Kapitel 54: THE 12TH ACCOUNT: GHOST ISLAND 6

"I'll ask you again, where is the sacred pearl?" Jacob squatted in front of the ghost pirate captain.

The ghost captain gave Jacob a frustrated groan, "As I have told you before, I do not know."

Jacob took the ghost's pirate hat and slapped the latter's head with it. "Don't lie to me. How would you not know when you are the one who stole it?"

The captain gave him a fake laugh. A laughter that sounded more like a desperate cry... like he was making fun of himself. I watched him curiously because I found it odd. It was more sooner than later but the pirate began to sob. Then, his entire crew sobbed with him.

Jacob turned to Paco who shrugged his shoulders and turned to Neville. Neville then looked at Lowen… then Lowen to Gondro until we all turned to each other shrugging our shoulders. The pirate ghosts crew wailed.

Jacob stood up and crossed his arms. He cleared his throat so the other captain looked up to him…. tears on his eyes and mucus on his nose.

"What is wrong with you? I'm just asking you a question," Jacob said.

"Well, as you may have realized our crew is not the smartest of the bunch," he said and sniffed.

I rolled my eyes, "You appeared fierce when you and your crew forced us to abandon ship."

"That was because you could not touch us," replied one of the ghost crew. Then, together they all wailed again.

"We are actually the most cowardly pirate crew in the world," the captain said. "The best thing that happened to us was becoming ghosts because we were able to scare other pirates off… but...but.. we couldn't leave the Ghost Island's territory."

"Our abilities were useless because we cannot even chase after those who bullied and taunted us," another ghost answered, which made all of them wail more.

"Then what made your hands unholy?" Paco asked.

The ghost pirates wailed even louder before taking turns in answering the question, "We had to lie and pretend as someone else years ago so we could bed some wenches."

"They weren't even pleasant looking!"

"Aye, mate!"

"The priestess said our hands were sullied because of that."

"I told you we shouldn't have touched those wenches," replied another one. "I told you we shouldn't have touched that pearl! Now, look at us… for fifteen years we have been trapped here!"

"Our ship…" Another one pointed at the ghost ship… "We don't even know if it still works after fifteen years. We made you abandon ship in hopes to get us a new ship and maybe just maybe you could take this curse away from us…"

The captain cried, "But you beat us! You thought of something and you beat us! Help us, we wanted to go back to normal."

The pirates continued lamenting. I could not believe my eyes. I was anxious for nothing! Jacob, on the other hand, started chuckling. Before long, he was laughing heartily with the rest of the crew. Then, he stopped.

"Tell me what happened after you stole the pearl?" Jacob asked again.

One of the ghost pirates sniffed before answering, "The moment Captain touched the pearl, our bodies turned to ashes and were blown by the wind. We panicked and forgot about the pearl altogether." Then, he cried once more.

"I think I may have an idea as to where this pearl is," Jacob said and looked at me. "Are you ready to reunite with your body?"

I beamed, "You know I am."

Together with our captive ghost pirates, we rowed back to shore where Jaina was waiting for us. Jacob reported to her what happened and she immediately glared at the foolish pirates!

"The sacred pearl should be very near to where it originally was," Jacob said. "The only challenge would be unburying it. Considering that if these pirates dropped it, then nature took over for fifteen years."

I elbowed Puma who looked at me, "Captain is very sharp, isn't he?"

Puma blinked repeatedly, "Miss Darling, is that really you or is this a side effect because you are a spirit?" Then, he turned to Jacob. "Captain, I think Miss Darling is broken!"

Jacob looked at me worriedly and was about to walk in my direction but Jaina turned to us and answered the mystery, "Spirits could not lie in Ghost Island."

Jacob smirked. I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes. I knew he was up to something now that he is heading straight in my direction.

"I may not be able to lie but I don't think you could force me to answer any of your questions, either," I told him as he was fast approaching. "Is that correct, Jaina?"

"Thou art correct," she said.

"See? So questions later and let's find the pearl first," I said after Jacob put his arm around my waist and pulled me to him.

He smiled so naughtily and did not let go. He just stood there looking at me.

"Jacob, let her go. I'm starving," Neville said. "We have not eaten anything yet."

I beamed at him and pushed him gently but he wouldn't budge, "My body first?"

He sighed, "Jaina, tell your people to help us find the pearl. They can still touch anything, correct?" he asked without looking at her.

I turned to Jaina who nodded, "The only thing they couldn't touch is the pearl. Only these hands and my spirit MUST touch it and put it back or the curse will not be broken." The island's spirits manifested themselves to us. They had been watching us from the very beginning we were on the island.

"Problem solved. Now, could you please tell your people to begin looking?" He then looked at the captive ghost pirates and motioned them, "They should help too but be careful in ordering them around, they're very simple-minded." Then, he turned to our crewmates and smiled, "You all go ahead. I just need some time with her alone. Please?"

Jacob watched them leave before turning back to me. "Now, where were we?"

I rolled my eyes, "What do you want to know?"

"Your name," Jacob replied.

I sighed, "Darling." I said honestly. After all, I prefer it now more than my real one.

Jacob pulled me tighter to him, "Your real name."

"It doesn't even matter now. How is that still important?" I insisted.

"It matters to me. It's important to me. I should know the name of the woman I love, correct?" he argued.

I nodded, "My name is Darling."

"I gave you that name," he replied.

"Which makes it more special, don't you think so?"

"Why is it so difficult for you to tell me your name? Don't I still deserve to know it? I thought you love me?"

I sighed. He has a point. "Fine. My name is---" I was about to tell him but I felt a force that pulled me away from him. I screamed!

Jacob tried to pull me back but I think I vanished from his sight. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a fancy cave shrine with the rest of the crew. I was back in my own body! The sacred glowing pearl was placed back on its pedestal.

I watched as the physical bodies of the spirits began to materialize before us. Grains of sand and dust swirl around them. When it was done, the real Jaina looked at me and smiled, "I thank thee."

Her hair was as dark as the evening sky. Her lips are pale pink. Her skin was lighter than most of the islanders and she has colorful markings tattooed. Her face was quite gentle, as was her voice when she speaks. She was revered by the people.

"We should have a feast to celebrate! To celebrate the return of our physical bodies and the return of our young master, Elgo!" she announced.

All the islanders cheered, the simple- minded former ghost pirates did too. But we, the Labyrinth pirates, all turned to Elgo quite astonished at what we just heard.

"Young master?!" All of us asked in unison. He scratched the back of his head as a response.