Chapter 25

Fear Death

I could hear the thuds, explosions, and hollers stampeding above me. The fighting has gone for endless time, as I remained locked away where that same time seems frozen. With desperation, I tried to think of a way out but nothing came. Pintel had placed the key on a shelf across the room from the cell. With my arm extended, it only came about a third of the way to that key. I had no way of reaching it. I looked around my cell for something to use but there remained nothing, nothing but me.

I still do not understand why Barbossa did this, to punish me for everything I have done to him? Against Beckett, there was only slim chance of survival anyway. He could at least let me die fighting with everybody else, keeping my own dignity.

As I sunk down against the wall my dress Beckett had me wear puffed out, giving me an idea. It would appear I do have something I to reach the key with after all. I tore off the gown, then shredding it into long pieces to tie together. I noticed the back of my dress was stained in blood. My wounds must have reopened again. With all the stress of trying to escape, I did not even notice the pain from my lashing anymore.

Now in only my ivory under dress, I held on to the bar with one hand, the other containing the rope I tied together from the mutilated dress. I flung the fabric at the key, only knocking it to the ground. I let out a frustrated huff and tried again, this time only managing to move the key barely half a step in my direction. This would take a lifetime. Once I finally get out of this prison, it is likely everyone would be dead, including Jack, and my father.

I then heard footsteps, tiny lightweight thuds. A moment later, Jack the monkey appeared at the end of the steps.

"Jack!" I desperately snapped my fingers to motion him, and then pointed at the floor across from me. "Get the key!"

The little monkey just gawked at me, sucking his thumb.

"Come on, Jack, I have to get out of here," I pleaded. "Please. Come on, you don't think I am secretly planning a betrayal too, don't you?"

I must be growing delusional. I am talking to a monkey as though it could understand me.

Apparently little Jack was able to pick up on some of what I was saying. He hobbled on over and picked up the key with his tiny hands.

"That's good, Jack!" I reached out my hand through the bars. "Now, bring it too me!"

He crawled over in my direction with caution, but the monkey did hand me the key and then scampered back up the steps.

"Thank you, Jack!" Without further hesitation, I plunged the key through the lock and pushed though the door. It was much easier to run without that heavy dress. The only things weakening me now were my open wounds.

I dashed up the steps past Pintel and Ragetti, who were watching something. I held my hand against the wall behind them and tilted my head to see what they saw. I could barely hear my father's words, 'you may now kiss…' and spotted Will and Elizabeth kiss right in the middle of the battlefield. Barbossa must have just married them.

"How romantic," I commented just behind Ragetti.

"It sure is, isn't it," Ragetti agreed in a dreamy sigh.

Pintel snapped out of his daze and whirled his head around. "Hey, you are not supposed to be here!"

"Oops, my bad." I quickly bent down and pulled out Ragetti's sword. "Thanks!"

Before they could react, I jumped up on deck, ready for battle. I did not spot any British soldiers, just Jones's crew. I began to wonder if I missed something from being down there.

Not wasting too much time on thought, I slashed down as many sea creatures as I could. I felt by body weakening more and more by the moment. Unsure of how much longer I had before I would completely collapse, I fought with determination, putting in all my strength like never before. As I slew down more opponents, I moved closer and closer to the front edge of the deck, where my father would be. I did not feel concern of what would happen if he saw me. In the middle of a heated battle, there would be no chance of him sending me back to the cell.

As I whirled my head around, I saw Will swing off to the Dutchman. Still no sign of Jack, but I assumed he must have escaped Beckett's by now. I mean, after all, this is Jack Sparrow. I don't think anyone has ever held him captive for long.

I spot Barbossa at the very front of deck, somehow able to battle and keep control of the wheel. I tried to move more to the side of the ship to keep in his blind spot, unable to predict how he would react upon seeing me. I wish he would trust me, now more than ever. I do not know why it suddenly became so important to me. Maybe I actually feel guilty.

I kept to my plan to fight out of my father's view, until…

It all happened before a raindrop could even hit the ground. At first, I watched Barbossa decapitate Morey, but just as his success, my eyes reflected Maccas, with his shark head, coming behind my father with an ax shaped weapon. With no time to even think, I lunged in that very direction. With all the strength I had, I got between them, using my sword to block Maccas's blow and then slew him down.

"Aurora!" Barbossa bellowed, pulling me to the side of the ship. "What are you doing here?"

I jerked away in disbelief. "Is that the thanks I get for saving your life? Do you still believe I plan to betray you?"

"I never thought that!" he raged, taking his frustration out on the next sea creature that attacked.

"Oh really?" I stabbed someone attacking me from behind. "Then explain to me your reason for locking me up just now!"

"To keep you from doing something foolish like this!" Barbossa threw a knife through an attacker behind me, and then let out a breath and added, "Turner told me what happened with Beckett and Jones. You are in no condition for battle!"

"I am in no condition to fight, you say?" With a smirk, I pointed my sword towards Maccas's slain body. "I would say otherwise."

He grabbed my arm and looked down at my back, likely able to see the blood seeping through my under dress. "And how much longer will that be lasting for you, my dear?"

"Long enough," I muttered beginning to feel even weaker, but still turned away to continue to fight.

Was my father being truly sincere? Did he only lock me away for protection? I wanted to believe so, though it made the guilt come across as even stronger.

Then Angler came at me with his durable shark tooth sword. "Davy Jones will have you, Aurora."

"Not this time." I held my own weapon against his, but my sword snapped in half at the very moment of contact. The sea monster then shoved me against the rail of the ship, prepared to strike me down. Angler thought he was quick, but Barbossa was quicker, pushing me out of the way and using his own weapon to block Angler's. Just for that moment, my father had the advantage but it did not last as Jones's monster crewmate then knocked him off his feet, his weapon falling over the rail, lost in the sea. At that moment, still on the ground, I thought it would be over for both my father and me. Angler would come after me next and I could feel I had used most of my remaining strength. Whether I was slain at this moment or left to wither away on the side, I did not have much longer.

But, my father did not have to share the same fate. As I watched Angler raise his sword, I knew there was still something I could do. Without wasting another moment to think on this, I forced my body up, grabbing the knife from the slain creature's chest and darted right in front of Angler, plunging the knife through his neck, but not before his own weapon ran through my flesh.

I released the knife, both hands falling to my stomach, covering the wound as I began to fall to the ground.

"Aurora!" Father cradled my body, sinking to the ground with me. "Stay with me, now."

"I can't…" I began as my skin began to feel a sudden discomforting chill. "I am sorry for…"

"No!" My father shook his head in fury. "I won't hear no apologies now. I need you to stay with me! You are strong, Aurora. I know you can make it."

"It is too late," I muttered as my eyes fell to a familiar figure approaching us.

Father turned his head and bellowed, his voice growing more choked, "No, no, Davy Jones! You cannot have her, not this time!"

"It's okay." I weakly grabbed my father's arm. "I am ready."

Davy Jones knelt down beside me, his eyes meeting my own. "Do you fear death, Aurora?"

I closed my eyes, taking in one final breath, and nodded.