Chapter IX : "On the hunt"
Nightfall came again. Most of the pirates slept on the lower decks inside the ship. I made my way between them, stepping over them quietly and carefully. I tip-stepped towards Anamaria, who was sleeping a bit further from the rest of the crew.
As I approached her, she took her gun and pointed it at me once again.
"It's me, Anamaria..." I whispered.
"I know" she bluntly said. "Ya don't have long before I pull the trigger... Get away from me."
"Wait... please !" I pleaded. "I need to talk to an other woman"
She started giggling.
"Women problems ain't my concern" she replied.
With anger, I took her gun away with gentle and rapid manoeuvre that stunned her. I managed to take the gun into my hands and pointed it back at her.
"What the... ?" she exclaimed.
"A little trick I have learned from fellow inmates..."
"Damn, girl !"
"I do not want to fight you"
"You want to hug me, maybe ?"
"I want to ask you a favour. As the female pirate you are... Do you know sword techniques ?"
Anamaria kept quiet.
"...Depends on what you want..." she said, studying my intentions.
"I have learned a little by a private teacher as a child... So I'm a little familiar... Your job won't be hard... I will not ask much of you."
"What do you want, exactly ?"
"I want you to form me... at least, show me how to defend myself. When I will get off of this ship, I know death will follow me and I want to resist until I can't anymore."
Anamaria started thinking.
"Yur crazy gal... but I'll teach ya."
I was a bit surprise by her quick answer.
"You decided so soon. In exchange for money ?"
"Even if I dun like the looks of you, I want you to die in peace. Shows ya at least have the guts to defend yourself..."
Although I was recalcitrant and doubtful, Anamaria smiled. I wondered what were her intentions. Maybe was she happy at the thought of booting me faster off of this ship and into the hands of Death...
She proceeded into looking around and swiftly took one of her fellow mate's sword without waking him up. She then headed to the stairs that lead the way down in the dark caves of the ship.
"This is a one time thing, ya hear me ?" she said. "I dun wanna keep up with a slow uptown girl."
"Where are we heading ?"
"Way down... We'll be quiet in the rum storage."
At the bottom of the ship, Anamaria went in the back. There was so little space with all of the support beams in our way. She stopped between two rum stacks and took her sword out of it's scabbard. She pointed two swords at me. I was a bit terrified.
"But... I don't have one" I muttered.
Anamaria smiled.
"That's why I borrowed" she said as it was obvious. "Take it."
Uncertain, I took one of the swords and I backed away. I tried moving it around, not realising what I've gotten myself into.
"It's a bit heavy..." I whined.
"If ya want to learn, ya have to get use to it."
Then, she started teaching me. We began slowly. She took her time to show me how to block myself. Suddenly, she came straight at me. Trying to back away, I tripped into my dress and fell on my back.
I looked at Anamaria and got up immediately.
"Sorry" I hissed with anger.
"Y'all have to take that robe off..."
My eyes went wide.
"W... what ?" I mumbled.
"Take that robe off"
"But... then I'll be in my underclothings !"
Anamaria got impatient and groaned.
"That's what troublin' ya ? You're a girl aren't ya ?"
"Last time I checked !" I replied, looking at her from head to toe, insulted she dared address me in such a way.
"Well then, between us women, ya can go on. Be at ease, girl... I'm not interested in seeing your white noble butt anyways, so take it off before ya hurt yourself... You should wear pants..."
"Pants ?... M... Men wear ?"
Anamaria looked at me, unenthusiastic.
"Ya'll be much more at ease... believe me."
I undressed myself and stood in my undergarments, looking at her in an awkward position.
Still, we proceeded on with my training.
After a few hours, she decided showing me the offensive, the way to fight back.
After a moment, Anamaria finally ordered me to stop.
"Ya learn quick... I'm impressed, girl"
I smiled while giving her the sword back.
Without anymore concern, Anamaria moved around. Then, she balanced her hand and grabbed one of the bottles of rum. She sat down on the floor and looked at me.
"Well... whatcha waitin' for ?" she asked.
"For you, actually..."
Anamaria laughed.
"Ya'll wait long..."
She opened the bottle of rum and started drinking.
"What are you doing ?" I asked.
She lowered her bottle.
"Drinkin'... what's it look like ?"
"Well... that, but..."
Anamaria leaned over and caught an other bottle.
"Ya shad drink one... it would take some tension off your shoulders" she said while showing me the bottle.
I hesitated.
"Is it good ?"
Anamaria laughed again, her echo going throughout the basement.
"I'm sorry" I said, not at ease.
I sat down next to her and took the bottle of rum.
"It's like wine for the rich, girl... Try it..." she persuaded on.
I looked at her and without no more hesitation, I drank. I immediately choked and spit out the liquid.
"Ya see" Anamaria said while tapping my back. "It's good stuff... But ya have to sip it, not gulp it... Wait until you're used to it"
"Yes..." I said, choking red with a raucous voice.
I drank an other sip, slowly this time, and looked at Anamaria. She smiled and I smiled back.
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Anamaria and I were laughing so hard. I leaned over her and put my head on her shoulder.
"Tell me, Ani... I mean Ana... what's sailing with Jack feel like ?" I asked.
Anamaria looked down and laughed while looking at her bottle of rum.
"Why ya wanna know that ?"
"Piracy... All that... freedom ! All that greed without taking care of others... All that sea and the beautiful horizons, the sunsets and the sunrise..."
I closed my eyes. I felt so sleepy.
"Tell me" I whispered. "I wish to know. What it's like, being a lady pirate ?"
Anamaria looked down.
"Far from being a lady, girl..."
With a lost of attention, I looked at the ceiling.
"I'd like to be free..." I said on a low tone voice.
I turned my heard towards her and just tried to figure her out.
"You..." Anamaria said. "Tell me what's your real reason on this ship... Your whole story..."
"It is of no importance" I replied, putting my bottle of rum away.
"But I wanna know" said Anamaria. Ya have a scumbag husband... but what are you exactly... ?"
I looked at her. She looked at me directly in the eyes. She was thirsty to know... and with hesitation, I told her everything. From beginning to end. Maybe more then I should of told her...
"He will get me" I whispered in conclusion. "I do not want to show it, but I'm so scared... I wish..."
I stood silent for a moment.
"Wishing continuously like that will only curse ya... That's what happened, ain't it ?"
I started feeling dizzy. I turned on the side and eye blinked numerous times. Then, I leaned over to take my bottle and lift it up high.
"To my own death !" I cheered and then took a sip.
Anamaria turned around, looked at me and then looked at the floor. Only one bottle of rum was completely drank, and the other one, half empty.
"You're drunk already ?" she asked.
I got up, trembling a bit. I looked at my half bottle and then at Anamaria. I felt insulted.
"Of course not !... I am too much of a Dame to drink until drunken…ness !"
Anamaria looked at me, perplexed.
"No girl... I seriously think you're drunk"
Then, I fell on my knees and caught up to Anamaria, crawling towards her. I put my arms around her neck and I started to cry.
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(Meanwhile... On Vortigan's ship : The Drache)
Francis was on deck. His long black cape twirled in the wind of the night. He looked at the black horizon, only a little torch of light lit his surroundings.
Vortigan caught up to him. Francis didn't even turn around.
"Where are we headed, exactly, captain ?" asked Francis on a commanding tone, still looking at the dark horizon.
"To the East. Our informant told us about their whereabouts."
"Are you sure it is her ?" asked Francis, his hands contracting in anger.
"Are you questioning my man, Delmare ?" asked Vortigan on a harsh tone.
Francis leaned his head backwards to catch a glimpse of Vortigan.
"No... not at all" he finally said with a mediocre smile.
Vortigan turned around.
"We'll be catching up with them in two days. The Black Pearl ain't that fast of a ship compared to the Drache."
"That's what you're paid for, Vortigan" said Francis. "I hope my money doesn't go to waste."
The captain walked away from Francis, not saying one more word. As for Francis, he looked at the stars in the sky. He reached out to try and catch a star in his hands. Right at the moment when he seemed to catch one, he tighten his grip, crushing the star... One thing he was dying to do to Charissiana.
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The following morning, Jack got out of his cabin. Gibbs came to greet him on the spot.
"Jack..." started Gibbs.
"Not now, Gibbs !" said Jack. "I have to find Anamaria."
"But..." continued Gibbs.
Jack looked up and saw the ship's helm. Yolas was at the wheel and looked at Jack, shrugging, showing him he didn't know what happened to the original navigator. Jack looked at Gibbs.
"Where's Anamaria ?" he asked, calm.
"That's what I've been trying to tell ya, Jack..."
Gibbs sighed :
"Some men heard them laughing in the basement... Laughing l.o.u.d." he continued.
"Them ?"
"The girl and Anamaria."
"Which basement ?"
Gibbs hesitated a while and muttered nervously :
"The ones below the sleeping quarters. The rum storage..."
Jack made big eyes and gestured, taking a step forward.
"My rum !" yelled Jack. "My precious essence of life ! Damn the women !"
Gibbs and Jack ran and descended the stairs to the basement. They marched rapidly around the cave and finally noticed Anamaria and Charity sleeping next to one an other. Jack looked at them and smiled.
"Oh... How cute" he said.
Then, his eyes saw the six empty bottles of rum and Charity's dress on the floor. His face turned red.
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My eyes slowly opened. My head turned and seemed to beat at the pumping of my heart.
"Ouch..." I muttered, putting a hand on the back of my neck.
Then, I saw Anamaria sleeping on the floor. Afterwards, I looked up. I stayed stunned upon seeing Jack's face above mine. He didn't look very happy.
Anamaria slowly awoke and backed away the instant she saw Jack above me. I didn't say a word. I was paralysed.
"Listen, Jack..." Anamaria started, trying to calm him down.
Jack didn't even look at her. He just stared at me.
"I'm sorry" I whispered.
I realised I was scared beyond belief of that man. I didn't have my place here... or anywhere.
Suddenly, Jack gripped me violently by my hair. He forced me up and pushed me away towards the stairs. I got up as fast as I could to run away from him.
Finally arriving on the decks, I started running. Jack quickly followed, coming straight towards me.
"Jack ! Stop it !" I heard Anamaria yell as she finished mounting the stairs after Jack.
Jack caught up to me and pulled me by my arm, lifting me up to face him.
"Oh please !" I moaned and begged, putting my hands on his hand.
Anamaria came behind Jack and started pulling on him, ordering him to calm down. But Jack just looked at me.
"Ya already owed me a bottle... but now, you're just abusing my patience, woman..."
Jack loosen his grip so I could get away. Almost the entire crew surrounded us now.
I ran to one of the pirates and immediately took his sword. As calm as I could I pointed the blade at Jack. Everyone was dead silent.
"Girl ! Dun make this worst !" Anamaria said, taking a step towards me. "You look completely stupid !"
Jack put his hand on the side, blocking Anamaria's path. He didn't want her to interfere.
"What you think you're doin' ?" she asked Jack.
Jack took a step towards me and smirked.
"You're pretty daring, girl..." Jack said, looking at me with malicious eyes.
He then took his sword out and pointed it back at me. His eyes were shining in excitement.
"Now... This is a tough one... You have a chance to back away... I would be heart broken a few seconds seeing I killed a small creature like you."
"You had the chance to kill me before, you're the one that just didn't took it !" I said with rage.
I launched at him in fury, trying to attack him, but he blocked my every move. I was trembling so much that I tripped and fell on my back. Jack immediately got over me, pointing his sword on my throat. He smiled. I closed my eyes for a moment, asking myself what was I doing.
Finally, Jack backed away. Other pirates came and grabbed me, holding me tight so I wouldn't move.
Jack turned around and didn't look at me.
"This is the end of the line, love..." he said, like he regretted the situation.
"Get her off the ship !" yelled Gibbs, running towards us like he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
"No ! Anamaria !" I cried out for her, but she didn't move.
The man took me on the side of the ship and pushed me over the edge. I dived into the water in a scream. It took me a few seconds to make my way back to the surface. The crew looked down on me from the ship. I felt so humiliated.
Then, some of the pirates started yelling. I looked on the side and saw a small boat coming towards me. I swam to it as fast as I could.
Jack came to see what the fuss of his men was all about. I got on the boat and stayed surprised upon seeing Mr. Yolas. He tried to help me in the boat.
"What the hell you think you're doing, kid ?" yelled Gibbs.
Yolas looked up. I crumbled in the boat, confused and lost.
"I'm sorry, everyone ! But I just can't leave a woman like this."
"Your ship won't wait back for ya, boy" yelled an other pirate.
"Then... so be it !" Yolas yelled back.
Yolas took the paddles and started paddling.
"Don't worry, miss... the port of St-Kitts isn't very far... I'll get you there."
I looked at the sky. The burning sun shined down on me. At that moment I remembered what it really felt to die... Damn all of you... Damn you, Jack.
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A/N : Sorry about this chapter... Reading it after 3 years and it still doesn't seem right. Chaps 10 and 11 won't be very interesting either (but hopefully funny), but after that, hell breaks loose ! Waa! lol
...Please don't be too hard on me. meep. Thanks for reading !
