[Hee hee hee. I know, I'm terrible. Happy Birthday, Captainme! This chapter is your birthday present.]
A soft light woke me up. I opened my eyes to see Felicity and Benjamin hovering over me.
I said the first thing that came to mind, even though I knew the answer. "Where am I?"
"When you didn't come in, we went looking for you. We found you on the street, limp as a string and your husband was gone."
I grabbed my head. "Please, don't remind me. How long have I been here?"
"Three days at least."
I shut my eyes. "I'm starving."
Benjamin smiled. "I'll have the maid bring some food up." He got up and left the room.
Felicity took my hand. "Your husband left you, didn't he." I nodded. "Well, you're young. You can do better next time."
I wiggled my hand away. "No. There will be no next time. Jack is the only one for me." I rolled over and stuffed a pillow over my head.
The maid came into the room and set the tray down at the foot of the bed.
"Amanda, I just remembered. A man came to see you today. It was about an hour ago."
I sprang up. "Was it Jack?"
Felicity shook her head. "No, he was dressed in black and had a long flowing cape on. His hat covered most of his face and he carried a big black pistol. Do you know him?"
I settled onto my pillows. "Oh. I don't know who it is." I picked up some toast and started eating it.
"Well, eat your food and then take a nap. You'll feel better." She shooed the maid out of the room and closed the door after she left.
I finished my lunch, laid down on the bed and dozed off.
.
A hand shook me awake. "Wake up, you!" I turned to see a burly pirate digging his nails into my arm.
"Let me go, you brute! I'm the Captain's wife! You should treat me with respect!"
He grinned evilly. "Let's see what the Captain has to say about that, Duchess." He pulled me out the door and then shoved me down at the feet of the Captain. I looked up. It was Jack.
"Jack, dear! What's going on?"
Jack looked at me, and then at the pirate who got me. "Hey, Kohler, they sent us a crazy one!"
He laughed. "Aye, Captain. She went on in there about how she was the Captain's wife." All the pirates laughed.
Jack grabbed me and turned me around so that my back was pressed against his stomach. "I don't know who you are, pretty one, but Jack Sparrow commits to no one."
I got away from him but he kept my hands. "What's come over you, Jack?"
He dragged me over to the plank and made me walk a few steps onto it. "You shouldn't try to change people, Amanda."
"What are you going to do?"
He gestured towards the water. "The old you must die, and the new must surface."
I looked down at the water, my deepest fear, and began to cry. "Jack, please don't do this!"
"Amanda, it's the only way." He stepped forward and pushed me off the plank.
I screamed as I went down and splashed into the deep water.
.
A gunshot woke me up followed by a familiar scream that was not my own. I threw on my robe and ran down the stairs. It was nighttime.
Felicity and Benjamin were right behind me. I went to the front door, opened it and stood on the front steps.
"Where did that come from?" I asked.
Benjamin shrugged. "Could be anywhere within 5 miles. Let's go back to bed, it was nobody we knew." [Gee. He's so insensitive.]
I remained on the front step. Another scream rang through the night. I knew that scream. I bolted down the driveway and into the town. People crowded the streets that I passed.
"Where did the shot come from? Please tell me!" I asked as I went by. Everyone pointed me to a tavern in the middle of town. I entered it.
A group of people were crowded around something on the floor. I pushed my way past them.
Jack was lying on the floor clutching his thigh in a puddle of blood. I pushed everyone out of the way and took Jack's arm. I slung it over my shoulder and began to carry him out of the tavern. He was half-conscious and a dead weight, but I handled it. I carried him all the way back to Felicity's house and up to my room.
[So suspenseful, isn't it? Hee hee. I have the power! evil laugh j/k I won't torture you.]