Chapter Seven: Time To Go

Laura strode over to Elizabeth, pulling the dagger out of her sleeve. "Sorry 'bout this."

"Sorry about wha-" Elizabeth gasped as Laura cut through the ties of her dress, leaving Elizabeth standing in her undergarments.

Will pushed Laura away from Elizabeth as she tried to cover herself with her arms, "What do you think you're doing?!"

Laura ground her teeth, her hands tightening into fists, gesturing wildly, "Would you rather we get caught and she hangs in that pretty little dress, or we get the hell out of here and get her some real clothes?" The pounding grew louder and Will meekly stepped aside. "That's what I thought." Laura pulled a willing Jack forward, took off his cloak and handed it to Elizabeth, "Cover yourself with this."

Will turned to the window, opening it up as wide as it would go, "Hurry, this is our only option."

Jack went first, grabbing the bottle of rum off the night stand with his right hand as he attempted to climb carefully out the window. Much to Laura's annoyance Jack ended up swinging from the windowsill by one hand, the other clutching the rum bottle desperately. His left hand then slipped and he fell onto the stack of barrels he had hoped to stand on. The barrels came crashing down and muffled curses could be heard as he worked his way out of the pile. Will leaned out the window, "Are you alright, Jack?"

"Aye, I'm fine." He looked up at Laura who had shoved Will out of the way to glare down at Jack. Jack winked, "Don't worry, luv, I'll catch you."

Laura silently lowered Sam down into Jack's outstretched arms and then climbed out, dropping catlike next to Jack. She grunted as she hit the ground, "I don't need your help, Sparrow."

Back in the house Will turned to Elizabeth, "Elizabeth, darling, it's your turn."

As they heard the front door crash open Elizabeth grabbed Will's hand and swung her legs over the windowsill, glancing down at Laura who gave Jack a pointed look. He rolled his eyes, turning his back to the house, covering Sam's eyes with one hand as the young boy continued to gawk up at Elizabeth, as Will lowered Elizabeth down into Laura's waiting arms. Will then returned to the bedroom door, locked it, and slid out the window.

As they disappeared around the corner of the house, the door to the bedroom smashed open. A dozen guards poured into the room, guns held ready. Captain Jackson scanned the room quickly, taking in the medical supplies and the open window. He rushed to the window, squinting in the sunlight as he looked up and down the alley. "Damn." He turned to the soldiers behind him, "They're heading for the ship. Let's try and run this time, men, shall we?" The soldiers shifted under his glare, mumbling 'yes sir'. The Captain shoved through them, and sprinted down the stairs.

Laura led them through the twists and turns of the dirtier side of Port Royale, and eventually to a wooded lane. She took an abrupt turn to the right and soon they were sprinting down a beach, the midmorning sun beating down on the group as they ran. Drawn up partially onto the beach was a rowboat. Two figures sat nearby in the sand. As the escaping fugitives drew closer, the ground around them exploded, showering them with sand. The two figures rose, one moving towards the boat. The shorter figure, a woman, shouted something, waving her arms, but no one could hear her over the gun shots. Then, from behind them, came a cry of pain. Laura spun, stumbling, a single word falling from her lips, "Sam."