Captain Swann. Oh dear. I sit on the deck, picking at the seams of my trousers. It will make her more arrogant than ever. And here we are captured onboard the Flying Dutchman. Surrounded by disfigured ugly things, with faces covered in barnacles. Charming, really.
"Miss Swann?" I spin around. That voice I know too well. Naturally its not directed to me, but that woman who he cannot resign himself to believe he will never own.
"James?" He's received by Elizabeth in a tone much like a groan. I cover my mouth.
Oh God, I thought he was dead. Last I saw him he was running into the jungle with a chest tucked under his arm. But here he stands. Promoted to admiral by the looks of it. His faced filled with longing for the spoilt bitch in front of him. Elizabeth fixes her new hat to make sure he has noticed it.
"Thank goodness you're safe." He hugs her tightly and she pushes him away, she eyes him up coldly, and stares into his handsome face. "Put the crew in the brig. Miss Swann can share my quarters."
My heart thumps within me. He doesn't even spare me a glance, he's too busy worshipping the ground she treads on.
"I stay with my crew."
I sit hunched in the corner. Elizabeth runs her hands along the bars, trying to look like she is making progress.
"Here's your chance." Norrington's eyebrows are furrowed in exasperation. Elizabeth gawps in amazement.
"Right. Make haste."
I'm not going with her, never in this life will I serve my cousin. I'd prefer to die then be subject to the humiliation.
"Hope? Why on earth are you still here?" He grasps my hands and leads me out.
"I'm staying." If you even care that is.
Did they escape? I have no idea. There is an awful lot of screaming as I sit in the brig. I shouldn't care. But I do.
I run up the stairs, out into the night sky, the chill of the wind biting at my face.
Please don't let him be dead.
"Hope?" He embraces me. I cry into his shoulder. Elizabeth is gone. Perhaps, just perhaps…
"Oh, James thank goodness you're alive."
"Hope…"
"That was ever so gallant of you. I thought you would be dead…" More tears amidst the ecstasy of his safety. But…
Why does he feel so cold?
Oh God.
So I throw myself into the icy water. Now we will always be together upon the Flying Dutchman, for all time.