10.

"I'll ask again. What is your meaning for wandering around the island? Where is the Pearl?"

I sat in a room I assumed was his office. Dimly-lit, and mostly thrown into darkness. I sat in front of his desk, where paper-work was smeared over every inch of the surface. His handwriting was scrawled across each one, and I wondered if it was all dedicated to tracing pirates. He stood beside me, gradually growing louder as I refused to answer. I could feel his silent rage, all of his frustration. What would happen to me? The gallows? Death by torture?

"I'll tell you once more, Lord Beckett." I spoke expressionlessly, as if I didn't care I was practically arrested and being interrogated. I hadn't pledged loyalty to the Pearl, but I didn't relish the idea of telling all I knew to Beckett. It would be betraying Jack. Who had betrayed me in the worst possible way, and I remember all these times wishing I'd never have to see him again. Faced with the prospect, I couldn't rise to it. "I'm lost. I was washed up on the shores. I have no motive."

I saw, in the corner of my eye, him raising his arm. I waited for the blow, but only heard him smack the table with so much force, his work was sent scattered to the floor. My arm still ached and throbbed, the pain never leaving; it burnt, red-hot, and was all I could think of. It was beyond repair now. My right hand would be forever useless from this moment onwards. It hung, limp, at my side. I tried not to move. The sling was thrown across the desk, to use as evidence. Evidence for what, I wanted to know. But I held my tongue.

"You have no idea who you're missing with, Ms Swann," Beckett warned me. "Co-operate with me, I ask you. In which case you shall be spared. I will give you a full pardon, enough money to compensate. You could buy a house on Merilworth, or anywhere that your heart desires. Just tell me. And no harm will befall you, I promise that much."

I wasn't swayed. Beckett seemed like a man who could convince a person of anything; could fool them into believing his act. I knew I'd be as damned as Jack if I confessed. This man before me was cold, determined, ruthless. And would stop at nothing to achieve his own goals. "And my Uncle?" I asked, voice hitching.

"I have chased Jack Sparrow across the seas since before you could crawl." He moved away, towards the glass panes of the window. I could see the moon from where I sat, and wondered for a brief moment if Will was looking up at it aswell. "He has escaped imprisonment more times than I dare to mention. You probably haven't the faintest clue half the crimes that man is guilty of committing. If I should find him, he would be getting just what he deserves. A free ticket to the gallows."

I could feel my face fall. I hated Jack, I hated him with every fibre of my heart, but the thought of him ceasing to exist was painful. It was hard to imagine a world without Captain Jack Sparrow. No matter how cruel he remained in my thoughts, there was no point denying that I didn't want him dead.

"And Barbossa. Two birds, one step. An excellent move. Two of the most notorious pirates, caught in one. You have no idea the power such a feat would bring to me."

"Would they give you an even more grotesque wig to wear?" I retorted, lip curling. He remained unfazed. Turning away from the window to face me; face hardened in a mask of bitter resentment. Directed towards me. His patience, already waining from the start, was growing thin. Soon he would tire of me. That could only mean one thing. I looked desperately around for an escape route. His office doors were locked, the keys held tightly in his clenched fist. The windows? There'd be no getting past him in time.

My sword, my pistol, my compass were on an instrument table at least ten paces away. I was weaponless. I was done for.

"Ms Swann, you mistake me for a man of mercy. You will not be leaving here until you answer me!"

Coldly, I replied, "There aren't sleeping arrangements for two. I will be leaving here, and you will give up pursuit. I have left my Uncle on the Pearl, and he didn't sail after me. I came here out of my own will. My purpose? I suppose you could say I had enough of it all. You can brandish my sword away in front of me, and demand to know why I am weighed down with my weapons. For self-defence against men like you. Now I shall tell you once more. Let me go."

"You are in no position to be making demands!" He snapped at me, and this time when his hand raised, it cut through the air and made heavy contact with my right cheek; my head snapped back with the overwelming force, and it felt as though my face was burning after his touch. "I'll repeat my first question, one you oh-so cleverly dodged. Where is Captain Turner?"

I pushed the hair out of my eyes, softy touching my sore cheek, and glaring at him will poorly-concealed loathing. "No idea what you're talking about," I taunted. I refused to give the satisfaction of allowing his words to affect me.

"Oh, you're a silly little girl, Ms Swann. Only seventeen and destined to end her years at the gallows..." He chuckled at the thought of my approaching my end. "Wittnesses saw you in the company of Captain Turner on the island of Tortuga. You shortly returned back to the Pearl, still accompanied by Captain Turner. Don't tell me lies, Ms Swann. Step up and tell the truth. Your Uncle raised you well."

I had no idea me and Will were seen. Tortuga was filled with such imbeciles; roaming drunks and countless brawls, to pick out those who walked around sober. I had no idea people had seen us together, and had reported it to Beckett himself. Who could do such a thing? Somebody who evidently had a problem with Will. He must've had many enemies. I nearly winced. It was so difficult to imagine people becoming rivals of Will's. Will was too gentle to gather such a group of haters, keen to see him fall...

"Captain Turner," I lied on the spot, "Visited Jack for a few days before returning to his business. We are not friends, and no more than acquintances I can assure you. I have no idea where he could be."

He ignored me. It was almost as if he hadn't heard at all. Moving onto another question. I expected there were hundreds. Again, when his back was turned I gave the room another sweeping glance. There was nothing that could aid me, nowhere that I could flee. Surely there was way? If it was Jack sat here, he would've found at least half a dozen escape routes, and he would've made a far better job of antagonizing Beckett. He had decades of irritating people behind him. "Your relationship to Will Turner?"

"Second-cousin twice removed," I drawled. I had heard Jack use that one, and found this situation nearly comical. Me quoting Jack while I sat in the room that I was to be killed in, surely. The world made sense once more. "I barely know him."

"No, I think you do. You're not exactly brilliant at covering your tracks, are you, Ms Swann? I think you were a lot closer to Captain Turner. Possibly too close. And this, right now, your laughable defiance that you're nothing to with one another, is a half-hearted attempt to spare him. Do stop the display of devotion for the young Captain. You're probably among the flanks of women he has cast a spell over. Do not labour under the ill-advised illusion that you truly meant something to the boy. Naive hearts are always broken easily. And you're nothing but a dishonoured whore for believing that he swore himself to you entirely."

And I knew he was provoking me, seeking the desired reaction. I didn't have time to process anything; my hand had curled into a fist and slammed into his face hopefully with the same amount of force he used on mine. I gripped onto his shoulder and raised my knee, hearing his grunt of pain as it made contact with that area, which I had much practise of inflicting harm upon. I ran. I ran and retrieved Jack's sword, Mr Gibb's pistol and the compass. I looked over to the locked and bolted doors, realizing that I was still trapped...

Before my eyes fell over the recently-vacanted window. Beckett had keeled over in pain, but anticipated my next move and ran into the windows, and it became a race. I closed the distance first, throwing open the window and smashing it into his face. All I heard was his cursing, his moans of pain, and all I could see was scarlett, turning his whitened skin into an alarming shade of red. I hope I broke his nose. "That's for my arm," I shouted over my shoulder, jumping over the other side and thanking the heavens that his office was fortunately situated on the ground-floor of the three-storeyed building.

"And what is it that pulls you towards The Flying Dutchman?" Sao Feng asked. I was seated at the long table, drinking from a large mug of water. He smiled pleasantly at me, and his grew showed me no hint of menace. I was among allies now. My shoulders relaxed and I smiled graciously at his kind hospitality.

"I need to free somebody," I confessed, deciding that I could've keep my plan hidden. If it was deemed impossible to him, then I would ask to be dropped off at Tortuga. I would stragetize my next move then. But I was relieved to see him look over with what could only be admiration.

"Do you?" He seemed curious. I would be more than happy to tell him the story; trust was something one could seldom find in these seas, but I had a feeling that I could trust Sao Feng, and everybody else aboard The Empress. I would always be thankful for them agreeing to allow me to sail with them, after finding me on the beaches of Merilworth. "A happy coincidence. That too seems to be my intentions."

I nearly laughed from elation. "And who might that be? If you don't mind me asking." I felt considerably better now that we were both attempting to free prisoners aboard that damned ship. I had Sao Feng behind me, and his obliging crew for support aswell. I didn't feel defeated, resigned to the thought Will was to perish under the care of Davy Jones. I felt a rush of excitement, feeling that I was at last placed on the willing side. I had a steady chance of succeeding. I could be with Will - Maybe even tomorrow!

It was hard to hide my smiles. My cheekbones ached, still tender after Beckett's attack, but that didn't stop me. Not even when Sao Feng replied, very calmly, "The sea Goddess, Calypso."

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