Chapter Ten
"Hmm," Beatrice pondered. "How about I get a big thing of boiling oil and just push you in it? Or I could put grease on my knives and set them on fire before throwing them at you? Oh that's a good one. What about-"
"Not that I don't find the millions of methods you're thinking of killing me with amusing," Jack grumbled in the cell across from her. "But can you stop thinking up methods to use to kill me? Rather depressing, love."
Beatrice looked over her shoulder and glared at the back of Jack's head. He wasn't paying much attention to her. He was busy leaning down against the side of the cell wall to spy through a small hole in the ship's side.
Out of curiosity she turned around, sticking her arms through the bars and leaning forward, watching Jack. "So, the water still blue?"
Jack looked away from the spy-hole and gave her a look. "Must you always be so..." He searched for a word to describe her.
Beatrice smiled and assisted. "Charming, wonderful, amazing, beautiful?"
Jack said turning away again. "Difficult."
"Oh, then yes." She said immediately. He rolled his eyes. Beatrice yawned and backed away from the bars. She stretched and rolled her head. Being in a cell was boring to her. There was nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to talk to. Rolling her eyes she glanced at Jack. Slumping her shoulders she sighed and walked up to the bars again. She wrapped her hands around them and leaned her forehead against them, the cool metal feeling a little nice on her skin.
Water was soaking through her boots and her feet felt cold as well, in an uncomfortable way. She had used listing off fun ways to kill Jack to distract herself earlier, but now she was more aware of her awful surroundings.
She sighed again, louder this time. "So, I suppose I should thank you for earlier. The whole giving Barbossa a reason for not killing me."
He turned and gave her a wink. "No problem, love. I seem to be saving you on more than one occasion."
Her eyebrows furrowed. "No you haven't. It was only that one."
"If I remember correctly it was my ginger rum that helped you get over your sea sickness. How are you feeling now, by the way?"
Beatrice realized he was right. She didn't feel sick in anyway, even though she was in a small cage below deck of a ship that was rocking very quickly because of it's speed. She frowned and crossed her arms. "Well that just means I got used to it and owe you a bottle of rum."
"You still owe me something though." He said slyly.
Beatrice pouted. "Fine then. I promise not to kill you and I'll get you some rum. After the rum we're square."
Jack laughed and turned away. "Nothing is that simple, love."
Beatrice pursed her lips. "Right, well, if that isn't good enough I'm sure you think of a way I could make it up to you."
Jack chuckled. "I can think of a few."
Beatrice smirked. "I hope it's nothing perverted Captain Sparrow."
Jack placed a hand over his heart. "I am a man of honor, Miss Brown, I would never suggest such a thing."
She snorted. "Right." She paused, watching Jack as he turned away again. She smirked, leaning forward on the bars. "But what if I were to agree to such a suggestion?"
Jack's frame stiffened and he turned his head slowly to face her, a grin forming. "Well then, I think that-"
She didn't get to hear what he thought because the Pearl made a sudden turn to the right, throwing Jack and Beatrice onto the left side of their cells with a rough force. Beatrice yelped as her back hit the cell wall and she grabbed the bars to stay upright. Jack was quicker in recovery than her and returned to looking out of the spy-hole.
"What's going on out there?" She asked in panic.
"We're side by side with the Interceptor."
Beatrice's eyes widened. "What?" She stood up straight and grabbed the bars again. "Are they fighting?"
Jack didn't answer, he was too preoccupied diving away from his spy-hole. "Cannon fire!"
Beatrice covered her ears and ducked away. The wall of Jack's cell exploded with a loud 'Bang!' Loud enough to leave a ringing in her ear drums even though she was pressing her palms tight against her ears.
"Jack!" She called immediately after. "Are you alright?"
"Stop blowin' holes in my ship!" Jack yelled.
Beatrice looked through the larger hole. She could now she for herself that the Interceptor was across from the Pearl and its cannons were out and ready to fire their... "Silverware?" She stuck her hand out of the cell and tried to pull a fork that embedded itself on her cell out. "Ow!" She yelped. The fork was fiery hot. Squatting down she stuck her hand in the water and scolded herself for not realizing. It was fired out of a cannon, of course it was hot.
She looked at her hand. It was only a little red, and only hurt a little. She could ignore it and knew the stinging would stop. She had burned herself enough while working.
She looked to Jack to see if he was alright, not bothering to wonder why she was so worried, and saw that he was out of his cell. A knife had miraculously hit the lock dead on and blasted it open.
Jack smiled to himself and pushed the cell closed. He was out and he was walking towards the stairs.
"Jack." Beatrice called moving to the left side of the cell to look at him. "Help me out!"
"Hmm?" Jack turned to look at her with a curious expression, eyebrow cocked. "Ah, sorry love, bit busy and all that."
She glared. "The keys are right there hanging on the hook. Just give them to me so I can get out." She ordered.
Jack ran a hand over his beard, looking between Beatrice and the keys. "What's in it for me if I do this?"
Beatrice trailed her finger down one of the bars, giving Jack a coy look. "Anything you want."
Jack grinned. "Anything?"
Beatrice gave him a half lidded look and bit her lip, nodding. Jack quickly grabbed and keys and walked back over to her cell, unlocking it and opening the door. Beatrice smiled and tried to get past him, but he stopped her.
"Uh, uh, our deal?" He reminded her.
Beatrice rolled her eyes. Grabbing the front of his shirt she pulled him down and gave him a long, deep kiss. She backing him up until his back hit the opposite cell and ran her fingers over his chest, sliding her hand under his shirt at the opening at his collar. Jack lifted his hands to grab her waist, ready to pull her closer, and closed his eyes, but he was suddenly grasping air.
Opening his eyes he saw Beatrice was already by the stairs, hanging the keys back up. He looked at his hands, realizing he wasn't holding them anymore. "What the...?"
Beatrice stopped on the first step and smiled at him. "Don't worry Jack, we can finish later. If you haven't noticed we're in the middle of a battle and this is not the best place."
"Any place is a good place with Captain Jack Sparrow." He said grinning, walking after her.
She rolled her eyes and ran up the stairs, Jack following. They reached the deck and Jack didn't pause in jumping onto the railing, holding onto the rope ladder that went up to the mast for balance. He calmly looked around and small frown marring his face. Beatrice ran to his side, but didn't get on the railing.
"How go we get over there?" She asked, referring to the Interceptor.
He didn't answer her and kept looking around. Suddenly a pirate on a rope was swinging over. Beatrice ducked when his legs were getting closer to kicking her while Jack reached out and grabbed the rope away from him. The pirate kept flying and Jack watched him without changing his expression. "Thanks very much."
He looked down at Beatrice and held out his hand. She grabbed it without question and pulled her up. She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly. He didn't ask if she was ready before he jumped. Beatrice held her breath and tried not to scream. They made it across, hovering over the Interceptor, but they bumped into another person, pushing them off the ship, and ended swinging back over the water then back again. This time jack let go and they landed on the Interceptor's deck.
Beatrice sighed in relief, placing a hand over her heart.
"Jack! Bee!"
Beatrice looked down and saw Gibbs on the floor. Jack wasted no time in pulling the small leather flask from his belt and shoved it into Gibbs's hands. "Bloody empty." He said nothing further and jumped over Gibbs, getting out of the line of fire.
Beatrice didn't follow and didn't have much time before a member of Barbossa's crew attacked her. She punched him and unsheathed her sword, fighting against them. She had no time to think, only focused on defense. She was being attacked left and right, gun shots and canon fire in the background leaving her mind reeling with panic, and she couldn't see Will or Elizabeth. Her heart beat faster and adrenaline coursed through her veins. However, even though it was a very bad situation she couldn't keep the grin off her face.
She enjoyed sword play, or at least the badgering that went with it. She mocked her opponents when their angry swings were easily blocked by her. She stabbed the pirate, knowing he couldn't die, and kicked him away from her.
Suddenly a weight jumped on and off her shoulder. She turned and watched as Barbossa's monkey jumped over to the mast that fell during the fight and was connecting the two ships as a pathway over the water. Beatrice's eyes widened when she saw the gold medallion and gold chain grasped in his tiny little fist. The was the medallion Elizabeth had been keeping with her. And if the pirates got it...
Beatrice sheathed her sword and ran after the monkey. She was beat to it however by Jack. She tilted her head and watched him scurry across the mast in the same fashion the monkey was. Shaking her head she didn't follow when Jack didn't get the medallion, but was stopped by Barbossa, medallion in his hand, his monkey on his shoulder. She cursed and looked around. It looked as though Barbossa had won.
"Gents!" Barbossa called. Beatrice looked at him; he was holding up the medallion. "Our hope is restored!"
The pirates cheered and quicker than Beatrice could blink she and the rest of the Interceptor's crew was taken to the Pearl. The crew was tied to the mast, Pintel and Ragetti keeping their guns on them, while Beatrice had her wrists held behind her back by a pirate. He smelled, both his breath and his body, and she wanted nothing more than to get away from him. But his grip was firm and she had no where to run.
Looking to her right she looked at Jack, he seemed calm about the whole situation. He was giving Barbossa strange looks behind his back, but still calm. She couldn't blame him, he did seem to have a good plan. Although...
Beatrice looked around for Will, berating herself for not noticing his absence before. If he wasn't with them then he would still be on the Interceptor. She wondered how she was going to get Will when the other ship was so far away?
The Interceptor, already half sunk, suddenly let loose an explosion of fire and smoke, blowing all its parts into the sea. Those aboard the Pearl flinched or turned their head, the sound of the explosion so loud it was as if it was upon them.
Beatrice stared, wide eyed, and revised her thought. Repeat, how was she going to get Will when he was blown up?! Numbness suddenly set into her heart and she couldn't blink. Everything around her disappeared and and world became smaller. She stared at the wrekage, shocked. Memories of her time with Will passed before her as she realized...
Will was gone.
The whole reason she came on this journey and endangered herself was blown to smithereens.
Her little adopted brother was dead.
Tears pooled her eyes and she couldn't take anymore of the pressure. Her vision swam and her surroundings blurred.
"Barbossa!"
Beatrice turned her head slowly when she heard his voice. Her eyes widened and her legs almost gave out. "Will." She breathed. He was standing on the railing on the other side of the ship. In one hand a pistol and his other hand holding onto the rope ladder. Sighing, her shoulders slumped and the world returned. "Oh thank God." She mumbled. "Thank God for that stupid boy."
He jumped onto the deck and pointed his pistol at Barbossa. "She goes free!"
Beatrice began to pay attention. She who? Looking to Will she saw he was looking at Elizabeth. Ah, that she. Of course.
Barbossa looked amused. He walked forward to face the pistol with confidence. "You've only got one shot, and we can't die. "
Beside her Jack looked at Will pleadingly. "Don't do anything stupid."
Beatrice agreed, but she had a feeling that Will was going to anyway. She blamed herself for his stubbornness, he learned it from her after all.
Will looked at him then Barbossa and jumped back onto the railing. "You can't." Will pointed the gun at his own neck. "I can."
Beatrice bowed her head and sighed in exasperation.
Jack felt the same. He shook his head and looked down. "Like that."
"Who are you?" Barbossa asked, confused, his eyes narrowed.
Jack jumped right in before Will could answer. He broke away from the pirates and stood in front of Barbossa. "No one. He's no one. A distant cousin of my aunt's nephew twice removed. Lovely singing voice, though. Eunuch."
Beatrice rolled her eyes. "Jack, that was awful."
"My name is Will Turner." Will said loudly. "My father was Bootstrap Bill Turner. His blood runs in my veins."
Barbossa gave Jack a look and Jack bowed his head and walked away from him, returning to his spot beside Beatrice.
"He's the spitting image of ol' Bootstrap Bill come back to haunt us." Ragetti said fearfully.
"Then why didn't you know who he was right when he jumped on deck?" Beatrice whispered. She looked at Will and said louder. "Will, this is the reason I can't leave you alone to make your own decisions."
Will looked at her. "I'm sorry Bee." He looked back at Barbossa. "On my word do as I say, or I'll pull this trigger and be lost to Davy Jones Locker."
"Name your terms, Mr. Turner." Barbossa said, unfazed.
"Elizabeth goes free." Will said immediately.
Barbossa nodded. "Yes, we know that one. Anything else?"
Beatrice gave him a look and cleared her throat. Will nodded towards her as well. "Beatrice as well."
Jack saw Beatrice's success and pointed at himself.
Will ignored him and motioned to the crew tied to the mast. "And the crew. The crew are not to be harmed."
Barbossa grinned. "Agreed."
Will jumped off the railing and Barbossa held out his hand. "Let's be havin' a peaceful accord. So I'll be takin that pistol.
Will backed away. "Not until I know that they're free."
Barbossa smirked and nodded to some pirates to his left. "Take it from him."
Will protested as numerous pirates grabbed him and took the pistol away. Beatrice struggled with the pirate holding her when she saw them begin to tie Will's hands behind his back.
As they struggled Barbossa headed to the helm and changed the ship's direction.
Beatrice kicked the pirate holding her and he let go in surprise. She ran to Will and punched and hit every pirate around him. "Get away from him!"
The pirate around her laughed and a few advanced towards her. She pulled out her sword and held it in front of her.
"Now Miss. Brown. There'll be no need for that." Barbossa said, reappearing on the deck. "We aren't going to hurt him. We need him. You however, there's no more use for you." Barbossa gave a curt nod and Beatrice felt herself being picked up, her sword being taken from her hands.
She screamed and struggled, but Bo'sun was too strong. He began to get annoyed with her screaming and punched her in the stomach. She gasped, the wind rushing out of her, and she slumped over his arm.
"Get the plank!" Barbossa yelled, a cruel grin on his lips.
The pirates chuckled evilly and in no time a long plank of wood was brought through the crowd by Pintel and Ragetti. A canon was rolled out of the way and the plank was put in it's place. There were metal rings on the top of the end and the board was set in between two metal rings on the deck and the plank was tied and a long metal pole was stuck through all the rings to keep it upright.
Beatrice looked down at it in surprise and looked at Barbossa. "What is this?"
Barbossa smirked. "Your freedom."
"Where am I supposed to go?" She asked desperately, her voice hoarse. "There's nothing but water."
Barbossa lifted an arm and pointed in the distance. She followed his gave and squinted. On the horizon there was a dot, an island. A very small island. She looked at Barbossa in shock. "You're kidding?! You can't just leave me on a deserted island."
"Oh don't worry Beatrice, you won't be alone." He looked up at Bo'sun. "Put her with the other one."
Bo'sun smirked and lugged Beatrice to the other side of the ship. He threw her down roughly at Elizabeth's feet and Beatrice didn't have much time to recover before she was grabbed by three different pirates and lifted up.
"Watch them until we get to the dropping point!" Bo'sun ordered before turning and heading back over to Barbossa.
"Beatrice." Elizabeth whispered. "What's happening?"
"You're going to be walkin' the plank, Poppet." Pintel said with an scary smirk, showing off his rotten teeth.
Elizabeth's eyes widened and she looked to Beatrice for confirmation, but Beatrice bowed her head in defeat. "Yes. They're going to drop us on some island and leave us there to die."
Elizabeth gasped. "No...but they said we'd go free!"
"Free of the ship, but Will never said where." Beatrice looked at Elizabeth. "They're pirates Elizabeth, they take your words and twist them to fit what they want."
Elizabeth remained silent and tried to find Will, but he was being contained and tied up as they spoke.
"Weigh anchor!" Barbossa yelled. He smiled at his crew after they did as he told and gestured to Elizabeth and Beatrice. "We're going to have a bit of a show. Some of our guests are going to leave us and take their final jumps, which we have the pleasure of seeing." He gave Beatrice a long stare and funny grin. "Miss. Brown will be our opening act."
"What?" Beatrice cried out as the pirates holding her pushed and prodded her to the plank and pushed her onto it. She tripped and fell onto it, holding onto the sides for dear life. It rocked up and down, but she was able to remain atop it. She sighed, but she knew that she wasn't saved. Sweat began to form on her brow as she slowly stood up, the board wobbling as she did. She could hear pirates laughing at her plight and pointing their swords at her. She straightened her back in pride, keeping her eyes forward.
She could see the island clearer than before. It was surrounded by shallows, which would make swimming to it easier. Beatrice tried to map out the way she would go with her eyes. She glanced behind her and saw Elizabeth was just behind her, next in line.
She saw Will being brought forward to watch as well and saw him struggle at the sight. "Barbossa, you lying bastard! You swore they'd go free!"
Barbossa glared. "Don't dare impugn me honor, boy. I agreed they'd go free, but it was you who failed to specify when or where." He laughed.
Will was gagged and Beatrice was once again being taunted by the pirates. She took a step forward, but paused and turned, looking at Barbossa. "I want my sword."
Barbossa raised an eyebrow. "And why should I be givin' you back your sword?"
"Because if I'll want to kill myself before starvation hits I'd like my weapon to do so since you don't seem to be giving me a pistol with one shot left." She snapped.
Barbossa laughed and nodded. "Fine then, give the girl back her sword."
Bo'sun smirked and held it out. She reached for it and he placed the blade a little too hard. She winced when her hand was cut, but pulled the sword away from him and sheathed it. She ripped off one of her sleeves and used it to wrap her hand.
There were whistles, but she ignored them and turned her back on them, walking to the end of the plank before calmly taking a step off into the dark cold sea.