A/N: I have been truly busy for the past month, so forgive me for not updating! First I had my practice SATs to revise for (pointless, in my opinion), then we actually had our real SATs to do (last ones for the rest of my life, thank God). Then I had to go to loads of rehearsals for our school drama club production (which was absolutely fantastic, I had such a good time at each rehearsal and the actual performance was great), then we went on a school trip to Paris for three days (Disneyland Resort Paris was so much fun, lol.), then, we had a GSCE ICT exam the day after we came back (which was cruel enough among the fact our school does it two years early. The exam was actually A LOT easier than I thought it would, so I'm incredibly relieved since I really needed some extra marks for the GSCE in general). And now, we've got one week off for half term, so hopefully I'll be able to get some writing done.

Cryogenie: I'm glad you find it interesting Please, keep reading and reviewing!

sweet775: Sorry I'm so late with the updating, but here's a new chapter...

Gayle Gordon: Aww, it's nice to see your review again! It's kind that you've decided to keep reading this. I always get nervous each time I post a chapter about Jack because I'm paranoid about not getting him right :P Jack hasn't been here for a while now...I miss him sniff sniff. But, don't worry, he shall return very soon indeed...

Please, keep reading and reviewing! Love you all

Not much else had happened since Lorraine had arrived at the inn. It was now her third day here, and she was beginning to wonder how long she would actually be allowed to stay here for free. After all, it did look a bit discourteous, being invited to stay somewhere for the night, and then staying for twice as long as she had been invited to. And not paying for it either! She felt herself blush and look down to the floor every time she saw a customer pay and leave, and when she saw the innkeeper, she felt guilty.

There was a solution; there was a way out...she could leave and try to find Jack Sparrow...but she wasn't going to give him the pleasure of winning this little game of cat and mouse! He was making far too much of a fuss of the fact that Lorraine had been 'missing' for a few days. For god's sake, what did he want her back for anyway? She knew it would be easier to just settle everything by going back to him, but Lorraine acted immaturely at times, and this was one of those times. No, she would have the satisfaction of seeing Sparrow lose this game, by not letting him find her. She would get back to Orchila some other way; surely a ship would be sailing just across the water to her island? Actually, come to think of it, she could leave today if she wanted to; she could go now and check when the next ship was sailing.

A wave of excitement rushed over her as thoughts and eager plans whirled about her head. Yes, she would sort this out now. She would be able to get back home soon, back to her family.

Lorraine trotted out of her room and down the stairs, jumping off the last step and landing on the soft rug below, before disappearing out the door and onto the street. It was a busy day, and street traders were hovering about trying to sell their wares, which were just hanging off everything, whether it was five pocket watches hanging on each arm, a couple necklaces stuffed into some pockets, or some finely stitched handkerchiefs peeping out over the tops of their waistcoat pockets.

There were farmers from just outside the town's outskirts selling potatoes, wheat and vegetables, haggling over the price with a customer for a turnip which had been badly bruised or trying to catch the scraggly boy who had just nicked a soft, squishy apple from his stall, and who was now running away, lost in the throng of hungry people.

There were mangy, flea-infested dogs chasing after fat rats with their vicious, snapping jaws dripping with frothy saliva with the rush of the blood lust, and spiders crawling along the ground and up the walls of the buildings. There was rubbish all over the streets, and human excrement flowed down the side of the street in a thick, reeking sludge.

Even though the town Lorraine lived in had the same type of conditions as the streets of Tortuga, it was nowhere in such a filthy state as this. She carefully avoided stepping in anything too unsavoury by hopping from clean patch of street to clean patch of street, and by tiptoeing around the muck.

As she did this, a vague thought strolled into her head telling her that she needed to buy some shoes, which was a logical idea, apart from the fact that she had no money. Oh well, it wasn't as if it was winter, so at least she wouldn't get frostbite.

Several merchants would grab Lorraine's arm and try to convince her to buy some of their goods, but she politely refused. She didn't want anything right now except for the comforting thought that she was going back home to see her family again. She couldn't help smiling she felt so excited, but she had to keep a look out for Jack Sparrow. It wasn't as if she was scared of him, but she wanted to win this game. Besides, he probably wouldn't leave Tortuga for a few days yet. Yes, her way was definitely quicker and better.

After about ten minutes or so of walking, she reached a small building close to the port, where there were several men wearing uncomfortable-looking, stiff red coats. They stood very straight, sharp muskets held by their sides as they stared straight ahead. Lorraine watched them curiously as she wandered up closer, hoping they wouldn't mistake her for a common peasant and ignore her request.

"Ex-, excuse me sir," she spoke loudly as she tried to catch the eye of the man closest to her. He glanced over at her and she trotted over, lifting her skirts delicately.

"Yes, miss?" he responded, bending down so as to be level with Lorraine. He had fine, pleasant features upon his face, and his dark hair was tied back underneath his large guard's hat.

"May I enquire as to when the next ship sails for the island of Orchila, sir?" she asked courteously despite the fact that she was almost shaking with the desire to know the answer right now.

"To tell the truth, miss, I'm not too sure...I'd best go ask Commodore Yorkwright. If you'll excuse me, ma'am..." The young man hurried over across the road and stood at the doorway of another small building, where a man in a brilliant navy blue coat with golden patterns upon the collar stood, wearing an equally marvellous hat with a great feathered plume. He looked over at Lorraine and she stared back hopefully.

The two men came back over across the road to stand with Lorraine, and the commodore scrutinised her carefully, taking in her worn clothes, her messy hair and her sickly pallor.

"Name?" he asked sternly. Lorraine hesitated; was it safe to reveal her true name, even though he most probably had nothing to do with Jack Sparrow? Or should she stick to 'Rebecca'? But what if he knew the innkeeper, or had heard of a strange new girl in the town by that name?

"Abby. Abby...Mer-wri..." she quickly tried to think of a surname, "Merrison. Abigail Merrison, sir." Lorraine curtseyed and bowed her head before standing up straight again. The commodore watched her carefully before giving a small nod. There was a silent pause and he raised an eyebrow, staring at her expectantly, waiting for her to say something.

"Oh, yes! Sorry," she quickly apologised, "I was wondering if you might know when the next ship sails for Orchila as I really must see to my mother, who has unfortunately fallen ill during my father's absence, sir. It really is important that I attend to her, as I have collected the herbs needed for her recovery, and must rush back – as the doctor advised – otherwise I'll have to -"

"Yes, yes! Alright miss, slow down!" the elaborately clothed man with the plume in his hat exclaimed, holding his palms up in front of Lorraine. "The next ship is actually preparing for a long journey up to Port Royal, in Jamaica. We will be going past Isla Orchila, and should be able accommodate your wishes and allow you to depart on the island," he explained slowly and clearly.

A sudden thought hit Lorraine. In the midst of her excitement, she had failed to notice it. How could she have been so stupid? "But sir, I'm afraid I haven't any money..." she mumbled, disheartened, beginning to see that her plans would probably fail and end up in shreds.

The commodore bit the inside of his lip and watched her sternly before crouching down to Lorraine's height. "I'll make an exception for you, Miss Merrison, since you've been so polite during this conversation and truthful about your current...er, financial state, and also of having the courtesy of not attempting to pickpocket," she listened, her hopes up and her spirits rising, "I shall allow you to board the Gliding Gull on the second dawn, as of tomorrow. An entrusted member of the crew, a guard or I shall be waiting at the building just there," he pointed to the small, stone structure he had been standing at just before their discussion. Lorraine's eyes lingered there for a moment as she firmly implanted the image in her mind, wondering what she would feel like in two days' time as she scurried off back to this exact place, her location of departure, the start of her journey home.

Lorraine walked back through the busy streets of Tortuga with a spring in her step, carefully trying to remember the route she had taken to get to the port, as she would have to be sure of her way the morn after tomorrow because the town would still be in darkness. To think that she would soon see her loving parents again, and her nice warm house with her large room, her soft, comfortable bed and clean clothes. There would be no more worrying, no more fear of getting caught by a pirate who would use you for goodness knows what wicked purpose he had in mind.

She longed for the simplest things, such as having a casual natter with her best friend. She wondered how Rebecca was feeling, what she was doing and if she missed Lorraine as much as she did her. The pale blue silk ribbon that she had been given for her birthday still remained with her. She had tied it around her wrist for fear of it sliding out of her hair or falling out of one of the pockets of her dress. She felt so lonely without her friends.

The inn soon came into view and she hurried towards it, crossing the dirt road after a rackety carriage rode by. As soon as she got in, she rushed upstairs to her room to figure out an excuse that she could tell the innkeeper for leaving the inn. She could tell her that she had found a relative nearby that could take her inn...or that she had found an old friend who was offering her a spare bed...or she could just tell the truth, no, part of the truth and say that she was going to take a ship back home now that she had collected the right ingredients for a remedy to cure her 'sick' mother. Or perhaps she could just sneak out at dawn, unseen and unheard...no, that would be too risky.

Several ideas floated in and out of her busy mind throughout the rest of the day. She would decide which ones were best and then narrow her list down, then work out the good points and the bad points. This plan was going to work. Nothing could stop her. It would be foolproof!