Expect the Unexpected
Chapter Eight: Just Block It Out
All Jack could see was her. She was bound by a rough rope, a few scratches on her face and dust on her small, upturned nose. Her lower lip was stiffened and her brow was furrowed. She looked determined, tough, but Jack could see right through her façade. It was her eyes, he figured. Her eyes gave her away. It was surprising to the quirky captain; he only knew Hazel for a couple of weeks now, and he could read her fiery eyes like a book. Could she read mine? he wondered thoughtfully, then shook his head of any pointless thoughts. He needed a strategy, something he could do to save himself, Hazel and Bootstrap. Everybody else… well, he would make them pay somehow.
He still could not believe it. Hazel was indeed correct about this mutiny. Goodness, if only he had listened to her. If only he trusted her. But, at a very young age, Jack was taught not to trust anyone- not even his own family. A young girl, no matter how pretty, how sweet, or how determined would sway his narrow mind. But even Bootstrap trusted her, another part of him reasoned. The man Jack knew the longest trusted the girl. And now look; she was tied up with Bootstrap, even though both could have taken part of the mutiny. If only I had listened, this would have never happened. Hazel nor Bootstrap, the only two loyal members of my crew, would not be tied up, their lives would not be threatened. Goddamn him.
"Leave the two out of this Barbossa," Jack said, gritting his teeth. His chocolate eyes seemed to be swallowed by darkness. "They 'ave nothing' ter do with this."
"Oh, but they do," Barbossa said, his eyes twinkling evily at Jack. "These be the only two of the crew not ter turn on ya." He glanced back at the odd pair- the tall, lanky chef and the short, fit stow-away. Barbossa slowly walked over to Bootstrap, a toothless grin on his sagging face. His eyes burned in the young chef's eyes.
"Stay away from him, Barbossa!" Jack called, almost desperately. Bootstrap was his closest friend. Anything harmful or destructive toward him, Jack would take personally. "Stay away from him. He be not the one you want."
Barbossa rolled his eyes. "Shut him up, aye?" he said to Pintell, the crew member standing right next to Jack. Without warning, the pirate-traitor whipped the butt of the gun he was carrying, and smashed it against Jack's head.
Sharp pain seared through Jack as he stumbled, the blow of the force causing him to lose his balance. He blinked a couple of times, making sure his senses worked and that he was alright, save for his now heavy head. He looked up at Hazel, who seemed to have walked toward him a bit, her eyes drowning in his with concern.
"How sweet," Barbossa mocked, rolling his eyes at the subtle show of affection. He looked back at Bootstrap. "Now Bootstrap, what say you ter join me crew, spending' the gold we've newly acquired?"
Bootstrap stared coldly at the man he once named 'friend'. Thoughts flooded his mind, but his main concern was his son, William, and if his son was to receive the gold coin he had sent just a few hours ago using one of the few birds Jack kept on deck to use as a means of communication if need be, then his plan would slowly but surely unfold. Barbossa and this lot of mutineers would pay. How long would it take for him to receive it? Would he receive it? Bootstrap thought, blocking out his present surroundings "Mark my words, Barbossa, things not be what they seem. Ye think ye have successfully taken o'er this ship, but ye be wrong. Ye may not realize this now, nor tomorrow, nor next year… but ye'll realize it and then…" A small, sadistic smile adorned Bootstrap's usually calm face. "Then all hell will break loose."
"So…. I take that as a 'no'," Barbossas said, then shrugged. "Alrigh' then." Before Hazel could process anything that was happening, a loud shot broke the silence, and then Bootstrap crumpled to the floor. Blood seeped out of his dirty-white tunic and stained the wood of the ship. Hazel didn't even have time to scream. It all happened so quickly. She didn't think that anybody could take a life, Bootstrap's life, so quickly, so heartlessly. Barbossa said something, but Hazel couldn't hear it; she assumed it had something to do with disposing of Bootstrap's crumpled body because two random members of the crew pushed him off the ship and into the depths of the sea.
"Let Davy Jones take care of 'im now," Barbossa said coldly, then turned to Hazel, just as a silent tear rolled down her face. "Are you cryin' dearie?" He slid an arm around her shoulder, and Hazel tensed, staring blankly at the blood stain Bootstrap left before they had tossed him so carelessly overboard. Barbossa wiped the stray tear off her cheek. Just block it out. Just block it out, Hazel repeated, over and over to herself.
"Don' touch 'er, Barbossa!" Jack called wildly. "Leave her be!"
Barbossa ignored him, his eyes continuing to study the young girl before him. "Jack, shut yer bloody mouth or I'll shoot 'er right here!" Barbossa said after a moment, taking his pistol and pointing it at the girl's temple.
Just block it out. Just block it out.
Jack quickly shut his mouth, but his worry for the young girl was evident in his deep eyes. He watched her stiffness, her green eyes were blank, lifeless. She's blocking everything out, he noticed, and then realized how naïve to life she truly was. Wherever she had been from previously, she had never faced betrayal, most likely. She had never had someone shot in front of her. She had never had someone grope her. She was losing her innocence, right before his eyes. She was growing up. She was realizing this world is not all birds and sunshine and happy endings. Things you loved could be taken in mere seconds. And Jack saw that this young girl was just-now realizing it.
"Now, lass, what say you?" Barbossa said, snapping both Jack and Hazel out of their thoughts. Barbossa removed the arm Jack had not noticed he was staring at, and stood in front of the girl, his face level with hers. His icy eyes seemed to burn holes through her green ones. Both of his hands were behind his back. He stared intently at her as he bent towards her. "Do ye wish ter stay aboard the Pearl, spend the gold with us-"
She was silent for a moment, not wanting to answer. Not because she couldn't decide what she wanted, or that she was afraid- although she was scared to death- but because she just did not want to dignify his question with an answer. "No," she finally said. The word was soft but strong. Hazel's eyes finally connected with Barbossa's, making her statement that much more real to her. She didn't realize how courageous she could be. "No." She said it louder. "No, I will not join your crew, or spend the gold."
Barbossa leveled the pistol between her eyes. "Say it again," he dared her.
Hazel stayed silent, deciding whether or not to open her mouth and reply to Barbossa's demand. Instead, she boldly spit in his face. The bastard took away Bootstrap from her and threatened the home she had just gotten used to. He was selfish, greedy, and was a cheat. Barbossa glared at the girl, wiping the saliva off from his face. He took the butt of his pistol and slammed it against her temple. Hazel crumpled to the floor, dizzy, hurting, but still conscious.
"What're you gonna do Barbossa?" Jack asked coldly, his eyes on the man he used to call his first mate, but he could still see the crumpled body of Hazel from the corners of his coal-rimmed eyes. "You 'ave the Pearl, the gold. What more could ye want? Just drop me and the girl off at the nearest port, an' you'll never hear from us again, savvy?"
Barbossa chuckled and slowly made his way over to Jack, a sadistic smile on his wrinkled face. "Oh, Jack, I know you too much ter believe I'll never 'ear from you. You be Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy? So…" He examined his pistol intently. "… I'm sending the two of you where death is more temptin' then on this ship."
"Land, Capt'n!" a man called, and the smile on Barbossa's face deepened. He walked over to where Hazel was still lying, and grabbed her wrist, pulling her up roughly. The ropes were cutting her small wrists, and for some odd reason, Barbossa cut them off, letting the rope drop to the floor.
"You should be givin' some sort of chance fer survivin', lassie," Barbossa said. "If anyone be killin' ye, it'd be the sea or the compassionate Captain… Oh, excuse me, ex-Captain Sparrow."
Just block it out. Just block it out.
It was hard for Hazel to walk. She had a heavy head which still had not yet recovered from the attack Barbossa had thrown upon her. Her head ached, the pain blocking out what people were saying or doing. Before she could comprehend what was happening, Barbossa pushed her to the plank. She stared at the old man blankly, not fully understanding what he wanted her to do, and he tilted his head, watching her. She was holding on the railing of the ship for support, for balance. Her head ached so badly… what were they waiting for? Why was everyone looking at her?
"Well, missie, do intend to just stand there the whole day?" Barbossa finally asked.
"What do you want me to do?" Her words slurred together and she could taste a bitter taste in her mouth. Blood, she realized.
"Are ye jokin'?" Barbossa asked, a grin on his face revealed shiny, gold teeth. "Aren't ye supposed ter be intelligent?"
"Ya just knocked the girl in the head with the pistol," Jack said, his eyes unwavering. "Do you expect her ter rehearse verses from the Bible?"
Barbossa gave Jack a steely glare, but then glanced back at the girl. "Walk the plank, missie."
Hazel wasn't sure whether or not to listen to the man, so she glanced at Jack. He smiled slightly and moved his face upward, raising his brow in a positive manner. Hazel nodded back slowly, painfully. With all the strength she could muster, Hazel pulled herself onto the plank, her hands still gripping the railing of the ship. She realized how unbalanced, uncoordinated, she was, her head still heavy and burning. She looked down into the cold, almost inviting water. It looks sooooo inviting, she thought.
"Before the said girl and I walk the plank…" Jack interjected.
Barbossa grabbed the waiting pistol from Ragetti and placed it in Jack's belt. "Seeing as how there be two of us walking the plank-" Jack began again, but the new captain interrupted him, waving him off like dust on his jacket.
"One shot," Barbossa said. "You can be a gentleman and take her life." He glanced back at the girl who was so desperately trying to maintain a hold of her consciousness. "But I'm sure that Davy Jones will claim her once her body hits the water… so there be no need for a second shot."
Without warning, Hazel lost grip on both the railing of the Black Pearl and of her consciousness and ungracefully fell off the ship, hitting the water with a loud smack. Jack's brows rose high, and without another word to Barbossa or his former crew, Jack dashed to the plank and dove off. Hazel's body was not hard to find, but before he could grab her, he had to cut the ropes around his wrists off. Glancing around under water, he spotted a sharp rock not so far away, and quickly rubbed the rock with the rope, managing to free his hands within seconds.
His breath was running out, and the salt stung his eyes, but he kept up. Turning under the cold water, pushing his feet off from the rock to gain momentum, and grabbed Hazel's body, breaking to the surface. His strong legs treaded the water as he managed a glance down at the girl. She looked pale, and blood matted her blonde hair. He glanced up at the nearby island, and he began to swim fiercely. He felt her breathing, but just barely. Every muscle in his body burned. He felt the clothes on his back drag him down, the girl's dead weight drag him down, but still, he pushed on.
Goddamn, the girl was right. He should have listened, and then none of this would have happened. Bootstrap would still be around. Oh God, Bootstrap! The man was his best friend, his confidant, and Jack didn't even listen to him. God, how could he have been so stupid, so daft? If he would have just paid heed… it was the gold's fault, he reasoned. The greed the gold placed upon him. It was haunting how a piece of metal could take him from his senses, to focus on just how he would spend it when other things were so much more important.
Jack sighed. Beating himself over this now would not help especially when other matters were more important. He glanced ahead. The island was a few meters ahead, not so far. He kept pushing and pushing and pushing. The young girl, the one who had stuck by his side, who spit in Barbossa's face while facing death… She's becoming a pirate yet. But before she could reach her piratical standards, she had to get better. She had to get conscious for crying out loud. He grunted as the water splashed over him and Hazel, his muscles aching throughout every inch of his body.
Just block it out. Just block it out.
And when his feet finally hit the sand, he nearly collapsed, the girl in his arms. "I need a drink," he mumbled dryly, out of breath.
Author's Notes: This chapter is dedicated to Saber Apricot for all of her constructive criticism. It was incredibly helpful. I hope this chapter is to your liking, and that you continue to stick around and give me criticism where you think I need it. Thank you again. It's incredibly appreciated. To everyone else, thank you, thank you, thank you. Please stay with me, please review. I really appreciate all your positive feedback.
