Chapter 16
Bringing his sword down, preparing for the jarring feel of steel slicing through flesh and bone, Will was caught off guard as his sword was intercepted by another blade. He looked up and saw that Ana was the one who had stopped his attack. In return for her favor, the hilt of Jack's sword dropped and contacted the back of her head powerfully, making her crumple to the deck, motionless.
Everyone present stared blankly down at the subdued female, even Jack paused to consider the circumstance.
'You did what you had to, Jack,' the voice piped up, sensing his sudden flood of guilt and love for Ana taking hold.
'I didn't have to…not like that.'
'Oh but you did. If you hadn't, she would have led your crew in a mutiny…and you'd be back on that tiny little island alone and dying with no one to save you.'
'S'not true…'
'Jack, stop fighting the truth. No matter what you want to believe, the truth is never kind.'
Jack stared down at Ana's still form, remorse for his actions filling him and bringing life back to his empty eyes.
'Jack, no. Feeling pity for that terrible creature will seal your doom. Finish her.'
Jack's eyes flashed, and then dropped to their monotonous coloring once more as he raised his blade, aiming the tip down at Ana's exposed neck.
"What're doing?! Jack, stop!" Elizabeth exclaimed, fear for all their safety empowering her to speak against the seemingly mad pirate.
Jack looked up suddenly, the beads framing his face bouncing with the action and his dull eyes searching the crowd around him.
'Ignore her, Jack. Fulfill your destiny; start by destroying those who betrayed you. Embellish the legend.'
Jack returned his concentration to the woman as his feet and he lowered the blade's tip to rest lightly on the tender flesh.
"Jack, don't…you don't want to do this," Will pleaded, sheathing his sword in an attempt to show himself a friend and not a foe.
'He's wrong; you have to do this!'
"Yes I do." Jack repeated, his voice both his and not his.
Will backed a step. "Alright, but just do what's right for you…the real you."
Jack's eyes widened and returned to their normal state as the simple words sent him reeling through the past until his mind found the occasion when they were first uttered…
~*~
"Bill, what're you doing in here so late at night?"
Bootstrap stepped into the grand cabin, unconsciously worrying his hat which he held in front of him. He made no move to answer.
"Well? Answer man!" Jack demanded playfully, leaning back in his chair and putting his feet up on the table.
"The crew's gonna mutiny Jack…tonight from the sound of it."
Jack's chair clattered back down to all fours and he leapt from its comfort. "Mutiny?!"
Bootstrap nodded solemnly. "I know you don't like it, but know I'll have no part in it-"
Before Bootstrap could finish, the cabin door was shoved open with a flourish and several crewmen entered, all well armed. Jack drew his cutlass, instantly falling into a guard position.
Barbossa was the last to enter. He chuckled and drew his pistol, aiming for Jack's sword hand. With a single shot, the blade clattered to the floor and Jack held his hand that had been grazed with the bullet. Jack glared at his first mate even as he was seized by the arms and had his hands bound roughly behind him.
"Bloody, mutinous-"
"Jack, no." Bootstrap interrupted, his hands also bound. "Just do what's right for you…the real you."
~*~
Jack's arm swung around and the cutlass clattered to the deck, missing Ana completely. His hands flew to embrace his head, the fingers entwining in the dreads of hair.
'Jack, what're you letting your emotions do!? Pick up that sword and finish it. Finish it all!'
"No!" Jack screamed madly, pulling on his hair as he sank to his knees.
All on deck were now watching intently and Ana began to stir, only to find herself facing a madman.
'Give up Jack, you're mine.'
"Shut up! I don' belong t' no one!" Jack snarled his eyes squeezed tightly shut.
"Jack, what's wrong?" Ana asked somewhat hazily.
Jack simply gritted his teeth and let out a feral cry, fighting with the voice for control.