Four Girls and the Cursed Treasure of Coyotli: Chapter Four

The two continued through the town, some of Yuri’s minimal confidence had returned as she hummed softly to herself while tailing Anon through the street, the lieutenant smiled to himself as he listened in.

“Nice tune. Where’d you pick it up?”
A faint gasp sounded off behind him.
“O-oh, it’s something I picked up when I was younger. My mother would always hum while treating my injuries.”
Anon chuckled. “Wish my mother was that compassionate, if I came home with a bruise I’d get scolded for getting into fights at school again.”
“Mm…”

She resumed her song as the conversation died down. Suddenly a familiar voice rose above the bustling streets catching their attention, Anon turned to see Sayori bounding towards them with her arms flailing.

“Anooooooon! Wait up!”
As soon as she made it to the pair she drew something from around her neck and showed it to him proudly, it was a small golden, turtle shaped pendant, its cobalt blue shell glinted in the sunlight.

“Look what I got! Isn’t he cute? I’m gonna name him Anon after you!”
“Nice, but why not give it a nicer name?”
She pouted a little. “But Anon is a nice name.”
“Maybe to you.”

The remaining two members caught up with the girl, Anon turned his attention to the captain.
“Did you guys find anything?”
She sighed heavily. “Nothing at all, no one knows anything or doesn’t want to tell us anything. Couldn’t even get some info out of the drunkards at the bar.”
“We’ll find something eventu-”
They were cut off as Sayori oooh’ed loudly, gazing into the store window she stood at. The group turned to find her ogling at a miniature ornate ship behind the glass.
“I wanna go in here!”
Anon looked up and read the stores name aloud.
“An antique store? Could be the source of information we’re looking for. What say we check it out?”

Before any of the girls could even respond Sayori had pushed the door open and bounced inside, the others followed her in, dispersing throughout the shelves that lined the shop. The shopkeeper watched as four equally beautiful girls and one roughed up British lieutenant broke the emptiness of his store, his eyes met with Anon’s for a brief moment and they nodded to each other in acknowledgement.
The lieutenant ambled past a shelf littered with small ritualistic trinkets and pieces, something catching in the corner of his eye suddenly. He turned and picked it up, examining it. He held a small stone sculpture, a narrow pillar shape decorated with small markings and topped off with a bird-like headpiece, two minute red jewels held in its eyes, Anon looked into them like he was searching for something. He couldn’t quite place his finger on it but the item resonated with him somehow.

A rough, crackled voice next to him broke him from his search as he jumped, almost dropping the object.
“Anything I can help you with, sir?”
Anon turned his head to the old store clerk.

“O-Oh, no I should be okay, thank you.”
The man’s dim grey eyes gazed into Anon’s thoughtfully.
“You know, I rarely see a gaze like that. Especially when it’s spent on such a mundane object as a stone trinket.”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, sir.”
“A long, long time ago a bright young man came through here and picked up that very object and fixed it with a stare similar to the one you just wore.”
“Are you sure that isn’t a coinci-”
The man raised his wrinkled palm to silence Anon.
“You can feel it, it speaks to you, doesn’t it?”

He took off towards the store counter and beckoned Anon to follow him.
“Sir with all due respect I don’t quite understand what you’re doing here.”
“Your arm, give me your arm.”
Without even waiting for Anon to provide his hand, the old man took it and looked around the store, making sure no one else was paying attention before rolling up Anon’s sleeve. Revealing black marked skin beneath.
“I knew it.”
“W-What?”
“You bear the mark of Coyotli, the cursed sea pirate. One whose riches were said to be lost to the sea itself, swallowed whole by the waves and cast into the unknown. Now you’re here searching for it.”
Anon sighed, he was cornered.
“Yes, we are.”
“I won’t ask why, that is none of my business, but I may be able to help you.”
“Oh?”
“Out in the thick of the jungle, west from this town there is a man who lives in a small shack, has done for about twenty years now. Travel to him, he has the answers you seek.”
“Are you su-”

Anon was interrupted again by the old man.
“I am certain of it. Now if I were you I would take off as soon as possible, that mark has put you in grave danger. The hateful winds of Coyotli follow in your wake, best not to let them close in, understand?”
The lieutenant nodded as he freed his hand from the man’s clammy grasp and rolled his sleeve down again.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate the help.”

He turned and headed back to the main part of the store where he found Natsuki scolding a pouting Sayori.
“You already got that stupid pendent, idiot. If you wanted something else you shouldn’t have bought it.”
Sayori pushed the tips of her index fingers together and protested.
“But I didn’t know I’d find this.”
“Sayori I think you can do without it. Besides, you’ll only find something you like even more and want that instead.”
Anon placed his hands on the girls’ shoulders.
“Ladies, what on earth are you arguing over?”
Natsuki hesitantly brushed his hand off and jabbed her thumb towards a small wooden dog statue on the shelf in front of them.
“She wants to buy this but she already got that dumb necklace back in the other store, so she should be happy with that. If anything I should get something instead.”
Anon’s eyes drifted and met with Sayori’s pleading blues, he smiled sincerely at her.
“She’s right, you know. You could have held off on buying the necklace until we were ready to leave.”
Sayori let off a defeated sigh and surrendered.
“Can I at least play with him until we leave?”
He patted her on the shoulder. “Sure, why not. Do either of you know where Monika went?”

A familiar giggle sounded behind him, he turned to find his captain striking a pose, a dark green velvet tricorn hat worn proudly on her head, topped off with a small pure white feather sticking from behind the golden rim.
“Why Anon? Miss me?”
The lieutenant chuckled. “Maybe a little, nice hat.”
“Thanks! I lost my old one when I jumped into the water after you so I figured, why not treat myself a little?”

Anon approached her and spoke again, his voice quiet to avoid anyone overhearing despite the crew being the only ones present in the store.
“I found out something that might help us, but we should probably find somewhere more private.”
The captain punched him in the shoulder lightly and giggled.
“You wish, Anon.”
Their eyes caught in one another’s for a split second and she noticed the serious look on his face.
“Oh… Right…”
Her gaze darted off as her face reddened a little.
“Alright, there’s an inn near the bar. We can settle down there for today.”
She turned to the others. “Come on, we’re heading off.”

Sayori pouted as she put the dog statue down and exited the store after Monika, the other two followed in her wake. Anon made eye contact with the shop keeper as he made to leave as well. He called after the lieutenant.
“Good luck, sir. May you find what you’re looking for.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A day or so had passed since the meeting in the antique store. Despite Anon’s memory leaving out some of the finer details of their discussion the group were making their way through the jungle towards the west, eventually they should reach the man they were searching for.
The thick, humid air stuck to the crew members like mud to a boot. Anon’s usually neat hair plastered his sweaty face and he had taken off his jacket, leaving it tied lazily around his waist, his dirty white undershirt shone against the burning green of the jungle around them.

He swiped his cutlass at another brush and shoved it out of the way, sheathing his blade as he stepped into the small clearing he had just uncovered, the four girls followed behind him. He bent over and placed his hands on his knees, struggling to find cool air in amidst the heat of the jungle.
Natsuki shuffled past him, the overly large backpack she carried threw her off balance a bit as she staggered into the clearing. Throwing it off and turning to the others with a fiery look in her eyes.

“I’m going to kill the person who suggested I take the bag first.”
She glared at Anon who only smiled in return.
“Well I was the one who was cutting our way through the place, I wouldn’t have been able to do that with the backpack on now, would I?”
“Still!”

She sat down on top of the bag, her arms folded as she let off a flustered sigh. Anon sat down on the grass followed by the other three, Yuri setting down her backpack as well. The group rested in silence for a while, only the sounds of the breeze washing over the canopy above in waves and the occasional call of a bird filled the air.
Anon stood up, letting his navy jacket fall to the ground.

“I’m going to check out the area and see if there’s anything of use nearby.”
Monika stood as well. “I’m coming with you.”
“I should be fine on my own, Monika.”
She pouted slightly. “I’m coming anyway.”
“Alright, fine. The rest of you set up camp here, looks like we’ll be sleeping under the stars tonight.”
“But what if it gets cold Anoooon.” Sayori whined.
“There’s nothing better, we’ll have to make do with what we’ve got. Now get to it, we shouldn’t be long.”
Anon took off, Monika smiled almost teasingly at the others before skipping after him, disappearing into the green foliage.


Eventually the two stopped at the mouth of another clearing, slightly smaller than the last, they stood next to one another gathering their surroundings. Anon reached for his forehead and pulled a few sticky strands of his hair from his face and pushed them back, dropping his hand after doing so. To his surprise it met another form as his hand brushed that of his captain, who jumped and let off a faint “Oh.”
The lieutenant’s head darted towards the corner of the clearing, his face darkening.

“S-Sorry, my bad.”
His gaze returned to the clearing as he scanned the trees that hugged the open area, red and purple blossoms conflicted against the green bed of foliage. Anon’s eyes lifted to the treeline, catching on something bright and yellow.

“Look, there’s some fruit we could eat, it’d help conserve our food supplies for a bit.”
Monika’s eyes landed on the fruits as well, Anon ambled towards the papaya tree and hiked his leg on the slender trunk and attempting to pull himself upward, as soon as he did pain shot through his entire waist and coursed through his legs, he let go and stumbled backward, knocking into something behind him.

“Nice try, Anon.”
Anon chuckled. “You get them then if you’re so cocky.”
“Alright then~”
Monika approached the tree and placed her foot on the trunk similar to how Anon had his previously, she placed her hands around the bark and began hoisting herself upward towards the branches above. Pulling herself onto one and sitting on it, dangling her feet overhead. Anon looked up at her and smiled.

The captain smirked at him. “Told you I could do it~”
“Drop them down and I’ll gather them up.”
She grabbed a few papayas and pulled them from the tree, dropping them to the ground below almost hitting Anon.

“Hey! Watch it you.”
The girl above him giggled again as she tugged another fruit from the tree, taking aim and throwing it at the lieutenant who swiftly dodged the projectile, following it up with a second that caught him square in the forehead causing him to recoil slightly.
“I’ll get you for that.”
He dove forward and lifted a fruit from the foot of the trunk, he aimed at the captain above him and threw it upward. The dame leaned forward in an effort to dodge the fruit, successfully avoiding it.
“Nice aim!”
Suddenly the branch beneath her shook under her weight, as she shifted to dodge the papaya her balance was thrown off, she struggled in an attempt to regain her posture, her efforts proved futile as she leaned forward one last time, falling towards the ground.

A resounding crash echoed around the clearing, Anon grunted as the captain landed on top of him sending the two to the ground, birds that nestled in amongst the leaves of the trees took flight in droves. As the pain that forced its grasp around him loosened he felt something warm lying on top of him, he opened his eyes only to find Monika’s emerald green pair staring back into him, the tips of their noses were mere millimetres apart.
The air grew tense as they lay on the ground, gaze locked upon one another. Their breaths grew shallow as their faces reddened with each passing moment, neither of them spoke, neither needed to, their eyes were doing the talking. The humid air around them wasn’t helping their situation any.
Unconsciously Anon’s hands found the waist of the girl on top of him while hers clasped at his shoulders. Monika’s eyes closed slowly, Anon’s following suit as the two drifted towards one another, their lips pressing together gently. A burning sensation ripped through Anon’s chest kicking up a flock of butterflies inside him as the kiss continued for what felt like an eternity.
Finally the two broke away from one another, placing their mouths slightly apart so that they shared the air around them as they breathed in and out. Monika smiled gently while Anon wore a somewhat panicked expression.

“Did that really happen?” He thought.
“Or am I dreaming again.”

The captain’s face was burning up by now as she muttered.
“S-Sorry…”
Anon shook his head.
“No, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
Monika rolled off of him and stood up, brushing herself off as the lieutenant got to his feet as well, an awkward silence coated the air as they gathered the fruits of their labour and headed back towards the rest of the crew.


The two filtered back into the clearing still stuck in their rut of silence. By now the sky above had melded into a scorching orange as dusk began to settle, Yuri was stoking a small fire in the centre of the clearing, its embers trailing off and disappearing into the air.
Natsuki and Sayori were perched nearby gazing up at the sky, pointing upward as a multi-coloured bird took flight from its nesting point. The two let off faint, impressed “Oooh” sounds as it swept across the canopy.
Anon sat down at the fire across from Yuri and dropped his spoils onto the ground, Monika dropped hers into the pile as well and joined the two smaller girls in bird watching. The violet haired girl jumped as if being shaken awake from a trance, she looked at Anon nervously hoping he hadn’t caught her slipping from reality.

“W-Welcome back, Anon.”
“Mm…”
Anon’s eyes were fixated on the back of the captain as she took off her hat and looked upward. Thoughts about what had happened in the other clearing still tore through his mind at light speed, he sighed heavily.
“Is everything okay, Anon?”
The lieutenant met eyes with the dame, she could sense something written on his face. A mixture of sadness and fear marking his complexion.
“I’ll be fine, ma’am, thanks for asking. What about you three?”
“We’re okay. What are those?”
She pointed at the yellow fruit on the ground.
“Papayas I think, they should be good to eat, seeds an-”
A loud shuffling interrupted the twos conversation, upon hearing the word “Eat” Sayori whirled round and had begun crawling towards the fire to join the two. She grabbed at a papaya silently and bit into it, suddenly recoiling in disgust as her face contorted. She made a strong “Ugh” sound.
Anon chuckled. “I think you’re supposed to skin them, Sayori.”
The girl giggled nervously. “O-Oh… I knew that.”
“Here, let me.”
He took the fruit from her hands and extended his free hand towards Yuri.
“Mind if I borrow a blade, ma’am?”
She nodded and drew her pocket knife, placing it in his hand. She gasped slightly as their skin brushed against one another for a split second. The man began shredding the outer layer of the papaya effortlessly before handing the naked fruit to the girl who hastily took it and bit into it.
Sayori froze instantly as a bursting sweet flavour tickled her taste buds, her voice filled the clearing.
“Itsh sho good!”

She continued ripping into the fruit quickly. By now the other two had joined the three as they sat, encircling the dancing fire. Anon was already skinning a fourth papaya as Yuri bit into hers hesitantly. Natsuki spat something into the fire and held the fruit up to her face.

“Ew it’s full of brown stuff!”
She turned it and showed it to the group.
“Those are its seeds, Natsuki. You can eat them.”
“They’re gross!”

She scooped the brown seeds out and continued eating. Anon watched her and chuckled, even in the midst of her disgust she was incredibly cute. He lifted a small handful of seeds from his own fruit and bit into them, their spicy flavour kicking at his mouth.

Soon enough the air around them grew cold and the fire was nothing but a mere smouldering pile of ash, a few orange embers dotted in among the dust. The group hauled small blankets from their backpacks and lay down on the grass of the clearing. Anon dragged a small bottle of whiskey from the bag and opened it, he had claimed the post of watching over the girls as they slept and the only thing that would push him through a night of being alone was a drink or two. He bid the girls good night and sat down next to the burnt out fire, knocking back the first of his alcohol.


The smell of fish cooking met Anon’s nostrils and pulled him from his slumber. He opened his eyes slowly as the familiar feeling of a headache pounded on him, he stared up at the fluttering palm leaves above him. Something was off, he felt something enveloping around him tightly almost constricting his lungs. Panic set in quickly, figuring it was a snake of some kind wrapped around him somehow going unnoticed to the four girls he was travelling with.

He looked down slowly, only to find a mess of brown hair nuzzling into him, it was Monika. Her arms were wrapped about his sides tightly as she cuddled into him, her head raised up and down in rhythm with Anon’s chest. Her shallow breathes matched his, he didn’t know what to do. Last he remembered he was shaking an empty whiskey bottle, now he lay on the grass with someone holding on to him.

“She was probably just cold.” He thought.
“Then again…”

His thoughts drifted back to the events in the clearing yesterday, tracing through every single detail in his mind. For all he knew she was just acting out of impulse or desperation and not out of any actual feeling, doubt ate at the back of his mind and he sighed heavily. As he did so the head resting on him shifted gently and lifted.
The captain blinked a few times as she attempted to gather her surroundings, turning her head she met Anon’s stunned face and jumped. Their eyes entwined in one another momentarily, emerald green meeting dirt brown.
“A-Anon!”
She quickly let go of him and sat up, scurrying off towards the camp fire where the others were huddled waiting on food to be served. The lieutenant sat for a moment, bewildered, before getting up and joining the others at the fire. Trying his best to avoid making eye contact with Monika as she did the same.

Natsuki piped up. “Finally decided to get up, eh lovebirds?”
Sayori and the little girl burst into giggles meanwhile Yuri gazed into the fire in front of her blankly, a hint of sadness held in her eyes, it was like she wasn’t really there. Anon shot a glare at Natsuki, his face burning up quickly.
“S-Shut up.”
The girls stifled their giggles as Sayori passed out freshly made breakfast. They ate together and cleaned up, Yuri still caught in her trance hadn’t moved a muscle besides to eat, she still looked into the fire. Anon grabbed her shoulder and shook her gently.

“Hey, Yuri. You okay?”
The dame jumped and looked up at him.
“Y-Yeah I’m okay Anon. Just thinking…”
“Oh? Thinking about what?”
“Nothing important… Shouldn’t we be leaving?”
Anon looked at her, he could tell something was up by the way her violet eyes looked back at him, concealing something from him, her faint smile wasn’t too convincing either. He sighed heavily, figuring it best not to push onward, eventually she would come to him.
“Yeah, we should make it to the cabin today as long as we don’t slow down.”
“Alright then.”
The sword master stood up and brushed herself down, scattering muck and dust everywhere. The others approached them and they set off towards the west again. A slight awkwardness hung in the atmosphere as a result of Anon and Monika’s meeting that morning.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finally the group spilled into a small clearing, a wooden, heavily weathered chair sat in the centre next to an empty fire pit, the mouth of a small shack peeked out of the treeline nearby. Anon sheathed his cutlass and stepped closer to the fire pit, it was still slightly warm, showing that some signs of life still remained.

“Looks like this is the place.”
“Well what are we waiting for? Let’s go already.”
Anon sighed, he had a feeling of what was about to come, hoping it wasn’t right. They stepped into the silent cabin and began searching the rooms for anything of note, the lieutenant stopped in the kitchen. The table in the centre had a large map sprawled out along it, small notes and books dotted the corners of the table. It felt oddly familiar.

A voice broke his focus, it was old and crooked. Anon searched for its source and found an old man hunched over a small single-person desk with nothing on it but a small diary, a multi-coloured feather and an ink pot.
The man spoke as the four girls filled the room behind Anon.

“Why are you here?”
Anon remained silent as the man looked up from the book slowly, deep wrinkles were written across his skin and his tangled beard flowed disappearing beneath the ridge of the table.
“Well?”
Monika stepped forward and spoke in Anon’s absence.
“Sir, we were told you could help us in our search for treasure.”
“Treasure?”

The man let out a raspy chuckle.
“What I know won’t lead you to any treasure, girl. Take my advice and leave this place before it curses you too.”
Anon’s gaze shifted to the notes on the table in front of him, he couldn’t make out a single word written on the chicken scratch covered parchment. Something else that he seemed to recognise. He finally spoke up, his voice a faint mutter.

“Papa…”
The man’s eyes darted to him instantly.
“What did you say boy?”
“Papa.”

Anon pulled his shirt sleeve upward, displaying the tattoo that branded his arm. The man looked at it and returned the gesture, the same image was marked upon his skin.
“Anon. My son.”

The lieutenant fell silent as the man looked up at him again and smiled lovingly. Anon looked back with pure resent. His voice filled the room as he spat at his father.

“Son? Son?! You abandoned me twenty years ago and didn’t even leave as much as a note to say where you went, don’t you remember?”
The man’s smile faded. “I remember… I remember all too well. Anon the day I left you has stuck with me every single day, I wish I never did but there’s nothing I can do about that now, it’s far too late.”
“You could have come back for me, but instead you cursed me with this stupid tattoo and left me in the dark.”
“I know, I’m sorry my son.”
“You’re not my father, do not call me that.”

Anon turned on his heel and stormed straight out of the shack, the four girls watched after him unsure of what to do. Suddenly Natsuki moved to chase after him. Monika grabbed at her arm and caught it.
“Natsuki wait! Don-”
The little girl turned and fired back at the group ripping her arm from the captains grasp.
“If no one else is gonna go get him then god damn it I will. Don’t stop me.”
“It’s too dangerous out there.”
But Natsuki had already disappeared, tearing after the lieutenant who had fled into the thick of the jungle.


Anon hurtled through the green, in the distance a high pitched voice called after him drowned out by the rustling of leaves and snapping of branches under his feet. Finally he came to a stop, out of breath, he struggled to find air as he grasped at his side as the pain of a stitch tore through him. Sudden footfalls crashed through the brush before stopping behind him, a voice spoke through tiny gasps.

“Anon.”
The lieutenant turned, Natsuki slouched in front of him with her hands on her knees breathing heavily. Anon glared at her.
“What?!”
“Why did you run away, idiot?”

He dropped to the ground and sat there, sighing heavily. The pink haired girl crouched down next to him and looked into his face, his gaze fixated on the dirt at his feet, he felt a hand close around his shoulder blade.

“Anon…”
He didn’t move a muscle save for his eyelids which twitched with frustration, the girl shifted into a sitting position and sighed as well.

“You know… Back when I was younger my dad wasn’t exactly, y’know… fatherly. He drank a lot and never really looked in my direction, was a gambler too, sunk all our money on these stupid cards, kept going on about how they’d ‘make us rich as the Brits’ someday.”
She paused for a moment, searching for some interest in Anon’s face, he didn’t move. She continued anyway.
 “He promised that once he worked up enough money he’d leave it all behind and buy us a nice big house on a hill, perfect view and no one to bother us but ourselves. All he spent his money on was more alcohol and more rounds at the cards tables.”
Finally Anon showed some semblance of life as his brown eyes shifted, aligning with the sad, pink irises of the gunslinger. They watered slightly as she pressed on, stuttering a little as she choked back tears.
“One day he came home completely out of it, his pockets were empty of course, all the money he’d taken that night had been lost to those vile card games. My mother interrogated him about the missing cash and he… H-He hit her, Anon. He hit my mother.”
The lieutenant sighed heavily before sliding an arm around the girl’s neck and pulling her close to him, she gasped slightly but didn’t object any further, she continued her story.

“Somehow I came across Monika one day out of the blue, she just stepped into the bar I was hanging out at and took a seat. Something about her seemed off and I think the others felt it, they got up and went after her, she floored them in an instant and returned to her drink with that tell-tale giggle of hers.”
He paid attention absentmindedly, he was more enraptured in his own thoughts and recollections of his childhood.
 “Anyway, Monika noticed I was left alone and took me in, said something about some big quest she was on and offered me a split. I was bored and wanted a reason to ditch my useless father so I joined her, now I’m here looking for this dumb treasure and talking to you.”

Anon finally gave in to the conversation, he lay back on the grass behind him, recounting each small detail of how his father descended into madness over Coyotli’s riches and disappeared, leaving just a boy and his mother.

He ended his story and sighed sadly, his eyes left the dots of blue hidden in amongst the leaves above him as he sat up. He felt something lift off his chest slightly, over the course of telling the girl his story he took refuge in the fact that, for just once, someone was listening to his problems with some semblance of interest.
A skinny arm slinked around him and pulled him closer into the side-hug.

“Thanks for coming after me. This helped.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea, the others would lose their minds if you disappeared, literally in some cases.”
“And you?”
She murmured awkwardly. “N-No.”
Anon chuckled and stood up. “Figured as much. Come on, let’s go back.”

The girl stood as well and walked off back towards the cabin, leaving the lieutenant to limp after her. All the running had essentially destroyed his leg, he called out.
“Natsuki. I can’t walk on this damned leg, give me a hand.”
She hesitantly returned to his side and placed her arm around him once more, the two made way for the cabin.


The two stumbled into the cabin where they found Anon’s father sitting with the others, Natsuki let go of Anon who stumbled on his injured leg before falling into a chair. Monika turned to him with a face of utmost glee.
“Welcome back Anon, your father was just telling us about you as a child. Is it true you fell in love with a ‘Princess Carling’ from the kingdom of Waiviel?”
The lieutenant blushed slightly as he shot his father a death glare, the room filled with girlish giggles.
“N-No it’s not.”

A harsh chuckle followed his rebuttal.
“Trying to save face as always, you’re just like your mother. Anon.”
“Not that you would know.”
The tension in the room escalated once more as Anon held his glare, his father looked back sadly and sighed.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me Anon. In all honesty I do not want you to, what I did is unforgivable, I cast myself into exile as a result.”

Anon’s face softened as the man continued.
“I left you alone in this world and cursed you with that damned mark. Something I wish I’d never done, but I cannot take these actions back, so instead I will do my best to help you from here. Why do you wish to find this treasure?”
“I want to get rid of this stupid curse, it’s been following our family for long enough and I don’t want to pass it on.”
“The same reason I sought. Well you are in luck, son. In my time alone I believe I’ve discovered the final resting place of Coyotli, which either means I’ve found the treasure itself or the final clue that will lead to it. In my old age I can no longer travel therefore that is up for you and your friends to discover.”

Monika piped up, breaking the silence held between the four girls.
“You could always come wi-”
His harsh voice interrupted her as the man raised his weathered hand.
“No! I do not deserve such an ending, I’d much like to remain in this cabin until the end.”
“Then we’ll come back to you when we find it.”
“There is no need, please.”
The captain sighed.
“Feel free to read over all my notes and take whatever you please, I have no need for these papers any more. They will help you more than they could ever help me.”


Soon enough the group were ready to make their leave, Anon’s father had provided them with a third backpack to carry the notes, books and the map that they had taken. The four girls stepped out into the small clearing and breathed, taking in the fresh air which contrasted the dirty, old atmosphere that hung around the shack.
Anon and his father stood on the porch of the shack, the lieutenant turned towards his father and looked at him, a gesture that was returned.

“Papa.”
The man smiled warmly. “Good luck, my son.”
Suddenly Anon grabbed his father and embraced him for the first time in twenty years.
“I’m sorry for being mad at you for all these years.”
“There is no need to apologize, Anon. I am the one who should be doing so, I’m sorry for leaving you.”
“That’s okay, I forgive you.”
The old man sighed. “Thank you.”

Anon let go of him and joined the girls in the clearing, the old man waved as they bid him farewell, making their way into the thick of the jungle once more.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Anon limped through the brush, by now the pain in his leg had faded slightly and he no longer needed the help of the girls to push forward, the four pirates tailed him slowly. Without warning a bush nearby shook, its leaves rustling loudly, the group came to a halt. Sayori stammered.

“W-What was that?”
“Something must be following us. Let’s move, quickly.”
Anon hobbled as fast as his injured leg would allow him to, he began to feel it tense up but he didn’t care, he had to get the girls out of danger before whatever it was struck.

Another rustling bush sounded behind them, Monika and Yuri drew their blades while Natsuki tightened a tiny hand around the pistol holstered to her right, the click of the cocking mechanism was followed by more movement in the green, something sleek and black could be seen slinking through it.

Monika spoke. “Anon, I don’t think we’re going to make it, we’re barely at the first clearing.”
“That doesn’t matter, we get as far as we can before it attacks.”
“What chance do we have?”
“A better one of you four escaping, that’s for sure.”
“A-And what about you?”
“You four have the information you wanted, I’m useless to you now.”
“I’m not letting you sacri-”
“It’s not up for debate. When this thing makes its move. Run.”

Silence fell for a few minutes save for the occasional movement of leaves around them, they continued to press forward as the sound of foliage movement preceded them before coming to a stop. Anon stopped too, the girls followed suit.
Again, silence. Suddenly something black leapt from the mess of green in front of them, pearly white teeth clenched and green eyes burning with animalistic hatred. The beast sizing them up as it paced back and forth.

Anon readied himself for a losing battle, despite his gut telling him to do anything but, he ordered to the girls.
“You four get out of here. I’ll hold it off for as long as I can manage, it should give you enough time to reach the clearing at least.”
“Anon, I’m not leaving you.”
“You can’t find this thing if we’re all dead.”
“W-What if I don’t care about the treasure.”

Anon stopped. Did she really just say that? Did she mean it?
“Just go, I’ll be fine.”
The captain spat at him. “Bullshit.”

The lieutenant refused to take his eyes off the panther in front of them.
“Just go, and take the others with you.”
Someone stepped to his side, he was expecting Monika to take up arms and fight alongside him but as he turned his eyes did not meet a neatly tied brown ponytail. Instead he found a messy mop of coral coloured hair, in a rushing surge of confidence Sayori planted herself to Anon’s right and drew her own blade.

“I’ll help him, you three get out of here.”
“Sayori? What the hell are you doing?!”
“Something right for once, now go!”

Such fierceness was un-characteristic of the girl, Anon couldn’t take her seriously however the other three seemed to.
“Fine, Sayori I’m trusting you with keeping this idiot alive.”
The girl’s cheery aura was completely gone, usually she would sound off with a salute or a joy filled “Aye aye captain” but she remained silent and vigilant, her eyes fixed on the beast.
Monika sighed. “Please, Sayori. For his sake and my own.”
The three girls disappeared, heading towards the left to circle around the animal’s position. The panther came to a halt and eyed the remaining two, a burning hunger held in its eyes.


Minutes passed, Sayori’s fighting stance had begun to falter slightly, her blade lowering towards the ground as sudden realisation took hold of her. She was about to fight and her only accomplice was an injured man who could barely stand on his own let alone take down a predator of such size and pure malice. Her eyes widened as her entire body froze, her voice shook like an old man left to die in the cold.

“A-Anon I can’t do this…”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t fight this thing, I-I… You were right, I’m not a fighter.”
“Then why are you still here.”
“I wanted to protect you and the others…”
He sighed, Sayori was still frozen solid next to him.
“Fine, I’ll do this alone.”

The lieutenant shoved her to the side out of harm’s way, the animal in front of them took this as a sign of war and lunged towards the man, its hind legs kicking it off the ground with great power. The girl merely watched as it soared through the air towards him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

End Chapter.