Author's Note: I'm really sorry about the long delay, but it's been a
really hectic week. My mom's having serious surgery next week, and this
past Sunday my great-grandma died. With all of this going on, I haven't
really been in the right mindset to write.
Like the rest, this chapter isn't very long (sorry, but I really just wanted to get SOMETHING new up!) but it's vital. Hope it's better than the last one, at the very least. Thanks for the great reviews! They've really lifted my spirits this week.
CHAPTER 6 – PLAYING NICE
Jack bit down hard on his tongue and blood filled his mouth. He concentrated all his strength on his vocal cords. "Don't scream! Don't scream! Don't scream!" He could feel it coming, could feel his voice at the back of his throat, straining to break through. His teeth dug deeper into his raw tongue.
They laid blow after blow on him, battering his chest, his stomach, his back. He wouldn't let himself cry out though; wasn't going to give them that satisfaction. After all, he was Captain Jack Sparrow! Of course, that didn't seem like much here and now, lying on the filthy dirt floor, crumpled into a pathetic little ball in a futile attempt to ward off the vicious kicks and punches.
Will struggled against the irons chaining him to the wall, his eyes glued to Jack. He didn't think about what he would do if he broke free; didn't stop to consider his chances against three older, stronger men. His friend needed help and Will wasn't about to just stand there and watch. Then again, it wasn't like he had much of a choice, being chained to a wall.
Captain Lange turned from the scene to watch Will fight the shackles. "What's the matter, boy? Don't like what you see?"
Bereft of a better response, Will spit at Lange's feet. "Bastard!"
"My, aren't you the witty one!" He causally slouched against the wall next to Will and went on in a friendly tone. "Personally, I find it quite amusing. All he has to do is give me back my diamond and you can both go on your merry way. It's not my fault he's a stubborn fool."
"He never saw your diamond before!" Will still wasn't sure he believed this, but he wasn't about to betray Jack by agreeing with this man.
"Never saw it? HA! Unless the boy is blind, he's seen Crystallis. I watched his bloody boat sail away with it!"
"It's not a boat, it's a ship," Will retorted, ready to do battle in any possible way.
"We just get wittier and wittier, don't we?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He didn't mean to do it, but it happened anyway.
The scar-faced man gathered all his strength and delivered one final
blow to Jack's chest. Even through the noise filling the small cell, the
jeers and curses of the men beating him, Jack could hear the quick, sharp
crack, followed immediately by an intense pain and a low, guttural,
agonizing moan. It wasn't until the beatings stopped a second later that
Jack realized he had made the noise himself. When his rib snapped, he
lost the battle with his vocal cords and cried out. He hadn't meant to do
it, but it happened anyway.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lange called off Jack's attackers the second he heard him moan. That
was exactly what he'd been waiting for. To make Captain Jack Sparrow yell
out in pain was quite a feat. Lange was certain he had won; surely
Sparrow would talk now!
"What say you, now, Jack? Ready for that little chat?"
Jack tried to answer, but all he managed was a pain-filled grunt.
"That's one rib, eleven more to go. If I were you, I'd spill my guts
before someone spills them for me- all over the floor. Where is
Crystallis, Sparrow?"
"No bloody idea," Jack croaked weakly. "I've never heard of it."
"Have it your way, then. I'm sure my lads wouldn't mind another go at
ya."
"Well, actually, Cap'n, we was lookin' forward to joining the crew for
some fun in the town."
"Aye, and me leg's gettin' tired. Can't we finish him in the mornin'"
Lange was just about to pounce on his lazy men and force them on Jack
when he rethought it. Sparrow could wait 'til tomorrow. Let him have his
night in agony, wondering what the morning would bring. "Very well. But
we'll be back in the morning. I've been chasing that diamond for the past
four years and you'll give it to me if it kills you." With that, he
stormed out the door, followed by his two attack dogs (after untying
Will) and slammed it behind them.
Will knew he should rush over to Jack, but his brain wouldn't let him
move. Lange saw the Black Pearl sail away with the diamond four years
ago. But four years ago, Jack wasn't captain of the Black Pearl...
Like the rest, this chapter isn't very long (sorry, but I really just wanted to get SOMETHING new up!) but it's vital. Hope it's better than the last one, at the very least. Thanks for the great reviews! They've really lifted my spirits this week.
CHAPTER 6 – PLAYING NICE
Jack bit down hard on his tongue and blood filled his mouth. He concentrated all his strength on his vocal cords. "Don't scream! Don't scream! Don't scream!" He could feel it coming, could feel his voice at the back of his throat, straining to break through. His teeth dug deeper into his raw tongue.
They laid blow after blow on him, battering his chest, his stomach, his back. He wouldn't let himself cry out though; wasn't going to give them that satisfaction. After all, he was Captain Jack Sparrow! Of course, that didn't seem like much here and now, lying on the filthy dirt floor, crumpled into a pathetic little ball in a futile attempt to ward off the vicious kicks and punches.
Will struggled against the irons chaining him to the wall, his eyes glued to Jack. He didn't think about what he would do if he broke free; didn't stop to consider his chances against three older, stronger men. His friend needed help and Will wasn't about to just stand there and watch. Then again, it wasn't like he had much of a choice, being chained to a wall.
Captain Lange turned from the scene to watch Will fight the shackles. "What's the matter, boy? Don't like what you see?"
Bereft of a better response, Will spit at Lange's feet. "Bastard!"
"My, aren't you the witty one!" He causally slouched against the wall next to Will and went on in a friendly tone. "Personally, I find it quite amusing. All he has to do is give me back my diamond and you can both go on your merry way. It's not my fault he's a stubborn fool."
"He never saw your diamond before!" Will still wasn't sure he believed this, but he wasn't about to betray Jack by agreeing with this man.
"Never saw it? HA! Unless the boy is blind, he's seen Crystallis. I watched his bloody boat sail away with it!"
"It's not a boat, it's a ship," Will retorted, ready to do battle in any possible way.
"We just get wittier and wittier, don't we?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He didn't mean to do it, but it happened anyway.
The scar-faced man gathered all his strength and delivered one final
blow to Jack's chest. Even through the noise filling the small cell, the
jeers and curses of the men beating him, Jack could hear the quick, sharp
crack, followed immediately by an intense pain and a low, guttural,
agonizing moan. It wasn't until the beatings stopped a second later that
Jack realized he had made the noise himself. When his rib snapped, he
lost the battle with his vocal cords and cried out. He hadn't meant to do
it, but it happened anyway.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lange called off Jack's attackers the second he heard him moan. That
was exactly what he'd been waiting for. To make Captain Jack Sparrow yell
out in pain was quite a feat. Lange was certain he had won; surely
Sparrow would talk now!
"What say you, now, Jack? Ready for that little chat?"
Jack tried to answer, but all he managed was a pain-filled grunt.
"That's one rib, eleven more to go. If I were you, I'd spill my guts
before someone spills them for me- all over the floor. Where is
Crystallis, Sparrow?"
"No bloody idea," Jack croaked weakly. "I've never heard of it."
"Have it your way, then. I'm sure my lads wouldn't mind another go at
ya."
"Well, actually, Cap'n, we was lookin' forward to joining the crew for
some fun in the town."
"Aye, and me leg's gettin' tired. Can't we finish him in the mornin'"
Lange was just about to pounce on his lazy men and force them on Jack
when he rethought it. Sparrow could wait 'til tomorrow. Let him have his
night in agony, wondering what the morning would bring. "Very well. But
we'll be back in the morning. I've been chasing that diamond for the past
four years and you'll give it to me if it kills you." With that, he
stormed out the door, followed by his two attack dogs (after untying
Will) and slammed it behind them.
Will knew he should rush over to Jack, but his brain wouldn't let him
move. Lange saw the Black Pearl sail away with the diamond four years
ago. But four years ago, Jack wasn't captain of the Black Pearl...