"Dad!!" Jacob shouted, running into his house. "Dad come quick!" He ran into his dad's room and shook him from his sleep. "Dad, c'mon wake up!"
"What is it?" Rodger asked, still half asleep.
"It's Hanna, please, we have to hurry!" Jacob said, trying to drag his father out of bed.
"What?" Rodger said, suddenly awake.
"It'sHannashe'sbeentakenbysoemguyontothenew – "Jacob said, slurring his words together.
"Whoa slow down there. Sit down, and tell me what happened,"Rodger got up from the bed, giving Jacob room to sit.
"I went out to the docks this morning to watch the sunrise and Hanna was there. After it was over I got up to leave but when I looked back some man with an accent had taken her and was bringing her onto the strange ship. We have to do something so c'mon hurry up let's go!" Jacob explained, jumping back on his feet again.
"Ok we'll do something," He said, and they both turned to leave.
I was brought to a cabin down the hall from the Captain's. Once there, I was left alone for a minute, and then a young boy about my age, walked in.
"Miss Ricks?" He asked, taking a step forward.
"Yes," I asked cautiously, not knowing what he wanted.
"You don't remember me?" He asked, a hint of sadness in his voice.
I looked closer, "Caleb, is that you?" I ran over to him and gave him a hug, nearly tackling him to the ground.
"Yes," he laughed, catching me and hugging me back. "It's me, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Why are you here? I thought you went with your father to England years ago." I asked, moving away from the hug.
He hung his head. "I don't want to talk about it," He said, moving away from me.
"Oh my god Caleb I'm so sorry. I didn't know." And I hugged him again.
"It's ok I'm over it now." He said, composing himself. "Would you like anything? Fresh clothes, a bath?" He asked, changing the subject.
"Actually, a bath sounds really good right now." I said, realizing that I really needed one.
"Ok, well, I brought a tub of hot water with me, I thought you might have wanted one, just let me bring it in." He brought a tub of water into the room, along with a bag and a fresh set of clothes. "It's not hot, but it's fairly warm." He said, leaving it in the middle of the room. "The bag has soap and a washcloth in it. I'll leave you to it then." And he turned to leave. He stopped and turned at the door. "Oh I almost forgot. Captain Finnley wants to see you in his cabin after your bath. Please don't keep him waiting. He's got a horrible temper." And he left.
After the bath, I went over to the captain's quarters. The clothes that Caleb had given me weren't the best in the world, but it wasn't a tight corset or a frilly skirt either, which made me happy. Just a simple red dress. I knocked on the captain's door.
"Enter," A voice can from within. I opened the door and walked in to find a table set nicely and laid with food. The mad sitting at the table stood up at my arrival. 'Holy shit he's tall! He must be at least six feet!' I thought as he walked over to me. "Miss Ricks." He said, taking my hand. He led me over to the table and sat me down. I stared hungrily at the food, realizing that I probably hadn't eaten in a day. "Please," he said, noticing my staring, "Help yourself." He gestured towards all the food. I jumped at the nearest thing. As I ate he took his seat and poured some liquid to drink. He offered me some.
"It's just fresh water," He said when I hesitated on taking the cup. "We re-stocked while docked at Barbados." I still didn't trust him, but slowly took the glass and looked at the liquid. It didn't look like anything else, and after a little taste I decided that he was telling the truth and gulped the cup down.
"Slow down, it's like you haven't eaten in weeks," He laughed, watching me load up my plate for the third time.
"My father doesn't buy much in the way of food." And I left it at that. The captain didn't pry, so I didn't say anything more. After a few minutes of silence as I ate, he perked as if suddenly remembering something important.
"I'm sorry, what terrible manners I have. I never told you my name." He said. "Captain Finnley." The name struck something in my memory, but I couldn't tell what. I finished eating and sat, waiting for him to continue. When he didn't say anything for two minutes, I decided to break the silence.
"So where are we going?" I asked. I've been wondering that since I woke up and found this to be the perfect time to ask.
"You'll see," He said simply, "It's a surprise, I think you'll like it there though." And with that he got up. "I think it's time for you to go. It's getting late and there are things I need to attend to."
"Ok." I got up and left. I didn't head for my cabin; instead I headed up on deck. I went over to the rail and gazed out at the sea, pondering over where I'd heard the captain's name before. I didn't see the ship with black sails looming in the distance until someone shouted out from above me.
"Captain Finnley!" A man shouted from the helm.
"What is it now?" The Captain asked, coming on deck. He stalked up to the man who had called him. "This better be something meaningful, Ryan or –"
"Sparrow's ship," Ryan said simply, pointing out past me to the black ship.
'Sparrow? As in Jack Sparrow?' I though, staring at the ship in the distance. Jack had sacked Nassau port without firing a shot when I lived there with Mother before she disappeared.
"Shit." I heard the Captain breath, and he took over the helm. The mysterious black ship was moving faster now, coming towards us. In just a short matter of time both ships had come side to side and I could clearly see the crew on the black ship.
"Finnley!" Jack shouted from the black ship. "Time's up! Time to repay what you owe me!" And without and answer from Finnley Jack took a rope and swung over to the Queen's Pride. He walked up to Finnley, pulling his pistol out and aiming it at his face. "You owe me and it's time to pay up." He said calmly.
"Jack, friend, can't you give me a few more days? We're almost at out destination and I'll be able to pay you there." Finnley said, staring down the barrel of the gun pointed at him.
"Not happening. I let you do that once and you ran. It's taken me three months to track you down and I'm not letting you get away again until you repay me," Jack said, cocking the gun.
"Jack, please," Finnley said, begging now. "I don't have it yet. Just a little more time –"
"No," Jack said, cutting him off. He lowered the gun and stepped back. Finnley, stupidly, thought he was safe. Little did he notice that half of Jack's crew had boarded the ship. I didn't notice either until one of them came, took hold of me, and tied my hands.
"Oi! Jack!" The man holding me called out. "They got a woman on board. Not one of the crew either, she's in a dress."
Jack looked over at me. He made his way through his crew, which had taken to taking hold of all the member's of Finnley's crew.
"Let her go." He said when he got close. The man holding me let go and Jack took hold of my arm. He pulled me over to Finnley, who hadn't moved from where he was.
"Now, I wonder, why is there a young teenage girl on your ship, Kevin?" He pushed me into the captain. My hands were still bound so all I could do was brace myself for the impact of hitting him. He caught me and pushed me aside.
"So ye can afford whores but you can't pay yer debt?" Jack asked, taking my arm again.
"Please, Jack, just let me get to port. I'll have your money." Finnley said, now in panic.
"That time has passed my friend. Your little whore will do for payment . . . for now." And with that Jack pulled out his pistol and shot Finnley in the leg. "That's for not paying on time. Maybe now you'll get my money." Horrified, I froze in place. Jack, still holding my arm, dragged me down the stairs and handed me over to another crew member.
"Gibbs, get her and the rest of the crew on the Pearl. I'll join you shortly." Jack turned and headed below deck, motioning for a few to follow him.
"C'mon boys, there's nothing left to see here." Gibb said, and took me onto the black ship.
"Hannah!" I heard a voiced shout as I boarded the Pearl. I looked over and spotted Caleb just before he got herded below deck by the last of Jack's remaining crew members.
I turned my head back to view my surroundings. The ship was entirely black, all the wood and sails were black, but the sails weren't normal sails. They had giant mends in them, like they were once in shreds. I didn't have time to wonder though, since Jack had boarded and started barking orders.
"Cotton, take the helm. Gibbs, you're in charge. If anything happens, let me know immediately. I'll be in my cabin with the girl." Jack grabbed my arm and, with a little less force, brought me down to his cabin.
"I'm not a whore." I said, not giving him a chance to do or say anything.
"I know." He said, closing the door and grabbing a bottle of rum. He uncorked it and downed it without stopping. "I called you that so Finnley wouldn't suspect anything, Hanna."
I took a step back. "How do you know my name?" I asked cautious.
"I guess you were too young to remember." He said, placing the empty rum bottle on the table and turning to face me. "I was best friends with your parents before I was branded pirate. Yer dad and me grew up together, but you were about five when I had to leave. How you've grown." He said, looking me up and down.
I remembered my mother talking of Jack, but I always thought it was just about how he was a pirate; but the more I remembered, the more she talked about how she missed him. I had to believe him.
"How did you know where I was?" I asked, uncomfortable under his stare.
"Your brother. He was in Barbados the day you were taken; he was going to take you with him but got there too late. Jacob told him what had happened, and I was pulling into port. I desperately needed supplied. He caught up with me and told me he needed my help to find you. Then it was just the simple matter of finding Finnley. Bugger owes me money anyways; it was the perfect way to get you from him."
"Josh told you? Is he here?" I asked, getting my hopes up.
"Yup. Just a minute." Jack left and came back a minute later with a man following him.
"JOSH!" I screamed, and ran to him.
"Hanna!" He shouted, enveloping me in his arms. "I'm so glad you're safe!" He hugged me for a minute and then took a step back to look at me. He spotted the new bruises since he last saw me. They were almost gone, but just noticeable enough for Josh to see them. Apparently Jack noticed it too, since his face turned angry.
"Ed beats you?" Jack asked, shocked.
"He's drunk when it happens, he doesn't know what he's doing." I said, trying to hide my bare arms.
"Son of a bitch." Jack said, reaching for another bottle of rum. "How could someone do that to their own kid?"
"He sure as hell knows what he's doing; don't try to defend him Hanna." Josh said. Just then there was a knocking on the door.
"Jack?" Gibbs said from outside the door. "There's a little trouble up here on deck, you might wanna come and do something about it. It's Smith."
"Shit not again." Jack groaned, and reluctantly got up to left the cabin.
"What is it?" I asked, moving to follow Jack on deck.
"Oh no you don't. We just got you safe we don't need you back in danger so soon." Josh said, stopping me from leaving.
"What is it?" I asked again, this time moving to sit back on the bed where I was.
But Josh didn't have time to explain. Just as he was about to begin, there was a scream, and a gunshot from above. Then everything went quiet.