𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒔 ☆ The Glorious Series ｟ BOOK 1 ｠

The Curse of the Black Spot [Part 3]

Inside, Ship, Magazine, Night...

Everyone entered the room cautiously, but...

...it was empty.

"Barricade the door." Lucius commanded. "Careful of that lantern. Every barrel in here is full of powder."

Captain Avery glanced around, eyeing everything. "Who's been sleeping in my gun room?" No sooner had the Captain asked that did they hear a muffled coughing. Avery went over to where he heard it come from before removing the lid of the barrel. His expression morphed into one of surprise and slight anger as he reached a hand in and pulled out a young boy. "You fool. You fool, boy. What are you doing here?"

"Who is he?" The Boatswain asked.

"What?" Sky questioned. "He isn't one of the crew?"

"No." Avery replied. "He's my son."

It didn't take but a few moments before the boy was sitting on a bench, Avery next to him. Everyone else stood and looked on at the two.

"What in God's name possessed you, boy?" Captain Avery questioned his son. "Your mother will be searching for you." The boy looked down in sadness, making Avery realize what had happened. "When?"

"Last winter. Fever." He answered. "She told me all about you. How you were a Captain in the Navy. An honorable man, she said. How I would be proud to know you." He coughed a little. "I've come to join your crew."

"I don't want you here." Avery shook his head.

"You can't send me back." The boy told him. "It's too late. We're a hundred miles from home."

"It's dangerous here." Avery said to him. "There's a monster aboard. She leaves a mark on men's skin."

"The black spot?" The boy enquired before showing the palm of his hand.

There was a black spot.

Avery grabbed his son's hand, the boy coughing.

A little later...

The Doctor, Lexi, Sky, Amy and Rory were sitting as the rest of the pirates stood. Rory kept on rubbing the spot on his palm.

"There's nothing wrong with the boy." Avery said. "He has no scars."

"Yep." The Doctor nodded. "Ignore my last theory."

Lexi rolled her eyes. "He has his good days and his bad days."

"Okay, so here's what I'm getting." Lucius started. "If it's not just blood that she's going after, that means she's also coming for all the sick and wounded. Like a hunter chooses the weakest animal, correct?"

"Very apt observation, Lucius." The Doctor nodded.

"Okay, look." Amy began. "He's got a fever."

"And the Siren knows it." The Doctor said. "Humans, second-rate. Damage too easily. It's only a matter of time before everyone gets bruised. My ship, it can sail us all away from here. You, Sky and I; we fetch it. Let's go."

The Doctor and Sky stood up, but stopped moving when Captain Avery pulled out his pistol.

"You're not the Captain here, remember?"

The boy then opened one of the barrels to reveal water.

The Siren reached through with her arms before Sky rushed over and forced the lid back down and sat on top of the barrel, resting his chin in his hand while looking back over at the Doctor and Avery.

"The water's dangerous." Avery said, turning his eyes to his son. "That's how she gets through. One touch of her hand and you're a dead man!"

"We're all cursed if we stay aboard!" The Boatswain exclaimed.