The ship suddenly found itself sailing in total darkness... so deep that the only thing that the La Flama crew could make out was the strange mist that filled the place and seemed to stop at the level of the water that the ship was plowing through.

The crew was silent for a moment, taking in the place where they now stood. They let the strange wind and the crackling of the fire in the ships torches, as well as the captain's fire, be the only sounds around. The pirates could not help but be surprised, because despite clearly hearing the wind, they could not feel it on their faces, nor could they see it affect the fire or the sails.

-Finally... -said Fuego-. The end of the book.

Kaleb leaned over the side to see if he could feel the movement of the water pulling the ship, but he was met with only endless blackness. It seemed as if the ship was floating on nothing. There was no movement of water or reflection of the flames or the ship itself on the surface. If it weren't for the fact that the ship was partially submerged, he would have thought that the ship was really levitating.

A few other pirates seemed to have the same curiousity as Kaleb, for the boy saw them leaning out off the deck. One of them even grabbed a cannonball and threw it into the water to see its effect. The moment it hit the surface, it seemed to make ripples similar to those that form in water, but they looked distorted and erratic.

-Gentlemen -said the captain to his crew-. Prepare to be free.

The pirates shouted in excitement.

-Begin preparations for the ritual. -ordered Fuego

The pirates began to prepare for something on the deck. Kaleb, puzzled, was taken by surprise by Fuego, who roughly grabbed his arm.

-It's your turn, boy -said Fuego.

-What? Let me go! -Kaleb complained.

Fuego dragged him to the deck where he whipped him forward, the other pirates circling him, blocking his path, eager and ecstatic. He could tell from their faces that they couldn't wait to be free.

-Get away from me! -yelled Kaleb.

-There is something I forgot to tell you... there is a way to get out of here without leaving our beloved Flama behind. A ritual -said Fuego while he took out the small bottle of Tears of Cempasúchil again-. There is a ship... which they say is capable of navigating between the worlds: El Caronte, an ancient legend.

Kaleb saw some of the pirates pull out some ropes, clearly intending to restrain him.

-El Caronte is the only ship capable of entering here and leaving, we only need to ask its captain to tow La Flama out of this horrible place. You see, their captain is quite open to negotiation, so a payment will have to be made... of a soul.

One of the pirates took the vial the captain was holding, while Fuego took a gold doubloon from another pocket.

-You don't know how difficult it was to keep this intact -Fuego told the boy, referring to the gold doubloon. Kaleb could even see how the pirates were drawn to that little piece of gold, some of them even salivating at its mere presence.

-You must drink the Tears of Cempasúchil and then you will put this gold doubloon under your tongue.

The boy looked at Fuego furiously.

-Then unfortunately we will have to kill you, otherwise El Caronte would have no reason to come, would it? -said the captain, mockingly-. Tie him up! -he ordered his pirates, who pounced on Kaleb-. And force the tears down that filthy throat of his!

Fuego chuckled. Kaleb kicked and tried to defend himself from the pirates, but little by little they were winning.

-No! No! -screamed the boy desperately-. Help me! -he yelled.

-Oh, your dear voice in heaven won't be able to help you, it will only be able to see how you suffer until your last breath... but if it helps you to cheer up, I'll tell you not to worry. Once we hand you over to Caronte and we have left, I will personally take care of your Huachi friends.

Kaleb turned to stare at Fuego, between struggles and pulling; the boy was already on the ground ready to be restrained.

-Once outside, I'm personally going to take this book... and burn it -he said with a grin of grim satisfaction.

-No! Nooo! -Kaleb yelled with all his might, while the captain guffawed and a group of pirates opened the boy's mouth, preparing him for the doubloon and the Tears of Cempasúchil.

Everything seemed to indicate that it was the end for the boy...