Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! You guys rock. Now, another chapter...


Chapter Nine: The Plank

"What are you doing?" Mar demanded.

Carmen bit her lip as she fiddled with Mar's hair-pin, trying to pick the lock with it. "Attempting to free us, Mar."

Mar leaned back against the damp wall, her face weary. "And what do you plan to do once we're free? We can't just walk around this godforsaken ship."

"Optimism, please, Mar," Carmen said softly. She froze, hearing heavy boots on the stairs, and threw herself onto her back, eyes closed. She heard the feet come to a halt before the cell.

"Princess Carmen, you look slightly rough," came a cold sneer. Carmen opened her eyes to see Tobias standing there.

"Worry about yourself, Mr Hawke," she said. "I can always bathe and then I'll look fine. You, though... you'll always be an ugly bastard." Again there was that strange, Sparrow-like streak. She liked it. In her new world, she couldn't let it out. But on this ship, she was a much a pirate as a princess.

Tobias ignored her. "The Captain wants to see the both of you."

Carmen sat up and exchanged a nervous glance with Mar. This could not be good. Mar asked, "Why?"

"Don't ask questions," Tobias smiled evilly back. "Just do it." He pulled out his pistol and unlocked the cell door with a large key. "After you," he said, as he tugged it open.

Carmen sighed, and she and Mar rose and stepped out. Tobias was digging the pistol into her lower back. Apparently he trusted her least out of both of them. Slowly, they began to make their way up the wooden stairs. This ship was nothing like the Black Pearl, which had been so beautiful. There was something raw and ugly about this ship. Carmen stumbled up the stairs. She was shaking.

A warm, salty blast of air hit her face as she and Mar stepped out on deck. The ship was still, anchored in perfectly clear water, just off the coast of a seemingly uninhabited island, which was all sand and palm trees. The sun was beaming down.

Carmen looked around at the crew, who were all standing around staring at her and Mar. They didn't look friendly, like the Pearl's crew. They looked plain mean. Captain Chiltingham was standing waiting for them. Carmen got her first proper look at him, and felt her breath catch in her throat. If Pussy was a beautiful woman, she was pale in comparison to how breathtaking Aron Chiltingham was. He was tall and slim, but he had obviously defined muscles. He was pale, which was something Carmen had never seen in a pirate. His huge, wonderful green eyes stood out vividly against the white skin. Long, curly blonde hair peeked out from beneath his lowered, navy blue hat. He smiled at them, revealing a mouthful of perfect teeth.

"Good morning, ladies," he said loudly.

"Why aren't we moving?" Carmen asked. Her eyes had fallen on something at the side of the ship. She was desperately hoping it wasn't what she thought it was.

"You're bait for Jack Sparrow, of course," Chiltingham replied. "Well, you are, Miss Carmen. As for you, Miss Fisher- I have a special request for you. Walk the plank." The crew cheered as Carmen's stomach turned over. She had been right.

"Walk the plank?" Mar asked steadily. Only her eyes gave away her fear.

"No!" Carmen breathed, stepping towards Mar, but suddenly the Captain grabbed her and held her against his body. Carmen tried to break free but this man was just too strong.

"Bind her!" Chiltingham ordered, his words ringing in Carmen's ear.

She felt tears burning her eyes as she watched three pirates approach Mar. They tied her hands in front of her, and pushed her towards the plank. "No!" Carmen screamed, trying desperately to escape, but Chiltingham's gloved hands were too strong around her.

"Calm yourself, Miss Carmen," the Captain said into her ear, softly. There was something about this man that almost made Carmen relax in his arms.

Mar stood on the wood, and her face betrayed her for the first time. She was petrified, her lips tightly pulled together, her cheeks white. She stood looking out at the water.

"Mar!" Carmen screamed.

A lot of things happened in the next twenty seconds. Mar took a deep breath and simply threw herself off the plank, too brave and noble to wait to be pushed. The Captain released his hold on Carmen, obviously thinking there was nothing that could be done now. And Carmen, forgetting everything logical and sane, ran forward and leapt into the water after Mar.

The water was cool and clear. Carmen hit it hard, and tried to stay calm. Mar was floating down, apparently unconscious. Perhaps she had passed out through fear. Carmen swam towards her unsteadily; she had never really learned to swim too well. As children, she and Edward had sometimes splashed about in the sea, but she had never been as good at it as he was. She remembered that now as she struggled forward, feeling herself losing oxygen fast.

Her fingers closed around Mar's soft nightgown. Gritting her teeth, Carmen grabbed hold of her and began swimming up. This was harder than she had expected. Mar was too heavy, and Carmen was running out of air. She was starting to drown.

Mar was so heavy... so heavy. She remembered yesterday, when Jack had saved her from drowning. She wished he was here now. She wondered if Jack would be her last thought...

But then she broke the surface, choking, gasping, spluttering. She coughed, but then swallowed wonderful air. Then her amber eyes fell on Mar, who she was struggling to hold up so that her head was above the water.

"Wake up," Carmen begged, shaking her friend. "God, Mar, wake up!" She turned her head for a moment back to the Martyr, where everyone was pressed up against the side watching them, grinning. Sickened, Carmen turned back to Mar.

"It's over, Carmen!" Chiltingham shouted down at her. "You've nowhere to go but back to this ship. Unless you'd rather be left on the island."

"I'd be no use to you on that island!" Carmen snapped back. Mar was still lifeless in her arms. Tears were starting to burn Carmen's eyes.

Chiltingham smiled. "True. So why not come back to the ship? It will benefit us both." There was so much hidden meaning in that statement that Carmen erupted in goosebumps.

"I'm not coming back aboard unless you promise to take Mar back too!" Carmen shouted. She groped at Mar's neck for a pulse, feeling the tears escape.

"Ah." Chiltingham's smile widened. "Is the girl... living, then?"

"Yes!" Carmen breathed, finding a weak pulse, but a pulse none the less. "Yes, she is!"

There was a strange look on Chiltingham's face now, and it was earning him a glare from Pussy. "Yes, thanks to you, Miss Carmen," he said slowly. "Aye, I can see exactly what Jack Sparrow would see in you. We have an accord- both you and Mar shall return to the ship."

"I don't think I can get her back over there." Carmen bit her lip.

To her great surprise, and apparently to the surprise of everyone aboard the Martyr, Chiltingham swept off his hat and jacket, unstrapping his weapons belt. He handed his effects to a tight-lipped Pussy, and leapt into the water. Carmen watched him swim easily over to them. His amazing eyes were locked onto her own. She swallowed nervously as he reached them, felt his strong arm slip around her waist. She was sure she caught the faintest of smiles on his face before they started to make their way back, Chiltingham with an arm around both Carmen and the still unconscious Mar.

Carmen panted slightly as Chiltingham dragged them back on deck. Mar lay still when Chiltingham let go of her, her long brown hair loose and soaking. She was still out cold.

"Untie her and take her back to the cell," the Captain ordered, and people flocked around to do it. Carmen noticed his arm was still slung around her. He spoke quietly to her. "Go to my cabin."

Her heart was pounding in new fear, but she did not dare resist. Aching everywhere, she turned and walked towards the door he was pointing at. As she passed through it, she caught sight of Pussy's face, twisted in anger. She was jealous. Carmen sighed and closed the door behind her.

There was a stark difference between this cabin and the cabin of Jack Sparrow. Jack's had been cosy, cluttered, full of empty rum bottles. This was spotless, with white silk sheets on the bed, a neat stack of books of the desk, and clothes hanging from a rack. Sunlight spilled in through a large window.

Carmen sank onto the bed, fiddling idly with the sheets. Now what was going to happen?