Mace Journey to Freedom

Chapter 12

A Haunted Forest?!

Mace POV

I walked with Mari into the forest, but other than the normal sounds of crickets, leaves crinkling as we stepped, there was nothing exciting happening. I was hoping to find something. Me and my brothers usually found something exciting in the forest at home. Plus, it would allow Marigold to learn a bit, since this was her first island. She was looking around and I chuckled. "Relax, everything should be okay."

"Now you just gave us bad luck!"

I shrugged. "I don't believe in bad luck. C'mon."

We walked some more and I saw something in the trees. "Hold on, Mari." I jogged over to the trees, almost hugging the tree and used my feet to climb up.

"What are you doing?!"

I called down to her, already past my first layer of the tree. I grabbed what looked like a apple and threw it down. "Getting fruit. Here, catch!" She yelped, but I heard the fruit hit her hands. I grabbed a couple of them and jumped down, rolling my ankle when the impact hit it. I rubbed it on my shirt and ate it, tossing the other one in my coat pocket while looking at Marigold. She was given the fruit a hesitant look. I asked. "What's wrong?"

"Uh, Cap'n, we don't know where these fruits came from. Should we eat them?"

I shrugged again, taking another bite. "If you don't want to, don't. It tastes just like a apple to me. I used to eat stuff in the woods all the time."

Marigold nodded slowly, glancing at me. I bit back a laugh at he determined look on her face as she bit into the apple. That's hilarious.

"Oh! It's good."

I nodded in agreement. "Told you so." I ignored the annoyed look. I was good at that. "I even saved one for River."

We started walking again and Marigold asked. "How long have you known River?"

I frowned in thought. "Uh...Probably about a couple of weeks, give or take." I moved my hand from side to side to demonstrate the timing.

She looked shocked. "Really, that's shocking."

I was curious. "Why's that?"

"Oh, nothing. Just seems like you known each other longer."

I grinned, thinking about River. "That's because I have an awesome first mate, probably the best ever."

She grinned back, but a loud roar appeared before she could say anything else.

River was running toward the forest, his boots catching on the sand of the beach and making him run slower. He could see their ship anchored off in the distance. He heard a roar from the forest and stopped for a moment. He cursed. "Shit!" He heard Marigold's voice yell and felt worried at the thought of her being hurt. That's why he was hesitant at her joining, she was young. But, Mace thought she would be okay. At least, Mace was with her.

He ran toward the forest to hear Marigold yell. "Mace!? What are you doing?!"

He heard his captain next. "Taming the beast, obviously!"

He stopped short, his heels kicking up dirt. He groaned, closing his eyes for a second. He walked forward, only to stare at what he was looking at. He asked himself, ranting. "Why did I join a pirate crew? I was fine on my own island. I ran a bar. I was fine."

"Hey, River! Did you get-shit, slow down-what we needed?"

River snapped. "Why the hell are you riding a jumbo lion!?"

Marigold turned to him, her bow held tensely in her hands. "River! The captain hopped on and said not to do anything! She said it would be fine."

Mace said. "It attacked us...and it's a tiger, not a lion."

"You think that is the issue here?! What does that matter?"

Mace bucked up, but stayed seated with a grin. Her fingers tangled in its fur. "There's a difference, River! Trust me."

River groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine! What didn't you just stab it or something? You have a sword."

Mace rolled her eyes. "That's too easy. I just wanted to see if I could tame it." The tiger bucked up, slamming into a tree, snarling and growling. It hit the tree again, snout first and froze, slumping to the ground. Mace hopped off, brushing off her hands. "Like I said, too easy. I didn't even have to do anything."

Marigold sighed in relief. "Thank God that's over." She looked over at River. "Why did you think there was something going on?"

River frowned, straightened his tie across his throat. "Well, the villagers said something about a treasure and people dying over-ah crap." His voice grew a bit deeper. "Mace! Don't you even-stop walking away!"

To River's headache and Marigold's alarm, Mace was walking deeper into the forest. Marigold shared a look with River. "Is she going where I think she going?"

River's expression showed pure exasperation. "Yeah, she is. No use fighting it. Let's go." Marigold looked like she wanted to protest, but followed.

The three of them stopped at a stone temple-like building. There were steps leading up into the building with cracks running along the building. Mace looked it over, drumming her fingers on the hilt of her sword. "Huh? I wonder how old it is?"

River, standing at her side, said. "Who knows? The rumors from the villagers say many pirates have died."

Marigold tightened her grip on her bow nervously. "Should we go in then?"

Mace snorted, sending her crewmates a smirk. "Ah, come on! I don't believe in rumors." She walked forward, about to go in.

Marigold said. "Captain, should someone stay out here just in case."

River nodded. "Yeah, we don't know what we're going to walk into."

Mace nodded. "Sure, sure." She asked. "Who wants to come with me?"

Marigold had an awkward look on her face and River noticed. He sent her a sympathetic smile, squeezing her shoulder. She looked at him surprised. "Alright, Cap'n. I wouldn't want Marigold to be stuck with your crazy antics."

Mace waved a hand. "Nah, you're just interested about what's in there too."

River snapped. "No, I'm not! I just know I can't talk you out of doing it."

Mace gave him a pleased grin, nodding her head toward the building. "Let's go in, then. See ya in a bit, Mari."

River sighed, patting Marigold on the shoulder and walked forward to follow Mace.

Marigold waved a little. "Bye..."

They both crossed the line at the door and walked inside. The door slammed shut behind them. They both whirled around in shock. River slammed into it, his palms smacking into the stone door. "No! Shit!" He let out a deep breath. "Mace, seriously!? I knew it was a trap!"

Mace walked forward, pressing her hands against the wall. It did not budge. "Huh. We're stuck."

"No shit!"

Mace laughed a bit. "Relax, River. We'll get out. I'm not worried and we both can defend ourselves and Mari can handle herself. Let's look around and get out."

River sighed, calming down. He realized there was no point in freaking out. It wasn't going to do anything. "Man, Marigold has to be freaking out."

Mace laughed, turning away and walking down the hall. "I'm sure she's fine."

Marigold screamed in shock, dropping her bow. "What?!" Her hands hit the stone door and called. "Mace! River! Hey. Can you hear me!? River, Captain!"

She didn't know if they could hear her or not. She knew Mace could fight and River must know how as the First Mate, but this was not turning out like she thought her first island would. She took a deep breath, picking up her bow. She walked around the temple, but there was no way in. She groaned. "What should I do?"

A roar sounded off behind her. A very familiar roar. She paled and spun around on her heel, her heart pounding in her chest. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped at what she saw.

It was a bear!

River tilted his head, frowning. "Did you hear something?"

Mace squinted her eyes and looked up. "Uh...no."

River looked around. Everything looked the same. Cracked floors and walls. Some finger painting on said walls. A couple of alters and plenty of dirt and leaves on the ground. The standard for a temple. Nothing was special. But, then again, temples didn't lock people inside. There were many different doors to go into different rooms, but they were all open. He stepped on something and heard a crack. Worrying an old stone broke, he looked down and yelled, stumbling backwards. "Holy crap!"

Mace turned quickly. "Wha-what happened?"

He pointed downward. "Still just rumors, Mace?!"

She squinted again and looked down, frowning a little, going into a crouch to see what he was pointing at to get a closer look. "That's a skeleton."

River exclaimed. "I know it's a skeleton, Mace!"

Mace glanced around. "We'll just be careful."

River raised his brows. "Yeah, that's a good and detailed plan."

Mace shrugged. "I don't do detailed plans. Anything can disrupt it, so...let's get going?"

River asked. "Does anything phase you?"

Mace nodded, standing up. "Yep, just not this. Let's go."

She turned right and walked into a room, as they had been walking in many rooms. She was looking for the 'treasure' and a way out. River was just looking for a way out. The door slammed. Mace jumped. "Oops."

She heard muffled yelling from the other side. She shouted as loud as she could. "RIVER, I'M FINE! LOOK AROUND!" She knew he was freaking out. She knew they would be okay, they just had to figure something out.

River groaned, rubbing his forehead. "C'mon! Dammit, Mace!" He slammed on the stone door. "Mace! Hey, Mace!"

"RIVER, I'M FINE! LOOK AROUND!" It was muffled a bit, but he could hear her words.

River threw his hands up. "Fine! Okay, whatever." He pulled out his bat. He knew that wasn't her fault. They walked through many rooms and this didn't happen. Maybe it's because that time they weren't together. He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "This is so stupid! Mace and her curiosity!"

He glanced around, made a sound of alarm at a clicking sound under his feet and tried to jump back, but the floor opened, River falling down a slide with a yell. He was twisting and turning, scrabbling at the sides, but everything was smooth. "Shit, shit!" He yelped as he was thrown to the ground, face first. He groaned, rubbing his nose. "Ow!" Then his bat came flying and smacked him in the back of the head. "Ow, crap! Why?!" He rubbed the back of his smarting head.

He stood up and brushed off his clothes. He was annoyed at the tie around his neck. He quickly tugged it off, putting it in his back pocket. "Damn thing getting in the way." He looked around and saw a long hallway. "Finding Mace is going to be a pain. I hope Mace and Marigold are okay." He started to walk forward. "Only one way to go."

Marigold was running, a large bear that was 8 feet tall while on all fours chasing her. Her arrows were slamming against her back. She needed a good vantage point. She wasn't good at shooting without having a good high point. She wasn't like Mace, she wasn't going to be ridiculous, she was not hoping on a large animal's back to 'tame' it.

Jeez, I like my new captain, but she is too reckless sometimes.

Marigold dodged to the right and went between some trees. This thing did not want to quit. But, she had to defeat it or something. How could she call herself a pirate if she couldn't even handle a bear? Especially after Mace and River fought for her against her family without knowing her. She knew she couldn't do it without them.

She saw a high enough tree with low branches and her face then had a determined expression. I can do this.

She jumped up, quickly grabbing a branch, pulling herself up, feeling the bottom of her dress brush her ankles. She heard a roar and winced. She pulled herself up more with a grunt, feeling the tree shake from his shaking. She leaned against the tree and aimed, her arm pulled back. Like usual, her aim was true and got him in the heart. After another shot, he fell over. She sighed in relief. "That's done." She hoped down and looked around. "Ah man, I'm lost."

She heard another roar and looked to see a tiger with a huge knot on it's forehead, she realized it was the tiger that Mace was riding before.

Dammit, Captain. You had to piss it off!

Marigold ran when it locked on her.

Mace walked around, only to duck as something came at her face and crashed against the wall. She yelped and laid flat on her stomach. She looked up and saw it was flames. "What is up with this place?!"

A second ball of flame burst out and she rolled away with a grunt. She couldn't fight against flames. This was not something she could physically touch. She jumped in another direction, dodging more flames as they seemed to shoot out of openings in the walls. Mace was just ducking and rolling and cursing while she was dodging.

She glanced around quickly, frowning and looking for it to stop. While she was running, she noticed a pattern. She dodged to the the right and left, hopping up as a flame ball that came toward her feet, missing the one on the right, hissing as flame brushed against her wrist. She shook out, complaining. "Ow! Jeez, where are these things coming from?" She groaned as the walls suddenly had opened surrounding her on all sides. Mace made a face, grimacing. "Ah shit."

River glanced around, his knuckles white against the handle of his bat. He kept on hearing scattering nails running across the floor and it was freaking him out. He felt a shiver run down his spine. He chanted. "Rats don't scare me. Rats don't scare me. Rats don't scare me." He yelled as something went over his shoe.

He flushed, glancing around and hoping no one saw or heard anything. The running feet stopped and he sighed in relief. He walked forward again, it felt like an unending hallway. He heard a crash and looked behind him. His eyes bulged in shock. "What the hell? What is with this place?"

A large boulder about 10 feet was rolling toward him. "Where did that come from?!"

A figure sat in a wooden carved throne, a bear's head on one end rest and a tiger's head on the other. They were slouched in the chair. They were tall at 7 feet, with a hood covering their features, long leather pants and boots.

"Master! Master!"

A short and squat man ran toward the figure on the throne, huffing and wheezing out his breaths. The figure said, their voice deep. "Yes?"

"The travelers entered the temple. The villagers did what we told them to do."

The figure said, humming a strange tune. "Good. They won't last two days."