Disclaimer: I own this plot, and that's about it.
A/N: So I'm on ff.net the other day, and I decide to look at my "Stats" button, and I literally fell off of my chair when I realized that I have currently 127 reviews for this story. I have no clue when that happened, but nor do I really care. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! :-D I love reviews…they're life. Thanks so much to all of my readers and reviewers…I really appreciate it. Ok….more Will torture. Sorry about that to those who are bothered by it….and you're welcome to all of those who love it. Off to the next chapter you go…
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Winds of Change
The Accord
His mind was turning on him, convincing him of things that weren't true. Between the gasps for air and the moans of pain, he could feel his mind, wrought with pain and anger, suddenly collapse into a fit of convulsions, demanding things of him that he could never morally do. They spoke to him as if he were disgusting, merely a rotting piece of rubbish that counted and mattered for nothing. He knew that if he didn't die from the pain, he would die from the darkness in his mind that continued to fester.
Block it out, he told himself as he lay in the brig, bloody and bruised with aches and pains running rampant in his trembling body. Don't listen to it…
You have to listen to me, Will Turner. I am you.
Groaning, Will struggled to sit up. The suddenness in his movements caused his stomach to turn unpleasantly and he heaved. He carefully lay back down onto the brig floor that was covered in mold and about two inches of water. The salt stung his cuts and abrasions, but he ignored it as he shivered from the cold temperature of the both the water and the brig.
You're cold, aren't you, Will Turner?
He gritted his teeth together and clenched his fists, trying desperately to ignore the mocking voice that resonated within his mind.
You can't ignore me, Will. I'm here to stay.
Closing his eyes he inhaled as much as his aching lungs would allow. He slowly released the breath and tried to relax his tense muscles and his overflowing mind. He desperately tried to ignore the burning sensation that flouted his body, coming in waves and leaving him so crippled that all he could do was moan quietly, writhing in pain.
The only thought that brought him comfort was knowing Elizabeth and Jack were okay. Apparently, Barbossa had left Elizabeth on the HMS Sea Farer, assuming that she was alone and would die within the week due to no water and the lack in ability to steer a ship. Luckily, they hadn't known Jack was with them, so thankfully they hadn't captured him. Will only wondered if they would have bestowed upon Jack as much pain as they brought upon him…
Doesn't it hurt, Will Turner? Don't you want it all to end?
Yes, he thought reluctantly. I just want it to go away…to stop…
Then tell them about Jack. Tell them where he is…
NO. Will pushed this thought through his mind forcefully, hoping that it would render the voice useless and that it would eventually silence itself. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Why are you here in such pain when Jack remains hurt-free?
He was waiting for the opportune moment, he thought, squeezing his eyes shut even tighter. Another wave of pain was upon him, once so fierce that he cried out louder this time, wishing it would all end…
He heard the voice laugh cruelly. The opportune moment, you say? Well that moment has come and gone, and you still lie here in absolute throbbing, while Jack remains fine, biding his time with your wife.
Will's eyes snapped open, and the voice chuckled maliciously. You see the way he looks at her, Will. You see the longing in his eyes, the lust in his face. He's a pirate…he knows no boundaries.
Stop it! He shouted in his mind, desperately trying to blockade the voice from his mind. Leave me…
I can't leave. I'm here to stay…I've always been here, but only now do I speak. So, Will, you're stuck with me…and get used to it. The more fearful thoughts that enter your mind, the more I will prey on them…
No…
Yes, Will. I'm your worst nightmare and your internal enemy.
An immense nausea swept over him and Will retched again. He spluttered, blood still seeping from his back teeth that had been loosened while he was being beat. His nose was crooked and broken, his eye still swollen so great he couldn't open it, his head pounding, his body aching.
It hurts, doesn't it? To be abandoned not only by your friend, but by your wife?
In too much pain to respond, Will hesitantly considered this voice's reasoning. He did have a point…why hadn't Jack saved him? Why had he left him all alone to face Barbossa, while he stayed locked in his quarters, waiting for the so-called opportune moment?
Stop thinking that they're coming for you, lad. They aren't.
Will knew that neither Jack nor Elizabeth would ever abandon him…he knew it. Yet somehow the voice's persuasion made him question their loyalty. Why did they leave him to face Barbossa alone? Why didn't Jack offer help? Why didn't he stay out on the deck and fight like he would've under any other circumstance?
I have a better question for you, Will. Why did Jack make you steal a boat with him in the first place?
He was about to answer when he realized he didn't have one; he had no idea why. Could he have done it to take them to a safe place where the curse couldn't get them? Did he do it for his own good, so he could have help while trying to stop Barbossa from getting his revenge for the gods?
Or could it be, friend, that he did it because he knew a situation would arise like this, and he would leave you to be captured?
Will shifted positions on the floor and felt his arm throb with pain. It was probably broken, along with a few of his ribs and nose…
He wanted you to be captured, mate. He planned it from the beginning. Sorry to tell you, Will Turner, but you've been betrayed by your best friend.
Jack had betrayed him. A sense of treachery and despair clenched his heart as another wave of pain entered his body. Jack left him to be tortured at the hands of Barbossa and his crew. He left him without hope and without knowledge that Elizabeth would be safe. He had left him desolate and in pain…
Are you going to let him get away with that?
No.
Then tell Barbossa that he's alive, Will. Tell him.
No…I can't. Elizabeth is with him…I can't risk her life. I love her…
Then strike a deal, with him, mate. Offer Jack's location for Elizabeth's safety…
Will pondered this, both his body and his heart in pain. He couldn't believe Jack had betrayed him like this…he wondered why he hadn't seen it to begin with. Of course he had purposefully hidden himself in the quarters…he wanted Will to be captured. He wanted to get Barbossa off of his hands for good, he wanted to be left free, he wanted to be left alone with Elizabeth…
He wants her, mate. He always has…he always will…once a pirate, always a pirate…
Will felt his temper flare within his stomach like the very fires of hell. Jack practically handed him over to Barbossa so he could be left alone, uncursed, with Elizabeth. The perfect plan for him…Jack would comfort her upon Will's death, tell her that he'll take care of her…he would marry her, knowing full well he was responsible for Will's murder…
And they'll be a happy family, Will Turner, while you rot here in this brig.
"Barbossa…." He whispered hoarsely. He inhaled, thinking of Jack's roguish smile, hand in hand with Elizabeth at the alter. "Barbossa…BARBOSSA!" he managed to scream. He was in such pain that he couldn't bring himself to sit up, so he continued to lay there on his side, hot tears of betrayal and contempt streaming down his face.
He heard a creaky door open and detected low voices mumbling to each other. Footsteps, sloshing water around, approached his cell, and he looked forward and up to see Barbossa and another member of his crew standing there, both of their arms crossed, an amused smile spreading itself across the captain's face.
"So, Mr. Turner, you called?"
"Jack's alive," he blurted out, trembling in both voice and body.
Barbossa seemed taken aback. "What did ye say?"
"Jack's alive…he was on the HMS Sea Farer," he breathed. Talking used up most of his energy and burned his lungs, but he didn't care. If he were going down, he would drag Jack down with him…
"Do ye lie, Will Turner? The cost of lies runs deep within me crew, and by the looks of ye, you can't take much more a-beatings," he commented, studying Will who lay so helplessly on the floor.
"I'm not lying…he's there. He hid in the captain's cabin while you were on board…"
Barbossa smiled knowingly down at Will. "Did he, now? Quite the coward, Captain Sparrow is."
"But you can't hurt Elizabeth," he strained. His lungs hurt so much that he wished he could cease breathing. "You can't hurt her…take Jack and I, leave her alone…."
"I'll leave her alone if you help me to capture Captain Sparrow," stated Barbossa, eyeing Will as if he were some interesting piece of artwork. With a flick of his head, Barbossa motioned to the other crew member who unlocked the cell and heaved him up into a standing position. Will openly cried out with the pain that now pulsed through his shivering body as he was turned, face to face, with the man he so hatefully despised.
"Do we have an accord then?" Barbossa inquired, smiling and holding out his hand.
Reluctantly, Will took his hand, squeezing as hard as he could muster, trying to show that he had some strength left within him. He smirked back, nodding his head, ignoring the throbbing sensation throughout his body. Jack would be caught…revenge would be had…
Good job, mate, the voice in his head commented. Jack Sparrow won't get away with anything this time.
Will looked deeper into Barbossa's eyes as his own glinted with expectant fulfillment. "Aye. We have an accord."
~*~
Uh oh….looks like the curse is starting to get a hold of Will….poor guy.
For everyone who reviewed…you guys are awesome. Oh! By the way…that character death notice in the beginning of the story? Yeah, that's still valid. Sorry to those of you who don't want to see a major character die, but it's going to happen….sorry…
Hope you enjoyed! Please review!