Okay, so about the last chapter... It has never been my favorite. The beginning I like, but I just felt like it fell flat after that. From the reviews, I think some of you feel the same. More had to happen. And, in fact, I think it did. I just didn't write it because I was very tired when I was writing that chapter (I remember writing it and being sick and just wanting to get it done, which was a mistake and I didn't do it justice). So, I am going to give everyone a choice. I can rewrite the last chapter and write what SHOULD have been written this whole time and update it when it is done (option 1), OR I can leave it as is (option 2). This will not count as an update, so it will not have an update date for it. I will simply replace that chapter with the new version. I will leave a note on it saying it has been updated and on the next chapter (chapter thirteen) I will announce it has been changed. Chapter thirteen's release will not be affected.
If anyone has ideas or something they would like to see happen they can message me or leave a review with it in. I will look at them and consider each one. I am not promising they will all be used, but if it works, I'll put it in! I will also credit the people who's ideas I added in. Think of it as an interactive opportunity.
So, please leave a review or message me with what option you would like and if you choose option one and would like your idea to be considered, include that as well. Thank you and I look forward to seeing what you pick!
One more thing, as a side note. I do read each review, and I know some of you are worried about Elizabeth's story line and such. Just wait. That is all I will say. :)
Now I hope you enjoy this chapter and don't forget to include your review for this as well!
Chapter Twelve: Race to Shipwreck Cove
The darkness of night made for easy cover. The only thing he had to worry about was if someone spotted the small light from his lantern. Will was standing by the rail, strapping another body to a barrel. He pulled the rope tight and cut it free with his father's knife. He held it to the light, his promise running through his mind.
"You escaped the brig even quicker than I expected," Jack's voice said casually. Will looked up to see him relaxing above him. He put his knife up and pointed at him, watching him stand up. "William, do you notice anything?" Jack asked. Will narrowed his eyes. "Rather, do you notice something that's not there to be noticed?"
Will waited for a moment before he answered. "You haven't raised an alarm," he realized. Jack nodded and continued to make his way towards him.
"Odd, isn't it?" Jack asked. "Not as odd as this," he said gesturing to the body and barrel technique Will was using. "Come up with all this by your lonesome, did you?"
Will smiled at him. "I said to myself, 'think like Jack,'" he replied sarcastically. Jack wasn't impressed. He looked at the body and back to Will.
"And this what you arrived at?" he asked, offended. "Lead Beckett to Shipwreck Cove, so as to gain his trust, accomplish your own ends." He looked to Will. "It's like you don't know me at all."
Will put his knife away. Jack walked down to him again.
"And how does your dearly beloved feel about this plan?" Jack asked. Will didn't answer, which was answer enough. "Ah, so you've not seen fit to trust her with it," he deduced.
"I'm losing her, Jack," Will said looking away. "Every step I make to my father is a step away from Elizabeth."
"Mate, if you choose to lock your heart away, you'll lose her for certain," Jack told him. "If I might lend a machete to your intellectual thicket," he offered. "Avoid the problem all together. Let someone else dispatch Jones," he suggested.
Will frowned at the thought. "Who?" he wondered. Jack stood awkwardly to his side, smiling at him. Will raised his eyebrows. "You?"
"Death has a curious way of re-shuffling ones priorities," Jack said, going over to Will. "I slip aboard the Dutchman, find the heart, stab the beating thing, your father's free of his debt and you're free to be with your charming murderess."
"And how does your dearly beloved feel about this plan?" Will asked, throwing his words back in his face. Jack remained quiet. "She can't go with you, Jack," he told him. "Once every ten years is a long time, especially when she has such a determined suitor on her tail."
"He. Is not. Her suitor," Jack spat back. Will didn't back down.
"But without you there, what will she do? How can you be so sure nothing will happen to her?" he continued. Jack's hands were fists at his side. "Not to mention, you'd have to do the job," he added. "Or risk ending up like Jones," he said making a beard motion with his hands. Jack made a face at that.
"I don't have the face for tentacles," he said at the thought. "But immortality's got to count for something, eh?" Will rolled his eyes, he should have stuck with predictions involving Ella. "Oh!" Jack said remembering something. He pulled the compass from his belt and tossed it to Will.
"What's this for?" he asked him.
"Think like me, it'll come to you," he said before giving him a hard shove overboard with the barrel. "Give me regards to Davy Jones," he called out to him.
It was hours later that somebody came down to the brig. Ella looked up to see James standing outside the door. He pulled out a ring of keys and Ella stood up, standing with her crew. The door swung open and James waited outside.
"Come with me," he said. Ella didn't move and her crew stayed with her. James begged her with his eyes. "Quickly," he said to probe her.
"What are you doing?" she asked him
He looked her in the eyes. "Choosing a side," he told her strongly. She felt a smile on her lips, giving away her reaction before she could stop it. She motioned for her men to leave. As they exited she watched James. He had truly decided.
They ran out on deck and to the far corner. Her ship was waiting, the rope connecting it to the Dutchman being their escape. She looked to James as her men scrambled across to safety. James helped people get on as fast as they could. Ella waited for everyone to go before she turned to the rope.
James grabbed her arm before she could leave. "Do not go to Shipwreck Cove. Beckett knows of the meeting of the Brethren. I fear there may be a traitor among them," he warned her. Ella nodded but shook him off her.
"Too late, but thank you," she said coolly.
James sighed. "Ella, I swear," he spoke to her. "I had nothing to do with the Governor's death," he said. Ella glared at him, he stepped back. "But that does not absolve me from my other sins," he recognized. He looked at her with sorrow. She saw its genuineness.
"Come with us," she said before she thought about it. He looked at her, shocked she had said it. "Come with us, please," she repeated.
James was about to answer but somebody had spotted them. "Who goes there?" They looked up to see it was Bootstrap. Ella looked to James.
"Go, I will follow," he said. Ella narrowed her eyes at him.
"You're lying."
He put a hand to her cheek, eyes soft. "Our destines have been intertwined, but never joined." He unsheathed his sword. "Give my best to Elizabeth," he said. "Go!" he yelled when she stayed glued to the spot. She kissed his cheek softly.
"You're a good man," she whispered to him and stepped up onto the rail to make her way onto the rope. She pulled herself along on it, looking back at James every now and then. He was poised, ready to defend them, ready to fight.
"All hands! Prisoners escaping!" Bootstrap called out, alerting everyone. People arrived in record time. James slashed the rope, causing Ella to plummet down into the icy sea. He held his sword high.
"Get back to your posts, men," he ordered. The crew didn't listen. Bootstrap went closer to him. "Now," James ordered again.
Ella didn't even see how it happened, one minute he was fine, the next he was slumping on the rail, with Bootstrap over him. Ella screamed out as she made out Jones standing by him. A sword was plunged through the captain, and then James stilled.
"James!" Ella screamed as a wave lifted her up. As the wave rode out the ship was blocked from site. She struggled to see it, and when it came in view, no one was on it. They'd all left, they'd left him alone, dead and alone. "No!" she screamed in frustration and grief.
She forced herself to swim to the ship. Crying over James would do nothing. The only thing she could do for him now was to avenge him. She pulled the coat offered to her over her shoulder.
"Captain?" one of the men prompted her. She walked to the helm and they followed.
"Cast off, separate all connecting lines. Bring her around, hard to port," she called out. The men scrambled around the deck as Ella continued to walk through them. Her face hardened at the sight of the Dutchman shrinking in the distance.
