Chapter 21

Authors note: I am so sorry that I haven't updated in so long. We've had standardized tests in school: the HSPA. That and studying for the SAT's so, unfortunately, while I've planned out what's going to happen, I haven't been able to type it up.

Authors note 2: But Secret Window comes out in only 7 days now. Written by Stephen King, the movie is based on that novella and stars Johnny Depp as Mort Rainey, a writer who wrote a story 'Secret Window' a while ago. Now he's working on another story but he too suffers from writers block and you know how it goes. Trying anything and everything to just GET A NEW IDEA! Lol.

Escape was in progress, the kegs were infiltrated with her potion and she made sure it worked. She put a little more than regular dosage to make sure that it would be strong enough to take down a whole crew of men. She would have killed them all, but killing a whole crew belonging to the East India Company might get them in more trouble than it would be worth.

Jack and Eaylin kept close to the sides of the ship. Staying away from the rail they did everything they could to stay out of sight. Jack wanted more than anything to have a chance meeting with Raynard, but from the look of the men's bodies strewn around the deck it wasn't likely.

Jack wondered why Ealin hadn't made her escape before if she had the capability to debilititate the men as she had. He supposed her safety was part of it, but it seemed suspicious to him.

Every step he took was an effort. It took a lot of his willpower just to stay upright and not pass out on the deck. Balance wasn't hard to establish, the ship worked with him rather than against him, but his muscles felt so weak he wasn't sure how much further he could go.

Eaylin looked back every now and then to see how progress was going. They had all the time in the world now, the crew would be asleep for the next twelve hours, but Jack didn't look as if he would make it past one. He was wavering and holding onto the rail as if his life depended on it. There was a bright glare to his eyes that reassured her. As long as he kept his determination they had a chance.

The bow of the ship was only a few steps away, the gangplank lowered onto the fresh clean shore of the Caribbean. She wasn't quite sure where they were docked, but anywhere was better than being locked inside the kitchen until mealtimes, and she was sure that Jack much preferred this to the cell.

"You know-"Jack grabbed one of the men's swords, "we might have trouble after all."

"Wha-?" she turned and Jack darted in to grab her in case she fainted. Due to her paling complexion it was definitely a worry.

"I knew that you would try something like this. After your last trick I wondered whether or not you'd try to help the pirate. Turns out that you have and now it'll be the end of you both," Raynard smiled callously. The last time Eaylin had tried to escape they'd had a near brush with the Navy.

That had been at Port Royale and the Commodore there, accompanied by a younger lieutenant wanted to check the hold of his ship for pilfered goods. Thanks to the quick thinking of his crew none of it was found, but the girl had proven more trouble than she was worth.

Now on the banks of Tortuga there was no chance of meeting a military man and definitely no chance for them to hide. Eaylin had been a choice catch. Only the years of defiance and menial labor she'd performed marred her slim figure and beauty. Raynard, at the time, had a woman and she wouldn't have tolerated another woman around.

It wasn't like him to go by a woman's decision, but when that woman was one of the most talented whores around, he wasn't about to argue. Now she was gone and that left him with no source of amusement. Eaylin would have sufficed, but now it was unfortunate but she was to go as well.

It was disappointing how fast they'd lost his interest, but nothing seemed to hold his attention anymore. They always seemed to die off early leaving him with no replacements and a long period of time to contend with. Now there would be a sword fight with an injured pirate, not much sport there, either.

"How does it feel now?" Raynard leered, "knowing this will result in death? It's failure either way, Sparrow."

"Yes, but as you so clearly put it, I'll die a pirate," he pushed Eaylin toward the safety of the inner rail and assumed a familiar fighting stance. Adrenaline gave him the energy to unsheathe his dagger and wield the sword in his left hand. The main task now was to get Eaylin to safety and off the ship. With Raynard distracted she would have easy escape.

"And you thought you could escape my notice with a simple sleeping potion." Raynard sneered, his sword flashed in the light.

"Get out of here, now!" Jack turned his head toward her in time to see her run to the gangplank. The fight would commence, Raynard took the opportunity to attack for first blood.

Steel met steel, the reverberation skittered up Jack's arm and threatened his hold on the sword.

"Ready to die," Raynard put all his strength behind the blows to try and force Jack to the ground.

"Are you?" Jack retreated a few steps to put some space between them. Just as he'd planned Raynard followed and his plan was set into motion. Jack subtly maneuvered his opponent away from the gangplank.

He ignored the bite of fire as Raynard's sword cut into his skin again and again, it didn't matter now. There would be plenty of time to heal once he could get away.

Raynard knew victory was almost his, he could smell the desperation emanating from Jack and knew the pirate would get what he deserved at last. One sword thrust and he almost got Jack's eye. Had it not been for Jack's instincts and years of working on rigging he would have been blinded by that last swing.

"You missed," Jack panted using Raynard's balance against him. He threw his dagger as Raynard stumbled backwards. Raynard had fallen against one of the ship's pillars. Jacks dagger embedded itself in his shoulder and into the wood.

Raynard cried out in both pain and blood-lust, the dagger sliced through skin and one of his bones. Jack wiped perspiration from his forehead smiling grimly. He knew the dagger wouldn't be easily dislodged.

"But I didn't," Jack blinked blood out of his eyes, "ta."

Leaving Raynard behind cursing his name, Jack nearly fell down the gangplank in his haste to escape. He could feel every new injury they throbbed in time to his heartbeat. Jack knew they weren't near Port Royale, the Navy wouldn't allow the people to lay around drunk. Whores peddled their wares openly, he could hear men dying, singing, partaking in pleasure. No, this wasn't Port Royale.

"Eaylin," he called, "where are you!?"

Only the ocean's waves crashing together answered him. He took a deep breath of the salt scented breeze and hung his head in resignation. She was safe somewhere and he could find her when the tides changed again. A burst of wind touched his back and forced him to move on from there.

He broke into a run hoping that the little bit of adrenaline would last him long enough to find safe harbor at least for the night. He wandered around the streets matching stare for stare with murderers, avoiding the gazes of harlots that lined the streets with ease. He managed to keep a somewhat steady pace and knowledge of his relative location so he wouldn't end up walking in circles.

There was a pub, it was concealed from the street and had a corner that protected it even more. Jack had stayed off the streets using the winding paths behind buildings. He stuck to the shadows easily falling back into the skills he'd needed as a pick-pocket.

"I told you I don't know who that is," Jack heard a woman say. There were traces of fear in her voice and he halted at the corner to catch his breath.

"'m not b'lieving you, girl." Jack's head came up as if he caught sight of his prey again. Snarling low in his throat he wondered how Raynard had gotten free. How long had he been walking? It seemed like hours, but as all things do, it could have been just a few minutes. Blast and damn! He should have killed him right off.

"Let me go," he heard a stinging slap, a grunt of pain, and then he heard the woman take a sharp intake of breath.

"Once more. Do y'know of a man named Jack Sparrow? T'ink caref'lly 'fore 's your life forfeit." Raynard's shoulder throbbed with the fire's of hell and this wench seemed as if she'd rather take a piece out of him than be meek and smart as she should be. He raised his fist to teach her a lesson when. . .

"Now that's not very nice," Jack made his voice sound strong as he leaned against the pub's wall. The woman who had hit Raynard was very pretty. She was endowed with a slim waist, long legs, dark lashes shielding dark brown eyes that spit fire at Raynard. A woman with spirit, Jack found himself grinning though he knew not why.

"You," Raynard growled turning the sword to level at Jack's chest. Jack noticed blood flowing freely from the shoulder wound. Somehow he'd managed to pull the dagger out cleanly so that most of the muscle would heal properly. . . if he were given the chance to live.

"Me," Jack replied unsheathing his own sword. "Now let the lass free and finish what you started."

"You're the one who ran away," Raynard sniped callously.

"I'm back aren't I?" Jack's eyes darkened as he faced his opponent, "to the death this time."

"To the death," Raynard smiled evilly. Sparrow was in for a nasty surprise should his flesh meet with the blade of this sword. No mistakes this time.

Jack took a deep breath and gathered his strength. It was too soon for another all-out, knock-down fight, but he didn't seem to have any other choice. Raynard was a threat that needed to be dealt with. Jack would rather face him now, alone, than with the East India crew at his back.

Fight or die, there was nowhere to run, nothing else to do. Jack could taste the hatred and rage as if it they were tangible things. It was time to end this once and for all.