(CHAPTER 17: THE GREEN HELL)

"Here is the land mate." The short stump man say as he dock his boat at an area close to the river bed, where the water is shallower and hopefully, no piranhas. "You shall leave now. Head west past the rainforest and you will arrive." After sending the rest down, he hop back to his boat and start rowing back to where he came from. "Aren't you going to lead us there?" Hero called out. "Nah mate, we are wanted men. And there is still a long way ahead, ain't wanna be bone stew for the natives or quick snack for the Dragon snappers. "He left those words before disappearing into the ocean mist.

"Thought he is going to lead us." Hero grumbled. "And I thought we shall be arriving at the plains right now." Norman complained. "It's just past the rainforest. Shouldn't be that far." Rose spoke. "I suggest we start moving. "Great another long agonizing trip." Norman let out a groan and soon they headed in the "Green Hell".

As they dwell deeper, they realize why this place is crowned as hell. The trees were thicker, larger and taller, blocking out the sunlight, making them unable to keep track of time, if it wasn't for a clock Trojan and the crew gave to him before he depart. There are tons of creepy crawlers infesting it too. Ranging from venomous cave spiders to centipede the size of an anaconda. Norman has been bitten by one of the spider the size of a palm, and now he didn't even dare to move ahead the team, forcing Hero to take the lead. Hero took out his Hero took out his saber and began to sweep the vines and bushes in front of them to create a path to walk on.

The grass were tall, and sharp unlike the fluffy and soft ones back then. They were like blades, sending a stinging sensation everytime one swipe across his legs. The vine didn't help either, it was hard to differentiate one with a dangling, resting snake. And for so far he had been bitten right in the face, twice.

After a long agonizing day, they finally stop to rest and set camp. They had underestimate the power of nature, and worst of all they are barely scratching the surface of the jungle. As the rest had their dinner and went to bed, hero took out the map Trojan gave and start reading. Their current location is right at the edge of the discovered area, which is parts that have been covered by. But what lies in front of them is the uncharted, with no records of what is in it, how it looks of even what is it.

"People call it the Dead men's Inn." Trojan explained as he took another cup of beer down his throat with ease. "No one has the time to spend a night within it, not even one. It is too dangerous to be slow, you gotta act fast while in that zone, it is a hell within the hell. But this map will sure come in handy, at least for the discovered part." He took a map out of his leather backpack and hand it to Hero "Why are you helping me again?" Hero take the map and put it back into his backpack. "You are trying to kill me just like half an hour ago."

"I suppose you didn't kill Jack, at least on purpose." He put his mug back at the counter and Tommy immediately gave him a refill. "You got the blessing of Jack, which suggests he looks up on you." "You mean this?" Hero slightly pull one side of his shirt down and reveals the mark left at his shoulder. "Yeah, that one." He took the fully filled mug and chug it down once more. "When a captain left or retire, or, well dies, he will gave his blessing to one of his crewmates." He explained, half drunk, his face growing red as his eyelid starts to sink. "When I retired and build this Inn, I gave my blessing to Jack. And he gave his to yours." "So what's so great about the blessing then? Some sort of relic? Potionable?"Rose cut in. "Nah, just gave you the ability to listen the word of the seas and be friend with aquatic creatures. Stuff like that." "No wonder Captain Black is able to locate an Ocean Monument that fast." Hero though in his mind. "Remember kid." He stumble towards him and put his hand on his shoulder. "Always follow your heart. Who knows whether the bad guy is actually the bad guys? Who knows whether heroes is really good? You've been through a lot with your heart, stay that way kid, stay that way….." He spoke his last words before finally drifting into deep sleep.

"Follow my heart huh." Hero thought as he stare up the night sky. The world he is staying seems so strange, so far out for him, as if he didn't belong here. He somehow still remembers his day with Brine, but who cares about that. She has forgotten him, all he wanted right now, is to slay that bastard that has been raining pain and fear on him, and anyone else.

"You are still awake?" Hero turn his head around and saw Brine poking her head out of the tent. "Yeah." Hero roll up the map to put it back his backpack. He stood up and was about to head out to his tent before she called out. "You know me before, right?" She asked. "Before I lost my memories."

"Yeah, "Hero turn around and reply shortly, before turning back and headed to his tent. He didn't wanted to talk about this, not now. "Can we talk?" She asked, stopping him in his tracks. He turn his head around and stare at her for a moment before shaking his head.

"No."

"Get some sleep, we will be waking up early by tomorrow." He simply replied as he put off the burning campfire and return back to his tent once more. Maybe he is really broken when it comes to her, and it can't be blamed.

"I am sorry alright!"

He stopped on his track once more.

"I just wanna know who I am alright. I am sorry. I didn't know how to ask you before, I thought you would be less mad right now, but I messed it all up and I …." Here words turn into whispers as she bite her lips and look at her feet. "I'm sorry….."

"Let's talk inside."

"Huh?" She lift her head up.

"Let's talk inside." He turn his head around and signaled him to follow him into his tent. She look at him for a while and at the tent before smiling. "Yeah." She enters the tent and was followed by Hero, who seal the curtains of the tent shut. "Damn ma man's growing up! " Norman poke his head out of his tent and whispered. "Shut it Norman, best not ruin in." Rose poke her head out too and the both snickered.