Chapter Fourteen
Jake and Skully had decided to start searching after what felt like hours since they'd been separated from the others. While they weaved their way through the forest, it was hard not to think of what other strange phenomenon was about to occur next, but the thought of reuniting with Izzy and Cubby kept them going.
"Crackers Jake," Skully squawked as he flitted beside him. "Maybe they did get lost."
Jake's brow furrowed, shaking his head with a determined face.
"Cubby's got a map Skully. He's never steered us wrong. He'll—"
Just then, Jake collided with another body, sending him sprawling onto the ground with a thud. He groaned, rubbing his head before looking up. To his surprise and relief, it was Cubby, equally dazed and looking back at him with wide eyes. And right behind him stood Izzy.
"Jake! Skully!" Cubby gasped, relief flooding his face as he pulled himself up, brushing dirt off his shirt. "Boy are we glad to see you!"
Izzy's face softened, though she looked slightly different—her shoulders were tense, and she kept glancing over her shoulder every few seconds. Jake noticed but decided to leave it for now, smiling as he picked himself up.
"Yeah, so are we. We've been looking for you everywhere! Did you see any sign of the key?"
Izzy's mouth opened, but she hesitated. Instead, she gently helped Cubby back to his feet.
"Uh…..no" she said, her voice a bit distant.
"But we did find a giant flytrap plant!" Cubby chimed in, glancing up at Jake. "It was about to have me for dinner! And that's not the only strange thing we saw. Did you guys see that big flash of lightning?"
"Oh, we saw it all right!" Skully replied, fluffing up his feathers. "First a tremor, now lightning—what's next!?"
"Nothing…..," Jake mumbled. "I hope."
After Amber watched their young victim's small figure disappear down the cliffside after nearly being caught in their clever trap, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.
"Unbelievable…" she hissed, frustration bubbling over. "We almost had one of them, Maverick! She was right there."
The woman glared at the empty glass vial in her hand, its surface barely showing the last speck of shimmering green powder. All that precious hypnotic dust, wasted. She clenched the vial, her fingernails biting into her palms as she turned on her son.
Maverick stepped out of the cave's shadows, holding the stem of the magical flower they'd harvested for this trap. The petals had dulled, their glow fading with every sparkly particle that drifted off.
"I told you it wouldn't work." he mumbled, brushing away the last of the powder with a shake before tossing the flower over his shoulder. That earned him a withering glare. In a flash, Amber struck him over the head with the empty vial.
"You should've tried harder to keep her focused!" she snapped as he rubbed his head, whimpering. "We're not just after that key, Maverick. Just like everybody else on this cursed island, sooner or later we'll need those little ragamuffins gone."
"Yeah tell me about it," he uttered, messaging his shaggy blonde head. He pushed himself up, dusting off his dark yellow pants. "So with that, how about we go scalp 'em?"
She raised her head, glancing back toward the moonlit valley where the two young pirates had fled. Her lips curled into a smirk, a new, dark idea forming in her mind.
"No," she purred softly, the tone of her voice sending a shiver through Maverick. "We'll play this game a little differently. But alas, this time we'll need a bit of help."
Izzy walked behind the rest of the crew by quite a bit, constantly looking over her shoulder, as if scanning the tops of the trees for…something. At this, Jake frowned, his curiosity and a hint of worry gnawing at him.
"What are you looking at?" he asked, unable to ignore the unease building in the pit of his stomach.
"Uh….nothing…." Izzy hesitated, shifting her weight before turning slowly to face him.
"You sure?" Skully asked. "You've been looking back over your shoulder ever since we found you guys. We being followed or something?" Cubby's eyes widened at those words.
"Was it something you saw in that spooky cave?" the little blonde pirate trembled. "I told you not to go in there!"
Both Jake and Skully cocked their heads in confusion.
"What cave?" the oldest of the kids asked.
"Uh….it's not that…..it's just that…," She paused to search for words. "It's getting really late, and I just… I just have this bad feeling that more strange stuff is going to start happening. You know, the tremor, the lightning, the fly trap, the flower—."
"Flower? What flower?" Cubby questioned, scratching his head. Izzy's heartbeat vastly quickened when she realized what she had just spilt.
"Did I say flower?" she asked.
"Yea—" Cubby began. Before he could finish, Skully squawked loudly from above, making the crew jump.
"Look up, mates!" he called, fluttering in excitement. "Right there! In that tree!"
The three kids turned to see what Skully was pointing at—a tall tree with branches covered in ordinary acorns and pinecones. But just as Jake was about to dismiss it, his gaze landed on a smaller, shinier object nestled among the branches. His eyes widened as he realized what it was.
"Well yo ho what do you know!" he exclaimed. "It's the key!"
Izzy's eyes sparkled with relief.
"We actually found it!" she exclaimed.
Cubby beamed, bouncing on his toes.
"Good! Now let's grab it and get out of here before anything else happens!"
Skully swooped toward the tree, aiming to snatch up the key. But just as he got close, a blur of purple and yellow feathers darted past him, snagging the key from the branch with surprising speed.
"Hey!" Skully squawked, quickly recognizing who had done so. It wasn't Captain Hook for once and it certainly wasn't the Talsteins, unless one of them shrunk and grew wings. It was the Never Bird, clutching the key proudly in her beak.
"Come back here, you feathered thief!" Skully cried, flapping after her with all his might. "Give that back!"
"Never!" the Never Bird squawked back cheekily, as if challenging him. She flew higher, her wings glinting in the dim light as she made her escape above the treetops.
"Skully, catch her before she gets too far!" Jake shouted, his heart pounding as he watched their hopes of retrieving the key grow fainter.
"Aye aye!" Skully shouted, rising above the treetops in hot pursuit. The rest of the crew watched from below, shouting encouragement.
But just then, a loud crack of thunder split the air, followed by a flash of lightning that illuminated the forest in a blinding white light.
"Oh!" the Never Bird cried out in fright, her wings flailing as she veered away from the sound. In her panic, she dropped the key, which tumbled down, down, down—right into the mouth of an old, eerie-looking well nestled among the trees below.
Skully fluttered down and perched carefully on the edge of the ancient well. The structure looked as though it had weathered at least three centuries, its stones coated in thick moss and lined with jagged cracks. Yet somehow, the bucket suspended by a rope on a wooden crank appeared inexplicably intact, as if time had forgotten it. Skully tilted his head, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness below. Despite his keen vision, he could see nothing but an abyss of black.
"Oh crackers," he muttered to himself. "Can't even tell how far it goes."
He flapped his wings for balance as the rest of the crew came crashing through the underbrush, calling his name.
"Skully! Did you see that lightning too?" Jake shouted, his eyes wide with adrenaline. Izzy and Cubby were right on his heels, their faces a mix of curiosity and worry.
"Where'd the Never Bird go?" Izzy asked, glancing up at the treetops as if expecting to see the colorful bird perched above them.
"And what about the key?" Cubby added breathlessly.
Skully let out a sigh, pointing toward the well with his wing.
"Aye, I saw it. It sent the Never Bird flying off like her tail feathers were on fire. But the key? It's down there now." He nodded at the dark, gaping maw of the well.
Cubby's face turned pale.
"Down there?!" His voice rose in pitch as he stared at the ominous well. "How are we supposed to get it out of there? We can't even see the bottom!"
Jake stepped closer, peering down the well himself.
"We're going to have to go down there and get it." he said with quiet determination.
Cubby's jaw dropped.
"Go down there? Are you serious? Do you even know what's in there? Spiders? Snakes? Ghosts?! What if there's no bottom at all?!" He threw his hands up in panic. "We should just come back in the daytime."
"We can't stop now, Cubby," Jake said firmly, turning to face him. "Not when we're this close to getting the key back."
Skully glanced between the two, his feathers ruffling with impatience.
"Fine idea, mate, but how are you planning to get down there?"
Jake bit his lip, thinking for a moment. His eyes flicked back to the old bucket hanging from the rope. It wasn't huge, but it looked sturdy—and just about the right size for one of them to fit.
A slow smile crept across Jake's face as he turned to Cubby, mischief twinkling in his eyes.
"Oh I think I've got an idea." he said, nodding toward the bucket.
Cubby dangled precariously in the bucket, gripping the rope with white-knuckled hands as Jake braced himself at the top of the well. The rope creaked softly as it slid through his grip, inch by inch, lowering Cubby deeper into the shadowy depths.
"Just in case you never hear from me again, I never agreed to this!" Cubby yelped, his voice echoing up the stone walls. He peeked up at Jake with wide, trembling eyes.
"Don't worry, Cubby," Jake called back, trying to keep his voice light and steady. "It's simple! Just feel around for the key. That's all you've gotta do."
"And if you need help," Skully added from his perch. "Just let out a good loud shriek!"
"Oh, don't worry—I've got that part covered!" Cubby called back nervously. His voice cracked, but he held on tightly as Jake started to loosen the rope again.
"Good," Jake replied, grinning. "Alright, down you go."
The bucket swayed slightly as Cubby was lowered further into the well. He squeezed his eyes shut, muttering to himself about how this was definitely not part of the pirate code. The rope slid steadily through Jake's hands, and Cubby felt like he'd been descending forever. The air grew cooler and damp, carrying the faint scent of earth and old stone.
Finally, curiosity (or maybe sheer terror) got the better of him, and he pried his eyes open. To his surprise, it wasn't pitch black. The faintest traces of moonlight filtered down the shaft, illuminating the slick stone walls around him. He could make out strange shapes and patterns carved or painted on the stone and each one sent a chill down his spine.
One of them caught his eye. It was a crudely painted skull, its hollow sockets staring at him like a silent warning. Cubby gasped, his breath catching in his throat.
"C-c-coconuts!" h squeaked.
The bucket jerked violently as he instinctively wiggled around in panic.
"Cubby!" Jake yelled from above, gripping the rope with both hands as it jolted. He stumbled forward, his boots scraping against the mossy stones around the well's edge. "Hold still! You're making it harder to hold on!"
Cubby froze, clutching the edge of the bucket tightly, his heart pounding in his chest. "I'm trying, but it's so creepy down here!"
At the top of the well, Jake clenched his teeth, struggling to maintain his grip on the rope.
"Somebody wanna help me!?" he shouted, glancing over his shoulder.
Izzy, who had been pacing a few steps away, stopped mid-stride. She'd been scanning the treetops again, her brow furrowed, her thoughts clearly elsewhere. She blinked at Jake's call, her focus snapping back to the moment.
"Oh! Sorry!" she said quickly, hurrying back over. Izzy grabbed hold of the rope beside Jake, steadying it with him. "Got it!" she said, offering a sheepish grin.
Jake nodded, relief flashing across his face.
"Thanks. He's heavier than he looks."
"Hey, I heard that!" Cubby shouted from below, though his voice carried more fear than indignation.
He clutched the bucket's rim as the last traces of moonlight faded completely, plunging him into total darkness. His breath quickened, and he gripped the rope tighter, his knuckles aching from the strain. The air was colder now, damp and thick, wrapping around him like a heavy cloak. Every creak of the bucket and groan of the rope made his stomach churn. He squinted, trying to see anything at all, but it was hopeless.
"It's darker than m-my sock drawer down here," he muttered, his voice shaking. He'd been prepared to face a nest of creatures or a swarm of bats, but this emptiness was worse. How could anything live in a place like this? Let alone even see? Then, with a gentle splash, the bottom of the bucket met something wet. His heart leapt. The bottom. Finally. But his relief was short-lived.
What if the water was deep? What if the key had sunk to the very depths, miles below? What if—
"Whoa!" Cubby yelped as the bucket tipped unexpectedly. Before he could steady himself, he tumbled headfirst into the water with a small splash. Chaos erupted in his mind. I'm drowning! I can't breathe! It's pitch black! He flailed wildly, the icy water soaking through his clothes.
"HELP!" he screamed, splashing furiously.
Then, mid-panic, he froze. His clogs were touching the ground.
"Wait a second…" He wiggled his feet, the muddy surface squelching beneath him. Slowly, he straightened, the water dripping off him. It only reached his stubby knees. Cubby let out a nervous laugh. "Sure hope no one saw that."
He looked around, or at least he tried to. The inky darkness didn't give him much to work with. Still, he felt a flicker of determination rise in his chest. He'd survived the descent, and now it was time to focus. He had one job—find the key.
"Alright, Cubby," he whispered to himself, rolling up his sleeves. "You've got this. You're a brave pirate… who doesn't care that it's darker than the inside of a whale."
He crouched, hands plunging into the murky water, feeling around for anything unusual. His fingers brushed against cold stones and slimy algae, but no key yet.
Above him, the muffled voices of Jake and Izzy carried faintly down the well. Cubby grinned to himself. "I can't let them or Peter down. I'm not coming back up until I've got that key!" he murmured. Not without it.
The mud clung to his fingers as he dug and swirled his hands around with wild determination. It wasn't graceful—in fact, it looked like a frenzied search by a starving key-eating animal. His hands scraped against jagged stones, slipped through slimy algae, and stirred up muck that clouded the water even more.
"Come on, come on," he muttered through gritted teeth, his heart pounding. "It's gotta be here somewhere. Where are you, you sneaky little—"
His fingers brushed something smooth and thin, not like a rock or algae. Cubby froze, holding his breath. He reached back, gripping it more firmly this time. It was soft, cloth-like, and as he pulled, it gave way with a faint squelch. The ribbon. Cubby let out a triumphant laugh as he lifted the key from the muck. The once-bright ribbon was now drenched and caked with mud, but the key itself gleamed faintly in the faint reflections of the water. It was real. He'd found it.
"I did it!" he cried, his voice echoing up the well. "Jake! Izzy! I got it!" His laughter bubbled up uncontrollably as he looped the ribbon over his neck. The wet ribbon clung to his skin uncomfortably, but he didn't care. He had the key.
With renewed energy, Cubby scrambled back to the bucket. He gripped its edge tightly, lifting one foot and then the other into the small space. It swayed and rocked beneath him, but he balanced himself, steadying the key against his chest with one hand.
"Hey mateys!" he shouted up, his grin nearly splitting his face. "Haul me up! I've got it!"
Above the well, Jake and Izzy heard Cubby's shout echo up the stone walls.
"He's got it!" Jake said, his face lighting up. "Izzy, let's get him out of there!"
"On it!" Izzy replied, gripping the rope tightly alongside Jake. Together, they began pulling, hand over hand, as the rope creaked and strained against Cubby's weight.
"Almost there, Cubby!" Jake called down.
"Alright, just don't drop me!" Cubby shouted back, clutching the bucket's rim. Despite his grumbling, there was a distinct note of pride in his voice.
The bucket swayed and bumped against the well walls as they hoisted him higher, the dim moonlight gradually illuminating Cubby's mud-streaked face. Finally, with one last heave, the bucket emerged over the edge of the well. Jake and Izzy braced themselves, holding the rope steady as Cubby clambered out.
"Phew!" Cubby wiped his brow dramatically, his clothes dripping and smeared with grime. "That was way too close for comfort."
"Cubby!" Izzy exclaimed, beaming as she ran up to him. "You did it! You found the key!"
Jake grinned and clapped a hand on Cubby's shoulder.
"That's some first-rate pirate courage right there."
Cubby puffed out his chest, grinning despite the mud streaked across his face.
"Well, you know… it's all in a day's work for a pirate hero like me." He struck a pose, but the muddy ribbon dangling around his neck betrayed the less-than-glamorous effort it had taken.
"A very muddy hero, maybe." Izzy giggled.
"Hey, it's part of the adventure!" Cubby shot back with a playful smirk. He held up the key, letting it gleam in the moonlight for all to see. "But seriously, we got it. We've got the key!"
To Be Continued…
