it had to be Avery's ship. As we carefully made our way down, I could see the excitement in Sam's eyes. This is something he'd been working over a decade to find. I smiled to myself, letting him have his moment. To our grave disappointment Rafe, Nadine, and his men had already arrived. The numbers of the men had greatly decimated, and they looked worn. Chests of treasure was beside them, resting on an ancient dock as Orca and Knot heaved it onto a small motorboat.
"Shit, Sam what do we do now?"
"There's another motorboat we can use to get inside. That can't be all the treasure inside," Sam made his way lower down the rocks, nearing the waters edge.
Rafe was nowhere in sight, not on the docks at least. Nadine watched the last two of her men load the boat, looking worn and almost unsatisfied. From her rigid posture, I could tell she was just as done with this island as the rest of us.
Sam and I started to swim in the clear (and freezing) water toward the dock. We had to swim slow so we wouldn't splash too loud, but Sam's impatience and eagerness was getting the better of him. We got close enough to the dock to hear Nadine and her men speaking as we swam under the dock and around to the other motorboat.
"We almost done here," Nadine asked.
"This is the last of them, ma'am," Knot answered.
That's all we heard. Right as Sam and I climbed on the boat, he started the motor and zoomed off so fast I nearly slipped overboard. I didn't bother to look back to see if they were going to chase us. Our getaway wasn't exactly discreet, but the ship was so close now hardly anything else mattered. I felt so moved that we had finally made it to this point that I nearly cried. There was no time to sit and become emotional, right when the boat pulled up beside the ancient ship, we climbed out and went onto the ship.
"Rafe could be right behind us. How are we going to do this," I asked Sam as we wandered around the dock.
He rigorously searched for a way inside. Sam felt every floorboard, feeling for a hollow sweet-spot that would give. I watched him nervously, feeling eyes watching me and closing in. I went to go help him search, but he stopped me.
"Tread lightly, I'm sure Avery filled this ship with traps."
The sound of a revving motorboat engine made me finally look back over my shoulder. Rafe and his posse were approaching quickly.
"Sam, we have to go now!"
"Here," Sam exclaimed, removing a plank of wood so we could drop underneath the dock.
We both slipped in and dropped into the unknown darkness of the ship. We were greeted with piles of gold and other brilliantly shining treasure, all scattered about with the slanting ship. There was so much gold I couldn't even fathom the sheer amount or its worth, and this wasn't even the whole ship, just one layer below the surface. Sam had found an elegantly decorated door suspended by rope and pulled it up, exposing a room that completely shown with gold.
We had found the real jackpot.
Sam and I entered the room in what felt like slow motion. There was so much gold that some of it had to be suspended overhead in nets. We were in absolute awe, Rafe's approaching men had become an afterthought. I didn't have a clue how we were going to get any of this gold off the ship, most of it looked extremely heavy, but we had made it. We had found Libertalia, found Avery's long-lost treasure, and even found Avery and Tew's final resting place. Inside this room two skeletal remains with swords stabbed through the bones lay on the floor.
Before we could take another step, an explosion erupted from behind us, sending the both of us airborne. The ship creaked and groaned in protest, sending debris of wood flying, the structure crippling as one of the traps was triggered. I don't know where I ended up, but I struck my head on something hard. My vision darkened and my ears violently rang. I recall smelling smoke and feeling suddenly very warm, but most of that moment was a blur. There were three voices arguing, but none of them were Sam's. Eventually my eyes opened. I was facedown against the ship, and there was a dull pain shooting up my left hand. Flames danced around me, but my head hurt far too much to lift it and look around. Something warm and wet dripped into my eyes, stinging them. I had no choice but to shut my eyes again.
"You open this goddamn door right now!"
That was Rafe's voice, but the constant ringing in my ears made everything sound so muffled. I used my right hand to wipe my eyes, and tried to open them again. My hands were covered with blood. I felt a tender spot right above my forehead, feeling a gash that was gushing blood. I finally willed myself to sit up, but a violent jolt of pain in my left hand made me stop. I looked over to my left to find my hand and part of my arm stuck beneath of giant wooden pillar. By instinct I went to pull, only to be rewarded with another surge of terrible pain.
I let out an agonized moan, unable to stop myself. I let my head drop back on the ship floor, feeling horribly dizzy. I could see Nate kneeling beside a body that was also stuck underneath a large pillar. I realized it was Sam and suddenly felt very sick. I tried to speak, but my throat burned as if it had been charred, and my head throbbed with every little twitch my body made. As I slipped in and out of consciousness, I saw Rafe trying to slice Nate with a sword. His Iaido skills hadn't waned after all these years. As Sam lay unconscious and Nate evade the blade to save his life, I heard heavy thumps from atop the ship. Someone else was here.
My heart sank, I knew exactly who it was, and I knew it wasn't Nadine. There were several stomps of heavy boots from the dock of the ship, but Nate and Rafe were too focused on their swordfight to hear.
"Rafe, stop," I managed to cry, my voice so raspy it was unrecognizable.
Rafe parried one of Nate's strikes, smashing the bladed edge of his sword against Nate's and pushing him away. Rafe glanced back at me, the fire of Avery's ship dancing madly in his eyes. Nate had lowered his sword, physically winded.
"Dani, for God's sake, look what you got yourself into," he commented. "That is what happens when you follow him around. He nearly got us all killed, and by the sight of you, you have come the closest."
"Rafe, listen to me, Si-"
Before I could warn him, another explosion erupted from the ship, sending Rafe and Nate tumbling over. More bright flames grew with rage, getting close to engulfing most of the ship. But it was too late for escape, not because of the flames or suffocating smoke, because Simmons had finally arrived.