On what I've been informed is our last day we're going to scuba dive in Porte Royale. To say I'm excited just doesn't cover it. Mr Garrison, of course doesn't care, or so he leads everyone to believe. He's about to uncover a fortune to push him over the bar for his kingly pursuits, his finger ticks like clockwork every few seconds and he keeps commanding the crew to ensure that nothing ruins his chances.

He's also been stoically ignoring me since the underwater incident. And, unsure of what to do, I mirror his approach; needless to say, things have been a little tense between us.

"So, now that you've got the scoop on the energy and you're going to get this treasure, I suppose you don't need to find this elusive princess now."

He stares at me so long it's sinful. "No."

"I don't get it."

That doesn't get an answer, mainly because someone already decked off in gear wedges himself between us and begins fiddling with the straps of my oxygen tank.

"Just making sure everything's in order so that we can start early." He says

From behind him there's a snarl befitting a dragon and suddenly the poor fellow is flying head over heels... past the railing and lands with a prominent splash, into the ocean.

Blinking stupidly, I turn questioningly to Ruspin.

He ignores me and calls to the boy, "Now you can start early."

He then turns to me. With precise movements he shifts the straps, tightens them and hands me the breather.

What is wrong with him? Whilst everyone else is in swimwear and I'm in a t-shirt and shorts, he's still in his suit.

I bite my lip, wondering how funny this is going to be. I call to his retreating figure, "Ruspin! Baby!"

The crew that he has treated with a sadistic, slave-driver attitude all morning stands still, staring at me in horror. They probably think he's going to kill me. They're probably right, but I'll never get another opportunity like this ever again; no way am I going to pass this up.

"Back to work!" he hisses.

The spell is broken. But this doesn't stop them from taking scrupulous looks at me while doing their tasks.

I jog up to him and smirk.

He leans against the railing, observing me serenely. Oh if only he knew the horrors about to befall him and his suit. Unable to help myself, I lean closer, hoping to give him a taste of what he does to others. Then I push him over the railing.

Grinning at m y accomplishment, I wave down to him. "I know how much you love getting a head-start on the day!"

The poor fellow in the water beside him bursts out laughing but the sound is muted as Ruspin shoves his head under the water like the tyrant he is. I toss a oxygen tank overboard, not bothering about menial things such as Ruspin's skull. It's more likely the tank is hazarding it's safely. I do hope it's insured in the event that it's smashed my Ruspin's hard head.

The crew gapes at me once more as I continue my grinning. A glance overboard shows that the tank is intact.

"You are not joining us." Says Ruspin , shaking with anger... or is the water cold?

"Okay!" I shout, just as I jump over the balcony.

abceghfdab

I went in with the impression that we would just grab some treasure and scramoose. But things can never be easy with Mr Thorough.

He claims that pirate ships went down due to the liquefaction caused by the earthquake in 1692. They had paintings, bonds, motifs, gold and all sorts of things classified as treasure aboard. I don't know how he knows this and it's not exactly from lack of trying.

He guides up directly to the ship, refusing to let me wander off to check out any of the buildings. In fact, his boldness soars as he uses a tether to link us. I mean the cheek! Like I want to be attached to him in any manner... except, perhaps for his lips. Those I don't mind being attached to me.

Think about how he wants to find you and sell you like an ostentatious cow. That's s turn off for any stable minded girl.

I did not just use cow and stable together.

The pirate ship looks exactly as I anticipated: old, mossy, like a bloated version of Ruspin's car. This is not bolstering to me... who's going to once more be located in a death trap. By the time Ruspin and I get to the ship, most of the boxes have already been towed off. The boy who was thrown overboard passes with a backwards look. Strapped to his leg is a gun.

With the never-ending fuel of my terror, I rattle Ruspin until he looks at the boy and shrugs, unbuttoning his suit jacket and showing me his own gun. Of course he's prepared.

On deck, I watch as the treasure is unloaded and carried below deck, but the crew seems all wrong, they keep looking at Ruspin and I and fingering their guns.

Tapping Ruspin's leg, I tell him, "I think they're going to screw us over."

He tilts his head at me. "I'm paying them an obscene amount of money for their discursion. They will only receive it once I am ashore."

"And this money, is it more than the treasure surmounts to?"

The only way to describe the look he gives me is incredulous. "NO!"

"Then they've got ample reason to kill us and take the treasure." I say.

"My men are loyal to me."

"And you are unappreciative to them."

"I appreciate them enough to pay them. I could simply demand their services."

"I differ." I say, "Then what about their guns."

"In the event that we're attacked." He replies.

"Oh."

We sit quietly for awhile, when a lurid crash jolts us, shadowed by a squelching sound.

"We have a problem." Says Ruspin, discretely grasping his gun.

"Do you have an escape plan?" I whisper.

He nods yes, "This is a ship that transports slaves." He says quietly.

Swallowing my gasp I try not to look at any of the men, "How do you know?"

"That sound. The sound of bones breaking and death."

"We can't leave them here." I hiss.

"We're not."

"What's your interest?" I ask, intrigued. This is the one thing, besides money that he seems zealous about.

Declining to answer that, he says, "Follow me."

Keeping his head straight and walking with his usual plundering attitude, he stalks directly below deck. As the entry hatch shuts behind us, we're submerged in darkness, the only light being a candle a few paces down the hall.

The identical squelching din welcomes us. Ruspin removes the guns from his jacket and passes one over to me; with one hand he holds his gun while the other he bestows onto my wrist, gently tugging me forward. As we tread further into the hallway, the sounds increase in volume and voices are now distinguishable.

"You don't wish to end up like your friend, do you?" purrs a voice.

Ruspin turns into an immobile statue; his hand on my arm clenches and I feel his apprehension leeching into me. The only proof that he's still alive is the harsh gasp he emits.

Temporary paralysis over, he starts backing up, tightening his grip evermore.

"Just tell me about the princess and we'll be fine." Chimes another voice.

"Kalvin." I breathe, a garland of fear encrusts my heart.

Ruspin ignores this and continues our path to safety.

"Don't." he says, quietly.

The voice booms through the expanse of the hallway, "Best listen to Mr Garrison my dear. You're already in so much trouble as it is; what with the English coast guard sending ships in this vicinity and all."

This time, it's me dragging Ruspin to safety. Only it isn't safe anymore. On the deck, the crew await us, holding guns to our faces and sneering gleefully.

Ruspin doesn't even flinch at them, instead, he steps right up to the barrel of the gun and says, "Shoot."

The man glances behind him, seeking approval most likely, and in that time, a helicopter whooshes overhead and bullets rain down on us. Ruspin and I split in different directions to avoid becoming bullet-ridden corpses, but in the process we end up on opposite sides of the deck. Within seconds, every crew member is decimated and Ruspin glances over to me.

"Do not move!" I scramble back on my elbows as I hear and see the approach of the ship. The English ship.

"Angelica!" calls Ruspin, his hair all topsy-turvy from the propeller. "Quickly."

Biting my lip, I glance back at the ship, who already has cannons trailed on this vessel, then back to Rupsin. There's no way...

"I've got her!" the voice is half drowned by an engine, but it's recognisable as Monty. His speed boat stops near the railing closest to me and without a second thought I careen over the edge.

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