"Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb." Psalm 37: 1,2
"Noo..." Kate panted heavily. "We can't let them kill her!" She called to the guys.
"Jack, do something!" Will begged helplessly, roughly shaking Jack's arm like a wet bed sheet.
"If you'd take it easy and not attempt so hard to wrack me brains out, maybe I could think!" Jack huffed back at Will.
"We have to save Elizabeth, Jack!" Will reminded him.
"I know that." Jack groaned. "But as to how, that is the question of the day."
"Think, man!" Will hollered frantically.
"Shut up, so I can think!" Jack snarled vehemently.
"Stop it, both of you!" Kate shouted at them. "Is there any way out of here?"
"Nope. We're trapped here like caged tigers." Jack sighed.
"But you're Captain Jack Sparrow!" Will and Kate both cried.
"Alas, me children. That doesn't mean I can do anything." Jack retorted.
"No, but it means you can think of something! You always have a plan!" Kate said firmly.
"She's right, Jack." Will agreed, finally able to breathe for a moment. "You always have a plan." Jack stood there, with his chin on his hand, trying to think quickly. He looked at Kate.
"Ahh. How good you be at crying on the spur of the moment, luv?" He asked.
"What?" She creased her brows.
"Can you make a melodramatic scene in that theatrical, fancy, noisy, feminine way that pulls at all empty-headed idiot fellows' heartstrings?" Jack re-asked.
"I don't know." Kate gulped.
"You have to!" Will begged his friend. "We're doing this for Elizabeth."
"I'm not very good at lying, Will." Kate frowned. "You know I'm not."
"Well, start learning." Jack urged her.
Elizabeth was led off the boat to shore, still clad in irons. She observed her surroundings. She didn't recognize this land, and timing would not place them in England that quickly! But there was a port, and a bit of town nonetheless, similar to Port Royal and Saint Martin. And there were green coats everywhere, obviously Briggs' lackeys, and not actual British soldiers in the Royal Navy. "Where are we?" She asked.
"Ahh. This is an uncharted land, Miss Swann." Briggs announced grandly. "At least to the current royal government. But not on my chart. My maps are modern and illusive. We call this place the Isla de Pactum."
"How convenient for you." Elizabeth said gruffly. "Another trade route for your trafficking plots, no?"
"Indeed, you are clever, Miss Swann." Briggs licked his lips. "This land is so far out in the middle of the ocean, that even the navy hasn't discovered it yet! And the perfect place for your so richly deserved demise."
"Well, pardon me if I have not the guts to express my gratitude." Elizabeth gritted her teeth stubbornly.
"Take her away." Briggs shook his head. Though he admired Elizabeth's constant spunk, he could not wait to not hear it anymore. He'd never forgive her, Will, or Jack for what they did to his estate and himself at Plymouth.
"Sir! Sir!" One of the officers raced from the ship.
"What is it, Lieutenant?" Briggs asked.
"Sir, I'm afraid there is an ungodly ruckus and kerfuffle aboard in the brig."
"Is there now? Well, why don't you see to it that it is silenced?"
"Well, we tried, Sir. Corporal Leroy got a lovely shiner because of it."
"Never mind. I'll handle it." Briggs pushed his man away and marched to the ship.
"Unhand me, you bloody pirate!" Will screeched at the top of his lungs. He was digging his fingers into Jack's arms.
"You sniveling, yeasty, thievin', mistrustful Judas a sea snake!" Jack growled equally as hostile in Will's face. He had his hands around Will's throat.
"Let me out! I can't take it! I can't take it anymore!" Kate yelled. She wasn't fully acting. It was true. She wanted out of here! The three prisoners were hollering so loudly, that the officers raced into the brig.
"Shut up, you sorry lot!" One of them hissed, aiming his baronet at them. Jack and Will tussled on the floor, hurling names at each other. Jack looked ready to kill Will! His beady eyes were white with fury, and the way he bared his teeth made him look like a hungry animal! It almost actually frightened Kate how convincing his act was!
"Please, let me out!" Kate wailed. "It's bad enough to starve to death, knowing your time is up by the moment. But must I be extra tormented by such vulgar company? I'm afraid they're going mad! I can't stop them! Oh, please do something!" Kate cried to one of the guards. Yes, do something! Open this door, and rid me of these chains so we can get out of here!
"All right! All right!" Another guard shouted at the scuffling men. "Up, you traitorous fools. Stop acting like stupid puppies fighting over grub. On your feet, that's an order!" Will and Jack continued their hysterics. "Stop or I'll shoot!"
At that point Jack, snarling and glowering with a wild look in his eye, staggered then lunged at the guy, socking his eye as he did. The other men drew back in alarm. Kate stumbled and fell to the floor. Even she hadn't known Jack was going to do that! He IS only acting...isn't he? She began to worry.
Will tackled Jack. "Get the captain! Get the captain!" The guards yelled. "They're mad!" They opened fire at the two 'lunatics'. Thankfully, Will and Jack were both light on their feet and just dodged the wasted bullets. As they continued to 'fight', Briggs appeared. He looked sourly right at his sister. When they locked eyes, the hate in his face was so penetrating that she froze and shut up. Then he noticed the two men.
"Shut the bloody h- up, you d- b-'s!" Briggs yelled at them. They didn't listen, so he unlocked the cell door and stepped inside with his pistol. Will tackled him, Jack flicked his pistol away, and the two of them raced out of the cell, slamming the door shut, with Briggs in it!
"Thank ye for these, mate." Jack taunted him with a pair of keys, locking the door.
"You'll rot in hell, Jack Sparrow!" Briggs foamed. "I'll personally see to that."
"Right then. But afraid you'll have to catch me first, mate." Jack teased.
"Jack, the keys!" Will poked him. Jack handed them to him, Will unsealed Kate's door, grabbed her hand, and they ran up the stairs. Jack followed, waving to Briggs as he did.
Jack, Will, and Kate ducked and hid underneath a small horseless wagon loaded with gunpowder. With the keys, they unclasped the shackles from each other's sore wrists. A crowd was gathering at the town square. They couldn't see Elizabeth, but they knew that her demise was what was attracting the audience. "What'll we do, Jack?" Will asked anxiously.
"Like all good showmen, we create an irresistible diversion." Jack said casually.
"How?" Kate asked. Jack glanced back at her.
"You need to climb onto the wagon." He said simply.
"What?" Will and Kate both gasped. Jack rolled his eyes and shoved her out from under the vehicle. He grabbed her by her shoulders and threw onto the kegs of gunpowder. "Oow!" She huffed, landing most uncomfortably and undignified on the miniature barrels.
"Jack! Someone will see her! Are you mad?" Will growled.
"Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?" Jack groaned. "Get down low, luv. Very low. William, push." Kate curled into a fetal position as Will and Jack slowly pushed the wagon forward. With the citizens coming together to watch the newcomer get executed, no one paid the three escapees any mind. They reached a tunnel bridge adjoining two buildings. "All right then. Hop off now, luv." Jack told Kate as they halted. Kate groaned and had to crouch her way around till she got the foot of the wagon. Will helped her down.
"Now what?" Will asked.
"Katie, stay here. Wait for us." Jack told her.
"But, what if I get caught?" She asked.
"Then just send them your friendly regards." Jack said lightly. "The pirate way. Show 'em what good old Jack's learned ye." Kate gulped and hid behind a statue in the corner of the wall, where passersby in the street wouldn't notice her so much. Jack and Will continued pushing the wagon on ahead.
From a far view, Jack and Will could see Elizabeth on a high platform, being led by the guards. Her hands were still chained together. "Elizabeth..." Will breathed frantically."Jack, we have to stop them now!"
"My sentiments exactly." Jack said very calmly. "You find some widely popular, social place to dump this heap in a way that will attract attention." He started to leave.
"But...where are you going?" Will frowned.
"To save your distressing damsel in distress, of course." Jack shrugged.
Elizabeth was wriggling against her captors. She tried kicking them but only succeeded in tripping herself, at which the men laughed. As they brought her to the edge of the platform, she looked down and gasped. Beneath her, was a very large steel vault, with a long, glass window running down the middle. Rather than having doors open from the side of the structure, this box was opened from the top, and inside the miniature building was...water! Water at least eight feet high! Elizabeth let out a small shriek and tried to back up. "Oh, no you don't, wench." The men behind her chuckled, forcing her forward.
Jack was slipping through the crowd. Their attention was so fixated on the spectacle that they didn't even realize who he was. He finally found an open spot where he could get a good front view of the proceedings. He saw Elizabeth up there, looking very scared. He saw the large box, a watery coffin you could say, and he saw that no matter how much she struggled, it was useless. He glared at her killers. "They'll pay for this." Jack muttered under his breath. "No one lays a hand on Lizzie and goes unpunished!" Before he could rush out, Elizabeth was shoved in the air, and she fell into the box!
"Close the door!" One of the guards hollered to the man on the ground, who quickly closed the lid, trapping Elizabeth inside and sealing her fate. She struggled in the water, trying to slip her hands from her chains, and tried break the glass. But it didn't do any good. Jack ran in front of the crowd.
"Oui!" He waved his arms. "What's that?" He pointed to the west side of town. A loud explosion shook the square with a deafening roar. People screamed and raced in every direction. The guards grabbed their weapons and ran toward the disaster.
The statue trembled violently from the impact of the blast, and shattered at Kate's feet. She wagged her head, trying to regain her bearings. Even as the frenzied, frightened citizens ran this way and that without seeing her, she was fully exposed now. Shifting along the wall, she tried to find a new place to hide. She checked around the corner to make sure the coast was clear, and made a run for it. That's when something hard whacked her ankle and she fell to the ground. She turned over on her back to see what the heck had knocked her over. Then a heavy boot stepped down hard on her stomach and a sword blade tip was set an inch above her nose. She looked up to see the last person on earth she wanted to run into!
"Going somewhere?" Briggs smiled icily.
Oh no! Lord, help me! Kate panicked.
Jack was quickly crawling up the side of a stone wall close to the platform. He saw a cannon and scurried to it, and jerked it by a rope with all his might towards the execution stage. Will darted into the square and right to the box."Elizabeth!" His heart caught in this throat. Elizabeth's cheeks were full, trying to hold her breath, but she was running out. Will furiously pounded the glass with his fist, but it was at least a foot thick! "Elizabeth!" He cried helplessly. Her man-made prison was impenetrable. She was doomed. There was nothing he could do to save her! Will pressed his hands hard against the glass. I love you, I love you, I love you...He sadly mouthed to her as she kept her scared eyes on his. She bobbed her inflated cheeks up and down, trying to murmur to him the same phrase.
"William!" Jack called from overhead. "Tell her to move! Move away from the front!" Confused, but desperate to save the girl he loved, Will urgently beckoned her to move aside. She didn't protest but obeyed. "Stand back, William!" Jack told him. Will did not but looked up, just as Jack grabbed a rope, kicked a lever then swung himself high in the air around on a crane, which slung the cannon forward and then it dropped right below, smashing wickedly into the steel box, and splitting it apart!
The thrust planks, glass, and plates knocked Will to the ground, and some fell on top of him. The box was open! But only partially so. The glass was shattered, but the metal and wood was huddled together in a mess, and Elizabeth was underneath it, gasping desperately as the water slowly poured out. "Hurry, Jack! Get her out of there!" Will demanded fearfully, trying to toss the debris off of himself. Jack jumped into the rubble and grunting like an angered other bear, he was able to pry the broken pieces away. Will raced over.
"Lizzie," Jack spoke quietly, grabbing her from around the waist, "come on. Let's get you out of here, luv." He hoisted her up, away from the desecrated structure. Elizabeth's arm popped out. Will grabbed it.
"Come on!" Will cried. Elizabeth clambered safely into his arms, gasping terribly for air. Will clutched her to himself and carried her away from that horrid box. "I thought I lost you!" He could barely speak as he held her face tightly in his hands.
"No. I'm here, I'm here..." Elizabeth panted, clutching his neck for dear life. Will felt as if he couldn't hold her tightly enough, as if he thought she'd evaporate into dust in his arms. She sputtered and coughed on him but he didn't care. He buried his nose in her shoulder and kissed her all over the face as her lungs screamed for air.
"Oh, Elizabeth..." He wept.
"In civilized society, it's customary to thank a good Samaritan for his heroic deed." Jack teased the pair, though he was greatly relieved that Elizabeth was safe. "Elizabeth, are you all right, dear?"
"I'm...I'm all right..." Elizabeth nodded, still shaking and breathing rapidly.
"Get her somewhere safe, William." Jack instructed him.
"Right, Jack. Thank you! But, what about Kate?" Will asked.
"Not to worry, mate. I'll fetch her. Meet us under the bridge near the port docks." Jack said. Will nodded and holding Elizabeth tightly to himself, he slid his arms underneath her and carried her away from the main streets. Jack easily found the spot where they'd left Kate, only to find no Kate! "Bugger." He snarled. He tip-toed along, following her fresh tracks, until he stopped when he saw drag marks! "Bloody Briggs!" Jack hissed.
I couldn't see anything! Briggs had covered my head with a black hangman's hood. I pounded him with my fists as he carried me on the back of his shoulder to who knew where. I screeched but my voice was muffled. I heard a lock in a key turning, and a heavy door opened. I had no idea where we were entering and had a horrible sinking feeling that I could keep my sanity if I didn't find out! He finally set me down, pulled off my hood. It was dim in there, a stone room with a hard, wooden floor, and all kinds of weapons and tools on the wall! I guessed that we were underground somewhere. Panicking, I lunged away from him, hoping to reach the door, but he painfully clenched my arm and roughly jerked me back, facing him.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asked dangerously. I tried to fend him off, but he only strengthened his hold.
"Let me go!" I screeched at him.
"You know, this wasn't exactly the beautiful, gory end I was originally planning," he narrowed his eyes coldly, "but it's better than nothing." He pulled out a large, sharp knife! It glistened from the light in the room. I shuddered. "I'm going to see you die." He hissed quietly with glee, pushing me toward the wall. "First, I'll plunge this into your sorry flesh, then give you a fitting eulogy for the miserable she devil you are." Hot tears filled my eyes.
"Please..." I squeaked, much weaker than I wanted to! He twisted my wrist, kicked my stomach, then flung me down to the floor. Before I could regain my momentum, he pounced on top of me, pinning me down! My heart thudded crazily in my ears and fear ran through my veins like cold water!
He had me straddled on my back to the floor and I didn't have the strength to knock him off. He pinned down my right arm so that I could barely move, and sharply grabbed a fistful of my hair with his other hand, which also had the knife. "You! You filthy, ungrateful little wench!" He hissed down in my face. "I was sickened when Mother had you. You were nothing to me. Nothing then, nothing now!" I could not stop sobbing at his cruel words. They felt like knives slashing my guts.
"Ralph...please listen to me..." I tried to plead. I sucked out a lurching breath as I heard a loud snap, and felt an impounding pain in my right arm! For a moment, I was so dazed that I didn't realize what had just happened. Then it hit me: my arm was broken! Dislocated! I couldn't move it, and now I couldn't protect myself.
"Mother left with you, but did she care about me? No! Only her precious, little, stupid angel. I was a real man, had good friends who taught me not to be weak, like Summers. But did she praise me for my accomplishment? No! No, she whined at me all the time about what a 'bad influence' they were. Never did I see her cut you down like that! She held you, praised you, caressed you. And what did I get? Nothing but lectures and interference from a foolish old crone."
"Shut up!" I wailed. How could anyone speak that way about my mother?! She was a wonderful, loving person. "Don't you dare..." He leaned in harder on me.
"Yes, I helped them send Father to his death. I'm glad I did it! And I would do it again!"
"Ralph, stop it!" I pleaded. I couldn't stand to listen to anymore filth.
"I've been waiting for this moment, Sis." He leered down at me, as he straightened his posture. "I've been waiting, and planning, and dreaming of it for years. But never in those wildest dreams did I think it would actually happen. You stole my life! It was because of you that I lost my mum. Now it's payback time." He held the knife to my throat.
"Ralph, don't!" I begged desperately. "Please...Ralph, please...please...I'm your sister!"
"You are nothing to me." He scowled and began to drive the blade in deeper.
"Nooo!" I wailed, then I screamed piercingly with all my might.
A gunshot blasted through the air. Ralph jolted, and looked oddly stunned. The knife fell from his hand, and he fell forward onto his face and away from me. I gasped, half-frightened, half-relieved. I looked up to see who my rescuer was. Jack Sparrow stood at the end of the room, holing up a pistol that was smoking. His jaw set defiantly. "J-Jack?" I squeaked, trying to sit up. Jack stomped toward me and pulled me to my feet.
"Are you hurt, luv?" Jack asked tenderly.
"I...I, my arm." I whimpered.
"Let me see. Which arm, Katie?" Jack asked seriously. I tilted my head to my right. When he tugged on my arm, it felt like he was pulling it off my body! I moaned painfully. Just him touching it, even lightly, felt like a hammer.
"I think...it's dislocated." I tried to blink back tears.
"Mph." Jack agreed gruffly, eyeing the misplaced limb. He stood there, pondering the kindest way to handle this. He looked at me sorrowfully, almost hopeless. He slowly clasped his sword scabbard!
"No, Jack! Please, don't!" I begged desperately. That's right, he's a pirate. They take drastic measures with drastic injuries.
"I'm terribly sorry, luv." Jack said sympathetically.
"Set it! Put it back in place! You know how, don't you?" I rambled, anxiously trying to come up with a less gruesome solution.
"Aye." Jack said timidly. "But it's not gonna be pretty."
"Then do it! Please, Jack."
Jack sighed, putting his sword back into place. "You need to lie down." He said. He lowered me to the floor. "Katie, this is really going to hurt, darlin'." Jack warned me. "A lot."
"I know." I nodded quickly.
"Here. Bite down on this." Jack said, stuffing his handkerchief into my mouth. If I wasn't in so much pain, I would've gagged, afraid to find out what kind of filthy germs were inhibiting the cloth! "Hold very still, luv. I don't think either of us will want to have to do this more than once!" I nodded, holding my breath. Then he frowned. "Why didn't you steal his gun and fire it at his fancy pants? Was crying for meself to come to yur rescue the best you could do?" Jack scolded me?!
Wha-gaaahhh! I thought, but my mind blanked out for a moment as I heard a sickening clink! and cried out from the sudden, extreme discomfort. But about ten seconds later, the pain nearly subsided! My eyes widened in astonishment. Instantly, I snatched the scarf from my mouth. I breathed happily with relief. Jack helped me stand. "Th-thanks, Jack." I smiled gratefully, holding my arm. "I knew you could do it."
"You might call me a jack of all trades." He smirked. I couldn't argue with that! "Katie, did he hurt you anywhere else?"
"Not really. I'll be all right. He really scared me more than anything." I shook my head, but I couldn't stop my arms from trembling. Jack eyed the small nick on my neck and gently brushed it with the tip of his finger.
"Well, thank goodness for that." He grunted.
"Jack, Ralph...did you kill him?" I asked sadly. Jack knelt down beside my brother's unconscious body.
"He's alive, but I got him pretty good. Time to put him where he belongs!"
"You...you shot him." My lip quivered. I wasn't angry with Jack. Just the opposite! But my mind was still racing from all that had just transpired.
"I'm sorry. Was unavoidable, luv. Couldn't just let him kill ye like that." Jack said somberly.
"No, Jack. There's no need to be sorry. You stopped him! I'm..." My legs felt like jelly and I began to slip to the floor but Jack held me firmly by the forearms. "Sorry. I'm glad...that you stopped him."
"I think we best be gettin' out of this place. Savvy?"
"Aye!" I nodded, laughing nervously.
"Follow me!" Jack declared. He locked the door to the room and led me up the stairs. Turned out it was true, that we'd been underground as Jack and I climbed up a trap door in the office of the town magistrate. "Stay close, Katie." Jack urged me.
"Like a leech!" I agreed wholeheartedly.
As Will hid Elizabeth in the shadows of an alleyway next to the apothecary's shop, they heard soldiers all around, barking orders at each other to find Elizabeth, and Jack. They were so close! Too close in Will's mind. Elizabeth was still shivering as Will hugged her closely. He'd removed his coat and placed it around her. They weren't far from the bridge-they could see it from their vantage point, but with all the soldiers running around, how could they get there? "I've got to get them away from you." Will said.
"Will..." Elizabeth's eyes widened. He pulled out his pistol and firmly placed it in her hands.
"Keep this, just in case." He told her.
"What are you doing?!" Elizabeth scolded him.
"I'm going to lure them away. When I see Jack, I'll know it's time to return."
"Will, no!" Elizabeth shook her head.
"Elizabeth," He squeezed her arm. "They just nearly killed you! I am not going to let them have that chance again!"
"But what if they catch you?"
"They won't." Will smiled. "Stay here and wait till I've led them away."
"No. I'm going with you!"
"I will return as soon as I see Jack arrive with Kate. Elizabeth, please. Once they are following me to the town square, make a run for it! Get to the bridge and wait there for Jack and Kate. I need to know you're safe."
"Hurry back to me. Please!" Elizabeth begged him. She was still shaky from her near death experience.
"With all my heart." Will purred and kissed her lips. "I love you."
"I love you." Elizabeth murmured sadly.
"Stay down." Will told her. The community stables were just around the corner. Elizabeth clasped his coat closely around her shoulders and braced herself against the wall so no one would see her. Will snuck into the stables and waited. As he saw an entire brigade of soldiers nearing the alley where Elizabeth was, he quickly released the horses from their corrals, starting a ruckus. The soldiers raced after the horses, but Will tripped the last one with a rope. He gagged him and dragged him inside the stable. He hit him on the head with an empty bottle of whiskey he'd found. The soldier fell, out cold. Will tied him up in the corner, in the farthest corral. Will removed the guy's uniform and hat, and took his gun. The soldiers were confused and furious at the sight of loose horses, and raced after them, yelling. Will saw Elizabeth and mouthed, "Run!" to her. Nodding, she buttoned his coat, and ran across the street out of sight, making her way toward the bridge. Will followed at a distance to make sure no one tried to harm her.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the town, Jack and Kate were also sneaking around.
"Over there." Jack pointed to the banker's porch. "It's right near the stables. We hide under there, then make our way to our good horsey friends, and make our getaway to the bridge at the port." Kate followed his lead. They laid low on their stomachs underneath the bank deck. "All right now. Coast is clear." Jack told Kate. He crawled forward on his belly and then stood up in the sunlight. When he looked, he saw that he was surrounded by officers! "Afternoon, gentlemen." He smiled. They pointed their swords right at him. "Parley?" He grinned innocently.
"Pirate! Kill him!" They shouted. Jack hollered like a scared child, pushing their guns toward each other, springing on top of someone's back and clambering his way up the tavern roof next door to the bank.
"I always did enjoy a wild goose chase." Jack waved at them, trying to lead them away from Kate. One of the remaining soldiers peeked underneath the porch and glowered when he saw Kate.
"Come on out of there!" He curled his lip. Kate froze and shook her head frightfully. "Now, or I'll shoot!" He barked. Biting her lip hard, Kate reluctantly crawled out and he instantly grabbed her by the arm. "What were you doing under there?!"
"I...I..." Kate gulped hard.
"You're the little wench Captain Briggs ordered us to catch! Well, well, well. If this isn't a fine how-do-you-do? You were robbing the bank, weren't you?"
"No, sir! Honest, I was not!" Kate argued. "I swear it!"
"You're lying. Well, guess what? You're going back to the Cartwheel, missy!"
"No, please!" Kate begged. He started to lead her away. She bit his hand, but then he conked her on the head with his gun. Kate fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Stop right there!" The soldiers called up to Jack as he pranced around from roof to roof.
"Love to stay and chat with ye respectable fellows, but afraid me time table's running skittish!" Jack replied.
Will quietly fell into line with some soldiers, finding out where they were heading, hoping he could steer them off if they ventured to closely to Elizabeth's cover. So far, she was doing a pretty efficient job of keeping herself hidden. That was one of the things he admired about her so much. As much as he wanted to protect her when the need arose, she wasn't afraid to fight if necessary. But then he saw another group of green coats, and one among them was carrying an unconscious young lady on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Will gasped when he realized it was Kate! He marched over, pointing the gun at them. "Halt!" He demanded.
"What gives you the right to order us about?" One of them huffed.
"I am required to inspect all captives." Will lied. "What have we here?"
"An escaped wench. Found her under the bank. She was trying to rob it, but I caught her red-handed!" He dropped Kate's limp body to the ground, as if she were a dirty rag. Will scowled at him and strengthened his hold on his gun.
"Were there any other witnesses?" He asked.
"A filthy pirate. Ran out on her. But don't worry, they'll both hang."
"Do you have any proof that she had intentions on plundering the bank?"
"She was hiding under there clear as daylight. Don't take no genius to figure that out."
"How did she plead to the crime?"
"Like any woman would, innocent as an angel. Aye, she's a conniver that one. Orders are from Captain Briggs to send her back to the brig on the Cartwheel should we find her."
"Why doesn't the captain just put her in jail here?" Will asked, beginning to lose his facade.
"Ohh. The captain has a special deal in mind for this little half-pint."
Will bit his lip, trying to think of a quick way to save his friend. "But she's unconscious. She needs a doctor." He offered quickly.
"Arrest this man!" The man in charge bellowed.
"What?" Will sputtered.
"You're an impostor. Everyone on this island knows that all prisoners are sent to the ship to be sold. You're not one of us!"
"New on the job." Will feebly lied.
"Arrest him!" The colonel bellowed. Will thrashed and punched and kicked and ducked even though he was being attacked by four able-bodied men. He did his best not to step on Kate, but hobbled around her. One of the officers slugged Will very hard across the face with his pistol. Will was instantly knocked out. "Lock them both up!"
Once Jack had managed to evade the would be captors, he'd made his way back to the bank and peeked underneath the porch but didn't see Kate. "Now where did that girl go?" He sighed. "Probably, most likely made a run for the bridge. Hope she doesn't run into anymore unpleasantness." He stated and started his own way to the said bridge.
Elizabeth finally found the bridge and hid underneath it. She could hear everyone who walked across it, but they didn't see her, so for the moment she was safe. She anxiously waited for her friends. A rough hand covered her mouth. She screeched in a muffled voice and started to claw at her captor's head, till she saw who it was. Jack shushed her with his index finger. "It's only me, luv." He said casually. Elizabeth glared and shoved his hand away.
"Jack Sparrow..." She snorted indignantly, "what were you trying to do, give me a heart attack?"
"Nay, my lady. I wouldn't dream of causing you such turbulent distress." Jack said dramatically. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"Where's Kate?" Elizabeth asked in alarm.
"Isn't she with you?" Jack asked. But he felt like he already knew the answer that he didn't want to.
"No!" Elizabeth shook her head anxiously. "You were supposed to find her, Jack! Why isn't she with you?"
"Got away from me." Jack sighed. "Thought she must've headed down here. Where is William?"
"He elected to create a diversion to draw the green coats off, so I could make it here safely."
Jack winced. "Bloody, stupid Will." He grumbled.
"How dare you!" Elizabeth snapped at him.
"Does the whelp never stay put or follow orders? I didn't tell him to offer himself as distraction!"
"You weren't here. He still risked his life to protect me."
"Ha!" Jack scoffed. Elizabeth slapped him. Jack gaped in surprise. "Not sure I quite deserved that one, Lizzie." He said pitifully, rubbing his sore face.
"Oh, just shut up. Will you?" Elizabeth ignored him. They heard soldiers overhead, and shrank back far into the shadows. Soon as they departed, Jack tugged on her arm.
"Follow me, luv." He said. Elizabeth pursued him as he crawled into some thick, green underbrush closer to the water. He and Elizabeth belly-crawled till they reached some ferns and slowly split them apart to take a peek at what was going on. "Lizzie..." Jack tapped her arm and pointed toward the gangplank of the Vendetta. Elizabeth squinted, and saw the soldiers hauling Will, unconscious, up to the ship.
"Will! No!" Elizabeth cried. She started to rise to her feet and pull out Will's gun, but Jack grabbed her shoulders.
"Stay down, Lizzie!" He barked at her. "Someone might have seen you!"
"That's their tough luck." Elizabeth snarled. "We have to save Will!"
"Wait for the opportune moment." Jack said calmly. Elizabeth glared at him.
"Wretch!" She growled. "We have to do something, you dolt!" Jack just gazed forlornly at her. He touched her shoulder.
"And so we shall, luv. Take a good look. Help has arrived." Jack said calmly, pointing to the other side of the island. Far off but near the shore, was none other than...the Black Pearl! Elizabeth's eyes widened.
"How..." her face lit up.
"My compass never lies." Jack smiled proudly. Then his face darkened. The soldiers were dragging another captive aboard.
"Oh no! Kate..." Elizabeth cried. Then an imposing figure smugly followed the brigade up into the ship. "Ugh! The roach!" Elizabeth hissed.
"What the..." Jack glowered. "Guess I didn't shoot him enough times."
"Jack, Briggs will kill them!"
"Not if Captain Jack Sparrow can help it." Jack stood up straight with his jaw set in angry determination that Elizabeth rarely ever saw.
"What do we do?" She asked.
"Get to the Pearl." Jack answered. They ran through the palm tree forest close to the beach instead of the docks. Finally, they'd about caught up to where they could climb the Pearl. They made a swim for it and as they neared, Jack and Elizabeth hollered to the crew.
"It's Jack! It's Jack!" Gibbs cried for joy. He and the crew gladly helped Elizabeth and Jack climb on deck. The crew cheered. "Jack, Miss Elizabeth, thank God!"
"Amen to that!" Elizabeth agreed. "But how did you find us? This land isn't even on the maps in London yet!"
"The compass led us straight and true." Gibbs beamed proudly, returning the trinket to Jack.
"Much thanks to ye, mate." Jack nodded.
"Oui, where's that pretty Mister Turner?" Anamaria asked.
"Where's the other poppet?" Pintel and Ragetti added.
"Elizabeth!" Thomas exclaimed and hugged her. "I'm glad you're all right. But...where's Kate?" Isn't she with you?"
"No." Elizabeth said sadly.
"Where are they?" Gibbs asked urgently. Jack hung his head and looked off the bow, gesturing with his hand. They saw the Vendetta, sailing away to the horizon.
"Afraid our bloody friend Briggs be one driven, vengeful bloke who'll stop at nothing to get what he wants." Jack said gruffly.
"What does that mean?" Thomas asked frantically. "Slaves? He's going to sell them?"
"Far worse, and much more ugly, lad." Jack said woefully. "We all greatly 'embarrassed' Briggs a good while back. I don't think he saw it as a mere joke. And now he's making us pay for it."
"So, what be our course, Jack?" Gibbs asked.
"We follow the Vendetta...to Whitecap Bay." Jack said firmly. The crew gasped as if they'd been knocked down by a band of ghosts.
"Whitecap Bay?!" They all cried in fear. They protested vehemently.
"You've finally lost it, captain." Anamaria scolded Jack. "Ain't no way we's goin' near any devil fish!"
"But Will, and Kate are on that ship. We have to rescue them." Elizabeth interjected.
"Sorry, Miss. But I ain't risking my skin to the likes of demons with angel faces, even if it was to rescue a friend."
"Why, you..." Elizabeth marched to Anamaria. Jack grabbed her from behind.
"Now, now, now, ladies. No need for civil war!" He told them. "We shall sail for Whitecap Bay, rescue the whelp and the girl, and be on our merry way. All shall be well. Savvy?" When the crew didn't agree, he barked orders at them. "Steady as she goes." Jack said as he took the wheel.
"What's at Whitecap Bay?" Thomas asked nervously.
"Mermaids." Elizabeth told him.
"They look as beautiful as diamonds. But truthfully, they're dreadful terrors to sailor and pirate alike. Even the most fearsome pirates won't tread there." Gibbs told him. Thomas gazed at him, with a shattered look on his face. He leaned forward on the rail, gripping it like a lifeline. He rubbed his face painfully. Elizabeth stood next to him and squeezed his arm.
"We're going to find them." She said encouragingly.
"Aye, if any man alive on land or sea can return from the mermaids unscathed, it's Jack Sparrow!" Gibbs announced grandly.
"Captain Jack Sparrow." Jack groaned. "Don't fret, Tommy. Our course runs straight and true. Take it easy lad. We'll get the whelp back, and your bonny, heart-breaking sweetheart."
Just so you know, this story is nearly over!