Right, ok, I realize that it has been a very long time since I updated my story, and I apologize greatly for that. I seemed to have stumbled upon one huge case of writers block, the thoughts were there, but the way to put them done wasn't. I am very sorry once again for the long wait, so here without anymore of my ramble is:
Chapter 5
I felt a little tug on my shoulder and my sleepy eyes slowly fluttered open. "Jocelyn," my father whispered into my ear, "Get up I want to show you something." Still only half conscious I nodded and allowed him to pick me up and carry me down the stairs, and out the door. He took me to the top of the hill in our back yard and then sat me down. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, and my father kneeled down next to me and said, "Do you see that over there?" My eyes followed the direction to where he was pointing and landed on the horizon. I shook my head and said "Da' tis only the horizon." He hung his head and said, "Jocelyn look at it again, and tell me what you see." I looked again this time concentrating really hard waiting fro something to happen. It seemed helpless I shrugged my shoulders and pouted saying "Da' I cant see it, what it is? I want to see it too Da'!" My father chuckled and said "You do see it you just are overlooking it is all. You see the sun is beginning to rise." I looked again and saw it begin to make its journey over the horizon. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, it was like a painter had taken all the colors and put them in the sky. I squeezed my fathers hand and whispered "Da' its beautiful." He nodded in agreement and then we just sat there for a while watching it rise. Until finally my father turned to place me in his lap, he looked into my eyes and said, "Jocelyn you must promise me something," I nodded my head vigorously and waited for him to continue. "You must promise me that as long as that sun rises and sets, as long as it lights the sky you will never give up hope, no matter what happens. You must promise to me that no matter how bad things get, or sad or hurt you get, that you will never give up. You must be like the sun and rise the next day and fight your way back to the top. You understand me?" As I looked into his eyes I said "Yes Da'," and then hugged him around the neck letting my head rest on his chest. His arms then engulfed my small body as he said, "That's my girl, the fighter."
I guess my body never grew out of that habit of rising with the sun. As the first glimpse of daylight began to appear over the horizon my body began to stir. Sending me on that downward spiral from dreamland to reality. My eyes fluttered open slowly and the word "Da'," formed at the tip of my tongue and then rolled out. as though I expected him to be there. But he wasn't there just like he hadn't been for the last 4 years. I shook all thoughts like that aside, and glanced out the window. Small slivers of the sun had begun to shine through the window, "Ha," I said out loud brooding "that sun has brought me no hope, only misery each day I have to endure seeing it." I sighed loudly and pounded my fist against the bed, but instead ended up hitting Jack's arm.
"Luv, do you 'hink next time you decided to punch 'hings aim for somethin' rather 'hen my arm?"
I began to sit up and said turning my head to him "Well maybe if you didn't have your arm on me," I said as I picked up his arm wrapped loosely around my waist and placing it on his chest "then I wouldn't have hit it."
"Well it wasn't like you didn't like 'aven it 'round you luv!" Jack smirked and raised his eyebrow suggestively.
I rolled my eyes at him and said, "IF you haven't already noticed I am not one of your common whores who fall for your charm and worship the damn ground you walk, I mean swagger on! Also I will not be address as 'luv' for I am not your 'luv'." I turned my back to him and crawled out of the bed, leaving the warmness of the bed and the comfort of his arm wrapped around me behind.
I could feel his eyes burn into me as I walked across the room. I hesitated and turned to say something as I approached the door, but it appeared Jack had the same notion, for he had made his way out of the bed and was now standing only a few mere inches away.
He stretched out his hand to graze my cheek but I instantly pulled my head back and glared at him, if only looks could kill. His hand soon retreated back to his side then he said "Everyone falls for me charm, lu…Jocelyn," and then he leaned his face in so I could feel his breath upon my face, and then said "even an ice queen 'uch as your self can be melted, just 'eed the right 'mount of heat is all."
I might have been in shock by his remarks, or too busy coming up with insults to realize the next move he made. Soon I felt as thought his lips were upon mine, wait they were, then I felt his tongue running along my bottom lip. I placed my hands upon his shoulders and hastily pushed him back causing both of us to stagger back. As my body hit the door my mouth hung open in shook. My mind went blank, and anger flooded me like a typhoon.
Jack on the other hand seemed most pleased with his actions and managed a small chuckle before he looked me over and said "That good Jocelyn?" He was on the ground before he even new what happened. That had always been an advantage for me when fighting I was fast. As my fist hit the right side of his jaw, it felt as though all my feelings toward him had finally been released. I now stood over Jack as he lay on the floor rubbing his jaw, glaring at me menacingly.
"Let us get a couple things straight here Captain, I might be the only women on this ship but that doesn't make me your toy. Secondly you have no right to call me by my Catholic name, so you either address me as Miss Rhyes or not at all. Third, and this is an important one, if you touch me, no if you even think about touching me without my consent, you lose something very precious to you." I said glancing down at his crotch and then back at him. I spat on the floor next to him and then headed toward the door opening and then saying "I am a woman of my word so don't think that I won't go through with it, wasn't raised that way. A Rhyes always keeps to their word." With that I let the door slam behind me and made my way down the hallway toward my room.
I opened the door slowly making sure it didn't creak. I closed the door behind me and turned my attention to the man passed out in my room. "Hmm..." I thought "it appeared Jack didn't lie, must be a first for the man." The man lay motionless and had a small line of drool coming out of the side of him mouth, and an empty bottle of rum clutched between his pudgy fingers. I shook my head at how pathetic the man was, and slipped on my clothes, and then hat and boots. I shoved my knife into my boot and headed above deck. Hoping that maybe some air would clear my mind of Jack.
As I reached the deck I closed my eyes and took in the fresh ocean air. It was like a drug, so intoxicating and addicting. It made you feel so good and free, it let all thoughts disappear and allow you to become one with the ocean before a brief moment. Oh how brief that moment was, for I soon felt a finger tapping my shoulder. I slowly pivoted on my feet to face the man, half expecting Jack but instead was welcomed by Jonathan.
"Amsterdam," he said as he extended his hand and I shook it "I thought that today was any good as any to get started you think?" I had met Jonathan a few days ago and he had become one of the few friendly faces on this ship that welcomed me. He hailed from Spain but left when he was 10 and been jumping from ship to ship since then. He was around my age and like me was new to the Black Pearl, though he did have more knowledge about ships than one could gather from books.
"Aye, 'hat sounds good." With that I followed him as he began to explain everything, even the smallest detail. I made him promise to do that, told him if I were going to learn I needed to know everything. He found my fascination quite humorous and took me on, but of course for a price. The only thing was that he hadn't named his price yet, though I wasn't too worried, I mean, it couldn't be anything too bad.
The day had gone by fast and my thoughts about Jack and the previous night had all but been forgotten. I had gotten the handle on most of the ship terms, and was beginning to get the hang of the sails when we heard a yell from below deck say "DINNER!" It was that late already, amazing, who ever thought that a day on this ship could go by fast.
We waited till most of the crew had gone down and then headed toward the stairs when a voice called out behind us.
"Jonathan you'd be on watch durin' dinner." I didn't even have to turn to know who it was. Jonathan smiled and nodded his head and began to walk away, I said I would see him later and then began to head toward the stairs when I felt his hand grab my arm. The two times I had looked in Jack's direction during the day he had been looking at me and once he captured my gaze he would smirk and rub his jaw mockingly.
I stopped but didn't turn to look at him "So how is the jaw Captain, doesn't hurt does it? Because I hope it does!" I tried to pull my arm away from his grasp but it seemed to be in vain. He stepped closer to me and I could feel his breath on my neck, which sent a shiver down my spine. How could he have this affect on me? One minute I seemed to loathe the man so much that it mad me feel physically ill to even look at him, and now he is sending shivers done my spine? What the HELL!
He seemed to be about to say something but must of thought better of it because he then began dragging me down the stairs to the mess room where he pushed me into a seat and then sat down next to me. I wasn't sure what was going through his mind but he was up to something, and I have learned that is never a good thing.
Gibbs sat on the other side of Jack and across from him sat a rather large man missing two teeth and two scrawny men on either side of him who appeared to be his sidekicks. I sat there picking at the food in front of me hardly even glancing at them and barely paying attention until I hear the fat man mention Captain Pierre, my ears perk up and my eyes widen but I kept my focus on the table trying not to draw attention to myself. I could feel the grip on my knife tighten as the man began to speak.
"From 'hat we 'ave gathered 'bout the man I suggest we go in, get 'hats ours and leave. No need to fiddle around with him." He chewed on his food and then went on and said "I mean that way, we'll never 'ave to deal with him."
I glanced up to see the two men next to him shaking their heads and Jack stroked his chin thoughtfully. (He seemed to do this a lot; maybe it was the only way he could think!) I couldn't believe this; they were going to act like cowards and not even face this man? And what exactly does he have that is so important to Jack? I looked at Jack and he turned to me and raised an eyebrow as if waiting for me to add my shillings worth to the conversation. I opened my mouth to say something and then closed it. He could just be setting me up I thought and turned my attention back to the large man who had taken another bite out of his potato and began to ramble on again. "I say that way not only will we save time but we can get back to the women faster." With that he let out a large laugh spraying potato all over his plate.
I could no longer substance this silence or let this man continue to speak without someone protesting; I cleared my throat and felt all pairs of eyes fall upon me like a moth upon a flame. I let my eyes dart from each one to the next till they landed upon Jack, for they seemed to be the most willing to hear what it was I was to say. So I then began "I don't think we should do 'hat!"
The large man laughed seeming to think I was joking and then noticed my serious face and blurted out "Yous just a boy you know nothing of this man, tis better this way! You but a fool boy, you daft if you believe that you would come out of there alive!"
My eyes left Jack and fell upon this man who was insulting me. I found not a friend but a foe in his eyes, for he had a look that seemed all too familiar. His eyes exposed him whether he wished them to or not. They were dark and stormy and filled with the lust of power and greed. He was not a man to be trusted except by those dumber than him, for he would trade his own child's life for a piece of gold. His eyes were haunting and made me feel repulsed by his very existence, but at the same time gave me the strength and drive I needed to go on.
.
"And you'd be a coward if you're just going to hop onto the ship in the middle of the night while no one's there take whatever it is you want and then leave!"
The food the man held to shove into his mouth fell off onto his plate and then his veins in his head began to pop out like worms from dirt after a rain shower. His voice began to get audibly louder with each word that came out of his mouth "Are you daft…calling ME a Coward boy, you 'ave no right!" He slammed his fist upon the table causing it to shake and the rest of the crew to stare at us. His antics didn't move me, for I didn't flinch. My mind came only upon one thought and that was the fact that he was wrong and that was all that mattered at this point. I hadn't stolen upon this ship like a little boy and taken shit from Jack for me not to have a chance to face the demon that haunted me all due to one coward!
I stood slowly and gazed quickly around the room, taking note that all eyes were on me waiting and watching for my next move. To them it was but another fight but to me it was the matter of my life, my existence. As my eyes glanced over the men once again and I said, "I am not daft! You are daft to tell me 'hat what you plan to do isn't cowardly! You are a pirate, are you not? You're not supposed to run and hide you are supposed to fight. If I didn't no better I'd 'hink 'hat you be workin' for him." I arched my eyebrow at him and locked my gaze onto his. Within mere seconds of the last word rolling off my tongue he stood pushing the table to the side. His size was double mine though his height wasn't anything to be impressed by. He was slow and old, and I knew it would be easy to take him out, granted not fair, but I wasn't about to be fair.
"I workin' for him, I say it be the other way around!" He pointed a stubby accusing finger at me and began to cross the room to where I stood. I watched his actions but was distracted by a sound coming from adjacent to me. It was Jack who let an all but menacing laugh that shot a shiver down my spine and inflamed my rage that was already pulsing throughout my body. My eyes darted toward his to find him enjoying this all to much. Damn him, and as I turned my head back to the man in front of me I felt the blow of his fist against my jaw. I staggered back and grabbed my jaw and spit onto the ground-taking note that it was now red from blood.
I glared back up at him and hissed at him," You are a fucking coward, even have to take cheap shots on little boys." I swung my fist at him and connect with his jaw and then swung again and hit his nose and felt the break under my blow. Blood began to rush from it like a waterfall. He put his hands up around his nose and howled as I produced another blow to his stomach causing him to crash into the wall behind him.
His left fist moved away from his nose and flayed around wildly until he came in contact with my right eye and I felt my body scream in pain, but showed none. I blindly threw my arm out to punch him and hit his lower jaw. I staggered back and caught my breath and sight. There was blood coming from his mouth and nose and it would only take one last punch to finish so I went in for the kill.
I wiped the blood that was forming at my lip and moved closer, my eyes eternally fixed on him and no one else. All of their noise had all but tuned out and the people had seemed to fade from my vision. Like a lion on his prey I was out for the kill and nothing would distract me. The only thing that seemed to be forgotten was that prey can fight back.
Where he had gotten it without me seeing or realizing I am not sure, but some how he managed to. It was like everything had slowed down and time had almost come to a stand still. I had extended my arm to hit him once more across the face to knock him out when I saw the flicker of metal. It was oh so brief and fast. As my hand hit his jaw and I felt the bones shatter beneath me I felt a sudden studding pain run up the side of my leg. The man's eyes rolled to the back of his head and his body made a large thud noise as it hit the wooden floor. I look around me and whipped a bead of sweat from my brow.
I felt a liquid begin to stream down my leg. I looked down toward my left and almost vomited at the site. My pant leg was covered and blood and I could feel it seeping into my boots. I gagged as I looked down at the knife sticking out from my leg; its color once silver was now drenched red from my blood. It seemed all too surreal, and unbelievable. I gasped my hand around the handle of the knife and counted back from three. 3, 2, 1…My body howled out in pain as I yanked the knife out and let it to fall the floor as I searched the ground for a rag. I found one and tied it tightly around the wound. My body screamed from the pain but I had just flinched not letting on that it hurt.
I hardly was able to bring my gaze up to those who now surrounded me. No one spoke or even moved. I slowly dragged myself by them biting the inside of my cheek to help ease my pain, or stop feeling it. I nodded to the man who opened the door for me and made my way down the hallway dragging my almost lifeless body to my bedroom. As I looked down at the wound I noticed it began to bleed again and had seeped through the rag. As I looked back down the hallway I noticed little pools of blood leading to where I was standing. I stifled a small laugh at the sight that should have been a cry. God, I thought, how pathetic this is and all of it just to get to one thing, to a man that may end up getting the best of me! I shook my head and reached for the door handle, opened it and slowly made my way into the room letting out a breath I had been suppressing as I heard the reassuring sound of the click as the door closed behind me.
Ok so now it is your turn—please tell me hate it, love it, good, bad, ugly…just tell me what you think!!! Thanks A million… promise the next up date won't take that long.