Disclaimer: I don't own Jack, Epps, or anyone from Ghost Ship. If I did, Jack and Epps would be in my room with no clothes and a video camera.
A/N: I'm dedicating this story to Kate, the light of my life.
Staring down at her hands, Maureen Epps sat quietly before the high table. Four judges sat, clothed in red, with masks covering their faces. A taller pedestal in the center, sitting a man clothed entirely in black, with a half mask. That smirk on his face was familiar to her, but the young woman couldn't put her finger on whose lips she had seen it.
A large hammer materialized before the shortest judge on the end, and a sharp voice rang out. "We call forward the first witness!"
Epps looked up, then back, following the directions of the judges pointing fingers. A door of light appeared, and a figure stood in it, silhouetted completely. It began trudging forward, and as it passed Maureen, she could smell the sharp scent of oil and burnt flesh.
As it stood before the high table, the man in black stood. A cold, calculating voice echoed in the chamber. "Who murdered you?"
The figure turned and pointed an oil-covered finger at Epps. Her eyes widened, and she shrank back on her chair. A voice, low and accented, rang in her ears. A man's voice. Santos! "She did it. It was Maureen Epps."
The four men in red stood, lifting their hands to their hoods. "We find you guilty, for the deaths of your crew!" The hoods were yanked from heads, and the angry faces of Dodge, Munder, Greer, and Murphy stared accusingly at her. Maureen let out a scream, but clammy warm hands covered her mouth and dragged her to the table. The man in black sneered, and descended down towards her.
It bent over her, lowering its head to hers, and breathing hotly on her lips. A throb resounded in her lower regions, and the woman struggled to get away. But the figure pressed those cruel thin lips to hers, and she was frozen.
Pulling away, it raised one hand and lifted the black half-mask. Blue eyes bore into her brown ones, and Maureen found herself face to face with Jack Ferriman. The tall man grinned sweetly, and reached out to take her hand.
She knew this wasn't going to be good, as she felt his palm pressing against hers, and squeezed her eyes shut as a burning pain filled her palm and arm. A laugh echoed through her mind as she slipped into darkness.
A/N: We've reached the end of Chapter 1. I'll have Chapter 2 up by tomorrow, so keep checking!