Everyday Ashley spent on the Savage Fang she used her freedom to her advantage. She would spend hours exploring the deck, finding new hallways. Memorizing the mens' shifts, and remembering who held the brig keys at what time of day. She observed the crew, and watched how they worked, who was weaker than the others. Barely sleeping, and rarely eating, her condition improved little because of the strain. At night she would give as much of her food as she could hide to Will, who would then distribute it amongst the other captives. Will would talk to Ashley, and she would relay all of her discoveries to him. One day Ashley came down the stairs to the brig in such a hurry, that she fell, making a large noise. Instantly, Will became alert.
"Dammit!" Ashley began cursing in an entirely different language that Will guessed was Spanish.
"Ashley, are you alright?"
"Sh! I'm fine. We're landing, tomorrow!"
"Tomorrow?!"
"Yes. And Wesset plans to take me and a few others ashore. But he also wants to take a large number of his men. He's afraid that I'll leave everyone, and escape." Her voice was barely above a whisper now, and Will had to strain to hear her.
"Do you have a plan?"
"Perhaps. But everyone's going to have to help. Else i's a waste of time."
"What are you planning?"
"I know what Wesset's thinkin'. He 'spects me to . . . well never mind. But what he doesn't 'spect me to do is go back to 'is ship."
"You're not making sense, Ashley."
"I'm gonna steal the keys, Jack an' his crew will break free, take over the ship, an' every all make a dash back to the Fang. Get it?"
"Wait. How are you, and whoever else he takes with you, plan on getting back?"
She chuckled at that. "Wait an' see, Mr. Turner. Wait an' see. Now, if yeh'll 'scuse me. I need to give the keys, to yer bloody captain." Tossing the keys to Jack, she walked over to him, and stood in front of the cell and looked down at the captain. He was laying on his back, with his eyes half shut. Not even noticing her, nor the keys laying at his feet, he continued staring off into space.
"Mr. Sparrow. The decision is yers now. I can't open that door and I can't motivate yer crew. If yeh decide to stop moping, raise this flag when yeh've successfully taken over the ship." Tossing some red material into his cell, it fluttered gently to his side.
"Mr. Sparrow. I don't beg, nor do I plead. I have done all that I can, and yeh've done nothing. A captain is supposed to take care of 'is crew. So far yeh've done a miserable job. Worse then I ever could. I lost my crew to that man up there. And every day that has passed since then. I wish I could have done something. But yer jus' sittin' there like it don't matter." Ashley's temper was rising. Eventually she gave up and just threw her hands up in the air, muttering something along the lines of 'I don't care anymore' and 'bloody awful pirate if yeh ask me.'
And Jack continued to stare at the ceiling, never moving or breaking his far off gaze.
~~**~~
Wesset had Ashley in arm chains as he led her into the smaller rowing boat. She was shoved rather roughly into the small craft, and then placed in the center, so that she would have no chance to escape. She laughed at the precautions everyone was taking to insure that she wouldn't get away. ~*Where would I be going with these shackles on?*~ She noticed that she was placed in a boat without anyone from Jack's crew. Four boats were being deployed in all, and she noticed that Will was one of the people in them. ~*Dammit. I was hoping they would leave him. No worries though, he'll be okay.*~ Wesset ordered the boats to be lowered, and soon they had hit the water.
Ashley began surveying the beach from where she sat. ~*Nothing special, I'll get a better look when we land.*~ Eventually a soft bump and a sudden stop told Ashley that they had landed. Wesset stooped down to help her up, but she refused, swung her feet over the side, and stood up.
Grabbing her arm, Wesset dragged her along a dirt path. They walked for what seemed like miles when, finally, Wesset jerked her to a halt. They were now standing in front of, what appeared to be a pond of some sort. Which was odd for one to be on an island, it was most likely made by people who had previously inhabited the beach.
"Remove her chains." Wesset ordered.
When they had been taken off, Wesset shoved her towards the pool.
"Dive in, and figure out the rest. If yer not surfaced in exactly half an hour, I'm gonna start shootin'. Got it?"
Ashley was a little shocked at this statement, but did not show it. ~*Half an hour? I'll be dead in half an hour.*~
With a small sigh, she began wading into the water until she got to the middle. Taking in a large gulp of air, she began swimming to the bottom. As she continued to plunge deeper and deeper, the water began to get murkier. She could barely see her hand in front of her face by the time she had reached the bottom. ~*Now what?*~ Swimming forward, she decided to explore a little. Lungs ready to burst, she wasn't sure whether to resurface or to keep swimming. ~*I always seem to have this problem. Why can't I ever stop drowning?*~ Suddenly, the pool stopped, and she was hitting against something smooth. ~*That's not right, it should be dirt. Shouldn't it?*~ The side of the wall was made of ~*stone? That's not possible.*~
Forgetting the burning sensation from the lack of oxygen, she began to make out tiny symbols carved in the rock. Tracing them with her fingers, she stopped, and went back. In one of the symbols was a hole. ~*I think my skull might fit in that . . .*~ Tearing off her treasured anklet, she thrust it into the hole.
Nothing happened.
Pulling it out she tried again.
Still, nothing happened.
~*Bloody hell I give up.*~
Reaching down for her anklet, she tried pulling it out of the hole.
It didn't budge.
~*I'm not leaving without it!*~
She tried prying it out with her fingernails, but to no avail.
~*Dammit! I'm not going to drown nor am I leaving here! Get out of the stupid hole!*~
Suddenly, she felt a sudden jerk, and was pulled forward. ~*Wha-?*~
~~**~~
Above the water, Will had been anxiously waiting, as with the rest of the men. Although his reasons for waiting were much different than anyone else's above the placid pool. He was genuinely worried about her, whereas Wesset and his crew were worried about the treasure, and Jack's crew was worried about their hides. ~*She'll make it. I know she will.*~
Will looked over at Wesset. He was now pacing around the edge of the pond. Finally, he stopped and growled something to one of his men. The man nodded frantically and indicated to the water. ~*What are they talking about?*~
"It should have happened by now!" Wesset shouted.
"Well, maybe she's a bit slow. An' she hasn't found it yet." At this Wesset pulled out his sword and sliced off the man's arm.
"Do yeh find me daft, Scabs?" The man, Scabs, was now clutching his bloody stump as he slumped to the ground. Just as Wesset was about to deliver another blow when he was interrupted. A bright, golden light was shooting out of the water. It was coming out in a straight tube, and went beyond the trees surrounding the island. Everyone was frozen as they watched the light continue swirling upwards, and then stop. It remained for about ten minutes, and then swirled back down.
"She's done it." And Wesset smiled as the light went below the water's surface.
~~**~~
Jack Sparrow had spent the entire morning fingering the keys Ashley had tossed in the cell. He recalled all the words she had spoken to him, recalled the accusing look he had been giving. To him, it was all pointless. No ship could ever come close to his. ~*Really, then why did this one catch up?*~ Jack shook his head and sat up. He surveyed his crew, and at their crestfallen expressions. Their expression mirrored their captain's. Hopelessness, anguish, they looked as though awaiting an execution. ~* 'Then yer not the captain I thought yeh were.'*~ And it was at that moment something snapped inside Jack.
Grabbing the keys he began twisting the lock off of his cell.
"Jack?! What are ye doing?" Gibbs whispered as the captain began sneaking down the hallway.
"Quiet! I'll be back in a minute." He hissed. Jack tiptoed his way to the stairs that led to the deck. Making his way to the deck, he saw all the men crowded around the side of the boat nearest to the island. Slightly curious as to why they would all be standing in a little band, Jack looked over and immediately saw what caused them to gather. There was a golden light shooting out of the trees, and going beyond the sky. And then, within minutes, it swirled back down, disappearing below the treetops. Jack sighed, ~*What did yeh do now, Ashley?*~
He went back below deck, and found an empty room. Quickly scanning it for weapons, he found a pistol, and a pair of swords. After hurriedly searching a few more rooms, with not much luck, Jack went back to the brig. Quickly taking out the keys, he began freeing his crew.
"'Ere. Take this." Handing Annamaria one of the swords, he began giving orders to his men.
"Gibbs, you and the rest of the crew need to make as much noise as possible. When the guards come down, me an' Annamaria will take care of 'em. After we get enough weapons, we need to take over the ship. Savvy?" He grinned. ~*Yeh've still got it, mate. Now let's hijack a ship . . .*~
A/N: Reminder!!! I'm grounded I CAN'T UPDATE FOR AWHILE!! Please review . . . it will make me happier!
