Pirate's Luck

The Treasure

"I'm not leaving you."  Jack told Penelope and checked her ankle.  

A small smiled carved in the girl's face.  Like always the smile made Jack's heart skip a beat. 

"I can't go any further."  Penelope said batting her eyelashes. "But you can, my sweet.  You can find the treasure."  

"Don't you know that you're more important to me than any treasure."  Jack whispered.  

"I know, but I also know how much this treasure can change our lives," Penelope said. "Besides we're so close you can go the rest of the way on your own and retrieve it in less than an hour."  

Jack sighed and Penelope continued until Jack finally agreed to go alone while Penelope rested her sprained ankle.  

Jack hated the idea of leaving Penelope alone but wanted to honor her wishes.  They traveled through thick forests for three days and then right when they were about to reach the treasure Penelope had an accident and sprained her ankle.  

Finally Jack reached the marker where the treasure was supposed to be buried.  A thick canopy of dense trees kept the sun from shining on the ground except there was a tree that glowed a soft yellow.  

"The treasure will be under the yellow tree!"  Jack repeated the final clue to the located.  

It took some work but Jack finally pulled the treasure chest from the trees protective roots and opened the lid.  Jack was almost too excited to peak at the treasures within.  But Jack didn't find the gold or silver or jewels that Penelope had promised.  

The golden chest was lined with purple silk and a cup shaped like a skull was nestled in the chest.  

"I'll take that kapala." Penelope's nearby voice called out.  

Jack slowly turned towards the voice confused.  How had Penelope made it to the clearing on her bum ankle?  "Babe there isn't any treasure here."  Jack said before noticing the gun Penelope held in her hands.  

"What's going on?"  Jack asked.  

Penelope threw her head back and laughed.  "You're not very bright Jack.  That kapala is the treasure."  

"It's a cup that looks like a skull."  Jack said.  "What would you even do with such a thing."  

"Well I'm taking it to the well of knowledge and drinking from it.  Then I'll have all of the knowledge in the world. "  

"That's cool babe." Jack said.  "I don't know why you weren't honest about the mission from the start."  

"You're right."  Penelope agreed.  "I should have told you the truth rather than judge you.  Now will you toss me the kapala."  

Jack did as Penelope asked and tossed the skull cup to the woman holding the gun.

"Just don't make me drink out of that thing and we're good."  Jack said.  

"I had no intention of letting you drink from the skull Jack, it's over."  Penelope said.  

"I don't understand,"  Jack said.  "You didn't need me.  Why didn't you just retrieve the skull thingie on your own."  

Penelope sighed. "You never once stopped and wondered why the chest was glowing."  She said shaking her head.  "I needed you to be the one to open up the treasure chest, because I'm afraid that it's poisoned.  Unfortunately you won't live long enough to make it out of the jungle."  Penelope said forming a pout on her lips.  

"Poison?" Jack said noticing the glow emanating from the hands that Jack used to touch the treasure chest.  

 Jack sank to the earth as Penelope left.  Jack would die for love, unfortunately Penelope would kill for knowledge.