AN// Aww... I LOVE you guys! PASSED ONE HUNDRED!! I'M ONE REALLY HAPPY
PERSON! Thank you! You made a very large portion of my life!
Story Plug =Though shameless that it is= I posted a short story called "Hello". I'm plugging it here because it's a sort of spinoff of Things Change had the movie plot occurred as it had and Patricia's feelings for Will was purely platonic. It's short but I heard it was a real angsty one so *shrug* Give me a little feedback there as well.
=Nevasaiel= You've been following and have only NOW reviewed!? I wonder how many others are hiding in lurkdom? Haha... no worries though. LOVE you for reviewing.
=Yume= still more bones to pick with you! I don't have to worry about you killing me after this will I?
=Maren L P= Evil? I am evil? I can completely stop writing this story and never update again. THAT is evil... but wait.. uhh *reads back story* oh wait... look at all those cliffies.. and im about to kill off a character! Fine! I may be a bit malicious but I'm NOT evil!
NOT FOR THE QUEASY STOMACHS!!!!!!!!!
NO MATTER WHAT I DO TO EITHER WILL OR PATRICIA, YOU GUYS STILL LOVE ME
RIGHT?
.... *crickets* uhhhh oh...
Chapter 22:
"Why do I feel like something's wrong?" Elizabeth muttered, staring out at the dark silhouette of the island. With her near perfect vision, she could almost see specific leaves sway in the night breeze. The sliver of a moon danced light on the waves and, from a distance, she could still hear them crash against each other on the sand.
"It's just nerves, Miss Swann," AnaMaria reassured the less experienced woman. "everything on that island is under control for as long as Jack is awake and Will isn't separated from him..."
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"Adena!" a guard called from the outside. He swooped in, seeing his leader leaning over the foreigner, as she cut his hand. Without a word of explanation, he understood what had just occurred. "Adena, my lady." The guard came down to a knee and Adena stood up straight to acknowledge her subject.
"What is it?" Will looked up stonily at the new guest.
"What have you done to Jack?" he asked, placidly. "I ask that you set him free as well, Adena. You don't need him either. His mission was to rescue Patricia and once she's freed, he'll be gone along with her..." The guard stepped back in shock.
"I... I understood the foreigner!" the guard exclaimed.
"He has inhaled the natrysk fumes... He can understand all of us as well as we can now understand him," Adena explained nonchalantly. The guard regained composure and stood straight again.
"The other prisoner refused to cooperate. We had to knock him out," the guard explained. Adena nodded and waved the guard away. Her smile replaced itself on her face as she looked down at Will as he stood up, watching his blood drip from his palm. Taking a ripped cloth from his sleeve, he wrapped his hand even when he knew the knife was poisoned with the same herb that poisoned the waters around him. The bandage would only serve as a tourniquet, slowing the inevitable consequence of what he has decided.
"He shall be freed," Adena answered after some moments of silence. "And from what I see you are an honorable man as well. You will not try to escape... You know that the guilt of running away will kill you. You also know that taking your love away from here will just render her powerless and broken... dying most probably before you even make it to another port..." Will looked away, hearing the silent mocking laughter underneath Adena's voice. "You are free to roam and stay in your friend's hut to keep him company. Some water and bread will be sent there..."
"If I can... I mean... if you can," Will stammered. "Can't you untie Patricia and take her to the hut? She'll die just staying out there all night before sunrise..."
"She shan't die... Banlu is flawless in his ways... In her bleeding, the Sacrifice... well, the former Sacrifice now, isn't she?... she wouldn't have drawn her last breath until first light," Adena rolled her eyes. "But I guess I'll comply with your last wishes... Come..." Adena walked out, closely followed by Will. Banlu walked with Adena, his hunched back, a sharp contrast to the tall, straight posture of the queen.
"Free her," Banlu ordered when they reached the town center. Audible gasps were heard all throughout the village. The guards hurriedly cut the ropes, handing their ends to Adena, who then gave reign to Will.
"Calm, my people," Adena said in a clear cut voice. "We shall have our Sacrifice but in this occasion, there shall be TWO in the event of one death." The crowd murmured in confusion. "This man is sacrificing himself in return for the woman he so happens to love. For her life and for the people his fathers have taken from us... he shall die." Some were impressed. Some were indifferent. No one cared enough to stop the bloodshed. Everyone stood silent, just watching a repeat of history. "At daybreak, we gather..." As if on cue, the crowd dispersed and left Will, Adena, Patricia, Banlu and two guards.
"So it's done then?" William confirmed.
"At daybreak, you spill your blood," Adena replied simply. He nodded his head and bent down to gather Patricia into his arms. She was barely conscious but Will could feel her breath and sighed in happiness knowing she'd continue breathing after this. "Take them to their friend. They shall stay there till the ritual. Bring them food and water as well." The guards nodded and led the way.
Far in the outskirts of the village was a heavily guarded hut. Torches lit it as it did the central shack but this one had a more dank atmosphere than did the former, which reaked of the royalty that resided in it. Through the straw door, Will lay Patricia softly on the ground, seeing Jack's figure at the the otherside of the floor, unmoving. The guards brought some bread and water into the hut, putting them down on the floor beside the the couple.
"Patricia?" He tried to raise her to sit her up but at a moment's touch, she recoiled away.
"It... It stings... Everywhere," she choked. "I can barely move." Her voice was barely above a whisper and Will strained to hear it. He looked at his fingertips and saw what was hurting her. She was still pinpricked with whatever they used on her and the bleeding hadn't even clotted just as Adena had explained.
"I'm sorry, love," he replied in the same low voice. "You're cut everywhere but your face and neck, I think..." Patricia shook her head.
"I'm fine..." His hand reached below her neck, safely raising her without her as much.
"No you're not... You're in pain," Will stated.
"Nothing I can't handle," she answered but Will saw the lie as Patricia shifted on her seat and saw the intense grimace at any movement. "Why am I put in here?" Her eyes surveyed the dimly lit shack and then looked at Will as if just realizing he was there. "Will! What are YOU doing here? Why'd you go after me?!"
"You didn't want me to?!" Will retorted.
"You shouldn't be here. You shouldn't have followed," she said angrily. "Leave!"
"I can't believe you're angry that I came after you!" Will said in disbelief, a bit irritated as well.
"Will, PLEASE leave," Patricia begged. Her anger was all too soon gone and her own tears of frustration came. She wanted to get up and drag him out of the village herself but even the slightest movement made her wince. "They'll kill you too... PLEASE. You have to go before they bleed you as well... and take Jack..." Will looked at her and saw her desperation. "Please... just go..."
"No," Will groaned in exasperation. "I'm not leaving... and neither is Jack..."
"They'll kill you..." she implore him, pushing him away as he tried to lean into her. "You have to get away from here..." Will just dodged her hand when he leaned in again, taking Patricia's face into his hands, gently wiping away her tears.
"I'm not leaving," he said in a gentler but firmer voice. "I'm taking care of you just like I always said I would..." He kissed her softly, trying to shush to quiet sobs erupting from her throat. "I promise you.. you'll get out of this alive, alright?" She tried to shake her head but Will kept her head from moving to the sides. "Alright?" Patricia looked up at Will.
"Alright," she whispered, not entirely believing it, especially when knowing the truth herself.
"Now here... take a sip of water... It's dangerous to go so long without it," Will ordered taking a bowl of the water given to them by the guards. He raised it to her lips and slowly let it flow pass them and down her throat.
"What's the point?" Patricia whispered, her voice less raspy with the moisture. "I'm dying anyways."
"I thought you agreed to my promise," Will whined.
"That doesn't mean it changes what's inevitable..." Sadness swept through her. "I was made to breathe these flowers... It made me understand every word they said and I know what's going on with me..."
"What do you mean?" Will asked playing dumb, as he ripped the bread to the tiniest pieces.
"Don't lie... I can smell the smoke on you," Patricia accused him. "You know what I'm talking about... There's no cure... No way to help me.. You get me out of here and I'll die slowly right in front of your eyes..." She looked away from him. "I'm dying right in front of you now! I can barely move, much less talk but I'm forcing myself through it because you're here and I NEED to talk to you..." A crack appeared in her voice and she stopped. Taking a few calming breaths, she continued. "Why did you have to come here? It only makes accepting the unavoidable that much harder!" Will bit his lip, not wanting to let her know of his deal with Adena because he knew it would make her upset even more.
"Just eat something... please?" Will pouted. Even while the pit of her stomach revolted at the thought of food and her whole body stung, Patricia managed a smile at Will's pleading face, adorable as it was.
"It won't change anything..." she sighed.
"Just eat... for me..." he begged. Seeing that Will was holding food out to her pursed lips, she understood that he was pretty much bent on hand- feeding her as well so she opened her mouth up as he dropped the breadlings in.
"You're such a stubborn mule," she smirked, remembering that she had called him the same name only a few days before.
"Takes one to know one, love," Will replied. Patricia swallowed her food and shook her head when he offered more.
"My appetite isn't exactly alive, Will," Patricia explained. Gritting her teeth through the unnecessary pain she was going through just to put her head on his lap, she shifted and lay down. "I just want to go to sleep please..."
Patricia closed her eyes, learning her last memory by heart... How Will's fingers grazed gently on her cheek... His heart beating inside his chest above her head... How his breath caressed her skin as he leaned over her... The lips that kissed her gently on the cheek and whispered I Love You in her ear... And his tears falling from his eyes, dropping to her skin and sliding down like butter...
************************************
The sky was lighter. Jack groaned as he raised his head, blinking up into the dimness.
"What the hell..." His mind was wandering through his scattered memories. The dark strangers, the man with the club... His eyes focused on the couple across from him. Will was awake, looking down at Patricia, who was laid down in streams of her own life-giving liquid. "Will! Is she...?" Jack feared the worst, seeing the girl so pale under the blood.
"No... not yet," Will replied, his hands stroking her tangled hair. Crawling to them, he choked back a sob, seeing Patricia so near death's door.
"Why won't the bleeding stop? Why haven't you cleaned her up?" Jack asked in hushed tones.
"It's slowed down at least... I think the bread is counteracting what they did to her..."
"What they did to her..." Jack repeated, questioningly.
"The stories were true... Abegnale died from something in the water that wouldn't let him stop bleeding and Patricia was dying from it too..." Jack could hear the eerie calm behind Will's voice andhe was immediately suspicoius of the young man.
"Was? What do you mean 'was'?" Will stayed silent, caressing Patricia's face lovingly. "William, what did you do?"
"The only thing I could to save her..."
"Please tell me you didn't..."
"Didn't what?"
"Will, I know you're a sucker for all this romantic nonsense and Tricia, here, must have a passion for that rubbish as well, but you can't play hero! Did you trade yourself off for her?" Jack demanded.
"Yes..." Will answered.
"Stupid bastard! Why?! They'll kill her the moment you die! And they'll kill me too! Are you so naïve to think that we'll be safe just because you bloody sacrifice yourself for us?!"
"They may be murdererd but they are honest... They are doing nothing but try to balance the number of death baused by our race to theirs... It's nothing but revenge..."
"Honourable revenge then?"
"If there is such a thing..." Will looked out the window. He could see Adena nearing and in his arms, he felt Patricia moving to wakefulness.
"I'm still alive?" were the first words that left Patricia's mouth. "Dying really isn't half as bad as I thought it would be... Does it make sense that you fell better while you move closer to death?" Jack couldn't help but smile at the girl's attempt at humor.
"Not really since you're moving further away from it," Jack answered as the guards entered the hut.
"It is time, William," Adena announced. Jack looked confused having never inhaled the Natrysk fumes but Will and Patricia understood though the latter didn't understand the meaning. She stood up confused.
"Will?" Patricia's eyes widened. Her mind began to race as the guards first took Will and bound his hands behind his back. Jack was just poked at by spears as was Patricia though a heavy hand clutched her wrist. She turned and saw the soldier from yesterday who had initially taken her captive. Banlu walked over to Will and drew a line from ear to ear making its path across the neck. His finger left a lasting line, made by ash.
"Patricia... just let it go," Will murmured. He was still beside her and he bent down slightly to kiss her on her hair.
"Will?" Her voice was small when he retreated and she turned to Jack. "Jack, what's he doing? Why is HE being marked and not me?"
"Don't tell her, Jack..." Will requested shaking his head but the pirate glared at his friend's son.
"He's given himself up for you," Jack said disgustedly.
"What?" Patricia exclaimed shocked. Will just shook his head and looked away as Adena led him out with Banlu. "Will!" She tried to run after him but she realized why the guard was holding onto her so tightly. "Let me go!" she shrieked hitting the guard on the chest. He just grinned maniacally down at her and began to follow Adena out, Patricia in tow. Jack followed reluctantly as well, though Patricia could swear that she saw a nervous lump swallowed at his throat.
"A life for a life... And this time we have a bargain, for two lives are saved in the expense of one man..." Patricia strained to hear the sounds since it was taking place to another of the pools made by the stream. A crowd surrounded Adena, Will and Banlu who stood a little away from the stream. Will was put to his knees and he was looking up at the crowd, his eyes searching until they landed on Patricia, who stood helpless on the otherside of the stream. He gave her a slow and sad smile and she just looked back at him blankly. Her mind still couldn't process what the hell he was doing there on his knees. She didn't even realize that the guard had guided her across the water until she was standing about ten feet away from Will to his right.
"Will... what are you doing?" she whispered under the loud booming voice of Adena.
"Saving you," he said simply, his eyes never leaving hers. "You feel stronger than last night right? You're still bleeding a bit but it's slowed down at least... they'll give you the rest of the medicine after..."
"You... you can't... how... Will, what are you saying.. please ... just tell me," Patricia entreated.
"I... You know what's going on, love..." Patricia's heart started to beat faster and her tears began to flow out.
"Are they going to sacrifice you instead...?" Will nodded, solemnly. "Will... don't do this!"
"I already made my choice, love..."
"You can't do this to me!" Patricia began to sob. She felt Jack's presence behind her and her free hand held onto his as she began to shake.
"I'm doing it for you," he replied. "You would have died at sunrise if I don't do this..."
"You expect me not to die soon after if I have to watch this?!"
"You won't... you're better than that... I know you too well, Patricia. You'll go on after me."
"No, I won't!" Her voice raised to a shout as her sobs cracked her voice too severely to whisper. "Will! Please... don't do this... Don't leave me now..."
Before Will could answer, Adena took Will by the hair pulling his head backwards exposing his neck. All the pieces fell into place and Patricia blanched when she saw Banlu raise a bowl of herbs next to Will's neck. Adena had a knife in the other hand and was preparing to strike.
"Adena! Banlu!" Patricia shouted trying to go after them. She could hear the snickering of the crowd at her attempts to stop the certain but she couldn't care less. The guard however grabbed both her arms and held her to him so she could barely lean an inch. "Adena! I'm the sacifice! I'm the one who's blood should be spilled! PLEASE! Don't... Don't touch him!!" Adena just looked up at Patricia, her sadistic smile evident on her face.
"His choice has been made," Adena grinned. "And you will be here to witness his choice become reality..." Without warning, the knife she held just below Will's ear sliced cleanly through across the neck. The blood literally gushed into the air and spilled out into the bowl Banlu held. Patricia's stomach almost heaved at the sight and her cries were bordering hysterical as her body went limp. Jack fell to his knees as well trying to comfort the sobbing girl who tried to crawl to Will's body but she was pulled away by another guard.
"Don't touch her!" Jack roared trying to come after the natives but the original guard held him back. "You promised Will you wouldn't touch us!!"
"Don't worry. We may be what you consider murderers but we honor our word... The girl shall not be harmed..." Patricia looked on, wanting to go the body still spilling crimson as it lay dead on the ground. Much to her repulsion, Banlu came towards her, holding out the bowl.
"Don't touch me..." she muttered, bitterly, feeling nausea creep in, smelling the pungent smell of the blood.
"I must, young one," Banlu replied. He tipped the bowl over and slowly some of Will's blood dripped onto her arms, her chest, back and legs. Lastly, he dropped blood to the original wound on her hand. As he did this, Patricia started to scream in protest.
"What are you doing?!!" she shrieked. The blood was still warm and it felt sticky on her skin. "Get it off me! Get it off! How could you?! This is indecent... This is... How could you...?! Fucking get away!" As if on her order, Banlu stepped back and the guards pushed her into the stream. The blood was washed away and as she emerged from the water, her skin had become flawless... almost unearthly perfect, not a blemish on the porcelain skin.
Patricia realized that she was released and she ran to Will's side, falling to her knees. Her hands were at first hesitant but she swallowed her body's uneasiness and pulled Will to her. Her sobs began to increase in intensity. Her fingers, staining with his blood, grazed his cheek.
He was still warm... his blood still gently flowed... His skin still retained its olive complexion but she saw his eyes...
"Will?" Patricia sobbed. "Will... Why did you have to be... stupid? Why did you do this?!" Her fingers covered the eyes that lost its light and life... "Why did you have to leave me?" Her body curved in over his and her cries grew louder and even more painful to hear than before.
((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))
AN/// uhhhhhhhhhhhhh ohhhhhhh...... Hahah.. don't kill me? Just remember.. it's not done yet! Just review okay?
Story Plug =Though shameless that it is= I posted a short story called "Hello". I'm plugging it here because it's a sort of spinoff of Things Change had the movie plot occurred as it had and Patricia's feelings for Will was purely platonic. It's short but I heard it was a real angsty one so *shrug* Give me a little feedback there as well.
=Nevasaiel= You've been following and have only NOW reviewed!? I wonder how many others are hiding in lurkdom? Haha... no worries though. LOVE you for reviewing.
=Yume= still more bones to pick with you! I don't have to worry about you killing me after this will I?
=Maren L P= Evil? I am evil? I can completely stop writing this story and never update again. THAT is evil... but wait.. uhh *reads back story* oh wait... look at all those cliffies.. and im about to kill off a character! Fine! I may be a bit malicious but I'm NOT evil!
NOT FOR THE QUEASY STOMACHS!!!!!!!!!
NO MATTER WHAT I DO TO EITHER WILL OR PATRICIA, YOU GUYS STILL LOVE ME
RIGHT?
.... *crickets* uhhhh oh...
Chapter 22:
"Why do I feel like something's wrong?" Elizabeth muttered, staring out at the dark silhouette of the island. With her near perfect vision, she could almost see specific leaves sway in the night breeze. The sliver of a moon danced light on the waves and, from a distance, she could still hear them crash against each other on the sand.
"It's just nerves, Miss Swann," AnaMaria reassured the less experienced woman. "everything on that island is under control for as long as Jack is awake and Will isn't separated from him..."
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"Adena!" a guard called from the outside. He swooped in, seeing his leader leaning over the foreigner, as she cut his hand. Without a word of explanation, he understood what had just occurred. "Adena, my lady." The guard came down to a knee and Adena stood up straight to acknowledge her subject.
"What is it?" Will looked up stonily at the new guest.
"What have you done to Jack?" he asked, placidly. "I ask that you set him free as well, Adena. You don't need him either. His mission was to rescue Patricia and once she's freed, he'll be gone along with her..." The guard stepped back in shock.
"I... I understood the foreigner!" the guard exclaimed.
"He has inhaled the natrysk fumes... He can understand all of us as well as we can now understand him," Adena explained nonchalantly. The guard regained composure and stood straight again.
"The other prisoner refused to cooperate. We had to knock him out," the guard explained. Adena nodded and waved the guard away. Her smile replaced itself on her face as she looked down at Will as he stood up, watching his blood drip from his palm. Taking a ripped cloth from his sleeve, he wrapped his hand even when he knew the knife was poisoned with the same herb that poisoned the waters around him. The bandage would only serve as a tourniquet, slowing the inevitable consequence of what he has decided.
"He shall be freed," Adena answered after some moments of silence. "And from what I see you are an honorable man as well. You will not try to escape... You know that the guilt of running away will kill you. You also know that taking your love away from here will just render her powerless and broken... dying most probably before you even make it to another port..." Will looked away, hearing the silent mocking laughter underneath Adena's voice. "You are free to roam and stay in your friend's hut to keep him company. Some water and bread will be sent there..."
"If I can... I mean... if you can," Will stammered. "Can't you untie Patricia and take her to the hut? She'll die just staying out there all night before sunrise..."
"She shan't die... Banlu is flawless in his ways... In her bleeding, the Sacrifice... well, the former Sacrifice now, isn't she?... she wouldn't have drawn her last breath until first light," Adena rolled her eyes. "But I guess I'll comply with your last wishes... Come..." Adena walked out, closely followed by Will. Banlu walked with Adena, his hunched back, a sharp contrast to the tall, straight posture of the queen.
"Free her," Banlu ordered when they reached the town center. Audible gasps were heard all throughout the village. The guards hurriedly cut the ropes, handing their ends to Adena, who then gave reign to Will.
"Calm, my people," Adena said in a clear cut voice. "We shall have our Sacrifice but in this occasion, there shall be TWO in the event of one death." The crowd murmured in confusion. "This man is sacrificing himself in return for the woman he so happens to love. For her life and for the people his fathers have taken from us... he shall die." Some were impressed. Some were indifferent. No one cared enough to stop the bloodshed. Everyone stood silent, just watching a repeat of history. "At daybreak, we gather..." As if on cue, the crowd dispersed and left Will, Adena, Patricia, Banlu and two guards.
"So it's done then?" William confirmed.
"At daybreak, you spill your blood," Adena replied simply. He nodded his head and bent down to gather Patricia into his arms. She was barely conscious but Will could feel her breath and sighed in happiness knowing she'd continue breathing after this. "Take them to their friend. They shall stay there till the ritual. Bring them food and water as well." The guards nodded and led the way.
Far in the outskirts of the village was a heavily guarded hut. Torches lit it as it did the central shack but this one had a more dank atmosphere than did the former, which reaked of the royalty that resided in it. Through the straw door, Will lay Patricia softly on the ground, seeing Jack's figure at the the otherside of the floor, unmoving. The guards brought some bread and water into the hut, putting them down on the floor beside the the couple.
"Patricia?" He tried to raise her to sit her up but at a moment's touch, she recoiled away.
"It... It stings... Everywhere," she choked. "I can barely move." Her voice was barely above a whisper and Will strained to hear it. He looked at his fingertips and saw what was hurting her. She was still pinpricked with whatever they used on her and the bleeding hadn't even clotted just as Adena had explained.
"I'm sorry, love," he replied in the same low voice. "You're cut everywhere but your face and neck, I think..." Patricia shook her head.
"I'm fine..." His hand reached below her neck, safely raising her without her as much.
"No you're not... You're in pain," Will stated.
"Nothing I can't handle," she answered but Will saw the lie as Patricia shifted on her seat and saw the intense grimace at any movement. "Why am I put in here?" Her eyes surveyed the dimly lit shack and then looked at Will as if just realizing he was there. "Will! What are YOU doing here? Why'd you go after me?!"
"You didn't want me to?!" Will retorted.
"You shouldn't be here. You shouldn't have followed," she said angrily. "Leave!"
"I can't believe you're angry that I came after you!" Will said in disbelief, a bit irritated as well.
"Will, PLEASE leave," Patricia begged. Her anger was all too soon gone and her own tears of frustration came. She wanted to get up and drag him out of the village herself but even the slightest movement made her wince. "They'll kill you too... PLEASE. You have to go before they bleed you as well... and take Jack..." Will looked at her and saw her desperation. "Please... just go..."
"No," Will groaned in exasperation. "I'm not leaving... and neither is Jack..."
"They'll kill you..." she implore him, pushing him away as he tried to lean into her. "You have to get away from here..." Will just dodged her hand when he leaned in again, taking Patricia's face into his hands, gently wiping away her tears.
"I'm not leaving," he said in a gentler but firmer voice. "I'm taking care of you just like I always said I would..." He kissed her softly, trying to shush to quiet sobs erupting from her throat. "I promise you.. you'll get out of this alive, alright?" She tried to shake her head but Will kept her head from moving to the sides. "Alright?" Patricia looked up at Will.
"Alright," she whispered, not entirely believing it, especially when knowing the truth herself.
"Now here... take a sip of water... It's dangerous to go so long without it," Will ordered taking a bowl of the water given to them by the guards. He raised it to her lips and slowly let it flow pass them and down her throat.
"What's the point?" Patricia whispered, her voice less raspy with the moisture. "I'm dying anyways."
"I thought you agreed to my promise," Will whined.
"That doesn't mean it changes what's inevitable..." Sadness swept through her. "I was made to breathe these flowers... It made me understand every word they said and I know what's going on with me..."
"What do you mean?" Will asked playing dumb, as he ripped the bread to the tiniest pieces.
"Don't lie... I can smell the smoke on you," Patricia accused him. "You know what I'm talking about... There's no cure... No way to help me.. You get me out of here and I'll die slowly right in front of your eyes..." She looked away from him. "I'm dying right in front of you now! I can barely move, much less talk but I'm forcing myself through it because you're here and I NEED to talk to you..." A crack appeared in her voice and she stopped. Taking a few calming breaths, she continued. "Why did you have to come here? It only makes accepting the unavoidable that much harder!" Will bit his lip, not wanting to let her know of his deal with Adena because he knew it would make her upset even more.
"Just eat something... please?" Will pouted. Even while the pit of her stomach revolted at the thought of food and her whole body stung, Patricia managed a smile at Will's pleading face, adorable as it was.
"It won't change anything..." she sighed.
"Just eat... for me..." he begged. Seeing that Will was holding food out to her pursed lips, she understood that he was pretty much bent on hand- feeding her as well so she opened her mouth up as he dropped the breadlings in.
"You're such a stubborn mule," she smirked, remembering that she had called him the same name only a few days before.
"Takes one to know one, love," Will replied. Patricia swallowed her food and shook her head when he offered more.
"My appetite isn't exactly alive, Will," Patricia explained. Gritting her teeth through the unnecessary pain she was going through just to put her head on his lap, she shifted and lay down. "I just want to go to sleep please..."
Patricia closed her eyes, learning her last memory by heart... How Will's fingers grazed gently on her cheek... His heart beating inside his chest above her head... How his breath caressed her skin as he leaned over her... The lips that kissed her gently on the cheek and whispered I Love You in her ear... And his tears falling from his eyes, dropping to her skin and sliding down like butter...
************************************
The sky was lighter. Jack groaned as he raised his head, blinking up into the dimness.
"What the hell..." His mind was wandering through his scattered memories. The dark strangers, the man with the club... His eyes focused on the couple across from him. Will was awake, looking down at Patricia, who was laid down in streams of her own life-giving liquid. "Will! Is she...?" Jack feared the worst, seeing the girl so pale under the blood.
"No... not yet," Will replied, his hands stroking her tangled hair. Crawling to them, he choked back a sob, seeing Patricia so near death's door.
"Why won't the bleeding stop? Why haven't you cleaned her up?" Jack asked in hushed tones.
"It's slowed down at least... I think the bread is counteracting what they did to her..."
"What they did to her..." Jack repeated, questioningly.
"The stories were true... Abegnale died from something in the water that wouldn't let him stop bleeding and Patricia was dying from it too..." Jack could hear the eerie calm behind Will's voice andhe was immediately suspicoius of the young man.
"Was? What do you mean 'was'?" Will stayed silent, caressing Patricia's face lovingly. "William, what did you do?"
"The only thing I could to save her..."
"Please tell me you didn't..."
"Didn't what?"
"Will, I know you're a sucker for all this romantic nonsense and Tricia, here, must have a passion for that rubbish as well, but you can't play hero! Did you trade yourself off for her?" Jack demanded.
"Yes..." Will answered.
"Stupid bastard! Why?! They'll kill her the moment you die! And they'll kill me too! Are you so naïve to think that we'll be safe just because you bloody sacrifice yourself for us?!"
"They may be murdererd but they are honest... They are doing nothing but try to balance the number of death baused by our race to theirs... It's nothing but revenge..."
"Honourable revenge then?"
"If there is such a thing..." Will looked out the window. He could see Adena nearing and in his arms, he felt Patricia moving to wakefulness.
"I'm still alive?" were the first words that left Patricia's mouth. "Dying really isn't half as bad as I thought it would be... Does it make sense that you fell better while you move closer to death?" Jack couldn't help but smile at the girl's attempt at humor.
"Not really since you're moving further away from it," Jack answered as the guards entered the hut.
"It is time, William," Adena announced. Jack looked confused having never inhaled the Natrysk fumes but Will and Patricia understood though the latter didn't understand the meaning. She stood up confused.
"Will?" Patricia's eyes widened. Her mind began to race as the guards first took Will and bound his hands behind his back. Jack was just poked at by spears as was Patricia though a heavy hand clutched her wrist. She turned and saw the soldier from yesterday who had initially taken her captive. Banlu walked over to Will and drew a line from ear to ear making its path across the neck. His finger left a lasting line, made by ash.
"Patricia... just let it go," Will murmured. He was still beside her and he bent down slightly to kiss her on her hair.
"Will?" Her voice was small when he retreated and she turned to Jack. "Jack, what's he doing? Why is HE being marked and not me?"
"Don't tell her, Jack..." Will requested shaking his head but the pirate glared at his friend's son.
"He's given himself up for you," Jack said disgustedly.
"What?" Patricia exclaimed shocked. Will just shook his head and looked away as Adena led him out with Banlu. "Will!" She tried to run after him but she realized why the guard was holding onto her so tightly. "Let me go!" she shrieked hitting the guard on the chest. He just grinned maniacally down at her and began to follow Adena out, Patricia in tow. Jack followed reluctantly as well, though Patricia could swear that she saw a nervous lump swallowed at his throat.
"A life for a life... And this time we have a bargain, for two lives are saved in the expense of one man..." Patricia strained to hear the sounds since it was taking place to another of the pools made by the stream. A crowd surrounded Adena, Will and Banlu who stood a little away from the stream. Will was put to his knees and he was looking up at the crowd, his eyes searching until they landed on Patricia, who stood helpless on the otherside of the stream. He gave her a slow and sad smile and she just looked back at him blankly. Her mind still couldn't process what the hell he was doing there on his knees. She didn't even realize that the guard had guided her across the water until she was standing about ten feet away from Will to his right.
"Will... what are you doing?" she whispered under the loud booming voice of Adena.
"Saving you," he said simply, his eyes never leaving hers. "You feel stronger than last night right? You're still bleeding a bit but it's slowed down at least... they'll give you the rest of the medicine after..."
"You... you can't... how... Will, what are you saying.. please ... just tell me," Patricia entreated.
"I... You know what's going on, love..." Patricia's heart started to beat faster and her tears began to flow out.
"Are they going to sacrifice you instead...?" Will nodded, solemnly. "Will... don't do this!"
"I already made my choice, love..."
"You can't do this to me!" Patricia began to sob. She felt Jack's presence behind her and her free hand held onto his as she began to shake.
"I'm doing it for you," he replied. "You would have died at sunrise if I don't do this..."
"You expect me not to die soon after if I have to watch this?!"
"You won't... you're better than that... I know you too well, Patricia. You'll go on after me."
"No, I won't!" Her voice raised to a shout as her sobs cracked her voice too severely to whisper. "Will! Please... don't do this... Don't leave me now..."
Before Will could answer, Adena took Will by the hair pulling his head backwards exposing his neck. All the pieces fell into place and Patricia blanched when she saw Banlu raise a bowl of herbs next to Will's neck. Adena had a knife in the other hand and was preparing to strike.
"Adena! Banlu!" Patricia shouted trying to go after them. She could hear the snickering of the crowd at her attempts to stop the certain but she couldn't care less. The guard however grabbed both her arms and held her to him so she could barely lean an inch. "Adena! I'm the sacifice! I'm the one who's blood should be spilled! PLEASE! Don't... Don't touch him!!" Adena just looked up at Patricia, her sadistic smile evident on her face.
"His choice has been made," Adena grinned. "And you will be here to witness his choice become reality..." Without warning, the knife she held just below Will's ear sliced cleanly through across the neck. The blood literally gushed into the air and spilled out into the bowl Banlu held. Patricia's stomach almost heaved at the sight and her cries were bordering hysterical as her body went limp. Jack fell to his knees as well trying to comfort the sobbing girl who tried to crawl to Will's body but she was pulled away by another guard.
"Don't touch her!" Jack roared trying to come after the natives but the original guard held him back. "You promised Will you wouldn't touch us!!"
"Don't worry. We may be what you consider murderers but we honor our word... The girl shall not be harmed..." Patricia looked on, wanting to go the body still spilling crimson as it lay dead on the ground. Much to her repulsion, Banlu came towards her, holding out the bowl.
"Don't touch me..." she muttered, bitterly, feeling nausea creep in, smelling the pungent smell of the blood.
"I must, young one," Banlu replied. He tipped the bowl over and slowly some of Will's blood dripped onto her arms, her chest, back and legs. Lastly, he dropped blood to the original wound on her hand. As he did this, Patricia started to scream in protest.
"What are you doing?!!" she shrieked. The blood was still warm and it felt sticky on her skin. "Get it off me! Get it off! How could you?! This is indecent... This is... How could you...?! Fucking get away!" As if on her order, Banlu stepped back and the guards pushed her into the stream. The blood was washed away and as she emerged from the water, her skin had become flawless... almost unearthly perfect, not a blemish on the porcelain skin.
Patricia realized that she was released and she ran to Will's side, falling to her knees. Her hands were at first hesitant but she swallowed her body's uneasiness and pulled Will to her. Her sobs began to increase in intensity. Her fingers, staining with his blood, grazed his cheek.
He was still warm... his blood still gently flowed... His skin still retained its olive complexion but she saw his eyes...
"Will?" Patricia sobbed. "Will... Why did you have to be... stupid? Why did you do this?!" Her fingers covered the eyes that lost its light and life... "Why did you have to leave me?" Her body curved in over his and her cries grew louder and even more painful to hear than before.
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AN/// uhhhhhhhhhhhhh ohhhhhhh...... Hahah.. don't kill me? Just remember.. it's not done yet! Just review okay?