A PIRATE'S TREASURE

Chapter 19

The sun was rising when James made it to the end of the trail but there was nothing but a nice view. Tired and irritated was making the man a little irrational with the adrenaline gone and the need for sleep finally hitting.

He sat on the edge watching the sunrise thinking of his wife silently apologizing. He failed to keep his wife healthy and left for no apparent reason. He just wanted this all to be true and would give anything for it to be.

     "I'm so sorry Jenny. I'm coming home."

He stood up lazily walking around until he heard a small trickling of water splash behind the vines on the cliff. James used his hook hand to move the wines to see a small fountain with the water just sprinkling in. James grabbed a small vial dipping it in. It sparkled inside seeing the magic up close.

James was finally happy getting what he was searching for. Everything fell into place and a smile on his face. He didn't hear the rustling of the wind just outside the vines.

The shadow figure appeared just waiting for James. Hateful glare and vengeful spirit.

The shadow moved slightly catching James off guard.  He stared down a bit confused about what he was seeing until the shadow pushed James back making the vines wrap again his body with each thorn piercing his skin. James cried out in pain with each prick and then the shadow moved closer.

     "What are you?!'' James asked.

  The shadow formed into his father and only sneered a smile. It didn't move his lips but he heard his father's voice clear as day.

    "Your worst nightmare. I told you to watch your back."

As James struggled, the shadow would shift to his family with the heart-shattering screams.

       "James! Help us!"

       "Daddy!"

He closed his eyes trying to clear out the voices he desperately missed. But the voices just kept getting louder as the shadow towered over James's body. It was sucking the life out of his body and slowly going limp.

Before everything could go completely dark, James heard Jane's voice.

     "Now Tinkerbell."

A small girl threw some sparkling powder at the figure making it scream in pain. It then vanished as fast as it appeared.

     "Hurry Jane it'll be back."

Jane came running up seeing James bleeding all over still strung up from the vines. She started to tear up while the other girl grabbed her dagger cutting him free seeing Jane freeze up. But then they both stepped back as if he was a disease.

    "What?"

    "James, you need to drink that water, now!"

He was confused by their tone and Jane now crying.

    "Why? What's going on?"

It was as if his heart just stopped abruptly. He clutched his chest as his skin was turning black.

     "James!"

He looked at the small vial but just shook his head. With all his strength he looked at Jane begging her to listen.

     "Please, get this to Jenny."

     "What?! But you need this now James, we'll get more after."

But the vines that they cut down instantly grew back thicker than before.

     "I promised my daughter I'd save her mother."