This is my first Pirates fic, so please don't be too harsh on me. Songfic set to Pain by Three Days Grace. Enjoy.
Chapter 1: Pain
Elizabeth was sitting alone in her cottage, wallowing in her own misery. Two months before, her husband, William Turner, had died, un-died, becoming the new captain of the Flying Dutchman, and divorced her.
Maybe divorce wasn't the right word. It was more like he told her that their marriage had never existed in the first place. They had no documents, and were married in the midst of battle, by a pirate no less. Either way, her heart was shattered.
Ever since Will had left her, Elizabeth had done nothing but sit and drink. Once, in her rage, she shattered a bottle, lacerating her hand. She had stared at her wounds curiously, not bothering to remove the glass. She liked the pain. It let her know she was alive.
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Elizabeth never removed the glass from her hand. She instead let it remain embedded in her flesh. It kept the awful numbness from returning.
After a while, the days started to run together. She became thin and gaunt, resembling the cursed pirates she had once sailed with more than a human. She had stopped eating entirely, preferring to sit and drink rum. It was always rum. The flavor reminded her of the only one she ever wanted to see again.
And then he came. Jack Sparrow came to rescue her. He entered the small cottage that she was living in and immediately saw the haggard woman sitting on the floor. The pirate rushed over to her and took her uninjured hand and cradled it in both of his own.
"What happened to you Lizzie?" he asked quietly.
"Everything," she mumbled.
"Come with me," he whispered. "I'll take you somewhere that you will understand."
You're sick of feeling numb
You're not the only one
I'll take you by the hand
And I'll show you a world that you can understand
Before she could answer, Elizabeth passed out. She fell forward into his strong arms, unable to keep herself conscious any longer.
Jack lifted her into his arms and carried her to a small table, gently setting her down at a chair. He rummaged through the cabinets until her found a bottle of vodka, some towels, and a bowl. He laid the items out in front of her unconscious form and set about cleaning her injured hand. He placed a towel under her hand and poured some of the vodka on her skin, making her flinch and try to draw her hand away, but he held it tightly. Her eyes flittered open and she zeroed in on his hand on hers.
"Jack," she rasped "what are you doing?"
"Cleaning your hand," he said gently, pouring more alcohol on her hand. She hissed in pain, but didn't pull away again.
This life is filled with hurt
When happiness doesn't work
Trust me and take my hand
When the lights go out you will understand
"Why?" she asked angrily, jerking her hand out of his grasp.
Jack remained calm. He gently gripped her wrist again and pulled her hand toward him. He started picking out the glass, which was no easy task, for her skin had healed around it. "Because I care," he said simply. He pulled on a piece of glass as she jerked her hand away again. The glass ripped out of her skin forcefully, sending a spray of blood into the air. Elizabeth hissed while smiling sadistically.
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
"Don't," she snarled. "Did you ever think that maybe I like the pain?"
Jack looked appalled. "What have you done with my Lizzie?" he asked. "My Lizzie would never say something like that."
"So just because I've changed, I'm not your Lizzie anymore?" she asked bitingly.
Jack took her hand again and started pulling at the glass. "Change comes naturally," he said carefully. "No one can change this drastically in two months."
"I'd rather be how I am now than how I was when he first left," she growled bitterly.
"Angry and in agony?" he asked sarcastically, pulling free another piece of glass, sending more blood into the air.
Anger and agony
Are better than misery
Trust me, I've got a plan
When the lights go off, you will understand
"Anger and agony are better than misery," she snapped, jerking her hand away yet again. "I've got a plan, you just don't understand."
"What plan?" he demanded. "Too kill yourself through sheer neglect?"
"No!" she shrilled. "I told you, you don't understand!"
"Because you won't tell me!" he snapped back, taking her hand again.
Elizabeth glared at him. "I didn't fix this," she looked at her injured hand "because being in constant pain lets me know I haven't died! Without it, I feel nothing, and I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all!"
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing, rather feel pain
"Come with me," Jack said again. "Let me save you from this hell." Elizabeth didn't answer, nor did she look at him. "I know you're hurting," Jack continued softly. "Even if you don't think so, I know you'll thank me later if you let me take you away from here."
Elizabeth looked up into Jack's midnight, kohl-lined eyes. "No," she said stubbornly. "I want to stay here. Alone."
"Lizzie…" he said softly.
I know, I know that you're wounded
You know, you know that I'm here to save you
You know, you know I'm always here for you
I know, I know that you'll thank me later
"No," she hissed, jerking her hand away once more, this time hiding it under the table. "I will stay here alone."
"Lizzie, please reconsider," Jack begged.
"Get out," she said coldly. "Leave me to myself. I want to be alone."
"Love, you can't live like this," he murmured.
"I can. Now get out," she growled.
Jack stood up reluctantly and turned toward the door. He paused with his hand on the knob. Without turning he spoke. "I will come back for you," he vowed. Then he left, not wanting her to see his tears.
Pain, without love
Pain, can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Pain, without love
Pain, I can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Rather feel pain than nothing at all
Rather feel pain
Wow it was harder than I thought to write the ending. I wanted to make it be a happy ending, but I knew I couldn't. Please review and tell me what you think!