***Author's Note***
Posting another chapter! It's Christmas vacation so I'm taking advantage of the free time. I hope you all had a great holiday! A big thank you to all of those who reviewed the last chapter, comments are always appreciated. Thanks!
Chapter 8: Preparing for Leave
She's gone. All these years I've worked to protect her, yet I couldn't help her when she needed me the most.
I had promised her that I would never allow any danger to befall her. This is how I honor that vow?
Amanda was all that I had and the person who I loved most. It all ends now? This is all of my fault, maybe if I had listened to Jack--
I hear him stop dead in the doorway. I do not bother to look to him for comfort but instead approach my daughter's empty bed and lower myself down upon it. Tears well in my eyes and I bury my tear stained face into Amanda's feather pillow, breathing heavily, choking back sobs.
I listen as Jack paces the room and I wonder for a moment if he finds this ordeal amusing. No, even he could not be that heartless.
Then a sound that causes my blood to run cold reverberates through the room: laughter. It isn't a full laugh, nor is it joyous, just a deep and amused chuckle.
My body swings fast to look upon Jack. With hot tears in my eyes and a renewed anger in my bones I yell at him:
"What in the hell is so damn funny, Jack? Please tell me because, God I would REALLY like to know!" I pound my fist into my daughter's pillow as shout, wishing that it might wipe the smirk off of the older man's face.
His smile does fade and he ceases to laugh but begins to shake his head disappointingly.
"What?" I question, out of breath and confused.
"Well I see we have a bit of a problem young William. Don't we now?" Jack says coolly.
I stare at him, my mouth gaping wide 'a bit of a problem? A BIT of a problem?' How the hell does he see this as being a simple BIT of a problem?
"Jack--!" he doesn't allow me to finish.
"Now, before you begin to assault me. Something which I'm quite sure you've had your heart set on doing all night…actually, you have done a lot of that tonight haven't ye not?"
He looks to me with a slight smile but threatened by my facial expression, continues to speak.
"Well, like I was sayin', I must tell ye I am quite disappointed by your lack of determination in this little dilemma."
"Determination! Determination to do what, Jack?" I can hardly believe how ridiculous this conversation is. "To do what, Jack? Amanda is gone! Barbossa has taken her and there is no idea what he plans on doing--"
"Excuse me mate," Jack interjects "but I do believe that I was speaking. Now, since it appears that you have lost your determination to do anything for your daughter, it only seems fitting that I tell you an inspiring little story about a young lad I once knew who had more determination than I have ever seen in any grown man."
Furious now, I stand up next to Jack, taking advantage of my being taller than he is.
"Jack! I am in no mood for any of your rum stories!"
Jack waves his arms and shakes his head negatively, "No, no, no," he says. "I guarantee there is no rum in this story. Now sit down and listen."
Too lost and depressed to battle with Jack any longer, I succumb to his request and take a seat on the bed.
"All right, here we go. It was several years ago. I honestly can't remember how many years ago it was exactly, but it definitely was several--"
I lay down on Amanda's bed feeling absolute hopelessness take over me.
"I was on a small boat, searching for the Black Pearl which, as you know, is my ship NOT Barbossa's, that dirty ba--"
A cool breeze floats in from outside. I close my eyes and breathe it in.
"So, the bloody ship started to sink. I lost all of my rum supply which was short to begin--"
I look at Jack, my eyebrows scrunched together.
"Oh, right." He says." I promised no rum in this story, eh?" He chuckles softly and continues.
"So, I came to find out that I had made anchorage in Port Royal. Actually I shouldn't say I made anchorage because my boat had no anchor and the bloody thing was under water once I reached the dock. So, even if I had had an anchor I wouldn't ha' been able to make anchorage--"
Jack begins to laugh as his story unwinds but I only feel more helpless. I've lost my daughter, I'll never see her again, and all Jack can do is tell a tale that most likely does not concern me. I become drowsy…
************************************************************
"BANG"
Jack has woken me up and he looks at me questionably.
"You weren't sleeping were ye?"
"Of course not Jack," I lie sadly.
"Well that's good because this is the part where you should pay close attention, savvy?"
I simply nod and wait for Jack to continue his rum story.
"So, the young lad whom I had beat earlier in the fight approaches my cell and tells me that he needs my help in rescuing his bonnie lass." Jack pauses to make sure I'm listening.
My eyes widen slightly as I recognize this part of the story.
"Now, this lad was determined. I tell ye, I have never seen such determination. The lad was willing to team up with a pirate whom he did not trust in the least to save the lass he loved. He even told me at one point that he would have died to save her and believe me, on the adventure he in fact did come close to death a number of times. He sailed across the ocean, battling pirates and rabid monkeys to get what he wanted and do you know what?"
My heart starts pounding as I finally realize what Jack is trying to tell me. "What Jack?" I ask nervously.
Jack leans over towards me and whispers "the lad received his greatest treasure in the end." Jack smiles kindly and studies my face.
Something happens at this moment that hasn't happened once tonight. Despite my tears, my lips pull back uncontrollably to form a broad smile.
"I wonder what ever happened to that young lad. It would be great to see him again." Jack adds.
"You're right Jack!" I exclaim, leaping from the bed and heading for the door. "I can't give up one Amanda. I promised her and Elizabeth that I would not allow Amanda to come to any harm and I will not go back on that oath!"
Jack smiles, obviously thrilled that I have finally seen the light. "Now that sounds like the Will Turner I know and love!"
Jack and I rush downstairs, grabbing provisions for our adventure as we go. After I've put on my overcoat I remember something that I deem necessary for the trip.
"I'll return in a moment, Jack." I tell the pirate who nods in response.
Once again, I climb the creaky wooden steps that lead to the bedrooms. I enter my room and immediately move towards the wooden chest next to my bed.
After sorting through several personal belongings, my hands wrap around a long object at the bottom of the chest. Carefully, I lift the weapon from its resting and remove the brown paper in which it is wrapped.
Someone knocks on my front door but I don't heed it. I have much more important matters to tend to right now.
The sword shines dimly in the candlelit room, its blade still sharp after all its years of rest. I close the lid to the chest, extinguish the candle illuminating the room, and hurry back down stairs to join Jack.
I reach the bottom of the stairs just in time to hear another knock at the door. Jack casts a nervous glance in my direction, fearing the possibility that the Royal Navy has come, looking for him. I nod my head in the direction of the door and Jack, comprehending my intention, slips into hiding somewhere within the kitchen.
Once I'm sure he is completely out of view, I pull the front door open, still clutching my weapon, and gasp at the sight before me.
***To Be Continued***