Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Tale
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Chapter 2: Wanted List
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The Black Pearl lurched upwards as it rolled over the large waves that came crashing down onto the deck. The crew scuttled around, tying down ropes while the first mate yelled orders without seeming to take a breath. The storm had been going on for hours, and it didn't appear that it was going to let up anytime soon. Mr. Gibbs whirled the wheel, staring at Jack's compass.
The shortest and smallest of the crew, Marty, stomped onto the deck, and completely drenched like all the others.
"Gibbs!" Marty yelled over the thunder and pounding rain, "I don't think she can last!"
"Aye, she will! When has she not, lad!" Gibbs answered back as he shut Jack's compass, and hid it in the folds of his coat. Marty took that as a sign not to worry, and climbed back down to the main deck to continue working.
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In the captain's quarters, Jack Sparrow twitched his nose slightly as the ship went over another wave. He groaned from the splitting headache, and began to get up slowly. Unfortunately for the pirate, the ship lurched forward once again, and threw Jack onto the ground face flat.
"Wonderful," he mumbled in a muffled voice, "I not only have a headache, but a bloody broken nose…" He sat up, and began rubbing his nose to relieve the pain. After another "bob" of the ship, he stood up with that never-ending woozy style while he scrunched his nose. He walked onto the main deck as he placed his hat on his head.
"Aye, Jack!" the said pirate's first mate called up from the stern.
"Ah, Mr. Gibbs!" Jack answered back with his hand raised up as he skipped steps to reach up to the stern. "How's the storm comin'?"
"Nothing the Pearl can't handle!" Gibbs stood out of the way as Jack took the wheel. The pirate turned to his first mate with a waiting expression on his face while looking through the corner of his eyes. "Oh!" Gibbs eyes widened as he took out the compass from his pocket, and handed it to Jack.
"Thank you." He said as he took the compass from the fuller, and bare hands with his thin, and completely decorated ones. He opened the compass, and began spinning the wheel to find the right direction to Tortuga.
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Evelyn Walker took slow and precautious steps towards the bar known as the Caribbean Deck. It was hard as is to even make it to the town of Tortuga with having to stow away on to a Royal Navy ship that made side trips to the island without the head of the navy in Port Royal ever knowing. She had decided to run away from the servant's life in the governor's house a few days ago. She hated working for the family especially for the damn governor's daughter, Elizabeth Swann; the 22 year old thought she was the most important thing in the world after she planned on marrying William Turner, the boy Evelyn had fallen for ever since they met. Of course, the boy never thought of her in the way she thought of him, and sooner or later she had accepted the fact that nothing could ever happen between them. That was when she finally decided to run away; she wasn't planning on living her life in envy and torture herself everyday for the rest of her life. Well, even though working for Governor Swann was better than working for former Lord Beckett she couldn't wait to get out of the bleary house.
Anyway, after ducking under a few drunks, and pushing her way past the harlots she found herself in front of the bar. She didn't have any money, so how could she get a decent meal? Her eyes scanned the heads of the crowd as a small idea formed in her head, but then again- what was she thinking! She wouldn't dare do anything stupid, but stealing was her only option, but who said these drunken sailors even had any shillings to steal, anyway? She took a deep breath, pulled up the skirt of her dress a little, and made her way to a drunk who was paying a woman with extremely blonde hair, and way too much make-up. The blonde's gaze turned from the man to the girl in front of them.
"I've never seen you around before?" the blonde said as she stepped forward, ignoring the drunken man's pleas to comeback to him.
"I- um, just needed some money to buy food. I'm not a harlot." Evelyn said quickly in a faint Irish accent as she blew a strand of her light red hair away from her face.
"Well, honey. You're not going to get any money looking like that." The blonde scoffed.
"I'm not counting on anything for my looks." She replied just as haughtily.
"Alright, then. Good luck." The blonde retorted then walked past her, pushing her aside roughly. Evelyn just stared after the blonde with narrowed eyes before she felt someone wrap an arm around her waist. She twisted around to see the same drunk sailor staring at her and smiling stupidly, showing off his rotted teeth. She pushed him away, and ran out of the tavern as quickly as she possibly could.
The night air was refreshing after being in the Caribbean Deck for so long even if the air wasn't as clean as it should have been. It was still humid with the signs of a storm coming as it slowly began to rain.
Evelyn walked around unsurely, and thinking that running away just might have been a bad idea. Tortuga wasn't the best place in the world- sure, it was friendly…very friendly, but we're getting off track. Anyway, by the time the nineteen year old had entered a small inn it was pouring outside, and the thunder was deafening. Lightening struck from out the inn window, blinding Evelyn for a few seconds before she made it to the counter. The man at the front counter watched her for a few seconds then took a swig of what appeared to be rum.
"Can I help you, missy?" the man asked in a rugged voice.
"Yes. I would like to rent a room for the night." She answered simply before a woman with mussed hair walked down the stairs with a bearded man following behind slowly. Her eyes widened slightly as the woman pulled the sleeve of her dress a little higher.
"I'm sorry, missy, but we're all booked." The man said. She was about to walk away, but stopped to watch another drunk and harlot make their way to the counter. The man at the front desk handed them a key, and she narrowed her eyes at him before walking back to the counter.
"You let them have a room. Why not me?" she asked impatiently. The man just shrugged.
"What?" Evelyn burst.
"Sorry." He replied back then took another swig of the rum.
Evelyn stomped her foot on the wooden floor angrily before calming down a little to speak again, "Do you know of any inn I can go to that does not have these types of 'regulations'?"
"Not really." The man answered back, watching her lazily.
"Fine." She snapped before walking back out into the pouring rain.
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The first one to step out of the Black Pearl was Marty, and from the look on his face he couldn't wait to get onto land. It wasn't always easy adjusting to land after being in a storm, but you get used to it. Though, after being swung out into the ocean by accident during the storm wasn't a highlight you would want to remember. Well, being back in Tortuga was quite a relief to Marty, and basically to everyone else in the crew.
"Dead man tells no tales…" Mr. Cotton's parrot squawked as it flew around aimlessly around the crew.
"When will that bird ever shut up?" Jack said as he took out his pistol, and tried aiming for the parrot.
"Jack!" Mr. Gibbs said, "You know you can always target practice with the monkey."
"And when, Mr. Gibbs, are we going to visit Tia Dalma again?" Jack asked as he rested the firearm over his shoulder, and walked off at the same time eying his surroundings. Mr. Gibbs nodded, agreeing with his captain.
"Where will we be stayin' tonight, Jack?" Mr. Gibbs asked.
"We go for a few drinks…what say you to that, Mr. Gibbs?" Jack replied.
"Aye." Gibbs answered back, and continued walking with the crew following behind.
"The Caribbean Deck, Captain?" Pintel sounded behind them with a hopeful expression on his face. Jack thought for a moment as he searched for a certain blonde.
"I heard they have good rum that Caribbean Deck." Raggetti said before chuckling a little.
"Aye!" Jack said after he had heard that. He began walking in one direction, disappearing into the crowd before coming back, and staring at the crew, "Where's the Caribbean Deck? I forget easily." He said as he waved the pistol around, and smiled, hoping to get the crew to actually believe him. Mr. Gibbs rolled his eyes slightly before taking the lead.
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For about the fifth time, Evelyn had stomped her foot on a random floor as she made her way through inn after inn, and every single time it was the same thing. The only choice she had, now, was to go back to the only place she could think of: the Caribbean Deck. Maybe- just maybe she could find some stupid drunk, trick them into coming with her, get a room, knock them out, throw them out the window…no, that wouldn't work; she could never push someone out the window all by herself…or could she…? Well, maybe…possibly…
The Caribbean Deck seemed more crowded than before with all the brawls forming everywhere she looked. It was mayhem! If she could just clean up the place a little- wait, no! Bad thoughts! Being a maid all her life was finally getting to her. She sat down at a small, round table in the corner where it was surprisingly empty and void of life. Good, right? Well, it was until a man with a scraggly beard in torn clothes holding a mug in one hand decided to walk up to her. All defenses were up, and yet time seemed to stop.
"'Ello there, love." The man said while Evelyn just seemed to watch with complete distaste, "'Ow would you like to come with me for a little drink?" No, she couldn't bring her plan into action no matter what.
"That's alright." She turned her head away to show her full disinterest, but instead of avoiding contact with anyone around, she caught the attention of a very familiar looking pirate as he entered the tavern. She knew who he was, which was not very surprising at all considering the fact that she had snuck into the fort to watch him go up to the gallows…not very surprising at all. So, how did he escape the krackon, and the debt to Davy Jones? The rumors had been spreading for weeks after Elizabeth Swann had returned with her father's position safely restored, but nothing escaped from her or her fiancé. She looked away from him as soon as he saw her then turned back to the drunk still wasting her time.
"Come on, love." The man asked as he leaned forward.
"I'm not a harlot. So, step back or…"
"Or what, love. Will you beat me to a bloody pulp?" he cut in as he smiled wickedly.
"Yes, and you'll regret ever trying to talk to me."
"I'm so scared." The man said sarcastically. What to do, what to do, Evelyn thought as she began to pull at her dress nervously. She waited what seemed to be like an hour, but only a few seconds before the man lost interest, and walked away, leaving her with a good side-view of the bar where the pirate was waiting for drinks. She watched for a few minutes before realizing that he had known she had been staring at him the entire time. Bloody pirates! He smiled at her, and looked at her through the corner of his eyes as she began busying herself by wringing out the rainwater from her hair. She didn't want any attention, especially from him. That was the last thing she needed, right?
After the pirate had walked away with a tray filled with drinks she calmed, and forced herself to lean back into her chair. Maybe it isn't too bad here, she thought to herself until another man came up to her.
"My friend tells me you won't 'ave a drink with 'im, love?" he said as he swayed slightly.
"That's right. What is it to you?" Evelyn answered back.
"No one 'ere likes 'arlots 'oo don't do their job, love?" he leered.
"I'm not a bloody harlot!" she exclaimed angrily.
"Every lass 'ere's a harlot, love." He said as he placed his hands on the table. She stared at his dirtied hands with the yellowed fingernails with pure disdain, but her expression of pure disdain included wide eyes with a little frightened look on her soft features.
"Well, you're mistaken. Now…" she began a little frightened.
"Now…" the man cut in as his friend, which happened to be the man from earlier, stepped forward, "you're goin' to 'ave a few drinks with me friend." That just completely broke the last straw for Evelyn, but just before she could get up, and yell in the man's face that she wasn't a harlot, a hand decorated with rings grabbed the man's shoulder. He turned around angrily ready to protest.
"That's not very nice." A voice said that sounded just a little familiar.
"And who are you?" the first drunk asked as he stretched the words out.
"Mate, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." Yes, she definitely knew who that was, now.
"And, what is one of you, to two of us?" the second man asked.
"One of me means a captain with a whole crew to two of you, savvy?" Evelyn leaned sideways to see a crowd of men, and a parrot standing behind the pirate known as Captain Jack Sparrow.
"I thought Sparrow died." The first drunk replied.
"What did I just say, mate?" Captain Sparrow said as he motioned with his hands, "Now, will ye leave the lass alone or will I have to beat the both of you to a bloody pulp all by me onesie?"
"It's not worth it, Frank." The second drunk said before running out of the tavern followed by the one named Frank. Evelyn watched in disbelief before turning to look up at the pirate.
"You look familiar, love, but I'm sure I haven't threatened you before. What's your name?" Jack asked Evelyn.
"Evelyn Walker." She replied back a little nervously.
"Good name; a nice change from 'Turner'. I can go for months without hearing that name, again." He said before turning to her, again, "So, what's a lovely lass like you doing in a place like this?"
"I…I'm a…" A harlot? Should I say it…?
"You can't fool ol' Jack, love. You pretty much told the whole tavern you're not a harlot. Now…why are you really here?" he cut in. Great, she thought to herself before answering.
"I…I stowed away on a ship, alright? But you have to promise you won't tell anyone."
"And why not?"
"Because…" she stopped, unsure if she should continue. Besides, she had already said too much. This was, after all, a pirate she was speaking with, and she had always learned never to trust pirates. I mean, how the hell could you! This man impersonated a cleric of the Church of England! "Because I…I ran away." She waited for him to say something, but he just watched her, so she continued nervously, "I was a maid in the governor's house of Port Royal."
"I have heard that story too many times, Miss… What was it? Jane Muller?" he said as he leaned back a little.
"Walker. Evelyn Walker." Evelyn answered then thought, should've gone with Jane Muller…
"Good name. No doubt named after your mother, aye?" the pirate said.
Evelyn shook her head, "After my grandmother. She was the first to move from Ireland, and work as a servant for royalty."
"Irish, aye? I had a crewmember that was Irish. He owed me 50 shillings, and never paid me back. It was off to walk the… Well, that's a different story." Jack said with a wave of his hand before glancing at Gibbs then smiling nervously at Evelyn.
"Hm. So the governor might have a bounty over your head, aye? A high price to capture a very needed and important maid that hasn't completed her servitude to the crown, I wager?" he continued with a glint in his eyes, and knowing full well that her grandmother was an immigrant who had been taken to work for royalty.
Evelyn looked around anxiously before turning back to the pirate: "Possibly, but what good would it do to you? You have an even higher bounty on your head."
"But if I turned you in, love…"
"No." Evelyn cut in sharply, but bit back her tongue after she realized she had possibly just angered a pirate. No, not just any pirate. The pirate. Jack stared at her with curiosity as he bent his head sideways, the beads decorating his hair clinking together lazily.
"You're a very interesting maid, love." He leered with a smirk.
"It doesn't matter if you turn me in. They will still come after you." She answered back as calmly as she possibly could manage.
"Love, you're forgetting who you're talking to: I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
Evelyn thought for a moment about his words then burst with a few questions she never thought would be answered: "I thought the krackon killed you. How did you get out of it, and manage to not pay your debt to Davy Jones?" She asked, completely forgetting a pirate was trying to blackmail her. She had wanted to ask this question ever since she heard of the rumors, but none told of how he had escaped.
"Well, love. If you want to know, you'll have to do something for me." He replied leaning forward until the poor redhead had to scrunch up her nose at the closeness, the few freckles she had scrunching closer together.
"A bargain?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Aye, a bargain." The pirate repeated slyly.
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Yay! Thank you all for reviewing my first chappie, and I hope everyone liked this chappie- 7 ½ pages long:) Please review, and give me your input. Thank you!