Disclaimer: I had Jack possessed in this fic…possession is 9/10ths of the law, that means I own 9/10th's of JACK!!!!!!! YES!!!!!! WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Haunted
Chapter 7
Elizabeth's screams echoed through the stone room, her tears leaving wet trails down her face. The fire flickered in the hearth silently and played along the limp features of the blacksmith, her beloved.
Ana stared in disbelief at her captain. Standing there panting, he clutched the bloodied stick tightly in his hand. That stick that he'd used only moments ago to unmercifully beat his friend. This was definitely not her Captain standing before her now. The man she knew would never have done this. No, on the contrary, if and when he came out of whatever trance he was in, he'd be beside him self in grief for the pain he'd caused. No matter that it was not his fault. Not only for their own safety and survival, but for Jack's sanity, she had to find a way to reach him
"Bloody whelp…" Jack muttered. Dropping the stick his eyes closed as he reached up and clutched at his temple, wincing in pain.
"How could you?" Elizabeth whispered as she looked longingly at the still unconscious man.
The pirate captain looked at her with a smirk. "How could I? He's the one that butted me," Ana just couldn't believe what was happening. She was looking at the man she'd known for years. On the outside he looked the same; the hair still had various baubles and pendants hanging from it and with any movement brought an array of sound. Beads still hung from his double plated goatee'…While the kohl lining still rimmed his eyes, the eyes themselves were different. Gone was the mischievous, intelligent light that had always gleamed behind warm brown eyes. In its place was a dull, dark blood red that stood out against his tanned skin.
Jack leaned forward and held his cheek close to the Will's mouth. "Hm…interestin'…" The pirate said to himself. Standing up he walked back to the wall and picked up the other half of the pitchfork.
"Leave him alone!" Elizabeth pleaded.
Jack walked to the fire and placed the metal fork into the wood burning flames. He looked up and over at her as a smile tugged at his lips. "Ye want t' know if he's alive, right?"
*~*~*
It was a beautiful day indeed. Too beautiful to be spent inside, but unfortunately this was a special day that needed to be endured indoors. It was much more pleasing to hear the cries and screams of pain and sorrow echoing through the small house than anything else at the time. The screams had stopped for the moment and it had almost troubled Osrick when Jack had managed to slip back after the unexpected blow to his head from the bloody blacksmith. Osrick had to mentally restrain the pirate captain and made sure he couldn't break out again.
The quiet was interrupted by the loudest scream yet and caused the man sitting in the corner by the table to smile contently. So he is still alive. Light filtered in through the window that gleamed against the glass in Osrick's hand. The red wine swirled slowly in the container between his fingers to the rhythm of his own breathing.
The scream subsided only for a moment before bursting forth again. The glass met pale lips and the wine slide smoothly into his mouth. He tested it before swallowing…perfect. Of course the man that had previously owned the small hut had not owned such an exquisite drink. Osrick always had a bottle near him and now seemed a good time to enjoy it.
"Enjoying your self Jack? No…? You're the one beating the poor boy senseless…I must say, using that pitchfork and the fire is quite improvisational…something you've experienced before?....Tsk, tsk Jack. Such language isn't necessary."
The pirate seemed to be doing his job well as another screamed resounded. The smile widened and a chuckle found its way out. Osrick hadn't planned to have the pirate do the deeds for him, he had been looking forward to doing the fun himself, but now it seemed much more fulfilling to have it this way. The small group would have been tortured and put out of their misery anyway, but why not let one they trusted and cared for do the work for him? It also kept the meddling pirate from trying to think of a way to escape. This was not something he would walk away from.
Osrick could hear Jack's thoughts yelling and cursing him using every language and word he knew. It only made what he was doing more satisfying. He couldn't wait to see how the pirate would react when he watched the woman he cared for most in the world, the only woman he seemed to trust, die by his own hands.
"How shall I do that Jack, any suggestions? I thought perhaps you would like to choose since it'll be you who is doing it after all? Perhaps long and bloody? Slow and painful?"
Different ways to bring about the death of the female pirate filtered through his mind and he silently offered up the suggestions to Jack. He found none pleasing. Osrick shrugged to himself and guessed he would have to figure it out on his own.
*~*~*
The pain, dear Lord the pain was beyond anything he'd felt before…Will's body was still quaking from it. The skin where the hot metal had pierced his shoulder was now singed of hair and cauterized as a result of the heat. His body was soaked in sweat as waves of heat rolled through him. Is this how I'm going to die? Is this the day I leave this world? The same day I was suppose to be married…
Will managed to turn his head slowly and look at Elizabeth. Remembering through pain filled eyes how beautiful and happy as she'd looked as she walked down the isle toward him. The white gown, flowing freely all around her made her look like an angel on Earth. Now, sadly, the dress was in ruin and her once happy face was stricken with anguish and, heaven help him, fear…something he'd never thought he'd see on her as long as he'd been by her side. Streaks of tears lined her face. It hurt him more to see her like that then anything Jack or Osrick could do to him. Jack? No, he had to keep this straight in his mind. This was all Osrick's doing, not Jack's. Osrick was using him, controlling his friend to do his dirty work. God only knew the mental torture this was having on the pirate. Oh, but perhaps he knew that. Perhaps that was exactly why he was doing it. But, he thought stubbornly, he wouldn't stop fighting to save her until the last breath left his body…if he died here, his last thoughts would be of her.
"That'll be pretty tomorrow, eh, mate? Ye'll have the scars of a pirate. Somethin' t' show off when yer out drinkin' wit the lads. Oh wait…ye won' be doing that again," Jack snorted and shrugged his shoulders as he laid the fork back in the fire.
"Jack stop hurting him...don't let that insane man control you! Please fight it, fight back for Will, for all of us. Don't let him win," Elizabeth pleaded. Will looked like he couldn't do anything more than just breathe. His jaw hung slack as wheezing gasps raked his body. His hair was matted to his face with sweat.
"I am Jack, savvy? I've just taken on a new leaf." A snort of laughter came from the, until now, quiet being on the left side of Elizabeth. The young bride-to-be turned to look at the female pirate who sat unmoving in her chair.
"What's so funny Ana?" Jack asked, pulling the heated metal from the fire and walked towards her.
"You are…claimin' te be Jack. I've not seen anything farther from th' truth." Ana allowed a smirk to take shape on her lips and lifted her chin up to challenge the man to do something. Now's the only chance I've got t' reach 'im. Jack's got t' come out now or it'll be the end…Will an' Elizabeth 'ave already suffered enough.
"Ana don't," Elizabeth said.
"Jack doesn't act anythin' like that. Ye don' even know how te walk like 'im. I know it's Osrick in there. An' ye know what…" Ana taunted and her smirk widened. Elizabeth shook her head at the woman, but she could not say anything. Jack's face darkened and his eyes narrowed as he moved even closer to her.
"You aren't half the man Jack is."
Jack leaned close in to her ear so only she could hear what he said.
"I'm more than he could ever be…"
"Yer nothin'…tha's why yer doin' this…and that's why ye took over 'is body instead of doin' it yer self. Jack is more than you can or will be."
"Be silent!" Jack roared. He struck out with his hand, connecting with her already bruised face, but she didn't flinch.
"Jack…come back here…" Will struggled to call out.
"My Mum could hit harder…" Ana pushed further her smirk never faltering.
"Shut your mouth while you still have one," Jack growled.
"Doesn' matter if Jack is a pirate or a king…you could never be him. Don' matter how much power ye get. I hope ye remember that the rest of yer miserable, pathetic-"
His hand reached out to grip her throat cutting off the rest of her words. His hand holding the hot fork was raised dangerously close to her neck. Ana could see Jack's eyes burning brighter than the fire across the room.
"You think he's so strong? Where is he now? He's not even trying…Want to know something dear Ana, I don't know why you care so much. He doesn't…your nothing but another woman in a line of many. Once he was done with you…you would have been tossed aside just like the rest." A snarl twisted Jack's features.
"Jealous...no woman…could love…you?" Ana whispered. Jack stiffened at this and his face contorted into mask of rage. He pulled his arm back that held the pitchfork.
Ana looked out at him through hooded lids as his fist gripped tighter around her throat and his other hand wavered as it held the fork up, ready to strike it into her at any moment. Blood, sweat, and tears mingled as her body began to shake from the lack of oxygen and all the things that she'd been through thus far. She couldn't move her legs or her arms, nor any other part of her body, but her eyes pleaded with the man before her.
His eyes still glowed red, his jaw set, but it seemed there was some internal struggle that she could not see or hear. He could strike at any moment, but hadn't. His hand seemed to struggle holding onto the fork and the hand around her neck was sweating as if fighting against itself. Unintelligible sounds came from his mouth. Ana's eyes drifted back up to his as darkness played at the edge of her vision. If this was the end, she wanted his face to be the last thing she saw regardless if he was the one ending her life or not.
If gasping were something that could have been accomplished, she would have. What was it that glimmered at the edge of Jack's eyes? If only the darkness would back away for a moment she could focus better…was it true? Were those tears? Yes…yes it was! If only he would just let go a little… I could help 'im… As if reading her mind the hand relaxed its grip just a little. If it was the only chance he could give her, she would take it.
"Jac...don' gi-give up…I need-d…ye…I-I-" Her voice was only above a whisper, but the grip suddenly tightened again and Ana's strength was failing quickly…it was up to him now.
"Die wench!" Jack yelled before the arm moved forward toward the tender flesh of her throat. Ana watched as the fork flew at her, but saw Jack's body jerk and instead of the fork stabbing her in her neck, it was yanked down and drug across her collar bone before being pulled away from her.
"Ana, no!" Elizabeth screamed.
*~*~*
Since the time that Jack had found himself unable to control his own body it had been torture. He could see everything he was doing. He could feel all that he was doing, hear all of it, every word, every cry, every scream…he could also hear Osrick's voice. It taunted and laughed. Jack felt himself being self-restrained, unable to move as he watched helplessly. He could use his voice in his own head and he did.
Seeing and hearing all that he was doing was eating away at him. His usual self-control and restraint was beginning to crumble under it all. He yelled out commands and curses in all the languages he could until his throat was raw. He pulled against whatever invisible force bound him but it wasn't any use. Again the feeling of helplessness clutched him.
Will…one of the few men he'd found himself trusting after so long was beaten and bruised by his hands. He'd punched, kicked, and stabbed the man repeatedly. Jack had watched then as his body was getting ready to continue his torment to Will and Ana said something. She was trying to help Will, but he knew what a severe cost that would be to her.
"Are you ready for this one Jack?" Osrick's voice echoed in his head..
"Stay away from 'er!" Jack's own heated reply added to the sound.
"Now why would I want to do that?" he laughed.
"Because I'll break every bone in yer cursed body ye filthy, pus covered, mangy son of a-"
"Such language Jack!" Osrick cut him off. "Then again…you are a pirate."
Just then, Ana's words broke through… "Yer nothin'…tha's why yer doin' this…and that's why ye took over 'is body instead of doin' it yer self. Jack is more than you can or will be."
"Don't!" Jack had protested, but could feel himself hit her anyway. He could hear Osrick using his voice to speak to her. She continued to taunt the man. Jack wanted to scream at her to stop, and struggled even harder to break free of the bounds as he had briefly when Will had head-butted him. Against all his will power his hand had clenched her throat and began squeezing.
"Let 'er go!" Jack's mind shouted.
He heard his own voice telling Ana lies of him not caring…it was the furthest thing from the truth. Jack wanted to tell her the truth, but he couldn't. He wanted nothing more than to save her, but-
"Jealous...no woman…could love…you?"
Anger burst forth from Osrick. Jack had felt it burning through him and could feel himself gripping her tighter. He knew what was coming; his hand had raised the fork threateningly in the air. He fought fiercely to break through and with a sudden force of his own will he felt the grip of his hand loosen ever so slightly.
"Jac...don' gi-give up…I need-d…ye…I-I-"
"Stop that!" Osrick had yelled at him. She knew he was still there…she wasn't giving up on him. Jack felt the small ground he had gained ripped from him and his grip had tightened again.
"Don't do it…"he pleaded with himself.
"Die wench!" Osrick's and his own voice echoed together as his hand moved.
The sheer volume and power of Jack's protest caught Osrick off guard and he pulled back so the slice of the fork slid down her collarbone and pulled away. The howl of protest only grew and shook everything echoing through his head and body. Jack used all his strength, pushing against the bounds that Osrick had placed around him and suddenly felt it all break away. He was free.
*~*~*
Jack could hear Elizabeth calling out to Ana and him. Having control again left him momentarily off balance and he fell to his knees in front of Ana. His wounds still burned fiercely, but he ignored it. He opened his eyes to see Ana sitting slumped forward in the chair…three distinct slices ran across her chest along her collar bone. He lifted his head and looked quickly from Elizabeth to Will to make sure they were ok. Elizabeth saw it was him again as her breath caught in her throat.
"Jack…" She uttered so softly. Will's head slid up and looked wearily at him before a small smile played on his lips. Jack nodded silently and turned his attention back to the unmoving Ana.
"Ana, love…"His voice came out hoarse and soft. He tried standing up, but his body wasn't responding as it normally would. Whether it was his wounds that hindered him, or the remnants of Osrick's mind control, Jack didn't know. It was a struggle just to raise his hand to Ana's face.
"Please be ok…don' do this…" He said, trying to find his voice, trying to make it sound stronger than he knew it was.
"Jack, untie us," Elizabeth said gently despite the need for urgency.
"I can't…move much," Jack shook his head slowly.
"Help her," Will spoke. Jack nodded again and stroked Ana's cheek with his thumb trying to get a reaction out of her.
"Ana…love…help me. We 'ave t' get out o' 'ere," Jack spoke in a soft tone he never knew existed with in him. Her head moved slightly and she murmured something he couldn't make out.
"We still 'ave a chance…I need t' know yer still with me, love."
"Jack…" It came out questioningly.
"Aye. I'm goin' t' try an' untie you, but-" A sudden force caused his head to pound and Jack gritted his teeth against it, forcing it back away. Osrick was trying to get back in…
"Yer here?" Ana asked, her head lifting slowly to be level with his own gaze.
"Captain Jack Sparrow, at yer service…" He spoke. Time to act was growing slim. Osrick must have been reeling from the sudden extraction of his mind from Jack's own, but he was quickly recovering.
"I knew ye were," Ana said before hissing in a breath. Her throat ached from the hand that had been squeezing it as well from the pain her body was suffering.
"I'm sorry…" Jack spoke louder, saying it to everyone. She shook her head at his apology.
"Let's get out o' 'er," she whispered. The blast in his head came again, only this time even harder.
"I won' let 'im use me again. I won' hurt any of you anymore…" Jack said. He tried to reach around Ana, leaning forward, but his body wouldn't respond to his commands. All he could do was lean a bit closer to her, his face close to hers. His arm struggled to move to the rope behind her, but couldn't.
"Ye gotta try t' get us loose. Hurry," Ana urged Jack. He tried again to get his limbs to respond, but they barely moved before another mental blast came from Osrick.
"Listen…don' give up. Hang on, ok? What ever 'appens, just don' let 'im get t' ye." Jack's voice wavered. He let his arm drop to her side and laid his head upon her shoulder.
"Stop that!" Ana hissed. "Daft…pirate…we need ye."
"I do care. I won' let 'im make ye suffer through me. I'm gonna go away so he can't. He'll come after me…not you all."
"Jus' get me out o' these ropes and-" Jack lifted his head and planted a kiss upon her lips to silence her. He knew Osrick would try to do it again. He needed to retreat far into his mind where Osrick couldn't reach him. If he went there, they would be safe. The blast hit stronger than ever, but Jack ignored it, not wanting to break the contact he had. Her lips responded slowly, returning the kiss with all she could. His hand brushed against her cheek before he reluctantly pulled away and looked into her eyes.
"Don' let 'im win…" he said. It was the last thing he spoke before another blast ripped through his head and he finally left consciousness for the black, numbness buried within his own mind to escape the demon that pursued him.
*~*~*
A/N:
*Apologizes profusely* I know this took much longer than usual (it's been happening as of late). But at least it's long right? Right… *looks around and sighs* Oh well…on to better things. Wow, you guys are awesome! You've managed to push me over the 50 review mark and gave me the most reviews I've ever had for a single chapter!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! *Throws out movie posters to all* You guys rock!
As always, I hope you enjoyed. I know it bounced around a lot, I hope that didn't confuse anyone. Blame the muses…
Thank yous:
Inu Lover: Thanks mate! ;)
Riddle-Me-That: LOL I love yer name! Very cool, unique. Reminds me of Jim Carrey in Batman Forever. Thanks for your praises!
Angelic Evility: *blushes* Thanks…glad you love it. I love it too. It's been very good to me. Yea that man is amazing. You won't be disappointed with Estel's work, I promise. I hope you enjoy it. LOL that's nice of ye.
Ping*pong5: :) *me with birthday hat on* Thank you for the wonderful song! My name is Barbara by the way lol. Thanks for the compliments. Hope you like this one too. Indeed, Estel is quite the genius, but she'd never agree to that lol. And yes, you could call it a quintet.
AhiFlame: See I updated!! I still think the both of ye's deserve it more, but hey…I've been out voted. LOL I think Julie picked fine. :D I'm not that…well..er…umm…I don't think I beat all of you together…cause that's a lot of evilness hehe. I'm very happy you liked the chapter (despite it's morbid qualities that you pointed out). Yer questions will be answered in time so please refrain from giving me the award 20-fold lol. NO KEELHAUL list please!!! I'll be good, I promise! *crosses fingers*
Kacijo12: Aww…I'm sorry mate. It hurts me to write it sometimes, I hope the little glimpse of hope lightened things enough. Maybe??? *blushes crimson* Thank you for your wonderful words. I'm sure you can do just as well, if not surpass me as long as you try. Thanks for the kudos! There's more for ya.
Coolpuella: *grins* My muses are proud to hear you are in love with the story. They try hard to make it good despite their tendencies to not cooperate with it sometimes. Actually, no, I didn't get the name from 'Ninth Gate', but that's awesome that it seems to be referenced to that! So we'll just say that it is from that and the truth will just be kept b/w me and you, savvy? ;)
EbglishMystic: It's here!
PiPPI: I am as fast as I can, mate.
Ferntree: I think he hears ya…keep rootin' for 'em.
EstelWolfe: YOU REVIEWED!!! *tackles pack-mate* What a wonderful surprise. Thank you for the birthday wishes. Aww…you and Amber always gang up on me…do I really deserve the 'Most Evil Authoress Prize'??? *ponders* ok…maybe a lit'l, but you guys can be just as bad!! Hehe, plus I'll take any prize I can get. *Places medal for MEAP on wall and grins happily* I think Jack would be proud had it not been at his expense I got the prize. Thank you for your words, they mean a lot. Umm…*shuffles feet*…can you really be sure he'll be alright in the end? *winces at thought being permanently added to Most Evil Authoresses List.* The only way I'd be up there is if you were with me :D. And yes they are that good. Even some of my reviewers know that!! Tell Jaraen if he's good he can see Eclipse again lol.
Abigail: Ohhh…that's my lit'l sister's name! LOL, yes it is a cliff hanger, but I've seen far worse. Thanks!
Capt. Cow: Hehe…interesting name…calm down, it's ok, see there was more...
Jackfan2: *winces* I don't mean to make people worry. I hope this one helped some. Thanks for everything!
Girls-With-Attitudes-Rock: lol, I seem to drive a lot of people crazy, even myself some times. Aww..don't cry, I'll finish, look see *types frantically* I'm hurrying!