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MALAYSHA COULD FEEL THE OCEAN FLOOR UNDERNEATH HER BACK as her eyes fluttered open. Up above, she could see the moonlight barely breaking through the ocean as marine life swam above her.
Confusion washed over her. Wasn't she supposed to be dead?
Her hand went to her throat, not finding any kind of wound from when Barbossa slit her throat. But all she felt was smooth skin.
What the hell?
Mal looked around at her surroundings, just seeing the ocean. Her tail had sprouted of course, ruining her pants. But she was still in her billowing shirt with her belt around her waist, her bag of money hanging from it.
Her bag of money.
Her bag of money that contained a few coins from Isla de Muerta that she'd grabbed before she understood what the curse was.
She perked up in an instant, realizing what she'd done. She'd inadvertently saved her own life. Meaning she could save the others. Quickly, she swam to the surface and looked around.
In the distance, she could see the island that Jack and Elizabeth were no doubt marooned on. And at first, she moved toward them. But what could she do to save them? She couldn't swim with both of them in her arms.
No, her best bet was to find help. Her best bet was the free Will and the crew.
Malaysha cast one longing glance at the island, wishing she had time to tell her father that she was alive. But she'd have to swim fast and far to catch up to the Black Pearl if she wanted to reach them before they got to Isla de Muerta.
✵︎
Will was locked in a cell like the rest, doing his best to ignore the crew's complaining. Most were saying that this was his fault, and really, it was given that the whole rescue mission was his idea in the first place. But at least the crew wasn't harmed. Barbossa would decide what to do with them eventually — either release them in Tortuga or put them to work.
As for Will, his fate was sealed as they headed back to Isla de Muerta.
He leaned his head back against the bars with his eyes closed, trying to sleep now that the complaining had stopped. He tried to relax, but there was a hole in the ship next to him — not large enough to escape from, unfortunately. But it was right at sea level, so every now and then, water would splash on him, making his time in the cell so much worse.
"Will," someone whispered.
He groaned and opened his eyes, looking toward the other cells to see who was bothering him. But most everyone seemed to be asleep, which confused him. Then he heard it again.
