A/N: Well, let me try to explain why I won't be able to update for an unknown amount of time . . . I got grounded! Yeah! So right now I've snuck onto my computer, and am uploading EVERY CHAPTER I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN, so that you won't be sorely disappointed. Unfortunately do to frequent blackouts and freezing computer issues, I think I only have 2 new chapters coming at you this week . . . 2 weeks . . . hopefully not 3 weeks . . . So once again I am sorry but this is all I have now . . . I PROMISE to try and do my best! Please be patient and PLEASE keep those reviews coming. Even though I have a measly 6 . . . (3 from the same person . . . lol PINEAPPLELINT!!) And one email . . . ok anyways, enjoy! AND REVIEW DAMMIT! lol.
Ashley awoke to find the brig empty, all that was left was she and Jack. Finding this odd, she got up and made her way over to the sleeping captain.
"Wake up." She whispered. He didn't move, so she tried smacking him. That's when she noticed a gash through his stomach. Screaming, she tried to open the cage but Wesset was in front of her. There was Will's body, lying next to him on the floor, his head severed and lying a foot away from the crumpled corpse. She could not stop screaming, her whole self was swallowed up in the screaming. Wesset smiled and held a bloody knife,
"You're next. . ."
~~**~~
"NOOOO!" Sitting up, Ashley realized it had only been a dream. In a cold sweat, she kept gasping for air. Where am I? This is not the brig . . . A door opened, revealing a smirking Wesset. He was carrying a small tray of food, which he set down near the bed Ashley was laying on.
"I figured it was time for yeh to get those cuts healed, else yeh'll not be much use." Picking out an exotic looking fruit that she couldn't identify, Wesset handed it to her.
"Yeh need to eat, lass. So don't be acting all tough jus' 'cause yeh hate me." Munching into the juicy food, Ashley did not refuse.
"So, what is it yeh need me for?"
At this, Wesset smiled, picked out a piece of stale looking bread, and ripped off a hunk with his teeth. After he swallowed, he began,
"Do yeh remember how yeh got those pieces of treasure there?" Indicating the anklets on Ashley, he did not let her answer. "Yer mum gave them to yeh, didn't she? Said that if anything should ever 'appen to 'er, never let anyone have 'em." Ashley stared in utter shock How does he know this? No one was supposed to know . . .
"An' the only reason I know, is 'cause any pirate who ever believed that yer mum, and her ship was real, knew there was more than just yer little tribe. There's a treasure that can only be found by usin' the anklets, and the gel who has 'em. If I didn't need yeh, too, I woulda killed yeh and the crew days ago." Smiling he refused to answer any more questions.
"Now, I'm allowing yeh to wander about the ship as yeh please. 'Cause yeh need to get those damn injuries healed, an' the only way yeh'll get yeh strength back is by walking around. Now . . . yer a smart gel, so yeh know . . . no escapes. Else we'll have to use that 'motivation' I spoke of before."
When the door clicked shut, Ashley began wracking her brain for a solution. She was going to have to use her freedom as an advantage, explore the deck, find a way to get away. ~*I'll be fully healed and able to fight in another day or two, most likely. But we would have probably landed by then . . . if only I hadn't been so stupid to argue . . . wait a minute.*~ Ashley had not argued at all. Nor had she said anything to provoke the constant blows she had been receiving. ~*He planned this . . . he knows the only way out is if I get help from the crew.*~
"This is going to be a long trip." She muttered walking out onto the deck.
~~**~~
Jack continued sulking. He had watched the men come and carry Ashley away, and had not even made a move to the door. His crew was angry, they were tired of getting no response from their captain, and were all in a foul mood. Will tried his best to stay positive, knowing that Ashley was going to find a way to rescue them, and then Jack would come around.
"Jack." It was night, and once again, Will was trying to speak to the captain. The usual no response was his answer.
"Jack, you need to stop thinking about the Black Pearl. You have to save us. You have to save your crew. You're the captain, Jack."
Silence. But this time it was different. Jack was thinking about Will's words, and Ashley's.
"Please, Jack. We need you. They need you. I need you." Will knew he was getting somewhere, Jack had turned to look at him. Raven black eyes connected with soft bronze, and Jack spoke;
"Give it a rest lad." He turned away then, and decided to sleep. But the boy had other plans. Grabbing his shoulder, Will roughly turned Jack to face him.
"I stood in front of Norrington that day, and told him you were a good man. And I thought you were. But now I know . . . take away his ship, and the great Captain Jack Sparrow is no more." Will angrily turned his back on Jack, and sat in his cell. Pirates were sleeping everywhere, they had all given up, had all called it quits. ~*It's over, there's no more hope.*~
"Will!" A voice hissed at him.
"Ashley?"
"Sh! Ow! Damn barrel." Kicking it out of her way, Ashley began making her way to where she heard Will's voice.
"Ashley what are you doing here?"
"Wesset has given me full access to the ship. I'm going to get you out of here. Just not now . . . I need a plan first. Are you all right?" Ashley stuck her face close to the bars, and Will did the same.
"Yes, I'm fine. Everyone has given up, including Jack. There's no point in trying to rescue them." Ashley surveyed the broken spirited crew.
"Well . . . we'll deal with that later. Here." Shoving him a piece of the stale bread Ashley watched as Will ate hungrily.
"So what's going on? Why does Wesset need you?" Will asked between mouthfuls of bread.
"Something about a treasure and my anklet will lead them to it, and they need me to get them there. Oh, I don't really know. The important thing is finding a way out of here."
"What do you suggest?"
"I suggest yeh stay here, keep trying to get the asses to liven up a bit. I'm going to explore as much as I can. Maybe I'll think of a plan. But I doubt it." Grabbing her hand in his, Will looked up at her, and said,
"Just stay alive Ashley. Please don't do anything stupid. I don't want to see you hurt." For the first time in his life, Will saw Ashley smile. Even though it was a grim one, and the comment she made was even grimmer,
"Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about me. Wesset loves treasure to much to risk killing me. He'll kill yeh and the crew first."
Will gulped a little, and Ashley tried her best to reassure him, by putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Goodnight Will. And, Jack . . . next time, yeh can join in at any time, considering this is yer crew." Jack cursed silently as he watched Ashley's form disappear back up the stairs.
He was haunted the rest of the night by Will and Ashley yelling and screaming at him. His crew were dying all around him, and the Pearl was sinking over and over again. And at the end of all the dreams there was Will begging for help, and Ashley sitting farther off, shaking her head and then throwing herself upon her sword.
Jack Sparrow did not get much sleep that night . . .
