Ch 11 Water of the Living
Jack gave a look of shock and fury before continuing.
"Jack! Wait… Jack!" cried Bill, but the old pirate would not slow down. "What's going on?"
The others only started to run when Jack could barely be seen in the distance. Cass used her years of running away from authorities to gain the advantage. Within minutes, she had nearly caught up to Jack.
"Jack!" she panted, "what's going on?"
"I'm going to get the Pearl back," he said.
"How? Jolly Rodgers is out on the sea! And I don't think we'd escape with our heads even if we do catch him!"
Jack didn't comment but began to slow down. Clearly, he was growing tired. Cass also slowed down and leaned against a tree. "What's going on?
It looked like he was about to say something, but obviously changed his mind. "You don't need to know. All you need to know is that I know what I know and you don't need to know. Savvy?"
She was still utterly confused, but had no time to demand more answers.
"Jack, the fountain won't go anywhere!" said Bill.
"If it is even there, said Bootstrap, glancing at Pintel and Ragetti.
"We just need to get… there!" pointed Jack and he continued to walk.
The hours passed slowly, but there was almost no sign of a fountain. Cass began to get tired. Bill was getting irritable. Pintel and Ragetti were both growing nervous. Jack continued walking, determined to find something.
Finally, Bootstrap spoke up. "We're not gona find anything.
Jack turned around and walked backwards. "It's here. And we'll find it! Gentlemen… and lady… this is the day you will ALWAYS remember as…" he never saw the cliff.
"JACK!" everyone called in unison as they rushed to the edge. There was a pool below, and the only sign of Jack was a bunch of ripples in the water.
"What happened? Where is he?" asked Cass, who was still in shock over the sudden disappearance.
"He… CASS!" cried Bill.
Cass felt herself slipping over the edge and suddenly in free fall. She didn't even have time to scream before she hit the water.
It was cold, but definitely cleaner than most water. She opened her eyes and could see perfectly. She was near the surface and the bottom of the pool was sloping upward. Cass kicked and surfaced. After taking a deep breath, she swam to the shore.
"Jack? You okay?" asked Cass.
Jack turned over, and Cass' jaw dropped. His hair was still in groups of messy dreadlocks, but there was no longer even a trace of gray. His wrinkles had smoothed and there was no longer a horrendous "P" branded on his arm.
"Jack?" she asked. He looked not much older than 16. The more Cass looked at him, the more she realized how… handsome he really was now.
"Ja… What happened?" asked Bootstrap.
Jack gave a mischievous grin. His voice was even different. It sounded younger and more alive. "The Fountain of Youth? I think we found it."
Each of the man was extremely excited. Pintel and Ragetti were both in the water practically a second later. Bill and Bootstrap stayed on land. Bill was still young and Bootstrap said he didn't care. "I have lived on this Earth long enough. After serving on Jones' ship, I am ready to go whenever the Lord takes me."
But Cass was confused. Jack kept describing the transformation and how he could feel himself changing. Cass didn't feel anything. Her confusion only increased as Pintel and Ragetti ran out of the water, looking like they had shed 60 years each.
"What about me?" she asked. But the voiced of the men drowned her out. "I don't feel any different!" she said, this time louder.
Jack looked at Cass and shrugged. It was very strange to watch him. His movements were exactly the same, but somehow looked strange in a younger body. "It does not matter. I am now ready to go after the Pearl!"
The rest followed him, wondering what crazy stunt the pirate was going to try next.
Jack has a plan! Crap. So… is this plan actually going to work??? Gasp! Please review! Reviews = motivation to write and finish this story! It also lets me know that ya'll still like this!
