Prologue – That Day

Jack was standing beside the Pearl as he waited for the crew to return. He had said that he was leaving today at 12pm sharp, meaning that the code would apply. Anyone who wasn't there then would be left behind. So how come he was still waiting for even one member of the crew to return at half past twelve.

He could hardly leave without any of them. Sure, he was a master of the waves, but that didn't mean he could crew the ship on his own. He stared down the jetty, which looked straight down the main road in Tortuga. A long way off he saw Will and Elizabeth leaving an inn, the rest of the crew were following them. Before he even thought about why they were so late in leaving, he knew.

He knew that something was wrong, without seeing the looks on their faces. He knew that the last year had changed them. He knew that he couldn't change what had happened, what was happening. He had no reason to change the events of the year, they had changed him and the crew for the better; but he wanted to stop this, what was happening before his eyes. He knew that this would have a greater effect on the Pearl and its crew than any treasure ever could, not even gold from the Isla de Muerta had changed them as much as this would, but then he had to remind himself that not all treasure was gold and silver.

It hadn't surprised him. He had a feeling that it wouldn't last and that they would leave the harbour today with a few members of crew less. He just didn't think that it would happen so soon. He had no idea that today they would leave and nothing he did would be able to stop it. He didn't want it to happen now, but he knew it would have to happen soon.

As they left the harbour, he knew that the time had changed. That the crew had changed. That the Pearl had changed. And he knew most of all, that he had changed, and that things would never be the same...