The brilliant sunlight dazzled his eyes, causing white spots to dance behind the lids. The heat sank through his body, warm and comforting, yet irritating and uncomfortable at the same time. He could feel the rays seeping through his wounds, and they burned beneath him, the pain searing through his body.

He licked his dry lips, tasting the salt from the wind-swept air. He coughed, and sat up, still spluttering. His body groaned in protest as he moved, the pain increasing as his tired muscles were forced back into action.

The light was painful to his delicate eyes, and he had to blink several times before he could see again. His eyes began to focus on hundreds of pieces of wood before him, all strung and connected to create a huge ship, water dripping off the tattered sails. The wood looked well-worn and weather beaten, almost as though it had been on the seas for at least a hundred years.

Sailors ran past him, not giving him a care in the world. They were all wearing similar outfits – tattered pants, large shirts with loose vests covering their tanned and built chests. Filthy hair flew in the wind beneath hats or piles of salt and grime. Swords hung by the sides of every sailor as they ran to and fro, fulfilling their tiring duties.

Jack groaned, and tried to stand up, crying out when pain stabbed in his side and he was forced to the ground again. He closed his eyes, and tried to overcome the searing pain.

A shadow blocked out the bright sunlight, and the contrast was dazzling. He opened his eyes again and glanced up, his neck crunching in protest. He saw a pirate standing above him. He was a young man, in his twenties, but looked as bold and as experienced as an old warrior. His face was weather beaten, and his brown hair swayed in the calm breeze. A green bandanna sat atop his hair, holding it down, and he too wore trousers and vest, though not as filthy and ragged as the rest of the crew.

Jack could tell immediately that this man was a Captain, and was to be treated with respect.

'Sir, why do you stir? We were sure you were dead. That's why you're on this ship!'

'Huh?' Was all Jack could manage as the information sifted groggily through his head.

The man smiled down at him, obviously more aware of his situation than he. 'You are aboard The Flying Dutchman, the vessel that transports the dead to the other side. Why are you not dead?'

'Wh..huh?' he uttered, confused. Jack lifted his hand to his chest, and felt around. He could feel the dried blood, and each wound burst like fire as he ran his blistered fingers across them. His head was pounding like a drum, which increased his conviction that he was dreaming. 'Am I not?'

'No!'

'Oh...' He tried to wrap his head around what was going on, but all that came was foggy clouds. The Flying Dutchman...Dutchman...

'This is the Flying Dutchman? The legendary ship?'

'Yes,' the man said, a curious edge to his voice.

'That means...that means...th-' Jack muttered, his head spinning. 'You're William Turner?'

'Yes, that's me!' Will said, surprise in his voice, as though it was an idiotic question.

'Wow, ok, that's...I mean, wow! You're real...you're real...'

Will was beginning to believe that this man was either disabled, addled by the heat or else drunk. His words were slurred, and broken. Will felt compassion go out to the poor soul, and held out a pitcher of water.

Jack took the water gratefully, and sculled it in one go. His head cleared at once, and he could see clearer, the fuzzy edges now as sharp as the tip of a sword.

Sword...

'Where's Jack?' Hodgin's asked, his head whirling around, trying to find the man he duelled. He was desperate to get his revenge, to beat him somehow, whether it was with his fists or again with a sword.

'Jack Sparrow?' Will asked, and chuckled. 'No idea. Last I heard he was picking fights with the remaining pirates on the ocean. But that was long ago. For all I know he's dead.'

'Not true," Hodgin's spluttered, taking more water. 'I...fought him.'

To his annoyance, Will threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the wind. 'That does sound like him. Makes sense as to why you're covered in cuts and bruises. What did you do?'

'He took my girl...'

Will laughed even harder, without even trying to hide his amusement. Jack could feel his temper rising at each laugh.

'I need to find him. When did we leave Tortuga?'

'A day ago,' Will snorted, still chuckling. 'We found you on the edge of the dock.'

'We have to go back! Angela...'

'Who?'

'My girl...er, lass. She was on Tortuga. I need to get back to her.'

'If you're sure. You're more than welcome to join my crew if you wish, lad. But if not, we need to deliver the other dead bodies, and then we can return to your precious damsel.'

Damsel in distress. Seemed fitting, Jack thought.

- Pirates x Bones -

Angela stared in astonishment. This entire case had confused her, but this was just beyond disbelief. It was one thing for fictional characters to exist, but something else when the fictional character she was sure had died was actually still alive.

She was speechless, and couldn't help but keep staring at the bearded and withered pirate, watching as he chewed his bruised apple. She heard a rattle from inside the house, and her eyes widened even further as a monkey ran out, skipping along the floorboards before coming to rest on his owner's knee. Barbossa reached out a hand and stroked the monkey, his tired hands resting on its back.

'How can I help you, young missy?'

Her mouth began to gape, air filling her mouth like water filling a fishes. Soundless questions flew out, filling the air between them. She swallowed and forced her biggest question out.

'We found your bones!'

It was Barbossa's turn to look confused. 'Well, they can't be mine, can they, miss. See?' He flexed his arm, and she could see that it looked like any other arm, besides the fact that it was on a supposedly dead person. 'I'm as fit as a fish.'

Her one clue was gone. Their entire case was out the window. They had been sure that their victim was this man before her. The facial features measured up exactly. As did his height and size. All the points added up.

But then who was this man? Or else, who was their victim?

Please share your thoughts :)