Saturday Stories: Whispers of the Cursed Island of Curacao

by Denise N. Fyffe

On a moonlit night, the shores of the secluded Caribbean island of Curacao came alive with eerie tales of curses and lost treasures. Among the daring adventurers seeking fortune was a skilled black sailor named Malik, known for his unwavering determination and bravery.

Drawn by whispers of untold riches, Malik set foot on the cursed island, his heart pounding with excitement and apprehension. Legends spoke of malevolent spirits guarding the treasure, but Malik scoffed at such superstitions. He believed in his skills and the strength of his crew.

As they ventured deeper into the dense jungle, the air thickened with an otherworldly aura. Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath their feet, and the jungle roared with an unearthly force.

“Hold fast!” Malik commanded his crew, trying to steady their nerves.

From the shadows emerged spectral figures, their eyes glowing with an eerie light. Malik’s crew faltered, fear gripping their hearts.

Unbeknownst to Malik, the whispers of the island’s curse were about to become all too real.

“We must press on!” Malik shouted, his voice resolute, trying to rally his crew.

But as they continued their trek, the spectral figures closed in, their haunting wails sending shivers down their spines.

“Did you see that?” Salim, one of Malik’s loyal men muttered to another.

“I am just keeping my eyes front. There is no doubt this place is haunted and cursed,” Brogaad mumbled in response, gripping his pistol tighter to his side.

Caught in the crucible of terror, Malik’s crew questioned their decision to venture into this cursed realm.

“I told you we should have taken the other mission to Port Royal,” Jack a young sailor said to his twin brother.

“Well, that one does not pay as much. Stop being a big baby,” John rebuked. “Plus, we have the opportunity to get rich and be done with this life.”

“That is the only reason I let you talk me into this madness.”

Just as they thought they were doomed, a sudden glimmer of hope appeared. It was an ancient amulet, half-buried in the soil. The legends spoke of its power to repel evil spirits.

“The mysterious amulet,” they whispered in awe.

Malik seized the amulet, clutching it tightly in his hand. Immediately a barrier surrounded the crew.

“Wow,” they all exclaimed.

“We will survive this, my friends. Trust in our strength and the power of this artifact!” Malik urged, his voice infused with determination.

As if emboldened by his words, the crew stood firm. With the amulet’s protective aura surrounding them, they advanced further into the heart of the island.

In the midst of this ethereal chaos, they stumbled upon the fabled treasure chamber, hidden in the depths of a cave. It was adorned with glimmering jewels and gleaming gold. Malik’s eyes widened in awe, but he knew they couldn’t take it all. The legends warned of the curse’s wrath upon those who dared to be greedy.

“Remember, do not be greedy,” Malik warned. “Take only five pounds’ worth of treasure each.”

“Wow, these rubies will fetch a fortune,” Jack said, almost hypnotized by the treasure trove in front of him.

“You take the rubies, diamonds, and precious stones,” John instructed seriously. “I will forage for precious artifacts.”

“These gold goblets will look fantastic on my mantel,” Salim muttered. As he sifted through the large gold chest.

Meanwhile, Brogaad spied a bejeweled sword hidden behind a large gold mirror. He lifted the heavy weapon and examined the dazzling handle. He picked up a matching dagger set and placed them in his satchel.

“Ok, let’s wrap it up and get out of here,” Malik ordered. “We are running out of time.”

He moved through the treasure collecting a variety of precious jewels, diamonds, and gold. But, he was looking for one specific treasure, something that would lead him to his next adventure.

Malik slowed his steps as he spot an old scroll hidden behind a massive throne. He expertly collected the map and hid it in his cloak.

“Finally,” he whispered.

Carefully selecting a portion of the treasure, Malik and his crew made their way back through the spectral onslaught. Suddenly, the cave shuddered and the treasure trove began to sink in quicksand.

The men spirited for the entrance of the cave, narrowly escaping as the walls collapsed. burying the treasure trove forever.

Their journey to escape the cursed island was just as perilous as their arrival.

With every step, the spirits’ wails grew louder, echoing through the dense jungle. a mighty wind whipped up the trees as they hurried towards the beach and their escape.

John halted as he saw the most beautiful image from the corner of his eye. The woman was a vision of beauty clothed in a bright red dress with flowy yellow sleeves. Imprisoned by her undeniable stare, he walked toward her and was cloaked from the others in a dense grey mist.

“John?” Jack called out when he noticed his brother was no longer by his side. “John!”

“What? Where is he?” Malik questioned.

“He was just here a while ago,” Jack franticly responded.

“John? John!” the men shouted. “Where are you?”

“Brother, answer me.”

Just then, a piercing scream rang out from the depths of the forest. A evil cackle followed sending the men nervously backing up towards the forest edge and the white sand beach.

“Jack, there is nothing we can do,” Malik said placing his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “He is gone.”

“No, I will not leave him alone in this seventh level of hell,” Jack tried to get away but the men held him firmly.

“It’s a death sentence, Jack.”

“We have to get out of here now if we want to live.” They all tried reasoning with him.

The forest suddenly grew cold like the peaks of Mount Everest. The men stood still as a grey mist overcame the island. they stood back to back unable to see even a foot in front of them.

“Oh what now,” Brogaad mumbled.

“We need to get out of here now,” Malik ordered.

At the island’s edge, they faced their final trial—an ethereal guardian who challenged their right to leave with the treasure. The figure stood eight feet tall, dressed in a black cloak and wielding a large silver sword.

Summoning every ounce of courage, Malik confronted the guardian, holding the amulet high. “We come in peace and with reverence for this land. Let us pass!” he declared with unwavering conviction.

Malik had studied the rules of the island and knew that so long as they each took only what they could carry, they would be safe.

The guardian stepped forward intimidating the men further.

“Let us pass!” Malik shouted. “We followed the rules.”

A moment of tense silence passed before the guardian finally relented, allowing them safe passage. The men ran to their aged boat tied to a large driftwood on the beach.

Once free they paddled furiously towards their ship.

Jack stared blindly at the island, caught up in deep grief for his twin brother.

Once on the ship, Malik commanded his men to lift the anchor. He clutched the old map hidden in his jacket pocket, already planning his next adventure.

As they sailed away from the cursed island, the crew looked back with a mix of awe and relief. They had survived the crucible of the cursed island, and their lives were forever changed by the experience.

The treasure they brought back was not just gold and jewels; it was the knowledge that even in the face of the supernatural, the power of courage and unity could prevail.

Moral of the Story

In times of peril, true strength lies not just in physical prowess, but in the courage to face one’s fears and the unity to stand together against adversity.

Read more Saturday stories here. 

*****

About the writer:
Denise N. Fyffe is a published author of over 40 books, for more than ten years, and enjoys volunteering as a Counselor. She is a trainer, publisher, author, and writing mentor; helping others to achieve their dreams.

Check out her book The Caribbean Family

The family is the genesis of all societies. Every culture has its distinct rules by which a family is governed, and the Caribbean family is no exception. Those rules differ within each group; for the Indians, Chinese, and Africans. Making up most of the population in the Caribbean, African families have spawned several sub-units or types; some of which are unique to the African culture. This book explores each family type and their history within the Caribbean.

Available at all online book retailers and Amazon.com