It had been a month since Henry Turner had been taken captive aboard the Silent Mary, forced into the role of Cabin Boy by the ghostly, pirate-hunting Captain Armando Salazar. The Spanish captain’s obsession with finding and killing Jack Sparrow—the pirate he blamed for the deaths of him and his crew—had left Henry trapped miles away from freeing his father, William Turner. He was no closer to his goal than he had been before. Then, recently, Salazar captured several members of the Queen Anne’s Revenge, including the legendary Captain Hector Barbossa, who now commanded Blackbeard’s old crew. Henry had expected the captain’s attention to remain on revenge, but everything changed when Salazar overheard the pirates whispering about Blackbeard’s failed search for the Fountain of Youth and the mermaid whose tears were needed to unlock its power.

For the first time in years, Jack Sparrow’s name was forgotten in the face of Salazar believing perhaps he and his crew could become human again. A week later, the Silent Mary reached Whitecap Bay. Under the glow of the setting sun, Henry sat in a small boat with Barbossa and a handful of other pirates, rowing through the darkening waters. Salazar’s first mate watched from behind them, making sure none dared to try to escape. Their mission was simple: Sing. Lure out a mermaid to be captured. And since the penalty of defying Salazar was death, Henry and the pirates really had no choice.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” One sailor muttered, rowing weakly, “where we’re begging monsters from the sea to come find us.”

Barbossa gave a tired chuckle. “Begging? No, lad. We be inviting our own deaths.”

The old pirate glanced toward the water. “Every sailor knows them boy. Beautiful voices. Pretty faces. Then they drag you below and you’re never seen again.”

As the hours passed, the singing faded. One by one, the pirates fell asleep, exhausted from rowing and waiting. Even Barbossa eventually leaned back, his voice barely a whisper.

“Mark me words, boy…looks be deceiving…”