Drinking Rum on a Deserted Beach...Invite Only

[Destiny]

Stoney sat on the beach she couldn't believe her luck. She had been sailing for about 8 years now alone, but in total all her life and this had never been discussed or brought up in ANY conversation. Here she was stuck on this island her boat's rudder wedged between a piece of coral and a boulder of some sort and she was going to have to get it out. Stuck in the middle of the Caribbean with food and supplies and all alone.

She began setting up a camp of sorts no use in rowing back to the boat now. It would be a nice evening the wind was cool and the hurricanes weren't due for a few more months. She had a nice bonfire going and was settled in studying the stars as the water lapped against the shore. Stoney began to contemplate her predicament when she heard noises off in the distance. She knew she was alone, it wasn't like she hadn't been all around the island so what could the noise be? She scrambled to her feet and grabbed the closest thing to a weapon a bottle of half drunk rum.

She began to move toward the scrub when she heard it again, a man cursing and stomping through the bushes. Dunking back behind a boulder she just managed to keep out of sight when she noticed he was carrying a map and a flashlight and barely looking where he was going. Treasure hunter? Pirate? Stoney scoffed at herself, "pirates indeed in this day and age...." Shaking her head she kept to the darkness watching him and then chewed her inner lip as he seemed to be going in circles but not toward the beach. "just where the hell was he going?" Stoney thought to herself as she continued to watch.

 

[Destiny]

*************OOC*****************

Seems the writing partner I wanted can't do the story now if you are interested PM me.

 

[Armphid]

Jack Hawkins cursed softly as he stumbled once again. Hell...flashlight or no, he could barely see anything in the warmth of the Caribbean night. "Damn it!" "The sooner I get off this heap of sand, the better!" He took a moment to collect himself. "Easy Jack...just follow hte map and don't get irritated." "After all...all your years of conning old ladies and museam curators are finally going to pay off."

Tales of buried pirate treasure were so commonplace, a part of the folklore of Western civilization, that no one actually believed there was such a thing. However...there were those who knew better. Jack Hawkins was one of them. It had taken him over two years to track down the map to Mad Louise Tate's cache of loot, another getting his hands on it, and almost a year again before he'd figured out which island it was. But it was here...it had to be here...the pirate queen's secret stash for her retirement, thought lost forever when she died in battle with the Royal Navy.

"Mine now...once I find the damn place." He frowned, shining the flashlight on the map. This place looked familiar...it took only a few minutes to realize that it was familiar because he'd passed it a few minutes ago. "Hellfire!" He stalked about the small clearing, waving his arms as he swore. "God damned syphilis mad pirate couldn't even write legibly!" "Damn woman, damn map...."

He paused, collecting his wits. As he did so, he looked up through the fronds to the breath taking vista of the starry sky. Well...maybe the island wasn't so bad. In all his travels, he'd never seen a sky quite like that. He smiled, "There are more things in Heaven and in Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy Horatio..."

The dark mood returned as he felt an unusual prickly feeling between his shoulder blades. Like...like he was being watched. But...no one lived here. The place wasn't even on charts. Which meant smugglers...drug runners...all of which would be glad to leave his Yankee ass very dead.

Very slowly, pretending he hadn't noticed being observed, he tucked the map into the inner pocket of the crimson windbreaker. Then, with the same air of nonchalance, he began to move away....

 

[Destiny]

Stoney

She barely realized she was holding her breath until he was gone and she let it out in a whoosh of air. Sweat trickled between her shoulder blades and she was bound and determined she wasn't going to move. A treasure hunter and her alone with no one to help her. Damn it and your bad luck, Stoney

Crouching lower when she noticed his stiff stance she felt the twig snap and the sound was like a rifle blast in the still quiet air. Stoney squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her teeth as she waited for the inevitable pounce of the dangerous and slightly smelly man standing there with his back to her now. He looked unkempt and to Stoney like a man that would do anything to make sure nothing stood between him and whatever it was that he wanted....

She didn't hear anything now after that snapping of the twig and she assumed he had merely left thinking it perhaps an animal. She swallowed and opened her eyes and was about to make a dash for the campfire she had made when she felt him more then saw him standing behind her and then the snatch of her wrist. The machete she was holding dropped to the ground and Stoney yelped in fear rather then pain.

 

[Armphid]

He twisted his arm, sending the machete tumbling to the ground. In the faint light of the distant campfire, his blue eyes flashed dangerously. "Sorry, miss, but you won't be splitting my head with that today." His voice was low, with a cold heat. He was very pleased with that voice. More than fury, the cold, almost detactched presence it carried seemed to worry people far more than any explosie anger could have. Under it all though, he was furious. The damn bitch was going to kill him! Who was she...and did she know?

"On your feet." He jerked her up, slightly twisting the arm to make her comply. She didn't look like anyone he'd expect to be a smuggler...but why else be out here? His eyes darted to the fire in the distance. "Looks like you have a nice little setup." "Here for a while, aren't you?" He pushed her toward the fire, bending gracefully to pick up the fallen blade. As they got closer, her rugged features were illuminated by the ruddy glow of the flames. "Who are you and why are you here?" "Who are you meeting?"

He pushed her agaisnt a tree, then released his grip and backed away. "That's a show of good faith, miss." "The only one you'll get." He hefted the machete meaningfully. "Now...start talking."

 

[Destiny]

She felt the bark of the tree bite into her skin where the tank top didn't cover, and winced in pain. Turning around she faced the man standing there and rubbed her wrist slowly back and forth looking at him as she began to talk,"My boat is stuck on the reef." Nodding out toward where the boat would be if you could see it she edged away from the man around the tree a bit while he looked out toward the black water.

She took the time to look the man over slowly as she finished moving, watching the way he played with the machete and swallowed a bit. "wh...who are you and what are you doing here?" Her voice shook slightly as she spoke and chewed her inner cheek as she watched still now waiting for his answer if it came.

She was about 5'8" tall with short auburn hair that the fire was setting afire with its bright light. her dark blue eyes seemed almost black in the darkness. She inched closer to the tree that barely hid her from sight, she was currently wearing a pair of cut off shorts and a red tank top with a bathing suit beneath. Her skin was bronzed to a light golden hue and she continued to stare at the man standing there now who seemed to be studying her now as if she were and insect.

 

[Armphid]

Hmmm...well. She was a good looking woman, that was certain. There didn't seem to be any lie in her voice either...or her eyes. Her body language had fear written all over it. Whiskey brown eyes watched her carefully, closely, studying every movement. "Stuck on the reef, eh?" "Well...hard to prove that, isn't it?" His gaze flickered to the campfire. "Have to wait until sun up, won't we?" He reached out and took her arm, gently but firmly. "Might as well use that nice fire of yours."

Jack pushed her ahead of him, watching her every motion. He had to be careful...she was the type that was pleasent to watch. Meaning he might let him guard down by getting his attention lost in the watching. It had happened before. Not now though...not for his treasure. The ruddy light of the fire illuminated him better, he stood at just 6 feet, with a tough, rugged build. His chestnut brown hair had been blown about by the wind, though it came scarecely to his ears. Under the crimson windbreaker he wore was a black t-shirt.

As they came out into the clear of the beach, near the fire, he squinted out over the sea. That shape out there...could be the boat she had mentioned. Better calm her down. Nervous people did stupid things. Give her a name...which to use...ah, yes. "Keep in mind, you were the one creeping up on me with a machete, and that I have no reason to treat you nicely." "My name's John Silver...but most folk call me Jack." "My business is my own."