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EVIDENTLY, 'up river' was conveniently on the other side of the dreaded island. Jack didn't want to sail into the open ocean at all. In fact, he was vehemently against it, forbidding Gibbs to go anywhere but up river.
Now, they were all traveling in the longboats. Cotton was rowing the one with Nerissa and Jack as the two whispered back and forth.
"Why're you so afraid of the open ocean?" Nerissa asked, trying to understand why he was being so paranoid. "Is it to do with Davy Jones?"
"How much do you truly know about him?" Jack questioned.
"The basics," she shrugged. "Claims members of shipwrecks to be on his crew for all eternity. Heart supposedly locked in a chest."
"Well, he also has a little beastie," Jack informed her. "A little beastie that does his bidding and can suck your pretty little face off with giant tentacles."
Her eyes went wide. "He has a kraken?" Jack nodded grimly before looking ahead. "And how's the key to the chest gonna spare you of such a horrible fate?"
"That, my love, is the very question I need answered," he told her. "'S the only reason I'd dare come back to her."
"Her?" Nerissa asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who is she?"
Jack smirked playfully at her. "Don't be jealous."
She scoffed. "I'm not jealous. I want to know who you're dragging us all to see in this God forsaken swamp."
"You are quite welcome to go back to the cannibals," he quipped.
Nerissa rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, settling into the boat. It was another hour before they reached their destination at the very end of the river. They'd passed many stilted houses, the occupants watching them go silently.
Sometimes, when Nerissa made eye contact with one of them, she felt like they were staring into her very soul. It made her skin prick and itch, so she'd quickly look away.
Finally, they arrived at a home at the very end. The haunting aura surrounding it was only enhanced by the dim lighting and sound of crickets as the fireflies swarmed.
Jack was the first out of the boats, offering Nerissa a hand out as well. Then he looked back at the others, who were clearly on edge.
"No worries, mates. Tia Dalma and I go way back. Thick as thieves. Nigh inseparable, we are," he said before frowning, thinking it over. "Were. Have been. Before."
"I'll watch your back," Gibbs promised.
"It's me front I'm worried about," he muttered.
"I'll watch that then," Nerissa said, smirking at him.
