Okay, final chapter…cliché I know…I tried, I really did! For your sake I hope you read the warning…

Tara blocked Zeke's attack yet again, but this time there came a scream from behind her followed by a splintering of wood. She glanced back to see the mast cracked in two by a flying cannonball. That lack in vigilance cost her dearly. Suddenly, she felt an agonising pain tear through her body, looking back at Zeke, who was watching her impassively, she realised why. The sword was no longer in his hand. She slowly looked down. It was there, sticking out of her abdomen at an awkward angle. Her own cutlass slid from her hand as she stared down at the sword in shock, her hands instinctively going to the wound. Seconds later, they were covered in blood.

xXx

Jack forced Jin back and glanced at the mast anxiously. They may still be able to make it back to land as long as it sustained no further damage. He looked around at the fighting figures for a split second and froze. Horror flooded his senses as he gaped at the long, thick sword pierced through his daughter's body.

He forgot about Jin and started towards her, but his arms were pulled back from behind, and he could go no further.

'Watch,' hissed Jin's voice in his ear, 'watch her die. Watch as she is stolen away…as your world is ripped to shreds.'

xXx

Tara felt herself start going into shock, she looked back up at Zeke, who could only turn away in disgust. Then, with a final burst of energy, she tore the sword from her gut and stabbed it through Zeke's chest. He looked around at her his eyes wide and for a moment time stood still, then, slowly, he fell to the deck, dead. Tara staggered back, every movement causing an unbearable pain. She fell back…

xXx

Will elbowed his assailant in the face causing him to go flying over the rails and into the water. Free, he surveyed the scene before him and his eyes landed on Jack. Held in place by Jin, Jack was seemingly trying to reach someone, or something, Will could not see.

Without further thought, Will started running, grabbing a pistol off a body on the deck as he did.

'Jack!' he yelled as he cocked it.

Jack tore his eyes momentarily away from Tara to see Will running, gun in hand. Almost immediately, he recalled his nerve and brought his cutlass down into Jin's foot. Jin bellowed an oath as Jack leapt away and Will fired. Jack didn't see if the bullet met it's target, he was already at Tara's side.

She was pale and trembling, lying in a dark pool of her own blood. Jack fell to his knees beside her, staring down with uncertainty.

'That was either really smart… or extremely stupid…' Tara gasped.

Jack grit his teeth and lifted her up, cradling her carefully in his arms. Will arrived, kneeling beside them, his heart in his throat.

'You're 'right, luv, you're fine,' Jack muttered, 'we'll get you fixed up, you'll be fine…'

Tara winced at a searing wave of pain. 'Ouch…' she muttered through gritted teeth, 'that hurt…'

Jack looked at Will desperately. 'I don't know what to do…' He trailed off.

Will stared at him helplessly and shook his head.

There was another splintering of wood and a moments silence, followed a shriek of 'She's going down!' Thus, the Black Pearl, the last real pirate threat in the Caribbean, began to sink rapidly.

Will looked at Jack in horror, but the Captain was carefully wrapping Tara in his coat.

Tara found that she could no longer fight back tears of pain.

xXx

'Mr. Turner are you sure we are on the right course?' asked Norrington, half-hoping the answer was "no".

Bill glanced at him and nodded, then looked back over the water as James stalked away.

'Mrs. Turner,' he muttered as he crossed her path. Liz watched him leave and joined Bill at the railing.

'Is he always so friendly?' Bill asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Liz made no answer.

'Elizabeth?' Bill said curiously. 'What is it?'

Liz didn't look up from the water. 'I'm not… There's something…wrong…'

xXx

The decks of the Black Pearl were mayhem. Panic fuelled the desperate attempts to jump ship and in the centre of it all, the Captain tried in vain to ease his daughter's suffering.

Will watched Jack hug Tara to his chest in the surreal dream that was reality. Looking to the stern suddenly, Will saw that the deck had tilted and the water had already reached the helm. The crew were standing at the rails, staring into the dark water or at the retreating vessel that had brought about their demise, unable to break the confinement. Will looked back at Jack and was shocked to hear Tara say his name.

'Will…'

He stared at her.

'Will…listen…' she choked, tears running down her face, 'take care…of the baby…'

Will cocked his head in confusion but she didn't elaborate, looking instead, at Jack.

'Dad…'she winced, 'I'm sorry daddy…'

Will held his breath as she slipped away.

Jack looked down at her in horror. 'Baby, no…no, no, no… please, please, no…'

To be continued…

After the exams