-

"An' really bad eggs!" Jack laughed and fell onto the sand. Half of the crew was already passed out on the sand and the other half were just as close. Jack, on the other hand, could handle his alcohol. Mr Gibbs, who was mumbling and dribbling, rolled over as Jack walked over, causing him to fall.

"Gibbs! Yer yellow-bellied land blubber who can' even take a bathe an'-" he yelled until he remember that Carmen was meant to be back by now. He regained his stature and looked around the clearing. The hairs on the back of his neck sprung up. He turned towards the fire and looked up. Something in the bush was reflecting the light. Something silver and then it moved.

"AMBUSH!", Jack yelled as a pirate jumped out and ran towards him. Several of his men stirred as more of the intruders attacked. Soon a fight had started and it carried on onto the shore. Gun shots and the sound of clashing metal could be heard up shore.

"Mr Gibbs! I've got ter find Carmen!", Jack yelled as he shoved his sword into the stomach of a pirate then pushed him into the fire. Mr Gibbs, who had just awoken and was probably mistaken a dead pirate more than once, stood up and smashed a bottle over a pirates head then turned to Jack.

"Aye, Capt'n!" Mr Gibbs pulled out his gun and shot three more pirates that were in Jacks way as he flailed his arms around running towards the jungle. Jack pushed past more of the pirates.

"Com' on! We got tha' girl!"

Jack spun around to see a bulky black man with a tied up and gagged Carmen unconscious over his shoulder.

"Oh Bloody 'ell", the intruders seemed to notice the man had the girl so they started to leave.

"Mr Gi -", Jack yelled but a small, mousy haired pirate ran into him. He let out a small 'Oof!' then fell to the ground. Most of the intruders had left so Jack grabbed the pirate around the neck and pinned him to the tree.

"Why are yer here?" he hissed. The mousy pirate kicked and hit but Jack was too angered to have any harm done to him.

"Answer man!", Jack thumped the small pirate against the tree. More of Jacks crew had started to crowd.

"I-I not liberty ter say!" He struggled but gave up.

Jacks eyes darkened even more, "Tell me now, yer mangy cad or I'll cut yer tongue out!" The pirate whimpered then answered. "There after tha' charm. We 'ad ter take it ter a pirate in Tortuga," he gulped as Jacks gripped tightened, "Tha' pirate knows 'ow ter - ter use tha' charm!"

Jack glared at the boy, "An' wha' they gunna do ter Carmen?" He pushed the boy higher so his feet were dangling in the air.

"W-who?"

Jack cocked his gun and placed it at the boys temple.

"Th-tha' girl," he gulped again at the lack of air, "They says their gunna sell 'er, she's a mighty fine la - " Jack threw the boy down onto the sand.

"Yer speak her name upon yer dirty mouth again, an' I will cut yer tongue out!" Jack features had turned dark, his eyes thin slits like a snake and the vibe of aggression roaring from his stature.

"Men, tie 'im up," the crew stared at him, "were goin' ter Tortuga".

-

Carmen moaned as she felt her back hit something hard. She opened her eyes to see she was chained and she felt weary and bruised.

"Look, tha' lass is awake!", a balding man with rat tail hair and a beard stepped into the light. Soon a taller man with a fake eye stepped into the light next to him.

"Tha' lass is awake, tha' lass is awake!" He chorused. Carmen groaned as her head was pulsing.

"Tha's enough, yer cad Ragetti!" The balding man hit the man named Ragetti over the head. Carmen stared at the two. Her eyes slowly focused and she noticed her surroundings. She was below deck and her hands had been chained to the brig. The man named Ragetti laughed.

"Look, Pintel! Tha' lass 'as finally noticed she ain't on tha' island no more!" The man he had addressed as Pintel dropped his mop and grinned at Carmen.

"Where am I? And who are you!" She hissed. Pintel grinned even more and looked her over then reached out and gently touched her cheek. Immediately, Carmen tried to back away and reach for the knife in her cuff, but it was gone.

"Yer on a lil' boat, poppet", he chuckled. Ragetti was now by his side, leering at her ripped clothes, "An' it don't matter who we are!".

Carmen felt something sharp hit her in the face. She opened her eyes to see a large black man glaring at her. He growled and pulled apart the chains on her arms then threw a small crimson dress at her.

"Put this on now!" He barked and kept his eyes on her. Carmen did not want to get on the bad side of this man, and turned around, shoved the dress on top of her clothes, then took her old clothes off from underneath her. Before she had time to fix the dress properly, she was dragged out and up onto the deck. Before her, crowds of men growled and smirked at her.

"Where am - " she stopped as she recognised, "Tortuga…".

"Here she is Capt'n!"

Carmen had been blinded folded then dragged throughout a place or street. She was pushed forward and the blindfold was roughly taken off. Her eyes adjusted to the dimply lit room.

She looked up to see a old man smirking at her. He had a large black hat that had three chopped pea-cock feathers decorated upon the top. His clothes were roughly the same as every other man of this age Carmen had seen.

"Well, she's exactly like 'er grandmother," the old man finally said. Pintel and Ragetti stood behind him. Carmen felt a sharp shock as he mentioned her grandmother.

"Yes, same eyes, skin," he looked down at her then his eyes trailed down to her neck and cleavage, "Yes, jus' like Arina Ontago!"

Carmen glowered angrily at him, "I demand to know what the hell is happening!"

The man laughed, "Well, Miss Carmen, le' me introduce meself," he reached up to where a small monkey jumped onto his shoulder, "I am Capt'n Barbossa an' yer 'ave somethin' of mine".

"Your full of it, scum", she hissed at him.

Barbossa laughed again. "As I 'ave said before ter another naïve lass," he pulled up the window and the moonlight shone onto him. Carmen let out a gasp as the light fell onto Barbossa and his form turned into a skeletal decomposing flesh, "Yer best be believing in ghost stories," he stepped and Carmen backed away. As she did, she leant to far forward and the charm fell out and the little monkey caught it and climbed back onto Barbossa's shoulder.

"Yer in one!"

-

Carmen was tied up again but at least not gagged. Ragetti and Pintel sat in front of her, leering and staring at her exposed flesh.

"Why did he take my charm?" She asked in a shaky tone.

Pintel smirked, "Yer don't know the 'ole story, do yer?".

Carmen stared at him with hatred and wonder at what he was about to tell her. "No she don', does she?", Ragetti chorused.

Pintel ignored him and continued. "Yer 'eard of the curse of the Black Pearl? Or was the curse."

Mr Gibbs had told Carmen about the curse and the living dead pirates, in which she didn't quite believe most of it. This was only five days ago. She was told she was knocked out for four days. But now, she had a feeling she had no choice but to believe it. She nodded to his question.

Pintel continued, "As yer should know 'bout tha' Aztec gold an' all, there was another part of the curse tha' we missed," he stopped for a moment. Carmen sat listening, "When we took tha' chest of it, 'ole Barbossa dropped yer little charm that was suppose ter be attached to the lid. It fell into tha' ocean an' washed up on some shore," he took in a sharp breath then continued. "An' this is when yer grandmoth'r foun' it! She, a gypsy an' all, seemed ter know wha' it was and gave it to her children, as an heirloom."

Ragetti snickered then pulled out his fake eye, "Smar' lass, she was!"

"Yer see, tha' lil' charm 'as ter be reunited with tha' chest an' all by someone and a wish is granted. Tha' someone is us", Pintel let out a menacing grin.

It was now that Carmen understood why her grandmother had told her the stories and why she wanted her to look after the charm but something else was bothering her.

"So, what happens if you don't return it?" She emphasized the you in the question.

Pintel's grin disappeared as soon as it arrived, "If its brought back by you then only you can 'ave a wish".

Before she could ask anything else, the door swung open and Barbossa entered along with yelling and cheering from behind. He walked across the room and to a desk. The little monkey on his shoulder screeched.

"I 'ope yer 'avent told anything' she ain't meant ter know?", both Ragetti and Pintel shook their heads. Barbossa stared at them for a moment, as if he did not believe them. After a short moment he handed the charm to the monkey and it jumped onto a bookshelf and disappeared behind some books.

"Good, then now yer can taker 'er out so tha' biddin' can start", he pulled her up, ripped the top of her dress then threw her into Ragetti who grinned and pulled her out of the room and into the crowd of men all screaming and sending cat-calls her way.

"Where 'bouts are they 'avin' tha' bid?" Jack growled at the tied and chained boy. The pirate boy whimpered with fear. "Answer boy!"

Mr Gibbs watched from behind. He picked up on Jacks tone. It was different. And he wasn't the only crew member who had noticed.

"T-they says there 'avin it at tha' Admirals Arms!" The boy finally stuttered. Jack glared at him for a moment then turned to Mr Gibbs, "Gibbs, 'ave tha' crew on shore yet?"

Mr Gibbs attached his gun to his belt then replied, "Aye, Capt'n. They left 'bout ten minutes 'go."

Jack loaded his gun then went on deck. The sun had just set and people were making their way to pubs and brothels. "Mr Gibbs, I wan' yer ter 'ave a look 'round then meet me at tha' Admirals Arms. Savvy?"

Mr Gibbs nodded then ordered two men who stayed on bored to keep watch over the mousy haired boy and the Pearl.

He made his way across the crowded street of drunks and whores; making sure to avoid Scarlet and Giselle. He nodded to two of his crew who were having drinks and keeping an eye out. He passed several girls who smirked and lifted their skirts just high enough so he could see their garters.

"Aye, tis Capt'n Jack Sparrow!" Jack spun around to see Giselle.

"Giselle! Aye, 'ave got some business ter do," she put her hands on her hips and stared at him.

"An' wha' woul' tha' be?" She asked in a annoyed tone. Jack fumbled for a moment then went to reply but before he could start he spotted the Admirals Arms. Giselle turned to see what he was looking at and Jack took this opportune moment to duck away from her.

Carmen was pushed onto a bench at the side of the room. She turned her head to see a dozen of girls seated near her, all looking whore-ish. Then she realised she was in a whore bid.

"Yer look new."

Carmen turned to see a dark red haired lady. She had smeared red lipstick and bright blue eye shadow. Carmen simply nodded; not knowing what to do.

"Well, with looks like yers," she gave her a dirty glare as she looked her from head to toe. "Yer wont be for long."

Jack stepped into the Admirals Arms which was crowded with cheering men. He scanned the area. He looked past the stage and then he saw her. Carmen looked slightly pale and her clothes were ripped. She was talking to the familiar Scarlet, who kept shooting dirty looks at her. Amongst all of the girls lined behind the stage, it was obvious that Carmen was the only decent one there who looked beautiful without make-up.

"Yer found 'er, Capt'n?"

Jack turned to see Mr Gibbs pushing through the crowd and stopping by his side.

"Yer, an' I'm gunna try and get ter 'er", Jack mumbled and pushed past the hooting men until he was only a few metres away.

Carmen sat nervously watching the hungry men staring at her. They were licking their lips and raising their eye-brows. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a warm voice seep into her left ear.

"'Ello, luv."

Carmen spun around and came face to face with Captain Jack Sparrow. She had never felt so relived in her life.

"Oh my god, Jack! I was so-", she was cut off as he placed a finger on her lips to hush her.

"I know luv, but I don' 'ave much time," he removed his finger and she sighed, "Mr Gibbs is watchin' my back fer now, but sooner or later he wont be able to."

Carmen nodded then remember her charm. "Jack, he took the charm!" She grasped his shoulder tightly.

He furrowed his brow.

"Barbossa, Jack! He's back!" Carmen hissed in a hushed whisper.

Jack cringed, "That bloody pirate is NEVER going to die is he?" He took off his hat and put it down next to her.

"Where'd he put tha' charm?" he asked in a quick voice, as the announcer had started his introduction.

"You see that door? In there and that little monkey put it somewhere near the bookcase."

Jack nodded, "I'm gunna get tha' charm while Mr Gibbs watches ov'r yer", he went to leave but she grabbed his arm.

"What am I meant to do? What if one of those sleaze bags buys me straight away!" Carmen was staring worryingly at him.

Jack thought for a moment then slowly reached out to the top of her dress. She watched as he un-did three buttons so now her bright red bra was showing.

"Keep them entertained, luv", he grinned then ducked out of sight. Carmen stared at him in disbelief.

"An' welcome to tha' special Admirals Biddin' of fresh meat!" An old, plump man stood on the stage yelling over the crowds. The men cheered with anticipation. "Tonight, we 'ave all sorts of girls! We 'ave English girl, Chinese girl, Jamaican girl, and," he grinned and turned around and winked at Carmen, "Spanish girl! This lil' prize will be biddin' third!"

The hoots and calls became louder and eager. Fresh meat was rare in Tortuga.

All the girls on the bench glared at Carmen. Carmen racked her mind for something to do as the bidding started. A blonde lady was sold for seven shillings to a tall, skinny man with a parrot. As Scarlet was sold for eleven shillings to one of Jacks crew members, Carmen was pulled up onto the stage and out into the open.

"An' tha' prize is startin' off at nine shillings, since tha' lass looks pure", the plump man made a grab for her ass but she moved out of the way.

"Thirteen shillings!" Yelled a young man who had lost most of his teeth. Carmen watched as the bidding continued for a few minutes and already at thirty-five shillings in eight minutes. She could hear a faint music playing in the back ground and that's when she got an idea.

"Forty shillings!" Yelled Mr Gibbs who was trying to keep the bet going.

Jack sneaked into the room and stared at the old and shabby place. It only contained a desk, several seats, chains and a bookcase. He immediately made for the bookcase and started to throw books every where in search for the charm. He pulled down half the shelf until he saw a small brown box. He opened it and picked up Carmens charm.

"Bingo!" he said with a smile.

"Sorry, Sparrow. I'm afraid not", Jack spun around and came to see Barbossa with the little monkey. Jack dropped the last book and turned fully to face him.

"Yer know what Barbossa?" Jack began, his hand wavering in front of him.

"Wha' would that be, Jack?" Barbossa asked, his face bored.

Jack glared at him then said, "Yer bloody annoyin'!" He flung his arms in the air with extra exaggeration, "yer nay give up! Why can't yer just bloody die!"

Jack flung his arms around and even more. Barossa found this slightly amusing.

"Curses are curses, Jack," he pulled out his sword and stepped forward. "An' it won' be for long!"

The duelling began.