Chapter Seventeen: A Friendship Forgotten

Alaina couldn't speak, she couldn't think, she couldn't do anything. All she could do was stand there and gawk at the boy who'd betrayed her.

Alex took one look at her and realized he had made the biggest mistake he ever had and ever would. He had taken their friendship, their trust, and threw it all away. And for what? Money.

But he really had no other choice but to betray her; his family had desperately needed the money. But he knew now that it hadn't been worth it. Not to see her staring at him like this.

The boys watched helplessly as their sister fell onto the deck and buried her face in her knees and sobbed. They heard her whimper and saw Alex bend down and try to comfort her.

"Get your hands off her, you filthy bastard!" Jack yelled threateningly. James nodded; he couldn't have said it better himself.

They had known that Alex was behind it all when they were first kidnapped weeks ago. They were long over their shock and were now pissed off beyond belief.

Though Alex had made sure they were treated well, it was the fact that he—the boy they had considered their brother—had sold them out that made their young hearts harden against him. Alex had traded it all in for the one thing that could corrupt even the wisest man's heart: money.

They watched sympathetically as Alaina was lead roughly back down below deck again, and Jack turned to see James's eyes glistening with tears.

***

Alaina sat silently in the back of her cell, crying softly to herself. Everything was wrong. None of this was supposed to happen. 'Why did you have to do that, Alex?' Alaina asked as her tears fell onto her knees. She still could hardly believe it. She prayed it was just a nightmare and when she woke up, she would find herself in some bedroom with Captain Sparrow, anywhere but here.

She was so wrapped up in what had gone on in the past hour that she didn't even hear someone come down the steps and open her cell door. Only when she looked up did she panic and shrink back even more at the figure standing over her.

Though the man standing in front of her didn't appear to be even the least bit threatening. He was a little taller than herself, with sandy blonde hair, tanned body, and misty gray eyes. The man bent down in front of her and set down the small pan of water and cloths he had brought beside him.

"Let me see your wrists," he said, gently extending his hand, waiting for her to comply.

Alaina pressed herself even harder against the wall in fear. He wasn't frightening in and of himself; it was just her situation that made him appear to be.

"Let me see your wrists," he said again in a more commanding tone. She just looked at him for a moment; his voice seemed odd. It had a more melodious ring to it than her own or in anyone's she'd ever met. She slowly unwrapped her arms from around her legs and extended one to him.

They had finally taken off the godforsaken shackles, only to leave cuts, bruises, dried blood, and rust all over her entire wrist.

"I'm sorry they did that to you," the man said apologetically, dipping one of the cloths in the water and beginning to clean her wrist. Alaina looked at him suspiciously and he gave a wry laugh.

"Just because I work on a pirate ship doesn't make me as heartless as them," he told her, taking a firmer grip on her hand as she tried to pull away.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, trying to figure out just how he could read her mind like that.

"You have a very expressive face," he replied, answering her unasked question.

Alaina gave a small nod and tried to concentrate on something besides the pain he was inducing. But it was impossible, there was nothing to think or even look at besides him.

So she just stared at him, allowing herself to wonder who he was, where he was from, and why he was here. She guessed he was a few years older than she, maybe around twenty. But as she looked in his eyes, she saw the same hurt, wisdom and maturity that her father's possessed and wondered what kind of life he'd had that would make them so harsh.

"If you would like to know something, just ask," he said, glancing up to see her staring intently at him.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled again, blushing slightly.

"There's nothing to be sorry for. It's normal human curiosity to wonder about someone you don't know." Alaina nodded slowly puzzled at how he knew so much.

The man sighed and turned his head to look at the stairs. It was then that Alaina noticed a long, dark, heavy scar on the right side of his jaw line. Unconsciously she reached her other hand out and lightly traced it with her fingertips.

The man jumped back and stared at her with large eyes, making her realize what she had just done. She blushed and retracted her hand. "I'm so—sorry," she apologized. "I don't know why I did that." She honestly had no idea why she did, but she had.

The man just nodded once and went back to cleaning her wrist.

***

A/N: Hope you enjoy!! I really appreciate you all for still reading this even though it takes me forever to write and post a chapter. THANK YOU ALL SOO MUCH!!!!!