(Kris's POV)

              "The maps make this look easy." Russell mused, as him and Nate looked at the maps.

               "Considering no one's successfully made it off this island before, I'm gonna go ahead and guess it's not as straightforward as it looks." I remind him, rolling my eyes at my boyfriend. I loved him, but sometimes the stupid things that come out of his mouth..

              "Well ones to the antidote, the other is the piece of treasure we need." Nathan pointed out, tracing his fingers along the map as he showed Russell. "Plus look what the main map says. Face your past, or your fears, you can't move forward if you're looking back." Nate read aloud, and Russell furrowed his brows, at the message, confused.

               "So basically we're in for some weird shit." I scoffed. We knew coming here some weird shit was going to go down, we just don't know what exactly yet.

               "Not to mention it's been almost a half an hour, so if one of us got drugged it might kick in soon.." Arabella added.

"Let's hope we don't need the antidote." Russell glanced at us, making Arabella glare.

"Way to jinx it.. Damn don't voice that kinda shit. Bad juju..." Arabella warns, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Okay how about we get going now..." Nate interrupts, nudging Arabella in the direction we needed to go, and we all start trying to find our way through the vast jungle.

So far mostly the only other signs of life we had seen were colorful tropic birds, of different varieties, that none of us had seen anywhere.

Damn.. I hope the others are okay, and we all make it out of this.. I thought to myself, as we kept going. "Hey uh can we sit down a sec?" Arabella asks, slightly pale, as she plops down on the ground, leaning her head down on her knees, as she starts to take deep breaths, like she's trying to calm herself or some shit.

"Fuck." Nate curses, sitting down next to her. "Okay.. Talk to us, do you feel sick, anything hurt?" He asks, starting to sound a little worried. Couldn't blame him, considering she could have gotten the poison.

She shook her head no. "Nothing hurts. Everything spinning... Make it stop... The trees are bleeding blue... Blue stuff coming out of the trees..." She rambled.

"What the fuck.." Russ raised an eyebrow, and I elbowed him, shaking my head.

"She got one of the drugs, probably not the poison." I answered him quietly.

Arabella looked up, eyes wide, looking around, glancing at us, but it didn't seem like she actually saw us. "Where is everyone?" She asked, getting up abruptly, drawing her sword as she backed away. "Nate? Kris? Russ?" She called out, still looking around.

"The fuck we're right in front of you." Russ told her. She looked towards him then, but instead of looking relived, her eyes hardened, keeping her sword drawn. Shit.

"Where? All I see.. There's these dark creatures.. They have glowing red eyes... Stay back!" She yelled, as Russ took a step towards her.

"Russ stay back dammit!" I hissed, drawing my own sword just in case. I wasn't going to fight her, but I didn't want to be scrambling for my sword if she charged us either.

"What the fuck. We can't... This is fucked up." Russ mumbled, stepping back carefully.

"Tomboy can you hear me?" Nate asks, taking a slow step forward. Lord help the boy to not get cut.

"Nate?" She looked around, hearing his voice but not seeing him. "I can hear you all, but I can't see you.."

"Okay. That's good.. Okay, I think you got one of the drugs tomboy." Nate told her, prompting a snort from Russ.

"No shit. She said the trees were bleeding blue. She's trippin balls." Russ rolled his eyes, earning a glare from Nate for his comment.

"Stay back!" She screeched, but this time she charged a card, throwing it. We all jumped back, the explosion barely missing Nate.

"Arabella. Do you trust me?" Nate asked, hesitantly stepping forward again carefully.

"Of course." No hesitation whatsoever in her answer.

"Close your eyes. We're right here, but I need you to close your eyes. I promise it'll be okay, but I need you to do that for me." He pleaded with her. She nodded, closing her eyes.

Nate went first, but all three of us walked towards her now, knowing she wouldn't try to kill us again.

"Where's Kris and Russell?" She asks, eyes still closed.

"We're right here with Nate, hold on. We think you got the hallucinating drug." I answered her, as we finally stood in front of her.

"Okay. Keep your eyes closed." Nate instructed, as he took her hand. She visibly relaxed at the contact, smiling slightly. "I'm right here, but you can't see us because of the drug okay? But you can feel me right?"

"Yea.. That's your hand." She smiled slightly. I went next, touching her arm lightly.

She jumped slightly at the sudden contact. "It's just me." I reassured her. "Russ is right here too. It's just us."

"Okay, you can open your eyes, but don't panic. Remember what you see isn't real, go with what you hear and feel." Nate told her gently, and she opened her eyes.

Her eyes widened for a moment, but she reached out, touching Nate, on the side of his face. "You guys were the monsters." She murmured. "But I feel Nate, and.." She let go of him, before reaching back, towards me, but instead of touching my arm or whatever the hell she was going for, she whacked me right in the tit.

"Uh what the hell?" She asks, removing her hand.

"My thoughts exactly." I snort. "If you were trying to cop a feel, mission accomplished. Least ask first before touching a girls tit damn."

She burst out laughing, the tension and panic that seemed so thick vanishing for a moment, as we all started laughing. "Sorry, couldn't help myself." She added, still laughing.

"Holy shit.." She stopped, realization dawning as she looked at all of us. "If you guys were the monsters... Holy shit.. I'm so sorry... I could've killed you.. Jesus.." She shuddered.

"You almost killed Nate actually." Russ blurted.

"I what?" She yelled, looking panicked.

"Idiot." I shook my head, slapping him on the back of the head.

"Ow. What the hell Kris?" He whined, pouting, as he rubbed the back of his head.

"She didn't need to know that.." Nate answered, before I could even explain.

"Let's get going... So are you still seeing shit or?" I asked, trying to get us back on track.

"Oh yea. But now that I know it's you guys it's not as bad... Still weird as fuck though."

Back on track, we walked through the vast jungle, seeming like it was never ending. The ground thick with vines, and the trees the largest I had ever seen in my life, made it hard to see too far in front of you.

             "Kris.."

               "What?" I asked, looking towards Nate and Arabella, who shrugged. I glanced at Russ, his brows furrowing and confusion written on his face.

             "I didn't say anything." He said, looking at me odd, his green eyes narrowing as he looks at me intently.

             "Okay... Maybe you didn't.." I shrugged it off. Maybe I just thought I heard something. Happens to people all the time right?

               "Kris...."

               "What?" I ask again, slightly irritated.

                "Uh we didn't say anything..." Arabella raised an eyebrow, and Nate shook his head.

               "Kris no one said anything at all." Russ confirmed, casting me a sideways glance as he looked at me.

                 "I swear... Alright.. Shit.. How much farther?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

                 "Still a ways to go..." Nate sighed, looking kinda tired.

                 We trudged on, but not even five minutes later I heard it again. "Kris..."

                 "So help me god if you guys are screwing with me knock it the fuck off!" I yelled, glaring at my friends and boyfriend.

                 "We're not Kris.. Honest.." Arabella claimed, looking really confused.

                "Seriously guys it's not fucking funny, you know I don't like ghost type shit, it freaks me out so knock it off.. It isn't funny." I add, not fully convinced.

               "Kris I swear no ones messing with you." Russell grabbed me by the arms, turning me to face him. He looked serious, no traces of his usual playfulness, as he faced me.

                   "Kris..." The voice whispered my name again, freaking me the hell out. Everyone drew their weapons, looking around.

                   "You heard it too right?" I asked, relived it wasn't just me.

Nate nodded, his brown eyes darting around the jungle, his sickle and chain in his hand.

"Yea I think we all heard it that time." Russ muttered, his green eyes scanning the trees in front of us, both of his swords drawn, he looked ready to pounce.

I drew my sword, all of us looking towards the jungle. "I don't know who the fuck you are but face me unless you're too chicken shit!" I yelled, angry. I was sick of it, and didn't want to play games.

"Kris.." The voice whispered again, but who stepped out of the trees was the last person I expected. He was taller than I remembered, but his hair was still darker than mine, and he still wore his navy uniform. I had always been told I looked more like my mother, but my father had hazel eyes, just like mine, and it was the only feature we shared.

"Dad?" I asked unsure. "How the hell did you get here? It's not possible..." I trailed off, lowering my sword as I took a tentative step forward.

"Wait." Russ grabbed ahold of my arm. "It could be a trap, he might not be real." Russell narrowed his eyes at my father, looking him up and down.

"You look so much like your mom." Dad said, smiling softly. I shrugged Russell off, taking another step forward.

"It's not real. He couldn't have made it this far in the island.. It's part of the test.." Nathan called out, but I shook my head. He could be right, but either way I had to find out for myself.

"Aw such a touching small reunion." A woman's voice called out, a voice I was all too familiar with, as Claire walked out of the trees, sneering as she stood next to my father.

I raised my sword again, glaring at the woman who had made part of my life hell. "Back away Claire." I growled, raising my sword again. She merely rolled her blue eyes, raising her own sword, before putting it across my dads throat. She held it inches from his neck, a triumphant smirk tugging her lips as she looked me over.

"How about you and your pirate scum friends turn back, and I won't slit daddy's throat?"

"How about we finally settle this, and you face me head on you bitch. Unless you're too afraid to lose." I smirked, baiting her. I knew if I challenged her she would go for it, that's just how she was.

              She narrowed her blue eyes at me, before dropping her sword slightly as she stepped away. She made sure to stand directly in my way, right between me and my father, before she raised her sword again. "You think you can win against a navy general bitch?" She bared her teeth, snarling as she took a step towards me.

                  Russ stepped next to me, his swords drawn. I heard Nate and Arabella's footsteps right behind me as well. I shook my head at Russ. "This is my fight, all of you back off." I told them.

                 "You can't be serious." Russ asked, incredulously.

                "I am. I can hold my own."

                "We know you can. It's just none of us want to stand aside while you fight alone." Arabella chimed in from behind me.

                  "I appreciate that, but I need to do this alone." I told them. I could see the reluctance in them to step back, and they hesitated slightly before finally doing so.

It was Claire who struck first, making the first move. She didn't say anything, as she rushed me, her sword clanging with mine as I blocked her, her sword sliding down mine as she stepped back, raising her sword again as she began to circle me.

I moved slowly and carefully, following her movements as I turned with her, waiting for her to move again, or for an opening to strike. "We gave you everything... You could have been a navy general." She spoke, breaking the silence.

I shook my head, chuckling bitterly in response. "We've been over this already. You tried to force things on me I didn't want. You chased me away, from the only family I had left at the time. It was about time dad woke up and got away from you."

She glared, her ice blue eyes hardening as she took another swipe at me. I jumped back, her sword just missing me. She was pissed, and that made her sloppy. "It was because of you he left me!" She screeched at me.

"You brought that on yourself! You couldn't even be a good step mother to me! My mother was three times the woman you'll ever be, and I'm disgusted a bitch like you stayed in what used to be her home!" I yelled, finally voicing what had bothered me for so long.

               No one could ever replace my mother, and it made me sick, watching Claire trying and failing to, in my mother's house. I took a swipe at her, angrily, but she blocked it. There was hatred in her eyes, and I knew I pissed her off even further, but I didn't care. Real or just some magic from the island, I would finally face Claire, we would finally see this fight through.

"Your mother was weak." She spat, lunging forward with her sword. I blocked her, her sword barely missing my face as I blocked her. We parried a bit, our swords clanging the only sound, both of us angry, and a deep rooted, mutual dislike for the other kept us going.

"You never knew my mother. And she was three times the woman you'll ever be you bitch." I snarled, fighting harder, she lost her footing for a moment, causing her to back up towards the trees. Good. I wanted to corner her.

               I kept at it, my sword moving fast as I tried to break through her defense, our swords continuously clashing, but bit by bit she continued to back up, to the point she was almost backed up against one of the large trees. I took a swipe at her legs, making her jump back to avoid it, finally cornering her. "It's over Claire." I brought my sword up, pointing it at her throat.

"Hardly." She smirked, reaching back. I quickly drew my pistol, at the same time she drew hers.

"You're stupid." I snorted, before kicking her in the leg, making her fall backwards. She dropped her pistol, it skidding across the jungle floor, getting lost in the vines. "You're done." I tell her, placing a foot on her stomach, pressing down, as I point my sword at her throat.

"I'll get you for this you bitch." She snarled, glaring up at me. I rolled my eyes at her.

"You're not in any position to be making any threats Claire. Shut up, you're done. You can't mess with us anymore." I told her, and as soon as the words left my mouth, she disappeared in a fog of smoke, my foot touching the ground. What the hell?

I looked around, trying to find her. I looked over at my dad, who smiled at me, nodding, before disappearing as well. "What the fuck. Was that real or the weird shit." I grumbled, not quite understanding.

"It was the test, like the map said." Nate answered, but we were interrupted by a bright white light flashing, and a familiar woman stepping forward. She looked almost exactly like me, but her eyes were a shade darker than mine. Mom.

"Are you real?" I asked, as I felt my eyes start to water at seeing her. She nods, smiling, as she steps forward. She's not clear, kinda like the ghosts we had seen earlier, but it was her.

"If you don't believe me, I used to like watching the koi fish, and you even got a tattoo of two koi fish. The one swimming up is supposed to represent me." She told me, smiling. I relax at her words, taking a step towards her.

"I'm so proud of the woman you have become.. I'm sorry I'm not able to be with you my girl, but I'm always watching." She told me, brushing the hair out of my face.

"Holy shit... She's always watching, does that mean even when we're- ow! What the hell Arabella?!" Russell interrupted loudly.

"Don't say that kinda shit in front of her mother." Arabella scolded. My mother laughed, motioning for Russ to come forward. Oh my god... That idiot would ask something like that..

"No, Russell, to answer your question." She told him, still laughing. Oh my god. "I'm proud of you.. I really am sorry for everything you had to deal with after I died.. But you made me proud, and continue to do so.." She told me, smiling the full smile that I remembered so well. "And I'm always with you, in here." She pointed to my heart, before continuing. "I'll always be there for you, even if you can't see me, I'm here." She told me, before turning to look at Russ. "You'll do. I know how much you love her. Take care of her, since I can't. Take care of each other."

She took my hands in hers, before kissing my forehead softly. "This island allows me to visit you for a brief time. I wish we had more. I'd like to ask you to go please see your father. He's been looking for you, and he feels bad after everything that happened." She told me, and I nodded, even though I knew after I took over the Flying Dutchman, I wouldn't be able to for awhile. "You'll find a way to see him, even if you're the new captain." She added, pretty much reading my mind. "Take care of each other. I'm supposed to tell you there's three more, an individual test for each of you to pass." She looked at all of us, before returning her gaze back to me. "I love you Kris." She told me, before fading away.

"Mom... I love you..." I whispered, as I let a few tears escape, before quickly wiping them away, and turned to face the others.

               "Russ, you're an idiot. You never bring up the topic of sex around a  woman's mother. Monkey." I glared, slapping him on the back of the head.

               "Ow." He whined rubbing the back of his head. "You just had to hit me in the same spot she did." He added, referring to Arabella.

               "You deserved it." Arabella told him, before we all started walking again. The jungle seemed never ending,  like we would never reach our destination. Mom said we would face three more tests. I'm guessing those would happen before we reached the treasure on the map, but who knows.

                 "How much farther?"Russ asked, about a half an hour later. We were all getting kinda tired, and the jungle was hot.

                   "Think we're about half way there or so." Nate answered, shrugging.

"Russell.."

Russ looked around, scanning the trees. We all heard his name, but none of us had called him.

"Russell...."

It was the same shit that happened to me, I couldn't help but groan. Here comes some more weird shit, I thought, drawing my sword.

Russell drew his sword, scanning the trees. "Looks like it's my turn then." He said, looking around.

Arabella and Nate drew their weapons as well, trying to help find the source of the voice.

               "Let's get this over with already!" Russell yelled, determination in his green eyes, as he scanned the trees, for whoever he had to face.

But his green eyes hardened and he raised his swords, at the man who emerged from the trees. He looked similar to Russell, the same blonde hair, and beautiful green eyes, but the man was older, and had a dark uniform of sorts on. "What do you want? You abandoned me and mom years ago." He yelled, glaring at who I could only assume was his father.

              The older man's hair was longer than Russell's almost shoulder length, but he kept it pulled back. He physically flinched at Russell's words. "I did what I had to do to provide for my family.. I'm sorry I wasn't around much." He told Russell, but Russ wasn't having any of that as he ran towards the man, his swords drawn.

              Russell's father quickly drew his own sword, blocking his sons attempts at him. You could see where Russ got his looks from, and possibly even some of his skill. "You abandoned us! You weren't even there when mom died! I wasn't old enough to protect her!" Russ yelled, the anguish clear in his voice, his voice cracking as he talked about his mom.

           "I had no choice!" his father yelled back, frustrated, blocking Russ's sword once more.

          "There's always a choice dad." he replied, lunging toward his father again. "She died right in front of me, and I couldn't even do anything! Some stranger protected me, but it was too late for her." he cried out, his voice cracking towards the end. My heart broke for him, hearing this. I knew his mother had died, and he didn't know where his father was. He mentioned the two sworded fencer who saved him, but it was something he didn't talk about often, and he never admitted before she died in front of him.

          Russ's dad blocked him again, before finally starting to fight back, instead of just blocking like he had been. "You think I wanted that? I didn't even want you to know what I did for a living, but I needed to provide for you and your mother. Seems like regardless, you followed in my footsteps in one way."

          Russell's green eyes hardened at his words, taking a swipe at his legs, making his father jump back. "I'm nothing like you. We may look alike, and I may be a pirate, but that's were it ends. I'd never leave my woman behind, and I'd do everything I could for her, and my family." he argued, as they continued to parry each other. They were both clearly skilled with a sword, but it seemed like his father was still holding back, just a little.

             I couldn't help smiling at his words, knowing already after everything that's happened, that he meant them. He had found a way to save me before, and I knew he would always be there for me, no matter what.

            "Things aren't always that simple." his father disagreed, shaking his head sadly.

           "Life isn't simple, but it's the people in it that make it worth it. The hard times come and go, but it's the people that are there right along with you, that help you get through it. Your son has beaten the odds to save me, and its times like this, that I know him, and the crew will stick by me no matter what, no matter how tough it gets." I interrupt, addressing his father.

             His dad raises an eyebrow, intrigued, or surprised that I interrupted, I couldn't tell. Russell glanced back at me, smiling, before returning his attention back to his dad. "I lost her too you know. I'm sorry, i know that doesn't make it right, but I loved both of you, even if I wasn't physically there." His dad says quietly, sadness in his green eyes as he faced his son.

             Russell hesitated, his green eyes softening as his dad's words register. "I felt like I failed her... I was too small to do anything." Russell admitted quietly, but we all heard him. My heart broke again at his admission.

             His father's eyes softened, as he lowered his sword. "Son... It wasn't you that failed her. It was me. I failed both of you, and I'll regret it the rest of my life, but I can't change the past."

             Russell stopped, sheathing both his swords, before quickly wiping away the water that had started to gather in his green eyes. "I miss her..." His voice cracked, as he took a step towards his father.

His father sighed sadly. "I miss her too... I miss seeing you as well... I'm sorry I missed so much of your life Russell." His father apologized.

Russ shrugged, before answering, looking less angry. "You're right, we can't change what happened."

"No. But she would be proud of you. You've done well for yourself it seems, a crew and a pretty woman at your side." His dad winked at me, in a teasing way, before returning his attention back to his son. "I'm proud too, you've grown into a good man Russ, I'm just sorry I missed most of it."

"Thanks dad." Russ finally smiled slightly at his father.

"Take care, both of you... And I'm supposed to tell you, two more to go, before you reach the treasure." He added, before slowly disappearing in a fog like mist.

              I placed my hand on Russell's shoulder. "You did the right thing, hearing him out you know?" I told him quietly.

               A smile tugged his lips at my words, as he grabbed my hand, squeezing it. "Thanks. I couldn't have done that without you here with me... I don't think I could've realized I needed to hear him out..."

               "Alright, two left then." Nate interrupted, and we started navigating our way through the jungle again.

                     (Arabella's POV)

               The jungle seemed never ending, though I kinda wondered what it looked like to everyone else. I still was seeing stuff that I assumed wasn't really there. At least I don't think trees should bleed blue right? The only things that looked normal, were that I saw Kris's dad, her mom, and Claire, as well as Russell's dad. Everything else looked dark, and almost alive, at least to me. The vines looked like dark black snarls, and it looked creepy as hell.

I kept reminding myself that it wasn't real, at least, the things I saw weren't real. "How much farther?" I asked curious, trying not to study my surroundings too much.

"We're a little more than half way there." Nathan answered.

            "Who do you think they will bring in for you and Nate?" Kris asked.

             "Honestly I'm not sure." I shrugged, as I thought about it.

            "No clue.. Not like I know who my parents were, and I resolved things with Sara and Nero.." Nate trailed off.

           "Not to mention its hard to tell what's real and what's not.. I'm still trying to figure out if that was really my dad." Russ snorted.

            "I don't know if that was Claire and my dad really... I like to think that was really my mom... She knew so much.." Kris added.

A fog started emerging from the trees, covering the ground, making us all stop in our tracks. At least I think it was fog, it looked dark to me. One of the ghost from the beginning stepped forward from the trees, it was one of the women.

"Uh okay then." Russ broke the silence, looking at her. She merely smiled, before approaching me.

"The next test is a fear one, but first, I'm giving her back her sight." The ghost woman announced, as she stopped in front of me, placing her cool fingers on my temples, murmuring something quietly, that I couldn't understand, like an ancient language long forgotten.

"Does that mean this is my test then?" I asked her, curious.

She shook her head no. "No, yours is last. It is his test." She answered, motioning to Nate, who narrowed his eyes, like he was trying to figure out what it could possibly be. "I suggest you get to higher ground." She told us, and with that cryptic remark, she disappeared.

             "What the hell?" Russ asked, confused, as we started to walk again.

               "I don't know..." Nathan shrugged it off, as we kept going.

                 "Get to higher ground? We're in a jungle, there is no higher ground." Kris muttered, thinking out loud.

                It was then we heard the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance. "Let's just keep moving." Nate told us, but I could hear the edge in his voice, like something was up.

               We only got a few more steps, when the vines moved, blocking our path. "We'll just go another way." Kris suggested, turning around. The problem, was every time we got to a certain point, the vines would move, not letting us go any further. The vines had formed a giant circle in the jungle, blocking our path.

                   "Maybe we can climb up them, and climb up into the trees, to get over them?" Russ asked, as it suddenly started pouring.

                 "Might as well, seems like that's all we can do." I agreed, heading for the vines. Surprisingly we could climb them, enough to get up into the trees, but more vines were in the way on the other side, blocking us from even climbing down, forming another wall. "It only lets us climb into the trees." I yelled.

             We were all soaked at this point, our clothes sticking to us, the trees sheltering us from some of it, but not most of it. We sat on the branches, watching the water gather, and slowly rise. Nathan was quiet, and I noticed him tense up as he watched the water rise up towards us, slowly but surely.

"Nate?" I looked at him, worried. His brown eyes seemed to focus on the rising water, not looking at me.

"The fuck they trying to drown us?" Kris cursed, and a moment later realization flashed in her hazel eyes. "He can't swim."

"No, he can't." I sighed, confirming Kris's statement.

"You still can't swim?" Russ asked in disbelief, making Nate look away quickly, in embarrassment.

"No asshole, I can't." Nate admitted after a moment.

"We'll just tie ourselves to the trees with the loose vines, no big deal." I shrugged, trying to remain calm.

Russ cut some vines for us, at least the ones not under the water yet, and we all tied ourselves to the large tree, tying a loop around our waist, leaving extra so we could still move around. "Nothing left to do but wait it out then." Kris mused, as she eyes the rising water.

The water had risen past the halfway point on the enormous jungle trees by this point, and with the amount of rain still coming down, it wouldn't be much longer before it reached us. "Don't let go okay?" I told Nate, taking his hand in mine, our fingers entwining. The vine should hold, but I still wanted to hold onto him regardless.

Nathan nodded, trying to smile, but it looked strained. "Maybe I should've let Chris teach me like he wanted to." He admitted, eyeing the water.

              Russ snorted. "I think if we make it through this, we're all gonna make you learn how to swim."

Kris smacked Russell on the back of the head again, earning her a pouty look from her boyfriend. "When we make it through this." She corrected, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Ya didn't have to hit me." He whined, but his green eyes widened as he looked towards the water again. "What the fuck is that?" He pointed, out towards the water, not that far from us.

"What the hell..."Kris trailed off, a she looked out where he was pointing. Something moved beneath the water, though I couldn't tell exactly what it was.

Whatever it was looked snake like, like it was slithering through the water, and heading right for the tree we were in.

             Kris and Russell drew their swords, and I clutched Nathan's hand, before drawing my own sword. Whatever it was stopped in front of our tree, slithering around, before exploding from the water, and heading straight for Nate.

                It wrapped itself around Nathan's ankle, tugging him hard. "Shit." I yell, before I stash my sword, grabbing Nate's hand with both my own.

             "What the fuck is that?!" Kris yelled, before I felt her grabbing my arm, to keep me from falling, as Nate slid off the branch, hanging above the water.

             "I don't know." I tell her frustrated, as I start to feel Nathan's hand slipping out of mine. His eyes widen in panic, as I start to panic as well, struggling to hold on.

              "Just hang on." I plead, desperately clutching his hand in mine, but I felt it slipping still, no matter how hard I tried to hold on.

                "Tomboy, let go... No use everyone getting dragged in." He told me, trying to sound calm, but the look in his eyes showed otherwise.

                 The snake looking creature tugged again hard, snapping the vine that kept Nate tied to the tree, as I felt his hands slip through mine completely. "No!" I screamed, watching him plunge below the surface of the water.

I immediately shrug off my coat, and take off my swords, and any weapons I had, shoving them into Kris's hands. The only weapon I kept was a lone dagger, ready to dive in.

"If you interfere will we still pass the test? Or automatically fail?" Russ asked me, and it was a good question, one I didn't have the answer to.

"I don't know but I can't lose him." I snap, before cutting my own vine. After that I take a deep breath, before diving head first into the water below, hoping I can find him.

               The water was murky, and you could see moving shadows, that had similar shapes to snakes, or vines. One shape in particular caught my attention, since it was moving pretty rapidly. I couldn't be sure, because it was still pretty far down, and away from me, but I assumed the struggling form was Nate, and whatever pulled him under.

I frantically swam down, towards what I hoped was Nate. I didn't know if there were snakes in the water or not, but as I swam I felt something occasionally brush up against me. Trying not to think too hard about what it could be, I kept kicking, slowly making my way down into the seemingly never ending abyss.

             I finally reach what in fact is a struggling Nate, after awhile. My eyes sting from the water, and my lungs feel like they are on fire, desperately needing air, but I swim down farther, next to Nate. I try to pull him up, to no avail, his brown eyes widening at my sudden appearance.

He shakes his head rapidly, pointing to me, then up. Then he tried to get me to let go of his arm, making me finally understand, he was telling me to go. I shook my head furiously, letting him know I wasn't leaving, as I kept trying to pull him up.

No matter how hard I pulled, he didn't move much, and I refused to leave him, even though my lungs were desperate for air, and if they could talk, I'm sure they would be cussing up a storm at my stubbornness. It finally dawns on me I should just cut whatever was wrapped around his ankle.

Whatever it was, is green, and coiled tightly around his ankle, but I don't want to think to hard about it, because if it's a snake I'll freak out. I try to carefully cut through what's holding him, and though I'm met with some resistance, and it starts moving, I finally manage to cut through. Whatever it was finally stopped moving, as blood seeped out of it and stained the water.

              I start pulling Nate up by the arm, as he tries to awkwardly copy my movements, as he tries to swim. He manages to kick up, kinda oddly, like a flailing struggling animal, but I keep pulling him up, as my lungs burn, and feel like they are ready to burst from lack of air.

               After what feels like forever, but in reality was probably only minutes, we finally break the surface, gasping for air, as I start to pull Nate towards the tree where Kris and Russell were.

                 "There they are!" Kris exclaims, spotting us, as she points in our direction.

              I smile tiredly, as Russ helps pull me out first, before pulling Nate up. The rain suddenly stops, as a fog seemingly comes out of nowhere, surrounding us for a few moments.

              "I wonder if we still pass because you helped him." Russell mused. I winced, feeling kinda guilty. I'd never forgive myself if we failed, losing the ship and Morgan because I panicked. At the same time, all I could think was Nate was in trouble, and he needed me.

               The fog slowly dissipated, revealing that the water had disappeared. We slowly started to climb down, and the vines moved away, finally letting us through.

              "Did I fuck this up? Shouldn't they have told us there's one more test?" I asked, looking to everyone.

              Kris bit her lip, hesitantly. "I don't... But I mean... This is the first fear one right? So maybe they don't talk to you after." She tried to reassure me, but I couldn't help but feel a little worried like I messed it up.

                "If we screwed up they would probably tell us." Nate told me, smiling slightly.

               "Nothing we can do now, just keep going and see." Russ shrugged it off, as he grabbed Kris's hand, taking the lead, as we continued to navigate the mysterious jungle.

A half an hour later, we were still walking. "Hey what the hell was that thing anyway? That grabbed you?" Kris asked, looking to Nate, who shrugged, furrowing his brows.

"Honestly I have no fucking clue, and I'm not sure I want to know." He admitted.

"All I know is it bled when I cut it, but I tried not to think too hard about what it was... I swear it was a giant snake or some shit, and I was trying not to freak out." I said, shivering slightly.

"How much longer?" Russ asked, since him and Nate were taking turns leading the way now. It was currently Nate's turn, as he glanced down at the map, his brown eyes widening.

"Actually we're almost there...." He trailed off.

"Shit. It's official, I fucked us..." I groaned, running a hand back through my hair. "We didn't get the last test and we're pretty much there."

"You don't know that. Maybe the last test is when we reach the end." Nate told me quietly, but even he didn't look convinced.

"Cece is going to kill me, and everyone is going to be pissed... Fuck, I'm so sorry guys, if we lose the ship it's my fault.. Oh my god, poor Cap." I start rambling, as we get closer to our destination.

"Stop it, no one is going to hate you." Kris cuts in, interrupting my rant.

After a few more minutes, Nate pulls me to a stop, looking around. "According to the map, this is it, but I don't see anything." He announced, glancing around.

"I knew it." I threw my hands up in exasperation. "I fucked it."

As soon as the words leave my mouth, we hear footsteps, getting closer, the occasional branch snapping under someone's feet. We finally see a silhouette about to step from the trees, when I hear a vaguely familiar sound.

"What the hell." Russ muttered, as he drew his swords.

Kris drew her sword as well, and just as me and Nate pulled out weapons, an all too familiar man stepped from the trees. The vaguely familiar sound was the shuffling of cards, as the man walked forward, he shuffled the deck of cards in his hands expertly, like I remembered seeing him do a million times when I was growing up.

"Are you real?" I asked, not able to help it. It looked just like my dad, the same long brown coat, that matched mine. His brown hair that matched mine, was still kinda shaggy, but swept back casually, sticking up, and some of it leaning to one side. He looked just like I remembered, his eyes had an odd glow from his gift still, though mine had always stayed brown.

He shrugged, a grin tugging his lips before he answered. "Who's to say, what's real and what's not eh?" He drawled, avoiding the direct question. The Cajun cadence was a bit thicker than I remember, but it had always sounded funny to me, because I was raised up north, but dad never lost the accent, while I had never picked it up.

"You would say that." I snort, at how it was just like him to say something like that.

"You look so much like ya mom." He added, before pulling out his staff, identical to the one I now carried.

I nodded, before turning back to everyone. I unstrapped my swords, handing them to Nate, before handing him my knives. "I'd get back, he can do the same thing I can." I looked at Nate, then Kris and Russ.

"You sure, about doing this alone?" Nate asked, and I nodded.

I finally turned back, drawing the staff that was his from my pocket. If I was finally gonna face him, I'd do it his way, like he taught me. "Been a long time petite, ya sure ya can beat me?" Dad chuckled, circling me, before suddenly twirling his staff with the flick of his wrist, and taking a swipe at me. I blocked it, before he could hit me, the staffs clashing, and sounding similar to two swords hitting. "Taught yah everything ya know." He smirked.

"I learned more, and a new trick or two from pirates." I told him, jumping back.

"That's right, yah left the guild, and became a pirate. I left it for yah to run." He told me, jumping forward, aiming for my face. I jumped to the side, out of the way, annoyed.

"I didn't like what it had become. Johnny ruined it, and I couldn't take it anymore." I snapped. I had felt guilty for awhile, feeling like I might have disappointed them, leaving the guild they used to run.

                  Dad shrugged. "If ya didn't agree, ya could have tried to change it back."

             "No, it had gotten past that! None of them would listen to me! They all listened to him!" I yelled back, pissed, as I took another swipe at him, holding the staff like a sword, instead of how I was originally taught.

                He smirked, blocking me, and didn't say anything.

                 "I left, and found a better life! Isn't that why you and mom moved in the first place? To give me a better life? One where people wouldn't hunt us and fear us for being different!" I screamed, a weird mix of angry and upset at the same time.

                 "Aye, that is what we wanted, when we left." He admitted, before stepping back, drawing a card.

                  "Then why are you criticizing me! I found a good life, and people that accept me as I am! So what if it's not in the guild!" I yelled, as he charged his card.

                I jumped back, the explosion narrowly missing me, and I could still feel the heat from it. "Johnny would have forced himself on me! I couldn't stay. If you were really my dad you'd understand, and be happy for me, for the family I found." I told him, taking a card of my own, and charging it.

              "Is she really gonna try and blow up her dad?" I heard Russ ask behind me.

                "Did you miss the part where he just tried to blow her up?" Kris snorted, amused.

                  With the flick of my wrist, I let it fly towards him, but he jumped back, disappearing amongst the trees. I waited a moment, listening quietly, before I'm hit from behind, knocking me off my feet. "Gettin rusty, gon take more than tha to beat me cheri." Dad drawled, pissing me off. He pointed his staff at me, pressing the tip of it against my chest, pinning me down.

I glared up at him. There was no way this was my father... Was it? I suddenly heard the sound of a chain, before my dad was suddenly dragged backwards, freeing me. "What was that about getting rusty old man?" Nate mocked, making me smile slightly.

"Dis the boy you run off with?" My dad asked, raising an eyebrow at Nathan.

"That's my husband dad." I sneered, pissed. "Nate, I appreciate it, but this is my fight." I told him, raising my staff, as I take a swipe at my dad again.

               Dad merely chuckled, jumping back. I was done. If this was really my dad, he'd be happy for me right? Unless it wasn't.... I charged him, swinging the staff hard, with the flick of my wrist like he had taught me. He backed up again, frowning slightly as he blocked me. "So you run off with a pirate eh?" He asked.

           I didn't even bother gracing him with an answer, as I kept going. Part of me couldn't make up my mind on whether or not he was really my dads ghost, or an illusion. I racked my brain for something only my dad would know, as I tried to keep focus at fighting him. He certainly fought like my dad, and my dad trained me. This is probably one of the hardest fights I'll ever fight, trying to keep ahead of him.

               I narrowly dodged as he went for me again, our deadly dance continuing, staffs twirling, and clashing every so often. "What's your favorite card?" I ask suddenly, as it dawned on me, the question I should ask.

"My favorite card?" Dad asked, curious, as I took a step back, drawing a card of my own, getting ready to charge it if he answered wrong.

"Your favorite card, surely you have one? Maybe even a lucky card?" I elaborated.

                Dad grinned. "Ace ah spades." He said simply.

               It was me though, who was grinning after hearing his answer. "Wrong." I told him, before charging my card and throwing it.

There's a fog again, the grey mist covering everything in sight, and as it slowly dissipates, I heard the sound of a slow clap from behind us, as my dad walks out of the trees once more, but this time, he smiles at me.

"You've grown petite.." He told me, looking me up and down as he walks closer.

I hold my hand up, signaling for him to stop. "Wait." I stop him. "Favorite card." I demand, earning me a laugh.

"My lucky lady, tha Queen ah hearts." He answers, correctly this time.

"Dad." I smile, feeling my eyes start to water.

"You a pirate now eh? Didn't expect it, but as long as you happy." He shrugged, before looking to Nate, Kris, and Russell, for a moment. "You're momma and I both are proud... We know you had to leave tha guild... It's okay.. Seems like you've finally found your place eh?" He grinned, making me smile.

Dad went over to Nathan, shaking his hand, before pulling him into a hug. "We haven't had tha chance to meet properly, but I'm Remy, Arabella's dad.." He told him. "I take it dis is my son in law?" Dad asks, glancing at me, and I nod, smiling.

"Well now, you take care ah my girl, and welcome to tha family... Sorry me an Marie couldn't be there for the weddin but." Dad shrugged, before going over to Russell and Kris next.

He took Kris' hand, placing a kiss on it. "And who might this beautiful woman be?" He gave her a flirty wink, earning a glare from Russell.

"Dad. Really? Where's mom anyway?" I asked, stifling a groan.

He merely chuckled at me. "She's round here somewhere. Maybe you see her later."

"Right, well that's my friend Kris, and her boyfriend, Russell, who are apart of the crew I'm on." I explain.

"Nice to meet both of ya..thank you, for being here for her." He told both of them smiling. He shook Russ' hand, before turning to face all of us. "Ya'll got one more test, as an entire crew... You head that way." He pauses, pointing north, with his gloved hand. "And you'll find the rest of ya crew, they meet you shortly... And maybe a few more visitors.." He trailed off.

"What about the treasure we needed?" Russell asked.

Dad nodded, before reaching into his pocket, and tossing Russell a gold chalice cup. "Now you all set... Good luck." He waved, before disappearing.

                I stand there a minute, still slightly in shock at seeing my dads ghost. It was good to see him, but I wished both him and my mom were still alive. Though if they were, I wouldn't be here now. I shake my head, sighing, well I wouldn't change anything, but I do miss them.

                "So that was your dad huh?" Nate asked.

               "Yea... Quite the character huh?" I laughed, thinking of him. "Sorry about that by the way, Russ. He was always a harmless flirt from what my mom told me, though he calmed down a lot after meeting her." I apologized to Russ, knowing he didn't like how my dad kissed Kris' hand. My dad was faithful to my mom, but he still would do little things like that from time to time.

                 Russ shrugged, "He's a ghost anyway..." He mumbled, making Kris laugh.

               "What's the story with the card question?" Kris asked, glancing at me, as we headed the direction dad had directed us towards.

                "Oh that?" I shrugged. "Dad likes cards, and gambled quite a bit before I was born I guess... Always said the queen of hearts was lucky, though he called her his lucky lady.... Him and my mom used to fight a lot when they first met..." I smile slightly, remembering the story my mom had told me.

              "They were actually in opposite guilds and ended up facing off a lot. My mom said he flirted with everyone, and kept pushing him away, when he tried to flirt with her. Said he was crazy, that they were enemies. But eventually he won her over... So that card though, he always saved it for last, said it was lucky... He's kinda superstitious like that, and always held onto it till it was the last card in the deck, except for once." I explain, getting lost in the memory of the story I had heard a million times as we walked.

              "He was trying to convince her to run off with him, while they were facing off. My mom wasn't convinced he changed, for he was always a flirt, like cap. He swore up and down that he loved her, and would leave the guild for her. Now, she wanted to believe him, and she knew how superstitious he was right? Well, as weird, and corny as it is, he told her to meet him somewhere at a certain time, that he'd be waiting for her, and as he walked away from the fight, he gave her the queen of hearts card. So they left and started their own guild." I finish, laughing slightly at how it was kinda cliche.

               "It's still a nice story." Nathan smiled. We finally stepped through the trees, into another clearing, to what looked like another set of old ruins, except this one, had a fountain, with water coming out of it. The ghost we met were there, as well as some new ones, some that looked familiar.

              Cece, Dee and Nadia,were accompanied by two unfamiliar ghosts, and Chris, Luna, Thomas and Alli, had some unfamiliar ghost friends as well. Funto, Liz, looked tired, and Ed was cradling Penelope in his arms. "Why hasn't it worked!" He shouted, looking pissed, at the four main ghost of the island.

A/n: well guys... There aren't words for how bad I've slacked on updating.... I've been a little stuck, even though I have most of this planned... There's still details to figure out here and there... But yea... I suck, im sorry.. Lol. But each group kinda gets their own chapter, and if anyone has any input on what or who their characters have to face, let me know... I have ideas, but I always welcome your input!! And this is probably the longest chapter I have ever written in my life on here.... Like its pushing almost 9000 words guys... Wow... Anyway, I hope everyone is well, I know a lot of you started school again.. And yea... I'm here! ^_^ lol

- Jinx.