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She was struggling with the heavy chains, they were dragging her down farther and father below the surface. Already she had tried prying them with her hands, but all that had accomplished was leaving her with bloody fingernails. Then she had tried cutting them loose with her sword, now it was just tangled in the mess of metal. She would have cut off her foot, but that would mean sawing through her ankles. Blood attracts sharks, and already she was bleeding from the wound in her shoulder and the gash on her arm. Suddenly, she had an idea . . . She took out the dagger hidden in her pants, attached to her inner thigh, and pulled it out. Trying not to let her bursting lungs distract her, she concentrated, and began slicing her boots. By the time she had cut them off, darkness and dizziness was taking over her. She tried to ignore the flashes of white dancing in front of her eyes.


Coughing and sputtering, she managed to reach the surface. Her sopping wet hair was a tangled mess and was getting in her way. She tied it back with some cloth she ripped off of her shirt. She began to tear it more, so that her entire stomach was exposed. Still treading water, she tried to tie up her gash so that the blood would stop flooding into the sea. Immediately the white cloth turned crimson, as the blood began seeping through the material, but it was starting to stop.
The sun was setting, and she had no idea what she was going to do. The water was starting to feel a little cold as more and more of the golden orb in the sky disappeared behind the horizon. She was losing energy, fast, and she needed something to float upon. Most of the wreckage was too far away for her to swim to. Plus, Captain Wesset or some of his men might spot her, and then she'd be really be in trouble. Just as she was ready to give up, she saw a floating piece of wood, and using every last ounce of strength, she climbed aboard it. Lying flat on her back, she inspected her injuries, and saw that on top of the gunshot wound in her shoulder and the slash in her arm, her wrist was broken.


Weary and tired, she began paddling with her unbroken wrist, and head deeper into the ocean. Before collapsing into a dreamless sleep, she began to wonder, ~*how long can I survive without food or water?*~ She didn't want to think about that answer, she wanted to sleep.


~~**~~

Will Turner had exited the naval ship without much trouble. He had crawled out a window, and had landed unhurt, but a little disgruntled, at the port of Tortuga. The soldiers were not going to leave the ship for a while, so Will thought he might as well leave now, before he was caught. This is wrong, this is so wrong. His good-boy instincts were still lingering, which was odd considering he had just left his fiancé, daughter of a governor, stowed away upon a naval ship, and was now looking to join a pirate crew. ~*Maybe this was a mistake, maybe I should go back, apologize to Elizabeth, change my life, turn everything around. No, I've started this, and I can't turn back now.*~


Will strolled into the nearest tavern, it was called The Black Cat. He sat down, ignored the whores, and ordered a mug of something strong. The burning liquid ran down his throat, but he did not choke, instead he ordered another. He listened to various conversations, waiting for the moment to say something. Offer himself as an experienced pirate, his sword fighting skills would pass him off as one. He was a fast learner, he could become one of them, the smell would take awhile for him to get used to but . . .


A hand clapped down on his shoulder and a woman sat in front of him. It took him awhile to register that it was, "Annamaria," he greeted the female pirate. ~*That means.*~ "Jack!" Will turned around and came face to face with the kohl smudged eyes of the captain of the Black Pearl.

"That's CAPTAIN Jack, mate." The rugged pirate grinned, and sat down next to Will, his arm still clapped warmly on his shoulder.

"Where's Gibbs?" Will asked, as Jack ordered a mug for himself and Annamaria. Jack continued smiling, and proceeded to rest his feet on the table. Annamaria was picking her fingernails with a dagger.

"I suspect he's out getting pissed, as should we all." As Jack said this he reached for his mug, and began drowning it. Will began reaching for his, and Jack eyed him then asked nonchalantly, "Thought Miss. Swann, or 'scuse me, Mrs. Turner wasn't too fond of spirits?"

Will continued drinking, but looked away and quietly answered. "She isn't."

"Ah, Mr. Turner is being rebellious I see. When's the wedding, I haven't received an invitation yet, I think I'm offended."

Will's chocolate eyes seemed to get rounder and bigger as he began studying a crack on the table, "There isn't going to be a wedding."

"Ah, an elope then?" Jack smiled and continued, "Knew you had it in ya, boy."

"No, there isn't going to be a wedding because I left Miss Swann some hours ago." Will looked up at Jack as he saw the smiling pirate begin waving his arms around in his usual manner and offered a pathetic form of sympathy.

"Ah, Will, she was not for you. See, women, they talk, they complain, they chain you to a house, make you raise a family." Jack ignored the look of hate in Annamaria's eyes and continued, "Whereas one of these fine ladies," he pointed to one of the whores covered in makeup, she smiled at Jack and began making her way to the table, "don't give a rat's ass who you are, where you came from, so long as you got a couple of coins, they love you."


"Jack, I'm really not in the mood. I'm here to join a crew, not play around." At hearing this, Jack turned to Annamaria and he began to snicker. Partly from drink and partly from the absurdity of the statement Will had made, Jack fell off his chair and landed on the floor. Annamaria rolled her eyes and asked,

"And just how did you expect to join a crew, blacksmith?" She began to help Jack up, but he continued laughing, then abruptly stopped and looked seriously at Will. His dark eyes refocused and he asked,

"Whatever happened to 'bloody pirates' and being a noble blacksmith?"

"I guess I just missed the ocean, the spray of the salt, the constant rocking of a ship that no one can control. I don't know . . . I guess I'm a little crazy." Will looked up innocently at Jack, and to his surprise Jack was looking back intently at him. The same look he had when Will had mentioned his last name while in the jail at Port Royal.

"You're not crazy, lad, you've just made it clear."

"What have I made clear?"

"You're a pirate, there's no denying it." Jack grinned, and extended his hand, "Welcome aboard the Black Pearl!"

"What?!" Both Annamaria and Will looked at Jack. Annamaria looked ready to kill him, and Will was in utter disbelief.

"Are you crazy?! He's not a pirate!" Annamaria spat in disgust.

"My dear Anna, am I not your captain?" He grinned and watched as the young woman scowl.

"Aye, Captain. 'Scuse me." She got up, and was ready to leave when suddenly Jack grabbed her and muttered, "Get down!"

The three of them quickly hid under the table as twenty naval officers stormed in.

"Bloody hell, what are they doing here?" Jack was referring to the men now surronding the tavern, and pointing their guns at every man caught wearing a pirate brand.

"Oh no, they weren't supposed to come until later . . ." Will groaned and Annamaria whirled around.

"You knew they were coming?" She pointed her blade at Will, as he tried to explain.

"No, I had to stow-away on that ship because I had to get to Tortuga. I forgot to mention that they were coming!"
"Don't hurt the lad, Anna, he's on our side." Jack forced her blade down, and then began to think. ~*Hmmmm . . . There's only one way . . .*~
Jack grabbed Will by the throat and placed his blade to his neck. "What are you doing Jack!" Will cried, but recieved no answer from the determined captain.

"Gentlemen!" Adressing the officers, they all turned and saw the Turner boy being threatened by the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. They began to move foward as Jack shouted, "Don't move, or the lad gets it! And I don't think you gentlemen would want his blood on your hands. Annamaria my dear! Let us leave these good gentleman to their buisness!" Annamaria got up, and followed Jack out of the tavern. The second the three of them had left, Jack released Will, and laughed, "I suggest you run boy, c'mon!" Annamaria and Jack sped off, with Will in their wake.; He could hear Jack laughing, and then heard him shouting,

"Anna! Gather up the crew, we're taking off! And we're keeping to the code, get as many as you can, and then return when you hear 2 cannons fired! C'mon Will, me boy, it's time for us to set sail!"

The two men ran off into the darkness heading for The Black Pearl, laughing and disappearing into the night.
~~**~~

The sun was burning brightly on the girl. Usually she did not burn much, but her whole body was red and raw. Any kind of movement made her cry out in pain. Her lips were chapped and she was so thristy from the lack of water that she could barely speak. Not that she was speaking, she was alone, with her only company being the sun. One of the cuts was looking infected, but she wasn't too worried, if she lived, yellow puss and green ooze was going to be a minimal problem. ~*Damn you Wesset, I swear on honor I will find you and I won't hesitate to kill you.*~ She sighed, if she ever lived through this, it would be a miracle. ~*It would have been better to drown, curse my pride, I should have cashed it in, but no I wanted to fight, I wanted to survive.*~

She wanted to dive in the cool water, but she had tried that, and the salt water just burned her skin. And she was too weak to fight the pain anymore. Unaware that she was trailing her hand lazily in the water she began to scream in torture. The simple movement of rolling over set her whole body on fire again.

"KILL ME!" She screamed and refused to stop.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
~~**~~

"Jack . . . did you hear that?" It had been a day since their escape from Tortuga, and Will felt right at home. He had easily fit into the pirate lifestyle, receiving a hearty welcome from Gibbs, Cotton, and the rest of the crew. Even Annamaria seemed to be warming up to the newcomer. But no one was happier than Jack, even though he did not let his feelings show. He was so glad that the boy had come to his senses. ~*Will's made a good choice, poor lass though. But it's really not my problem, Elizabeth knows what's best. But now she'll be marrying that goddamn prick Norrington. Ah, well, tis not my concern.*~

"Did I hear what?" Jack was interrupted from his thoughts, and his new stock of rum, ~*Thank heavens for The Unicorn, Such a nice merchant ship, this is the best rum I've ever had.*~ "And it's Captain Jack!"


"ahhhhh!"

"That!" Will cried. "It sounds like . . . like . . ."

"It's a gel," Jack responded in a slurred voice.

"ahhhhhhhhh!"

"Sounds like she's being murdered!" Will cried, straining to hear the voice.

"'It's gettin' closer." Jack pulled a spyglass out of his pocket and began surveying the horizon. He saw a piece of driftwood, and called out to Annamaria. When he handed her the glass she confirmed what he thought.

"Aye, Captain! It's definitely a female. Looks like she's been out there for a couple of days, judging by her burns o' course. Should we steer around her then?

"No . . . " Jack looked out to the floating piece of wood. "Bring it closer to her, we're gonna pick her up."