Chapter Two
"Well, I don't know...it just seemed unquestionable that you were a man."
Jack was not very happy. She just wanted to get her hat and leave, but something about this annoying boy was familiar…
"You look vaguely familiar," she said. "Have I threatened you before?"
"I've made a point of avoiding familiarity with pirates."
"Of course you have. Must have mistaken you for someone else." She grabbed her hat in one swift move. "Now, if you're done insulting the fact that I am a woman, I will take my leave."
Quicker than she would have expected, he had his sword out and pointed at her in an all-too-familiar threatening manner.
Jack scoffed. "You really think this wise, boy? Crossing blades with a pirate?"
"You threatened Miss Swann."
She feigned a wounded look. "Only a little."
The boy swung at her and they briefly exchanged blows, before Jack took a step back.
"You know what you're doing, I'll give you that. Excellent form...but how's your footwork, eh? I step here…" Jack crossed her foot, moving in a circle. "Very good!" she praised when he responded in kind. They once again exchanged blows, before Jack had her back to the door. "Nicely done, but I do need to be on my way. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
As she turned to reach for the door, a soft whoosh made her flinch just in time to avoid a sword that flew by her ear and buried itself soundly in the wood, effectively locking her in.
Well, that was unexpected.
Jack whirled around, very angry that he had thwarted her escape. "Neat little trick you've got there, but once again you are between me and my way out...and now you are without a weapon."
Without missing a beat, he simply picked up another sword. Her old one, in fact.
Jack cursed as he swung at her, and she responded with an equally vicious blow.
Somehow they ended up on a moving conveyor belt, though if you asked Jack how she wouldn't be able to say. Dodging swords as they moved past, she yelled: "Who makes all of these?!"
"I do! And I practice with them at least three hours every day!" snorted. "You need to find yourself a girl, love."
Jack snorted. "You need to find yourself a girl, love."
His eyes hardened, and Jack knew she had found a...touchy subject. She grinned. "Or, maybe the reason you practice three hours a day is because you've found one, but can't get to her?"
"No." he hissed, as he parried her strike. "The reason I practice three hours every day is so when I find a pirate, I can kill it!" And with that, he attacked her with renewed ferocity.
As they fought their way around the shop and neared the bellows, Jack used her weight to spray hot coals and sparks into the boy's face. As he recoiled, Jack whipped out her pistol.
He looked up in disbelief. "You cheated!"
She shrugged. "Pirate, love."
Now, however, she had another problem. The boy stood between her and the door.
"Move." she commanded, gesturing with the pistol.
He started back at her resolutely, crossing his arms. "No."
Jack's temper began to get the better of her. "This shot is not meant for you, and I will be very, very angry if you make me waste it."
The boy looked into her eyes and shivered at the unexpected change he saw there. Gone was the strange woman who had praised his swordsmanship and bantered almost playfully with him. In her place stood a crazed pirate, and he was stunned by the amount of pain and brokenness he saw in her eyes. Someone had hurt her very badly, and he felt a brief stab of pity.
Then she cocked her pistol.
But before Jack could say more, a sharp pain on the back of her head caused her vision to go black.
When Jack finally came to, she found chaos had unleashed itself around her. Stuck in what was obviously a jail cell, she could only listen to the helpless screams coming from the town below, and cannon fire exploding against buildings. Speaking of which…
"I know those guns!"
Jack rushed to the window and grinned wickedly at the sight which greeted her. There, looking positively ghostly in the moonlight, was a ship. Her ship.
"It's The Black Pearl." she breathed, clutching the bars like her life depended on it.
From across the jail, a voice shaking with fear answered her. "The Pearl? I've 'eard stories about 'er...she's been preyin' upon ships and settlements for nigh ten years...I 'eard she never leaves any survivors…"
Jack turned, the wicked grin still etched upon her face. "No survivors hmm? Then where do the stories come from?"
The man recoiled in fear.
Suddenly, an explosion rocked the jail, and a stream of prisoners rushed past her cell. She was still locked in, though she pounded the bars for all she was worth.
"My sympathies, ma'am. You 'avent an ounce of luck." the remaining prisoner said, before disappearing into the night.
Jack let out a frustrated screech, before sinking back against the wall of her cell. So close. Her Pearl…right outside the window. She'd been searching a long time, following every vague lead she could, and now it had landed right in her lap and she was locked up.
Jack really needed some rum.
As she was contemplating her current predicament, footsteps pounded in the stairwell.
"What?! This ain't the armory!"
Jack would know that voice anywhere.
She slowly sat up.
"Well, looky what we have 'ere. A little Sparrow, trapped in a cage." Koehler drawled cruelly. Twigg stood next to him, sword drawn.
As they neared her cell, Jack resolutely stood her ground and glared.
"Last time I saw you, you was standin' on a God-forsaken island, shrinkin' inta the distance. I'd 'eard you'd got off, but I didn't believe it." Twigg sneered.
"Maybe she sprouted little wings and flew away?"
Both the pirates laughed heartily at that. "Well, it seems 'er fortunes 'aven't improved much."
Jack had had enough. She stepped right up to the bars and allowed the anger to rush through her veins.
"Worry about your own fortunes, mates," she said darkly. "The lowest circles of Hell are reserved for betrayers and mutineers."
At this, Koehler's hand snapped forward and wrapped around her throat, hard enough to bruise. She panicked, unable to stop the flood of memories as she clawed at his skin.
Hot breath on her neck
Hands tearing at her clothes
Pain
She was pulled from the dark corner of her mind as she realized that...Koehler had no skin. Where the moonlight shone on his arm was pure bone, with rotting rags hanging in an invisible breeze. Interesting.
"So the stories are true...you really are cursed." She said softly.
Koehler leaned in. "You know nothing of hell."
The night passed slowly for Jack. She watched as her Pearl sailed away, and the town grew quiet. Her thoughts echoed around her head, and she eventually fell into a fitful sleep.
"Do we have an accord?"
Jack hesitated, but she didn't have a choice. She had to get off this island, and if she didn't accept they would probably just shoot her anyway. Hesitantly, she stuck out her hand and the man grabbed it tightly, giving it a firm shake.
"Men, escort this fine lady to our ship."
That was the last time she set foot on land for a very, very long time.
Jack woke with a start, not remembering falling asleep.
That seems to happen to me more often than I'd like, she thought grumpily.
Pulling out one of the many hairpins she had fashioned into a lock pick, Jack decided it was high time she left Port Royal, for good. Setting to work on the door, it wasn't long until she once again heard footsteps. She quickly hid her pins and lay back on the floor nonchalantly.
To her great surprise, in stormed the boy from yesterday whom she had dueled.
Jack had decided that she had won that fight, though she had been captured. She dueled better than he did, so that made her the winner.
He walked right up to her cell. "Are you familiar with that ship? The Black Pearl?" he demanded.
Well, now. "For a man who goes out of his way to avoid familiarity with pirates, I'm curious as to why you're inquiring about that ship."
He ignored her. "Are you familiar with it or not?"
"I suppose I am."
"Then you know where it makes berth?"
Jack sat up. "Well, mate, surely you've heard the stories. The infamous Black Pearl sails from the dreaded Isla de Muerta...an island that cannot be found, except by those who already know where it is."
She only felt a little smug at the crestfallen look on his face. "The ship is real, so it must make port at a real place. Where is it?"
Jack thought for a moment. "Why ask me?"
"Because you're a pirate."
"Fair enough. But why should I help you?"
He hesitated. "They took Miss Swann."
At this, Jack stood up excitedly. "Ah! So it is that you've found a girl!"
The boy scowled.
Jack examined her nails. "Well I'm afraid if you're intending to brave all and hasten to rescue your bonnie lass, you'll have to go about it alone. I see no profit in it for me."
The boy looked at her for a moment. "I can get you out of here."
"How? The keys have run off."
He stepped back and looked around. "I helped build these cells. Those are half-pin barrel hinges-" at this point, the boy had hefted up one of the benches along the outside of the cell. "-and with the proper leverage, they can be lifted free."
Jack was mildly impressed, but she wasn't going to tell him that. "What's your name, boy?"
"Will. Will Turner."
Oh.
Still, Jack didn't want to believe what she already knew to be true.
"Named after your father I suppose? Short for William?"
He looked at her suspiciously. "Yes…"
Well, that settled it. "Well, Mr. Turner, I'll tell you what. I've changed me mind. You spring me from this cell, and on pain of death, I'll take you to The Black Pearl. Do we have an accord?"
Will narrowed his eyes at her, staring at the outstretched hand for a moment. "I suppose." he said, giving it a shake.
"Good! Now get me out of here."
As Will went to dislodge the cell door, Jack stopped him. "Oh, and one more thing."
"What's that?"
She flashed him a devilish grin. "I get to keep the sword."
Hey, guys! Sorry for the long update wait. I'm already well on my way into the next chapter, so that one will be up soon. Read and Review please :) It keeps me going, knowing I am writing for at least a few interested people.