I'm really sorry about the long delay. Major writer's block. Turns out I
can only write when I'm in school. Go figure. This chapter blows anyways.
It's basically just filler to get to the next chapter, which will be fill
or Jack-Torture (and minimal Will-Torture, I'm guessing). Hopefully, that
one should be up in the next couple of days ("hopefully" being the
operative word, of course).
Actually, I need some help for the next chapter. How much Jack-Torture should I put in there? I don't want to go too far and turn people off, so let me know what you'd consider too much. (I promise to let him keep all his limbs and other..."essential" parts. I flat out refuse to make him a eunuch!)
Thanks a lot for all the great reviews! When I finally finish this thing, I promise to thank you all personally. So please keep reviewing! Hopefully this chapter isn't as bad as I think it is.
CHAPTER 7 – REVELATIONS
It took a good few minutes for Will's mind to float back down to Earth. Once it had reconnected with his body, he noticed Jack on the floor. He was making a sorry attempt to push himself up with his left arm while holding his injured right arm to his aching chest. Obviously, he was not having much success. Will watched him blankly for a moment before snapping out of his daze. He grabbed Jack around the chest to pull him upright, not thinking clearly enough to realize where Jack was hurt the worst.
A sharp hiss of pain escaped through his gritted teeth, and Will froze with his hand pressed unintentionally into Jack's broken rib. A high- pitched squeak echoed through the room and Will dropped Jack and jumped back. "MOUSE!" Will stood on his tip-toes and scanned the cell frantically for the terrifying beast. Though he may be as brave as any other man in the face of undead pirates, rodents were out of his league.
He listened intently for the scurrying of little feet, but all he could hear was Jack's ragged breathing. In a few seconds, Will's brain processed the scene and he realized the squeak hadn't come from a rogue mouse but from an aching Jack.
He dashed over to the captain, still sprawled out on the floor, but was quickly slapped away. "Don't touch me, whelp! Just stand back and no one gets hurt – at least not me." Will did as he was told and watched in awe as Jack somehow managed to wriggle and worm his way into a sitting position, determined to do it without help since the help only seemed to be capable of making everything hurt worse than before.
Will anxiously shifted his weight from foot to foot, waiting impatiently as Jack slowly and cautiously laid his back against the wall. When he heard a small sigh escape Jack's lips, Will dropped to his knees in front of him, a little too eager to share his discovery.
Jack tried to ignore him, being in far too much pain to care about much of anything, but Will was practically bouncing with pent up excitement. With an exasperated sigh (which he quickly regretted as pain shot through his chest), Jack turned his attention to the younger man, silently beckoning him to speak.
Will didn't need any more encouragement. "It was Barbossa, Jack! You didn't still that diamond, you couldn't have! Barbossa had the Pearl four years ago! That's what Lange said, Jack! Didn't you hear? It was four years ago! You're innocent!" The words tumbled out on top of each other, as Will's tongue couldn't keep up with his mind.
It took Jack a second to decipher the incoherent message. Mostly, he only managed to catch the last part, but when he did he had to stop himself from sighing again. "Yes, dear William, I was privy to that information already. I did, in fact, know that I was innocent. If I had taken that bloody thing, chances are I'd remember it – even if I did me bloody brains out first," he added, anticipating Will's next comment.
Will rocked back on his heals and stared at the ground, slightly disappointed that his epiphany hadn't been appreciated. His spirits were lifted, however, a moment later when Jack spoke again.
"Barbossa..."
"Exactly! You only took the Black Pearl back a year ago, so when Lange saw the ship it had to be Barbossa! Now they have to let us go, we have proof you didn't steal it!"
"That is a wonderful theory, William, but it is just that: a theory. Nothing more. We have no proof, and, considering I killed the man who did take that diamond...thingy," he waved his hands around animatedly in typical Jack-fashion, nearly smacking Will in the face, "I doubt they'll just take your word for it."
"But they can't keep an innocent man locked up!"
"Don't be naïve boy. This ain't the law, it's piracy." Jack closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall, signifying the end of the conversation.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Captain Richard Lange sat silently in his dark room, thinking too deeply to even notice the raucous laughter and singing from his crew gathered down the hall. He was shaken out of his reverie by a loud knock at his door. "What is it?" he growled bitterly.
His scar-faced lackey stepped in and let his eyes focus to the darkness. "We was all fixin' to head out to the town, sir. Would you be joinin' us?"
"Aye, I'll follow ye presently. Make sure you leave two men here to guard our...friends." The man nodded and left, closing the door quietly behind him, leaving Lange to his thoughts once more. As it usually had for the past four years, his mind turned to Jack Sparrow. The bloody, stubborn git! Well, he'd talk eventually. For four years Lange had searched for the Black Pearl and its notorious captain. Now that he had him in his grasp he wasn't letting go. One way or the other, the bastard would give up Crystallis.
Actually, I need some help for the next chapter. How much Jack-Torture should I put in there? I don't want to go too far and turn people off, so let me know what you'd consider too much. (I promise to let him keep all his limbs and other..."essential" parts. I flat out refuse to make him a eunuch!)
Thanks a lot for all the great reviews! When I finally finish this thing, I promise to thank you all personally. So please keep reviewing! Hopefully this chapter isn't as bad as I think it is.
CHAPTER 7 – REVELATIONS
It took a good few minutes for Will's mind to float back down to Earth. Once it had reconnected with his body, he noticed Jack on the floor. He was making a sorry attempt to push himself up with his left arm while holding his injured right arm to his aching chest. Obviously, he was not having much success. Will watched him blankly for a moment before snapping out of his daze. He grabbed Jack around the chest to pull him upright, not thinking clearly enough to realize where Jack was hurt the worst.
A sharp hiss of pain escaped through his gritted teeth, and Will froze with his hand pressed unintentionally into Jack's broken rib. A high- pitched squeak echoed through the room and Will dropped Jack and jumped back. "MOUSE!" Will stood on his tip-toes and scanned the cell frantically for the terrifying beast. Though he may be as brave as any other man in the face of undead pirates, rodents were out of his league.
He listened intently for the scurrying of little feet, but all he could hear was Jack's ragged breathing. In a few seconds, Will's brain processed the scene and he realized the squeak hadn't come from a rogue mouse but from an aching Jack.
He dashed over to the captain, still sprawled out on the floor, but was quickly slapped away. "Don't touch me, whelp! Just stand back and no one gets hurt – at least not me." Will did as he was told and watched in awe as Jack somehow managed to wriggle and worm his way into a sitting position, determined to do it without help since the help only seemed to be capable of making everything hurt worse than before.
Will anxiously shifted his weight from foot to foot, waiting impatiently as Jack slowly and cautiously laid his back against the wall. When he heard a small sigh escape Jack's lips, Will dropped to his knees in front of him, a little too eager to share his discovery.
Jack tried to ignore him, being in far too much pain to care about much of anything, but Will was practically bouncing with pent up excitement. With an exasperated sigh (which he quickly regretted as pain shot through his chest), Jack turned his attention to the younger man, silently beckoning him to speak.
Will didn't need any more encouragement. "It was Barbossa, Jack! You didn't still that diamond, you couldn't have! Barbossa had the Pearl four years ago! That's what Lange said, Jack! Didn't you hear? It was four years ago! You're innocent!" The words tumbled out on top of each other, as Will's tongue couldn't keep up with his mind.
It took Jack a second to decipher the incoherent message. Mostly, he only managed to catch the last part, but when he did he had to stop himself from sighing again. "Yes, dear William, I was privy to that information already. I did, in fact, know that I was innocent. If I had taken that bloody thing, chances are I'd remember it – even if I did me bloody brains out first," he added, anticipating Will's next comment.
Will rocked back on his heals and stared at the ground, slightly disappointed that his epiphany hadn't been appreciated. His spirits were lifted, however, a moment later when Jack spoke again.
"Barbossa..."
"Exactly! You only took the Black Pearl back a year ago, so when Lange saw the ship it had to be Barbossa! Now they have to let us go, we have proof you didn't steal it!"
"That is a wonderful theory, William, but it is just that: a theory. Nothing more. We have no proof, and, considering I killed the man who did take that diamond...thingy," he waved his hands around animatedly in typical Jack-fashion, nearly smacking Will in the face, "I doubt they'll just take your word for it."
"But they can't keep an innocent man locked up!"
"Don't be naïve boy. This ain't the law, it's piracy." Jack closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall, signifying the end of the conversation.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Captain Richard Lange sat silently in his dark room, thinking too deeply to even notice the raucous laughter and singing from his crew gathered down the hall. He was shaken out of his reverie by a loud knock at his door. "What is it?" he growled bitterly.
His scar-faced lackey stepped in and let his eyes focus to the darkness. "We was all fixin' to head out to the town, sir. Would you be joinin' us?"
"Aye, I'll follow ye presently. Make sure you leave two men here to guard our...friends." The man nodded and left, closing the door quietly behind him, leaving Lange to his thoughts once more. As it usually had for the past four years, his mind turned to Jack Sparrow. The bloody, stubborn git! Well, he'd talk eventually. For four years Lange had searched for the Black Pearl and its notorious captain. Now that he had him in his grasp he wasn't letting go. One way or the other, the bastard would give up Crystallis.