Chapter 8:

A/N: I'm terribly sorry about this taking so long, I had started writing this yesterday but Christmas shopping prevented me from finishing it. So without further ado here it is. ~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~

I was leaning up against the windowsill of Ana's and my room; the dank seawater filled the air as I wished for a better day. There was no sign of the Pearl in view any more, it must've been blown to bits and sunk to the bottom of Davie Jones' locker by now. I slid my fingers length ways up and down the wooden sill remembering the feel of the Black Pearl under my fingertips.

Out of nowhere it seemed there was banging on our door and then a forced entry. "How dare ye keep this door locked!"

I turned my head around halfheartedly gazing at the average sized pirate before my eyes.

"It wasn't locked," Ana snapped back as she stood from the bed and made her way over to me. "Maybe it just got stuck."

The pirate groaned and shoved two dresses in our faces; one was green velvet with a dark flower print on the inside and lace around the edges. The second was of red velvet with tight sleeves that came to the elbows and black interior with no lace.

"I don't wear dresses," I turned my gaze back to the sea and ignored the stinky fellow.

"Too bad! The captain requests that you's wear these to dinner and I wouldn't pick a fight with the Captain, Reynolds, he's already prepared to kill you if you slip up just once."

"And I'm supposed to be scared by that?" I scoffed in his face.

"How about you leave the dresses here, wonder down to your own 'bed chamber' and take a bath while we put these on, savvy?" Ana snatched the dresses from the pirate and glared at him. He stumbled out of the room slamming the door behind him.

I faced her now with an enlightened look, "Savvy, eh?" She looked at me and then went back to fiddling with the green dress.

"Look if we're going to stay alive on this ship we better be on our best behavior."

"What? So we can be his puppets? So he could use us whenever he wanted? No! I will not sink to that level!"

"Who said we were going to be his puppets, after tonight I don't think we'll have to worry much. I'll find us a way off of this ship."

"Oh that's comforting."

"What? Do you have a better idea?" Her big brown eyes showing a hint of disgust and anger but yet a lot of compassion and caring.

I shook my head and she passed me the burgundy colored dress. I held it in my hands the soft feel of the fabric rubbing on my fingertips; it had been so long since I wore a dress. "Why did you do it?" I asked curiously.

"Why did I do what?" Ana was struggling with the ties in the back of her dress so I began lacing her up.

"Why did you come? Why did you try to protect me?" I listened in silence for a moment awaiting her answer.

"Because you meant a lot to Jack. He trusted you so much and looked to you as a little brother or a son even. I figured if he was dead I could at least keep part of him with me if I was with you."

"You must've really cared for him then?" I paused as I tightened the last lace, "did you love him?"

She turned and looked me in the eye, I no longer saw the cold-hearted woman that I had first met when I boarded. I now saw a loving, respectable, woman who was worried and tired beyond belief but also filled with rage. "I'm sorry," I did the first compassionate thing that I had done in years; I hugged her.

Her straight wispy brown hair was soft on my cheek and I smiled slightly as it tickled my nose. "Thank you for coming with me, I don't know what I would've done or said if you weren't here. I might've already been dead by now."

"Your welcome, now lets get you into this dress." Ana backed up and pulled the dress from my clenched fingers.

"This is going to take some talent," I sighed loud as she had me change my clothes.

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The crew of the Pearl waited endlessly for the fuse to cut short and for the ship to blow so that they might feel at peace one more time. Sparrow's body lay face down on the deck, the blood from his side wound seeping out in a puddle around him.

"Jack! Jack!" Turner began yelling in hopes that his Captain was still alive.

"Give it up boy! He's dead as we will be shortly," Gibbs spoke wearily.

"But if he is alive there is a possibility of us not dying," Turner continued to shout.

Sparrow had long been lost in a dream, a memory that he had forgotten. He stood before a small sea cottage with beautiful flowers blooming in a large garden by the cliffs that pointed towards the roaring sea. Sparrow took long strides to reach the inside of the house; he opened the door and saw a woman cooking in the kitchen.

The woman was wearing common plain colored clothing but her enchanting golden hair hung to the center of her back. She was fixing what looked like beef stew as Sparrow approached her. "Sarah?"

The woman faced him with confused eyes and then out of nowhere it seemed a bolt of lightning struck her and she was no longer dumbfounded. "Jack?"

Just then an older woman came down the steps, she bore fierce eyes and tangled black hair. "Sparrow get out of this house! You're not welcome here! Leave!" She began shoving him towards the door pushing him frantically away from her sister, whom was shouting from the kitchen doorway.

"Martha! Martha please stop!" Her cries seemed to wield empty hopes. She peered to the steps where a small child was poking her head through the railing watching the events as they continued. "Justine! Get up stairs now! You listen to mommy, get up stairs!" The girl took off up the steps running from the scene.

"Justine? Justine!" Sparrow started to fight back now, he threw the woman from him and ran after the child, his beads jingling as he ran. Sarah had grabbed a pot from the kitchen and in a desperate attempt to save her child from being taken from her she hit him over the head.

"Jack! JACK!" Sparrow was brought back to reality when Turner's shouts became screams.

"Oy?" He rolled over on his back and looked at the crew who were tied up. "Why are all of you tied up? Some kind of new game you're playing?"

"Jack, listen there's a ton of gunpowder bellow deck and at any moment this ship will explode if you do not cut the fuse! Jack, the Pearl will be lost forever if you do not cut the fuse!"

"I heard you the first time, I got to get up don't I?" Sparrow turned from the crew and walked down the steps to the hold where all the gunpowder had been placed. "So this is what all the fuss is about," he looked in between his feet and found a trail of gunpowder leading to the sacks of gunpowder, shortly after he saw that the flame travel in between his feet and straight for the sacks. "No flame! Bad flame!" He chased after it and cut it short.

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Ana-Maria and I were led down a narrow hallway to the Captain's quarters where we were requested to have dinner. I entered the room behind Ana keeping an eye open for any surprises.

"Please ladies, take a seat." Millson had two of his 'loyal' pirates scoot our chairs out for us and push us back in towards the table. I watched intently as the food was brought out onto the table. "My, my Reynolds you clean up nice."

I sat silently gripping the arms of my chair; it was true though Ana had done a fine job cleaning me up. I had no idea I looked like this under all of that dirt I had caked on my face. Instead of my hair being unruly and separated it was brushed and the curls were not as harsh anymore and my face looked fresh like a porcelain doll; I felt like one too. But Ana was right, we had to keep up appearances, so I acted like a lady for the first time in my life.

"That will be all," Millson excused his comrades from the room. "My dear, you look radiant I only wish I had a name to place with such a tender body as yours." He was talking to Ana, trying his best to flatter her so that she might not put up a fight later when he wanted her in his bed.

"My name is Ana-Maria, and you sir? What is your name?" She carefully sliced her steak awaiting his reply.

"Kurt, Kurt Millson. Oh Justine, darling, would you pass the salt please?"

I froze in my seat, my eyes widened and fear swept over my body like a winter chill. Ana gaped at me wanting me to just hand him the salt and forget about my thoughts but I went on anyway. "How is it that you know my name?"

An evil grin stretched across his face as he started to talk, "Did you forget that I had a surprise for you?" He paused for a moment, gazing at my bewildered expression. "Christopher, would you please come here?"

The man he was calling to stepped out of the shadows and into the light of the room. I pulled myself up from the table, my silver wear dropping to the floor, "It's not possible. You're dead! I killed you!"

"Now is that anyway to talk to your step-father?" The man approached me and I continued to back up.

"You abused me and my mother, you're supposed to be dead!" I circled around the table and soon found Millson's filthy paws grabbing me. He pulled me onto his lap as I struggled to get free.

"Well obviously I'm not!" The doors to the room slammed shut and the torture began but our screams did not bring help or a safer passage but more pain and battery.

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A/N: Sad, yes I know, but more to come soon! Please review and thanks for all the reviews I have received so far! You guys really seem to like this story and I want you to know that is greatly appreciated! Thanks again! And until next time, TA!