Maybe you were about to answer the boy, but the heavy footsteps of the pirates entering the place caught your attention.

Kaleb was immediately alert. The pirates entered without saying a word and took him by the arms. He of course struggled to free himself and avoid accompanying them, but the pirates responded by giving him a blow to the stomach, which made him double over in pain and gasp.

After that it was easy to transport him to the deck and then drag him against his will to the captain's private cabin.

Once inside, he found Fuego sitting at a large table. Behind him was a huge window and on the floor were dozens of chests of all sizes, from small ones that could be easily carried, to huge chests that would require at least two people on each side to move them. Kaleb was immensely surprised the moment he saw them, he thought what surely many did when a pirate chest is mentioned: jewels and riches overflowing, a pearl necklace, and even rubies among a mountain of gold doubloons. Perhaps at some point these chests contained said riches and had looked like those of imagination and stories, but now they were completely empty.

On the walls were huge torches that lit up the entire place. The walls were adorned with crimson tapestry and beautiful decorations. On the captain's table were hundreds of maps, books, and other articles; some of them clearly linked to esotericism and witchcraft.

The captain watched the boy, while his men sat him in a chair in front of him.

-Welcome -he told him. Then he waved his hand indicating to his men that they should withdraw. They obeyed and Kaleb and the captain were left alone.

-I think we started on the wrong foot, don't you think? -commented Captain Fuego, while he opened a bottle and poured two glasses.

-You and I are looking for the same thing, boy -the captain handed him one of the glasses-. Freedom -he said with a smile, then drank.

The liquor slipped from his lips. Upon reaching the beard of flames a small explosion was generated in the pirate's face. The explosion made Kaleb jump a little in shock. Fuego, seeing this, burst out laughing.

-Both you and I were unjustly imprisoned in this damned book, tricked by a cruel and deceitful creature -as the captain spoke, he wrinkled his hat a little.

Kaleb's eyes widened when he heard the captain mention the book. Fuego obviously noticed this and smiled.

The captain stood up and began to pace in his cabin.

-I can see that you haven't been here for a long time, locked up in this hellish place... I know your kind and I've seen several try to get out and go crazy trying. I have seen many others be devoured by the horrors that lie in this place and those who achieve the unlikely... but time here reveals to you what people are like. I have seen my men succumb to madness, finding no escape. I have seen my men die of hunger and gluttony and I have seen those like you corrupted by despair, fear. All because of time, each day is filled with horrorr and slander disguised as the hope of finding a way out of here. Every day this place takes something from us, but what it has stolen the most from me and my men is time.

"We've been stuck here for ages! -the captain slammed his fist on the table-. I have seen the outside world change without even being present, just by seeing that every day more and more wretches arrive that this thing imprisons here and in all of them it is reflected how much we have missed in the world out there. What we left behind, those who should be dead today.

-Imagine my rage knowing that all this time we've been in a bloody book condemnd to such a mundane object while the world and everything we know changes and forgets us!