Chapter Four
You will not leave me here!
I groaned because, ya know that headache that I had earlier? It now felt like my brain was turning to liquid in my skull, it really hurt that much. God, why couldn't there be asprin here why, oh why!? I was laying on the bed that was in one of the guest rooms at the Swann residence, shutting my eyes to the offending surroundings around me.
Then, there was a knock at my door and I groaned when it suddenly set the rhythm to the pounding in my head, at the rate of a congo drum. I forced myself out of the bed and went to the door, one of the maids of the household was standing there holding a nightgown in her hands.
"I came to give you this Miss so you can get ready for bed. You can't sleep in your day clothes," she handed me the nightgown with a smile. Then she noticed me grimacing in pain. "What's wrong Miss?"
I gave her a forced smile and said simply "Headache,"
She then got a look of understanding "I will go get you some tea then, we have a special kind for pain," she then disappeared down the hallway
"I really hope that tea works," I mutter.
Less than five minutes later she returned holding a tea cup in her hands. "Here you go Miss I hope you feel better," I gave her a small smile as I took the cup and she left. I stood in the doorway like an idiot for, oh I don't know, A minute? maybe two? Then I gave the cup of tea a look of hope and thought 'please work' and I downed the cup in one whole swallow.
I slammed the door shut as I tried to muffle my loud whimper of pain, 'VERY bad idea Bridge,' I thought to myself. But even though I burned off some of my taste buds (I don't think they will ever recover!) my headache started to slowly ebb away. I gave a sigh of relief as I went over to the bed to change, I started the meticulous process of taking off my dress and petticoats and the sword fell out of my dress. I looked at it for a moment before I picked it up and balanced it on the side table, I knew I would need it later. When I finally got into my nightgown the stupid headache faded away into...
BOOM! BOOM!
Not as faded as I thought but still not as bad as earlier. I let out an exhausted sigh (Can't a girl catch a break?) I then waited for the gunshot that kills the doorman 'Bang'. There it is and Elizabeth's shriek, right on time. I waited for a couple of minutes after that for those creepy undead pirates to take Elizabeth. (HEY! Don't blame me for my self preservation! I couldn't have done anything to prevent it! I better not be getting a look cause I swear...) Oh, right, I should probably go down to the fort to explain that idiot Miss Swann had been kidnapped. I pushed the door open brandishing Megan's sword, just in case any pirates came after me, I had no qualms against them my best friend was one. But the ones that were running around right now I really didn't like.
I really didn't have to go to the fort, but anything to see James' face was good enough reason for me. I took off at a swift pace and side stepped the body of the doorman in front of the door. 'Poor guy' I thought he was only doing his job! But I guess that's how harsh the world can be to unsuspecting people. I mean one time I knew a person that almost got strangl...Oh, wait, that was me. I made a mental note to hit Jack next time I got the chance.
When I got out into the open I looked around wildly for which way the fort was. I really wanted to see James. I saw it about half a mile away and I walked quickly toward it.
I burst into the front gates of the fort and screamed "JAMES!"
Then, a lot and I mean a lot of Soldiers came rushing towards me asking me 'what's wrong?' Really? The town just got pillaged by pirates and they are asking me what's wrong?
I got a stubborn look on my face that i'm sure Megan has seen numerous of times, and I said "I'm not saying anything to anyone except James," my voice resembled that of a child (I now know why Megan enjoys it soooooo much! It's really fun to act like an immature child!)
James and the Governor came rushing out of the walls of the battlements straight towards me. Gosh! Finally! They took like half a minute, really slow service I tell you, never stay in a fort.
"What's wrong!?" James says frantically looking around probably searching for that problem Elizabeth.
I then say with a bored tone "Elizabeth's been kidnapped," Looks of horror filled the men's faces around me. Oh. My. God. She's not that important! In my frustration I threw my hands into the air completely forgetting the sword that was in my hand. It flew out of my grasp and flew in the air in slow motion. And fell...right next to a terrified Gillette. My eyes widened and I slapped my hand over my mouth, not in embarrassment, or horror, but because I was trying to stifle my giggles, he looked so hilarious all scared like that!
I then turned my attention to a much more important matter, James. I rushed over to him and threw my arms around his neck burying my face into his shoulder he stumbled a little but managed to keep us upright. He wrapped one of his arms around my waist out of shock, and because well...ok, I don't really know the other reason.
"I was so scared James! I didn't know what to do and I-I-I didn't know if those pirates would come after me next!" (I know I didn't SEEM scared but I was. I didn't know if they were going to come to my room next!) "And the only thing I could think was the fort might be a much safer place to be! With...you." I looked up at him to see what his reaction was.
His arm around me tightened briefly before he pushed me fully away. He then looked modestly away from me and cleared his throat. That's when I realized that I was wearing only a nightgown and here it wasn't proper. Dear Lord the men here would die if they saw what girls wore where I came from. At that I felt a giggle try to rise up out of me like the fizz in a coke bottle after you shake it up and try to open it.
I somehow managed to keep it down when James ordered his men to go fetch a map and other supplies so that they can start their plan of action to rescue Elizabeth.
He started to walk away to where Groves just laid down a map on a table under one of the overhangs on the fort. And I knew that they were not going to leave me behind, Megan got to go on an adventure with Will and Jack (I actually didn't know for sure but I'm sure she will make sure she is with Jack at all times)
"You're going to leave!?" I yelled
"Of course we are but, only after we figure out a plan of action. Now I suggest that you head off to bed and get some sleep." he then started to walk away again.
'I won't have this!' I thought I looked around to make sure that there wasn't very many people around, there wasn't. "I'm coming with you!" I said as I reached the table that he was at.
He looked up at me sharply "No you're not. Its too dangerous,"
I raised one of my eyebrows at him challengingly "I'm going and you can't do anything about it!"
"Really?" he questioned standing up straight from looking at the map. "And what makes you think that?"
I sucked in a deep breath as I thought of an answer. Then a mischievous smirk came on my face. I walked around the table and swiftly grabbed his arm tightly and held it to my chest. I narrowed my eyes at him and said "I'm not letting go till you agree that I can go with you to save Elizabeth,"
He looked around frantically to make sure no one saw him in this compromising position. When he was satisfied that no one was he tried to tug away his arm but I held on tighter and that only resorted in pulling me closer to him. Then in the distance we saw Governor Swann walking to where we were standing.
He looked at me a slightly frightened look on his face ."Let go!" he hissed once again, trying to pull away but once again didn't work.
"I'm not letting go till you promise that I can go with you!"
He looked to where the Governor was walking to us he was much closer that before. He reached up with his free arm to cover his face and without looking at me said, "Fine you can go! Now let go of my arm!"
"I'm not letting go until you promise."
"Fine! I promise!" I quickly let go of his arm and with a happy smile on my face I reached up on my tippy toes and kissed his cheek.
His face turned red and I said "Thank you!" Then I rushed off to change out of my nightgown and into some proper clothes to come quickly back and make sure that James keeps to his promise.
Ughhhhhhh being arrested suuuucks! It's ten times worse than being in the stupid corner, because now this corner is wet, stinky, dirty, and all the other inmates look at me fun! Clearly, I have to build bad girl credential if I wanna make it in the big brick house! Perhaps, all that I needed to do, was...take out a guard's eye! Yes, I'll do that! The guard would suffer immensely and then he would have to get an eye patch to cover up his creepy baggy eye socket, and that would make him look like a pirate too! And that would invoke the relentless teasing of his authoritative peers, thus granting me the proper street cred and prison buddies! I could see it now... A wicked laugh bubbled out of me as I formulated out my ingenious plan...
"What are you laughing about?" Jack asked from the corner, sitting on the wooden bench. His hat was tilted down over his face, shielding his dark eyes.
Ooh, and I also need a hat! Can't be a pirate without the British version of a sombrero.
"Jack," I started with excitement in my voice. This grabbed his attention and he tilted the brim of his hat up, staring at me with curiosity. "Can you rip out a guard's eye with your hook?"
His eyes widened. "I don't have a hook madame..."
"Whaaaat?" I scoffed. "Of course you do, it's right-" My hands travelled down to his hands, neatly folded in his lap. "Oh. Never noticed that before."
He gave a single laugh and lowered the hat back over his head, reclining against the wall.
"That sucks," I pouted. "And you don't have an eye patch either do ya?"
"Not that I last checked. But it has been a while since I looked in a mirror."
"I see," I nodded. "Well then you don't have a hook and you don't have an eye patch...you've gotta have a peg leg then!"
"Does it look like I have a peg leg?"
"Well..." my eyes travelled down to his boots. "You could be hiding them? Ooh, that must be it! Jack, take off your boots!"
"I don't think you'd appreciate me taking off my boots. Hygiene isn't a pirate's utmost necessity."
"Orrrrrrr, it's cuz you lost your leg in a dramatic accident, and anytime you see your peg it's just another cruel reminder of the man you used to be!" He tilted up his hat a little bit and stared at me with his mouth wide open. "Cracked ya open like an egg, didn't I? Ooh, ooh! My pirate name should be, wait for it: The Scrambler! Pretty wicked, huh?"
Laughing, he shook his head and lowered his hat back down. "Unless you want to sound like a hardcore chef, be my guest."
Disappointed, I frowned and leaned back into the pile of hay. Life is just one heartbreak after the other...
"Come here, boy...come here, boy..."
"...want a nice, juicy bone?"
I looked out the bar windows to see a whole lot of the prisoners trying to strain their arms out of their cells, all reaching out for the adorable little doggie holding keys. Puckering my lips, I watched as filthy hands, so dirty that they were brown, reaching out to the dog. The dog didn't even react though, just blinked his curious eyes over at them. His tail didn't even wag. Being the one holds the keys though, he must be pretty used to this attention. He's desensitized to adoration...
Jack sighed under his breath. "You can keep doing that forever, the dog is never gonna move."
An offended prisoner shot a glare our way. "Well excuse us if we haven't resigned ourselves to the gallows yet!" Deluded by pointless hope, he turned back to the dog. "C'mon boy."
Jack tilted his hat down and smiled. I couldn't help but smiling too. I could smell these prisoners from a mile away, no wonder the poor dog is keeping his distance. Any closer and his nose might explode.
I finally managed to close my eyes and get to sleep, seriously regretting not making myself some coffee this morning. Not all this energy comes from sheer determination you know, some of it is heavily owed to a steaming mug! When I was drifting off, dancing through some dreams, suddenly everything was shattered by the firing of cannons. "Ah!" I screamed, being shoved out of the dream world and back to this...somewhat real one, a world where there were pirates and firing cannons. I bolted up from my comfy position in the hay, parts of it sticking to my hair in golden wisps.
Jack was sitting up, eyes trained on the window. More crashing booms sounded, each one causing me to nearly jump out of these flowy pirate pants of mine. "Gosh, can we just press snooze? Let me sleep for at least five more minutes before the world ends!" I mumbled grumpily, glaring out the window.
Jack gasped. "I know those guns!" he realized, and got up over to the window, peering eagerly through the bars. "It's the Pearl!"
Part of me wanted to smile while another just wanted to sigh in exhaustion. I mean, I knew this was coming. But couldn't the pirates' attack on here have waited for just a teensy weensy bit longer? That's all I ask for! Meet my demands and you'll have an energetic, wise-cracking, swashbuckling pirate ready to take over the Carribbean.
"The Black Pearl?" the prisoner next to us asked. "I've heard-"
"You've heard stories where she's been preying on ships and settlements for ten years and never leaves any survivors. Thanks for the foreshadowing," I cut him out. That tiny little dialogue of his had too many pauses for my limited patience. I did everyone a good thing by cutting into his screen time.
As the prisoner gaped at me in wonder, Jack mused over this to himself. "No prisoners? Then where do the stories come from, I wonder?"
The prisoner took this in silently, settling back into his bench with his attention riveted towards the window. I sat there blinking for a few seconds when it suddenly clicked. "Ohhhh, I get it now! There has to be some survivors in order for there to even be some stories!" Both turned to look at me and I blushed furiously. "Um...don't mind me...I'll just be sitting here...quietly..." I turned and sat down on our bench, pulling my knees up to my chest. As I rested my chin on top of my knees, my eyes wandered over to our gate, waiting for our very special guest to come. When suddenly a cannon blasted into our cell-turning the wall into little chunks!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed before I could help it.
The blast had left a humongous hole in the prison, part of it (a very small part) in me and Jack's cell, the other large majority in the cell neighboring ours. Instantly, a handful of victorious and ecstatic prisoners climbed through the cell, all whooping and cheering, ready to go wreak mayhem on this already hectic place. Even with the knowing that this would happen, I still stared longingly out there as the others scrambled out, my tongue parched for freedom. Tears started to sting my eyes. For crying out loud I was a freaking American citizen! Can't somehow the bald eagle sprinkle some freedom over here for me!?
The prisoner from earlier turned back to look at us. "My sympathies friends-you've no luck at all!" then he climbed out to join the others. Oh that settles it.
I got up and marched over to the hole, shouting down into the rocks, "WELL IT'S NOT OUR BLOODY FAULTS! WE'RE NOT LEPRECHAUNS, BUTT-FACE!"
I leaned back, satisfied with myself.
"Butt-face?" Jack commented with amusement.
With a shrug I said, "It works." But my smile quickly dissipated when I could see the moon up above, casting an eerie glow as the clouds slipped away. Now I really did feel sick. This was the part that always made me scream and have horrifying nightmares that made me freak out in the middle of the night. "This isn't good," I stepped back from the bars, my knees shaking. I didn't even know my knees could shake like this! It was like I was Shakira except my Jello-jiggle power was in my knees and not my hips. Augh, that wasn't sexy!
There was a scuffling noise and I turned to see Jack, resignedly crouching in front of the bars with his hands outreached. "Come on doggie-"
Panic surged through me. No way. I was NOT going to watch Jack reduce himself to begging to a dog, this was below him! Not MY favorite pirate of all freaking time!
"Jack you can't do this!" I exclaimed, rushing forward, scooping my arms underneath his armpits. "Coooooomee oooonn, you're a legend! Legends don't beg!" O urged him, dragging him away from the doors. Oh crap, he was heavy! I grunted loudly, digging my heels into the ground and tried to pull him away to no avail. "Wait, wait, I'm sorry. UGHHH, Zumba did not prepare me for this!"
"I'm sorry doll, but we need to get out of here, and so far it seems like that dog is our only hope," he explained. He tried getting out of my grasp, the dog staring curiously at us with avid attention. I pursed my lips in frustration. Heavy lifting wasn't easy when the flipping dead weight was squirming to get away from your grasp!
"Good things come to those who wait! We just gotta be patient!" I grunted when all the sudden the world went upside down. My heel slipped on the floor and I fell backwards, Jack in my arms, and...his hair in my mouth. "Dreads eh mah mow, dreads eh mah mow!" I screamed, thrashing around.
"Well this isn't the armory, Koehler, but it is pretty interesting," a pirate said snidely above us.
Jack bolted up, staring at the bars, as I stayed on the floor gagging. "Ack, I think I have a hairball!" I dry-heaved, sticking my tongue out in disgust. "I can taste you're not a Pantene believer!"
Koehler smirked, turning to share a look with Twigg.
Twigg grinned and looking at Jack he said, "Last time I saw you, you were all alone on a god-forsaken island, shrinking into the distance." And then he turned to me. "And last time I saw you, you were sailing away with Blackbeard, completely breaking the deal."
I blanched, all color seeping away from me. "Uhmmm," I coughed. "U-um, y-y-you must've mistaken me for someone else."
"You're not someone so easy to forget, Megan," Twigg commented.
Shell-shocked I blinked at them, my mouth wide open. "How do-"
"It seems Jack's fortunes haven't improved much have they?" Twigg asked Koehler, both of them laughed.
Gritting my teeth in annoyance I glared at them. Infuriated, Jack stepped closer to the bars, his face tight with anger. "Worry about your own fortunes, gentlemen. The deepest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers...and mutineers."
The men both growled in fury, and in a rage Koehler lashed out-grabbing Jack around the neck. My breath lodged in my chest. Oh this was just was sick... Both me and Jack's eyes travelled down to Koehler's arm where in a spill of moonlight, white sinewy bones were shown. Nausea rooted in my stomach. "Um, you should really see a doctor about that!"
"So there IS a curse," Jack mused. "That's interesting."
Koehler sneered and slammed Jack backwards. My Jack! I rushed to him, bending over to help him out. As Koehler withdrew out of the moonlight his hand went back to normal, muscle and skin covering it once again like a sleeve. Jack stared, looking like something was clicking in his head, the gears were turning...
"You know nothing of hell," Koehler seethed, and with a head jerk, ushered Twigg out the door. I wanted to say something as they left, but my tongue felt so heavy. They knew me... That was impossible. But, the same thing happened to Bridgette. Eagerly I looked over to Jack, hoping that he would say something to diffuse the tension, but he was stone silent. The pirate's face was pulled down in heavy concentration as he thought...
I was now dressed in the proper clothing to be 'out and about' and was watching James and Governor Swann try to figure out what their next move was. I was starting to feel incredibly bored just watching them plan and trace out sooooooo many different routes on the map that I feared that I might go cross-eyed. We have been sitting here since the sun just started to peak over the horizon. I was thinking about walking up to James and stealing his sword or wig when Will suddenly burst into the fort wielding a sword and axe.
"They've taken her! They've taken Elizabeth!" He exclaimed.
"They have already been informed, thank you very much!" I interjected with a roll of my eyes. What makes him think they don't know she's gone? James is far from incompetent!
I was completely ignored and without looking up from the map James said " , remove this man" He hadn't really looked at me since I made him promise to take me along, maybe he was sore from what I did to secure that promise. I grinned as I remembered what I did.
"We have to hunt them down! We must save her!"
Governor Swann interjected himself into the conversation "And where do you propose we start? If you have any information concerning my daughter, please - share it,"
I turned my head to Murttog when he said "That Jack Sparrow...he talked about the Black Pearl,"
Mullroy replied to this statement with "Mentioned it, is more what he did,"
Will gave a nod and said "Ask him where it is! Make a deal with him! He can lead us to it!"
I decided I was being was too ignored and stole James' line "No," all eyes turned toward me and I continued "The pirates that invaded this fort left Sparrow locked in his cell. Ergo, they are not his allies," Everyone looked at me strangely because no one told me whether Jack had been caught, let alone in the fort. I gave them all a haughty look and said "I know more than all of you give me credit for!"
James shook his head in wonder and addressed the Governor "Governor, we will establish their most likely course...
I jumped when Will slammed his axe into the wood of the table that was holding the map of the Caribbean. I shot him a glare that he didn't see and reprimanded him "That's rude they just can't go out all willy nilly!" He didn't even look my way. Jerk.
"That's not good enough!" Will said angrily. James walked around the table and pulled the axe out of it as he walked towards Will
" , you are not a military man, your are not a sailor, you are a blacksmith. This is not the moment for rash actions." James retaliated. He then steered Will away and said "Do not make the mistake of thinking that you are the only man that cares for Elizabeth," He then shoves the axe into Will's hands and Will storms out of the fort.
I was fuming, Elizabeth doesn't even deserve his affections! I stood out of my chair angrily and it fell over with a 'bang' everyone once again looked towards me "I'm gonna walk to the docks, this is getting annoyingly boring and angering," I said through clenched teeth.
"You need an escort," James said giving me a slightly confused look.
I set a glare on him and said "I do not!" and stormed out in mainly the same fashion as Will. Leaving behind some really confused military men.
I sat in the corner, trying to block the sound of relentless scraping out of my ears. "It's not gonna wo-ork," I sang, examining my cuticles.
"Well we have to try something new, doll," Jack responded and I looked up to him with a sigh. A few minutes after those other two pirates had left, this one walked over to retrieve the dog bone from the neighboring cell by pressing himself against the bars and stretching his arm out. Now he was determined, reducing one of the bone's ends to a sharp point, he picked relentlessly at the lock keeping us from freedom. Or, more correctly, keeping him from freedom. Turns out that I could escape in the hole blasted through our cell from earlier. All I had to do was suck in and then think determined thoughts of not having any curves whatsoever. Not that I would leave though. Jack was where all the fun was!
"I told you earlier, you just gotta be patient! Sooner or later Orlando will come and we'll be saved," I smiled happily at the last sentence, as toothy as a spokesperson selling toothpaste.
"Who's Orlando?"
"Whoops, sorry! I mean W-"
There was a sound of a door latch and Jack leapt backwards, assuming a lounging position. I giggled underneath my hand as Will came thundering down the stairs, his eyes focusing on us with this burning intensity.
"You, Sparrow."
"Aye," Jack said.
"And you-" Will said, jabbing a finger at me. "His accomplice."
"Hiya!" I sang back, kicking my legs back and forth.
"You are familiar with that ship? The Black Pearl?"
"I've heard of it," Jack shrugged disinterestedly.
"Where does it make berth?" Will demanded.
"Wait!" I exclaimed, both head then turning to me. "Birth with an i, or berth with an e?"
"With an e of course," Will said with confusion.
"Ahh, see that makes so much more sense!" I clapped. "Carry on, now."
"Where does it make berth?" Jack ridiculed. "Have you not heard the stories? Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants sail from the dreaded Isla de Muerta... it's an island that cannot be found - except by those who already know where it is."
Well that was a poop-load of confusing! How was the island discovered in the first place then!?
"The ship's real enough," Will shook his head. "Therefore its anchorage must be a real place. Where is it?"
"Why ask me?" Jack leaned back, nonchalantly checking out his nails.
Will whipped his head towards me, eyes widened in desperation, and I shrugged. "Hm," I tilted my head in a isn't-that-just-terrible? kind of fashion.
Annoyed, he sighed, turning back to Jack. "Because you- both of you- are pirates."
"And you want to turn pirate yourself, is that it?" Jack asked.
I smiled with excitement. This just be the induction of a new member into the club! I think that this reference should upgrade to me to a golden membership, right?
"Never!" he exclaimed and then the hardness in his face turned soft. "They took Elizabeth."
"Ooooh," I cooed, leaning forward. "Give us the dirt, poofy-shirt."
"Oh, so it is that you've found a girl. I see. Well, if you're intending to brave all, hasten to her rescue and so win fair lady's heart, you'll have to do it alone, mate. I see no profit in it for me."
A pause. "I can get you out of here," Will offered.
Jack's eyebrows rose minutely and he rose his eyes to look at me. The right side of my lip curled up in pride. Ha! Told him there was no reason to freak! "Told ya so," I mouthed to him. There seemed to be a twinkled in his eyes and I could swear that he was impressed. Calmly he looked back to Will with a poker face shielding his thoughts.
"How's that?" Jack continued. "The key's run off."
"I helped build these cells. These are half pin-barrel hinges," he stated and walked over to pick up a bench, next placing it at the bottom of our cell door. "With the right leverage and the proper application of strength, the door will lift free."
Jack stared suspiciously at Will. "What's your name?"
"Will Turner."
With that, Jack sat up, he obviously recognized the name. "That will be short for William, I imagine. Good, strong name. No doubt named for your father, eh?" Jack nodded.
"Yes."
"Ah hah," Jack stood with a grin, obviously pleased. "Well, Mr. Turner, I've changed me mind. If you spring us from this cell, I swear on pain of death, I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass." he paused, sticking out a hand. "Do we have an accord?"
Will eyed him for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his head. "Agreed," he finally decided and shook the hand.
"Agreed! Get us out." Jack turned back to look at me, giving me a wink. I grinned widely and stood up, gliding over to stand proudly next to him.
Will wedged the bench underneath the door, and put his weight on it, his face pulling into a grimace until the door rose, fell forward, and crashed against the ground with a loud clang. "Hurry, someone will have heard that."
"Not without my effects," Jack said stepping through the door, me following behind. Suddenly Jack wheeled around, staring down at me. "Stay," he commanded me with a point.
I scrunched up my nose, taking offense. "Excuse me?"
"You may be a pirate, doll, but you're still a lass. This journey is going to be of us two, if you come along that will only make you a third wheel." He patted my head. "And we wouldn't want that, now would we?"
"Ah!" I gasped. Frantically I glanced over to Will, searching for help but his attention was focused on the stairs, waiting for someone to come.
"Jack, we may want to leave now," he said, never taking his eyes off of the door.
"I fear this is goodbye then doll. It was a pleasure getting to know you," he said, fixing to turn around but I grabbed him by his hand.
"You can't just leave me!" I exclaimed.
"Jack," Will said through gritted teeth, trying to go up the stairs.
"Sorry darling, but this is where we part," Jack said, starting to look a little nervous also.
"It is not!" I stomped my foot. "You need me! I-I," I let go of him with one hand, gesturing back to the cell. "I could've escaped through the hole, but I didn't leave you! You have to repay the favor."
He looked amused and stared at the hole. "I was wondering when you were going to notice that," he observed and looked back at me, something about him different.
My bottom lip started to tremble like my teeth were tectonic plates, going through an earthquake. "If you leave me, I'll, I'll...I'll scream!"
Will looked over to us, eyes wide.
"And is that supposed to threaten me dearie?"
"Yes! Yes it is," I stated determinedly. "Sir, I'm an alto that can hold a twenty-beat note. If I open my mouth, I could completely ruin Will's chance of romance, your chance of freedom, and my opportunity for adventure! So I suggest that you agree to my terms or we could be here a long time."
"Is that supposed to threaten me?"
I lifted an eyebrow. "One-"
"Jack, I don't think she's kidding," Will said worriedly.
"-two-"
"Oh please. This little thing? How loud could she possibly get?"
"-three." I swallowed in a deep breath, fixing to sing out when Jack slapped a hand over my mouth.
"Fine," he agreed grumpily. "You can come."
