Hi, this is the new version of the first part of my POTC story. I decided I didn't like the first and it was a lazy, hasty attempt that gave me no success. So, I decided to rewrite the first part of my story. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own POTC or anything associated with it.
Prologue
Fire was everywhere and Port York was enveloped in flames. The flames were high in the sky and they crackled menacingly. Everywhere the residents were screaming and running for safety. The women were frantic and their children clung to them tightly. The men were busy trying to quell the fire or fight off the assailants who had set fire to their beloved town.
It had always been a peaceful and very safe place until now. It was very hard for some, because they had lived there all their lives.
"They're gaining on us!" Cassandra Lockhart gasped. She was a nineteen-year-old girl, who had grown up in Port York all her life. She was fleeing her home because of pirates. Her mother and many other townspeople were trying to escape the harbor town, fearing for their lives.
It was complete chaos. People ran in every direction and Cassandra had to move aside to avoid colliding with a young man. Ahead of her women ran in a panic, holding onto their little one's hands and wearing horrified expressions. Meanwhile, the men fought off the assailants and Cassandra felt tears spring to her eyes when she witnessed some of the townsmen fall from the pirates' swords.
Cassandra's grief added to her exhaustion and fear. Adrenaline rushed through her though, helping to carry her shaking legs. Her skin glistened with sweat from the Caribbean sun and made her clothes stick to her. Her heart was pounding and the blood pulsed in her ears. She clutched the sides of her skirt, her knuckles white.
Behind them, a band of lecherous, taunting pirates called out to them. "We're gonna get cha!" one of them shouted.
"We're comin' for ya!" another sang.
Cassandra threw a fearful glance over her shoulder and caught sight of a pirate's smile, his teeth yellow and chipped. The pirate saw her and leered. She gasped and turned her head away.
Cassandra could feel the heat of the smoke as she ran by the burning buildings. She felt her mother grab her arm from beside her and squeeze it tightly. Cassandra wanted to reassure her mother but there was no time. They had to make it to the coast and flee for safety.
The cluster of townspeople that had been all around Cassandra and her mother had broken up. Her heart beat irregularly. Cassandra immediately felt exposed and more open to danger. The group had offered a sense of security.
Mother and daughter ran furiously, looking every which way nervously. They were anticipating anything. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a scruffy, dirt-covered pirate appeared in front of them and smirked.
Cassandra and her mother screamed, skidding to a stop to try and avoid him. Mrs. Lockhart flailed her arms and ran to the right. "Run Cassandra!" she yelled.
Cassandra ran left and the pirate followed her movements. Cassandra's blood froze at the expression on the man's face and she felt fear seize her. She watched him carefully as she moved about, trying to get around him.
Just then, a cry rang out and she turned to see her mother being seized by a pirate. Cassandra let out a gasp. The pirate had his arm around her mother's neck and the other around her waist. He had a big smirk on his face and he was trying to hold the struggling, gray-haired woman.
"Mother!" Cassandra cried out.
"Cassandra, run! Get out of here! Forget about me!" Mrs. Lockhart tried to pull out of the man's hold but he was already dragging her away.
"NO!" Cassandra screamed, sprinting for her mother and the pirate. She had only taken three steps when someone grabbed her from behind. Cassandra shrieked and turned to face the assailant. Her big brown eyes widened as she looked into the face of the pirate who had been trying to block her way.
His fingers dug into her skin and held on tight. Cassandra writhed furiously in his iron grip and screamed at the top of her lungs. "Where do ya think yur goin', missy?" he asked with a sneer.
Cassandra trembled in pure terror. His eyes roved over her figure and he leaned in close. She recoiled, detesting his proximity. "Yur a pretty one…Definitely have to have you on board!" he whispered and then chuckled.
Cassandra grunted in frustration and disgust, and then lifted her foot to give him a swift, hard kick. The pirate yelped in pain and collapsed to the ground. Cassandra hesitated before she ran, scanning the street for any sign of her mother. She couldn't see her anywhere. Cassandra pursed her lips and sprinted away.
She was breathing hard when she finally reached the dock; the young woman had to bend over and catch her breath before she was able to speak. She felt a hand on her shoulder and she jumped. She looked up to see a young man standing before her.
He was dressed in commoner's clothes and he had straight brown hair. "You have to get on the boat now, Miss…" he said breathlessly. She swallowed hard and nodded.
Then she straightened up and looked at the dock. Townsfolk were hurriedly filling up the many small boats that lined the shoreline. Cassandra turned back to the man. "I can't go into the boat yet; my mother and father are still back there!" Her father had stayed to fight the pirates and her mother had been kidnapped.
The young man gave her a sympathetic look and quickly shook his head. "I don't think there's anyone still alive in the town…They've most likely been stolen away or lost in the fire…" Her face crumpled and she glanced back at the town. It was nearly engulfed by flames and she couldn't see any people through the fire. "I'm sorry…" the young man said but she didn't hear him as she burst into sobs and ran toward the burning town in hopes of finding her parents.
"Don't let her go into the fire!" a woman yelled. As soon as Cassandra made for the town, the men took action and ran toward her.
A man with white hair reached Cassandra in time and put an arm around her waist, pulling her toward the boats. Cassandra screamed and tried to get out of his grasp. The other men helped to restrain the hysterical girl but she continued to scream and struggle.
"NO! I won't leave! No!" she yelled. When her screams made her throat sore and she grew exhausted, Cassandra hung her head. Then she sobbed softly.
A young woman who looked to be in her thirties came up to Cassandra when the men had released her and wrapped a shawl around the crying girl. She spoke quietly to the young woman and led her to the small boat.
Once in the boat, Cassandra curled up in a ball and cried. She had lost her family, her home and her life all in one day. The thirty-something woman looked at her with a sympathetic expression and rubbed her shoulder soothingly.
"You're safe now, lass…Just sleep."
Cassandra didn't respond and lifted her large brown eyes to the sky. Why did life have to be so cruel? She finally closed her eyelids over her warm brown eyes and sighed as the lapping of the waves against the boat lulled her to sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day.
TBC. That's it for now! R&R!
