Apples. The bright green exotic coating. The sweet crunchy center of white. They were so... Irresistible.
Jane ran as fast as she could. She ran far, far away from the castle. It was very dark. Her silk scarf blew in the wind. This was her only chance. To be free.
"Shh!" she warned the sailor. "Miss.." he tried to persuade her to go back. "Shh!" she repeated. She looked around nervously. "Quickly!" "Yes mam." he said sighing. He knew now he couldn't change her mind. He untied the rope that held the ship at the dock. Soon enough, the castle was a tiny spot on Columbia Island. "Tortuga then..?" he said weakly. She turned to the deep ocean. Then she grinned. "To Tortuga."
Boom. Crash. Shatter. The noise was ear poison. Jane did not care though. Don't look back. She told herself. On Tortuga it was like a different world. No rules at all, people were being shot getting drunk and having fights. Unlike her home where everything was in a neat order and there was many rules. Hell with the old rules. She was now a pirate.
Walking down the streets with a bottle of rum, she had never felt happier. A little more than tipsy, she slipped into a shop. It was filled with all sorts of weapons. Pistols, swords, even bombs. Taking one of the guns she fiddled with the knob. "New here?" a voice whispered in her ear. She snapped around. It was a very tall man that had spoken. Wobbling slightly, she pointed the gun at him. "I want this gun." she said courageously. "Well then, I suggest you take it." the man said with a amused look on his face. "huh? oh yes.. I'm a pirate.." she hiccupped. "I can see." he sneered. She looked at the expression on his face and suddenly bubbled with hatred. "how dare you doubt me.." she fainted. He looked at her fallen body. "Too much rum I think." he said chuckling.
Jane woke up in a stack of hay. Bristles of hay were stuck in her hair and her breath stunk of alcohol. "Where am I?" she asked herself feeling a headache coming on. It was worse because of all the noise. "Oh yes.." she then remembered her little adventure.
Tired and headachy, it wasn't as fun as last night. She walked out to the dock. She suddenly puked in the water. Wiping her mouth, she walked farther to where a man stood staring out at the sea.
She felt a strong urge to come up to him. So she did. There she stood looking out at the sea too. "Beautiful don't ye think?" said the man finally but still turned to the ocean. "Yes." She turned around to him. "And who do I have the pleasure of visiting with?" Withdrawing his eyes from the water, he smiled and said,"Hector Barbossa. And what be yer name?"
"Jane."
"Jane what?"
She sighed. "I don't want to tell you."
"why? I told you mine, I think it's bloody fair you tell me yours."
"Jane Litzelferg."
"Litzelferg? You don't mean.."
"Yes I do mean."
"What are ye doing here then?"
"I don't want to be royalty."
"you wish to be a pirate?"
"Yes."
"ah." he smiled. He couldn't find anything else to say.
"Do you have a ship?"
"Alas, not yet."
"did you have one?"
"Oh yes."
"where you captain?"
"yes."
"Well what are you going to do now that you have no ship?"
"I'm going to get one."
"How?" he turned to her. "miss I rather be left alone at the moment." and he turned back to the salty ocean. "Hmph." she sat on a barrel in annoyance. Folding her arms, she refused to move until he spoke to her again.
"Still sitting there?" he asked her after many hours. "Yes." she said. Rolling his eyes he turned around. "what is it you want from me?" "To be part of your crew." she said simply. "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request." he said in satisfaction. She looked at him in confusion. "Means no." he said. She frowned. "I'll still find a way."
"Fine."
She smiled. She knew she could persuade him. "so what ship captain are we going to commandeer?"
"Not sure."
"You're not sure? Well, are you going to decide or what?"
He smiled at her. "As I am captain, I believe that I do not have to answer questions but you as the crewmember must answer mine." Jane grew silent at that. "Now, let's see hmm.."
"That one." he finally said. He was pointing to a red painted ship with yellow sails. "The Firecracker?" she looked in surprise. "good girl. you know your ships." he commented. "yes and I also know it's one of the oldest ships in the Caribbean." she said all knowingly.
"Exactly."
"what? you like old ships?"
"the oldest are also the best made."
Jane was about to protest, but admittedly knew he was right. "Well, shall we go?" he said walking over.
"Fine with me."
They snuck to the back climbing one of the windows. Quietly, Barbossa took a knife and slit the captain's throat who was busily looking at a map. They slipped out of the captain's quarters. Outside men were running back and forth collecting all the supplies needed to set sail. They had no idea that their captain was dead. They however were soon to learn. "Hey you weak-minded dogs!" Jane said loudly to the men. They all turned in surprise. It was not usual for their captain to insult them. But it wasn't their captain. It was a woman who had spoken and next to her was a old man with a pistol.
"Who are you?" asked a man with a wooden leg. "The name is Jane and this is your new captain." she said. They all burst into laughter. "what makes you think that you have control of this ship?" "Your captain is dead." Barbossa sneered. "And I killed him." They all looked at him in shock. "If any of you cowards wish to fight me do so!" he exclaimed pulling out his sword. They knew of Barbossa. And he was no man to fight with. With hesitation, they got the ship ready for sail.
The Firecracker was a more impressive ship than it seemed. Being the oldest, many people thought it weak and slow. It was however good for storms and was quite fast. But not as fast as the Black Pearl. No ship could outstrip the Black Pearl. Their ship came in handy for such a night as this.
BOOM
"Thunder's quite loud tonight isn't it captain?!" Jane shouted over the loud sloshing waves and the crashes of thunder. "Aye, that be true!" Barbossa roared back.
BOOM
Soaking wet, Jane ran to her jobs in exhilaration. The wind was blowing strong and the waves were crashing down on her. She felt in her element. The other men on the ship thought she was crazy. This night looked as if Hell had unleashed itself and she was.. smiling. But Hector was also insane. He laughed and the rain gushing on his face and when lightning struck feet away. "Captain!" said one of the men as loudly as he could. "Yes master Griffinn!" he exclaimed at the man. "We should set port soon!" he called back. "Nay, delay that!" he screamed back. "Sir, we could sink!" he was very worried. Captain Barbossa may be fearless, but Master Griffinn wasn't willing to die just yet. "Ye afraid of a little sprinkle?! Keep movin'!" after that, Master Griffinn didn't question him.
Finally the scarlet ship landed into the port of Cuba. There was a peaceful mist surrounding them. Jane had dreamed of going to Cuba since she was a little girl. Her parents wouldn't let her touch a ship even if she wanted to. She would look at world maps and journals of the journeys of her ancestors. When her parents would open the door she would quickly push them out of sight and pretend she was reading a book. They warned her if she tried looking at them anymore she would get them taken away. She didn't really see a point in keeping them if she didn't look at them. It still didn't stop her from getting there.
"Mum I'm 18. I'm plenty old to go out there!" Jane said pointed to the window outside the castle. "No Jane you can't go out there. These oceans are very dangerous. I don't want my only child out on sea and get herself killed!" "Mum you don't understand. I need to go out there. It's my destiny." she retorted. "I know plenty well it isn't your destiny." her mother said calmly "your destiny is to be a fair princess and queen." Jane stormed out of the room in fury. "If you won't let me i'll commit piracy." she murmured to herself.
That night she put on her black cloak and red scarf. She pulled the hood on and then walked quietly in the hallway. She wasn't surprised to see the guards stop her from continuing. "Where are you going ma'm?" asked the guard with black curly hair known Kris. "a night stroll." she said as innocently as possible. "Mmhmm." said one of the guards as if he knew exactly what she was up to. This one had brown wavy hair with startling blue eyes. His name was Scott. Jane was close friends with Scott and she had told him exactly what she was going to do and begged him to take the night shift at the castle's entrance. "Go on before either of us get's caught." he said winking at her. She smiled gratefully at him. Jane knew he wasn't fond of the idea of her leaving without permission but he knew it was her passion. She was also grateful that he hadn't told the King and Queen what she was up to. Right before she could leave he yanked on her wrist and pulled her close to him. "Run." he whispered in her ear. And at that, he kissed her softly on the lips before she left. Then she ran. Ran to never be heard of.
"Ready to be off?" said a voice interrupting her memory. She turned to him "erm..yes of course." she was a little dizzy at the memory of kissing Scott. She knew he liked her but the kiss was unexpected. "Something troubling you?" Barbossa asked her yet making her jump in surprise again. "oh..no,no just a little tired." she said knowing it was bleak excuse. "tut,tut, pirates can't get tired." he said a grin breaking on his face. She couldn't help grinning back. "I've been wanting to go here since I was little." she finally broke. "Well, today's yer lucky day." he said taking her hand and pulling her to the dock.
Many people scurried back and forth past them grabbing supplies or goodies. Some people stared at her. She quickly pulled a hood on her coat over her head and covered her mouth and nose with a scarf. "What ye be doin'?" he asked her. "trying to hide my identity." she said quietly. He smiled. "but don't you want everyone to know you're a pirate now?" he called. "No!" she exclaimed in shock. He rolled his eyes. "I was bein' sarcastic miss." he said. "oh." she said slightly embarrassed. She was glad she had a scarf covering her face so he couldn't see her blushing.
They entered a grand hall. It reminded her of home. "why are we here?" she asked Barbossa. "we're at the governor of Cuba's house." "I know but..why?" she asked again. "why wouldn't we be here?" he said testing her. "there's no explicable reason you would be here unless there was a reason." she said her temper running high. "don't blow your top off." he said sensing she was ticked at him.
"HELLO MY GOOD FRIEND!" exclaimed a voice behind them. Hector flinched. Obviously, he wasn't very excited to greet his "good friend." A large man patted him roughly on the shoulder. Barbossa slowly turned around and gave a fake smile. "hello Mr. Perón." The man was extremely overweight with bald head and a curly beard. His eyes where a warm dark brown to match his beard. Barbossa looked like the size of a little kid next to him. Not only was he huge but very tall. The man turned to Jane. He smiled warmly at her. "and who be this fine lass?" She stared at him coldly. "Jane." she said simply. "Jane er.. Kirken." Barbossa said quickly before he could raise his questionable eyebrow. "You mean..?" he said with interest. "yes." Barbossa said. "Oh, so this is his wife." he looked slightly disappointed. Putting a smile back on his face he continued. "well I'm glad to have met you." "Mhmm." she said. She didn't like this man very much. He looked at her longingly before leaving the hallway. "I just saved your life." Barbossa sneered at her. "From what?" she asked. "Having to marry that... Man." he looked angrily at where he had once stood. "has no respect for them.. just a filthy, horrible.." he seemed to be lost for words. Then it hit her suddenly.
"Barbossa." she laughed "You can't mean you.."
"Shut up." he said angrily a little pink in his cheeks. She was surprised that a man like him could blush but it was pretty funny.
"..You fancy me." she giggled
His face still red, he said nothing.