The ship's timbers creaked around them as the waves crashed outside, the salt in the air thick and omnipresent. Leena leaned in closer, her voice barely more than a whisper, as if fearful of being overheard by the ship itself.
"The heart of Davy Jones isn't just a metaphor, Kate. It's literal. A still-beating heart that Jones carved from his own chest. By placing it in the Dead Man's Chest, he effectively made himself immortal," Leena explained.
Kate's face paled, her eyes wide. "So, if we find this chest and... stab the heart..."
"Jones dies," Leena finished for her. "But there's a catch. The crew isn't bound to Jones. They're bound to the ship, the Flying Dutchman. And she will always need a captain."
Kate swallowed hard, her mind racing. "So, if we kill Jones..."
"One of us would have to take his place," Leena said solemnly.
The weight of their situation pressed down on them. But Kate's determination did not waver. "First things first, we need to find that chest. You mentioned Isla Cruces?"
Leena nodded. "It's said the chest is hidden there. But I've never been to the island, nor do I know its exact location. Rumors say it's protected by traps and the island itself is treacherous."
Kate took a deep breath, looking at Leena with steely resolve. "Then we'll need to find a map, or someone who knows the way. We can't let this opportunity pass, Leena. Not when freedom is within our grasp."
Leena looked back at Kate, admiration in her eyes. "Then let's begin our search. Together."
With newfound purpose, the two women set their sights on the perilous quest ahead, determined to find the Dead Man's Chest and seize control of their own destinies.