A few days had passed since the botched hanging in Port Royal. The Black Pearl was back in harbor at Tortuga and the crew given their leave. Jack, however, came back to the ship often to try and coax the blacksmith out of the cabin and at least get him moving again. A quick rap received no answer, so he pushed the door open. The cabin was completely empty, the bed still a mess and two meals completely untouched. Jack frowned slightly, wondering where the boy could've gotten to. He headed back up the companionway and out onto the deck, wandering around the ship.
He finally found him sitting on the stairway up to the quarterdeck, staring over the rail out at the horizon. Jack approached him quietly, two rum bottles clutched in his hand. His intention was to loosen Will up, to finally coax him out of the morbid world he'd been living in as the first step of making him a pirate. The hard part would actually be getting him to drink it. "William." He said, pausing just a few feet from him.
Will turned his head slightly, his neck horribly sore. He didn't say a word, simply looked to Jack and waited for him to speak again, which was just fine with the pirate. He'd never been one for being snapped at. "Brought some rum. Thought you could use a drink." His offer was met with more silence as Will looked back out at the horizon. So he went over and sat down on the steps just above Will, setting the first bottle close to him and opening the second. He tilted his head back, taking a drink of the sugary liquid and swallowing.
"I want to go home." Jack perked up as he heard the soft voice and looked over to Will. He'd shifted so that he could see both Jack and horizon now. In the moonlight, the wound on his neck was red and angry. His normally tanned face had taken on paleness and there were dark circles under his eyes. He looked more like a victim of sickness rather than a man just hanged.
"You can't go home." Jack said bluntly. He'd been expecting and dreading this conversation. He would have to explain to Will why he couldn't go home, and then he would have to explain him his options, none of which the young man would want. Not to mention he hated doing this. He was a pirate and businessman, not a shoulder to lean on. The only person he should've been concerned with was himself and his crew, yet this blacksmith from Port Royal, the son of his best friend, had changed that. He was even beginning to feel like a father when it came down to Will, which he really didn't appreciate either. "You are dead and even if you showed up in Port Royal, they'd hang you again to finish the job. Port Royal is no longer your safe haven, William."
Will stared at him, fury in his dark eyes. "I have to go home, Jack. What about Elizabeth? And Emma? My place is with them, Jack. No where else."
Jack grabbed his shirt collar, tugging him forward. Will winced as he was jerked forward, making him move his chin too quickly and pulling at the healing skin. "Listen to me. You are dead to your bonny lass, savvy? The only thing you can expect if you go back there is to be hung again. I know this will be hard for you to accept, but that life is over for you." He let go of Will's collar and leaned back against the stairs, taking another drink of rum.
Will gently rubbed at his throat, his eyes shut. "Then what am I supposed to do?" He asked quietly. "How am I supposed to live?"
"Become a pirate on my crew. Sign the articles and go on the account with the Pearl. You'll find I'm a fair capt..." He was cut off as Will stood up quickly. He had to clutch at the stairs to keep himself from falling over.
"Never! I will never become a pirate." Will said bitterly.
"Then you have another choice. Take a bit of coin and pay your way on a merchant ship docked here. Find yourself a town where you are unknown and settle down again. Mind you, you've lost your apprenticeship and most of your belongings." Jack said off handedly.
"That's what I'll do." Will told him. "I am not a pirate. I never will be. I never wanted to be."
Jack laughed suddenly, startling Will and making him take a step back. "You think we all set out to become bloody scallywags?" He said, smirking in dark amusement. "You have a lot to learn, lad."
Will had been about to go back to his cabin and prepare to leave, but his strong sense of curiosity rooted him firmly in the spot. "What do you mean?" He asked and after a moment's hesitation, sat back down on the step.
"No man ever sets out to become a pirate, William. Many don't have another choice. Some have a choice, but chose this life because they have hopes that things will get better someday. Being a pirate is not a glorified occupation, it's survival." He picked up the full bottle beside him and held it out towards Will. Will hesitantly took it, staring at it as if it would give him all the answers. Jack could see the mixed emotions in his eyes. The longing to go home, the anger at what had been done to him, the pain as he thought over his future, and a hint of curiosity.
"Why did you?" Will asked quietly, not looking at Jack. The pirate had been expecting the question. He felt a bit hesitant about sharing the past that had remained a mystery to so many for so long. Jack glanced around the ship, looking to see if there were any others on the ship. But it was just he and William. The rest of the crew were spending their shares in the taverns and buying themselves wenches, trinkets, and rum. Which is what he wished he were doing at the moment.
He settled himself into a comfortable position, rum bottle at hand. "Let me tell you a little story..."
------------------
"Not ever?" The young Irish man's eyes twinkled in amusement as he looked over to his dark haired best friend. "Surely you must be joking." He shifted his pack to settle more comfortably on his shoulder and brushed back an escaping strand of hair from the messy ponytail behind his ear. "You've never been on a ship William?"
"I solemnly swear it Jacob. I've never been on a ship before. It's been nothing but odd jobs for me since my father died. My sister would've ended up working the corner had I not found work. I couldn't have that." William Turner said as the two men walked along the dock. A few of the ladies boarding the passenger ships turned to watch them as they walked by. They were both quite young, only nineteen, and quite handsome. Jacob Morgan was the taller of the two by only a bit, dark haired and his eyes always held a mischievous look. William Turner was the more reserved of the two. Both of them were from the lower class section of town and were used to the hard work and poverty that had surrounded them for so long. William had been teetering into disenchantment with life before Jacob had suggested they look for jobs on merchant vessels so that they could see the world.
The ship that had taken them was a three masted vessel named the Siren's Song. Jacob and William had managed to snatch the last remaining places in the crew of ninety. The captain was a friendly man who was reputed to get along well with his crew and treated them as equals. It sounded like a ship that they could've worked on. Jacob caught sight of the rowboats being loaded with supplies and tugged on William's arm. "Come on. We'll catch a ride out to the ship with them." He said, heading towards the boat.
A while later both men were on deck, listening as Captain Haversham went through his traditional welcoming speech and the rules. After that, they were ready to set sail. Jacob glanced over at William as the crew dispersed around the decks to make way. "Open sea, here we come."
------------
Jacob had never been so frightened in his life. The crew of the Siren's Song was down on their knees on the deck, arms tied behind their backs. No less than forty had died trying to defend the ship from the invasion of pirates, but they had failed to keep the ship from being taken. The remaining crew had given up their weapons; their arms were tied and they were made to kneel in a row, facing the other ship as the pirate captain boarded.
He felt his breath catch in his chest, looking over at William. William was staring at the man, his chest heaving slightly as the fear overtook him. The pirate walked to the head of the line, the first man being Captain Haversham. They seemed to be discussing something, but the two were unable to hear so far down the line. Then there was a gunshot and Haversham crumpled to the deck, scarlet spilling out over the wood. Jacob squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the urge to scream in terror. "I don't want to die." He whispered and jumped as he heard another gunshot and a thud as the body hit the deck. Then there was cheering.
Jacob opened his eyes and glanced down the row as he saw two pirates haul the quartermaster to his feet and escort him towards the ship. "What's going on?" William hissed at him. "Did he betray us?"
Jacob shook his head. "No. The captain is asking us to go on account." He whispered back. "He's looking for more men for his crew." His heart thudded in his chest and his mouth had become dry. He did not want to become a pirate, yet he did not want to die. "I recognize who this is. Most pirates will drop off the men who did not go on the account near to a port, but there are a few who straight out murder them instead. That's Captain 'Red Eye' Forrestal." William dropped his head, chin resting against his chest in a look of defeat.
Not too long after, the toe of Forrestal's boot lifted his chin so that the young man would face him. "What about you, boy? Will you go on account or would you prefer death?" There was a tense silence as Jacob waited to hear the answer, not even sure what his own decision would be.
"I...I'll go on the account." William said finally, fighting tears. "I'll become a pirate." Jacob looked over at him in shock. "If I die, there will be no one to take care of my sister and mother." He said in a rush. "This way I can still send them the money."
"But..." Forrestel stepping in front of him, an expectant look on his face, cut off whatever Jacob had been about to say. If it was possible, he thought his heart sped up even faster to the point where he felt light headed. "I..." He looked towards William, who was being dragged to Forrestal's galleon, a large ship with black sails. "I'll go on the account." He said finally, forcing the words out. Rough hands grabbed him from behind and hoisted him to his feet as Forrestal moved on to the next man in line.
Jacob felt horrified at what he'd done, agreeing to become a scoundrel. But he had done it for survival, and he wouldn't be alone.
------------
"Jack the Bloody."
"No."
"Jack Raven?"
"No."
"Jack Sparrow?"
"Why are you so obsessed with changing your last name?" William, now known as Bootstrap Bill Turner, muttered as he pulled his feet off the table and picked up his half empty mug.
Jacob Morgan, known as Jack Morgan for the time being, gave him a dark look. "Because there is already a Captain Morgan on the seas. I want to have a name everyone will remember." Both young men had taken to the pirate lifestyle quicker than they had thought they would. Jacob had been given a name change when the veteran crew had kept forgetting his name and had taken to calling him Jack instead. All he needed now was to change his last name.
"You're not even a captain. Why would you need to worry?" William said, eyeing his friend as he took a drink.
"Because eventually we're going to get out from under the Devil's thumb and be free men." Jack whispered, leaning forward. Captain Forrestal was indeed the Devil to them. He was harsh with his crew and especially abusive towards the younger members. Both Jack and William had their fair shares of marks on their backs from the numerous punishments.
"That would be a brilliant idea. But how would we ever get away from that man without being branded mutineers and have enough money to get our own ship? Or even steal one, for that matter. We are only but two men." William said, thinking out loud. "I'm with you all the way on this. It just needs planning."
"Aye." Jack got up from his seat, throwing two shillings to the serving wench as he and William headed towards the door. "That's going to be the hard...part." His attention was drawn somewhere else as he heard a woman crying out in fear and protest. Before he could stop him, William had drawn his cutlass and rushed towards the small alleyway. Jack did the same and followed after him.
The woman in question was backed into the corner, curling up into a small ball and crying softly, begging for her life. Her clothes were ripped and torn and her dirty face was streaked with tears. One arm was bleeding heavily, the other hand clapped over it but not doing enough to stop it.
Captain Forrestal hovered over her, weaving slightly. It was easy to tell that he'd had a goodly amount to drink. Jack's temper began to rise. Some pirates found it fine to rape a woman, but he was one that found the act disgusting. He would take a willing wench into hid bed from time to time, but forcing himself upon another woman was something he would never think of.
"Forrestal!" He bellowed. "Leave her alone." The drunken captain whirled around to face Jack, nearly falling into the wall. "What'd ye want, boy?" He snarled, staggering towards Jack. "Don't ye know yet not to speak out against the Captain, eh?" He swung his cutlass at the younger pirate, but the rum had slowed his reaction time and Jack was easily able to duck underneath the blow. Forrestal crashed into the wall and spun around.
"Come here you...you...you bastard!" He slurred. Jack jumped back as the captain swung the sword again. Both him and William were good swordsmen, but the captain's swings were unpredictable and unwieldy. The best he could do was try and avoid the swings.
The next swing hit Jack in the hand. He cried out in pain and stepped back as a line of blood raised on his skin. He'd been lucky that he hadn't lost it. William took his turn and found it as difficult as Jack. He was soon nursing a shallow cut across the chest. While the young pirate was looking at his bloodstained hand, Forrestal lunged for him. Jack lunged as well and they both hit the ground.
Jack rose. Forrestal didn't, Jack's dagger embedded in his chest. Right through the heart. Jack stumbled into the wall, breathing hard. He'd killed men before, when taking a ship, but never the captain. William looked to him, eyes wide. Neither of them had any idea what to do.
Behind them, the young woman's sobs had died down and she continued to lie against the wall, staring off into nowhere. William turned around, kneeling down in front of her. "Are you alri..." He was cut off as her hand whipped out and slapped him hard across the face.
"Leave me be, dirty pirate." She hissed at him through clenched teeth. "Be gone!" Tears rose in her eyes again. "Be gone!" William got to his feet and backed up, looking down at her.
"I can't just leave you here. You're hurt and surely another man will take advantage of you in this condition." He told her.
"Just as you would, pirate?" She almost screamed the word at him.
"We have names." Jack told her. "And not all pirates are like him." He nodded towards the dead body. "Let us get you to an Inn. That's all that we ask." She glanced between them, realizing that she was outnumbered and that they could've had their way with her, but didn't.
"He's right. I'm William Turner. And this is Jack...Sparrow." He crouched down by her again.
Her eyes took him in before looking him in the face again. "Anna Farris." She said quietly, hugging herself.
As William helped her to her feet, Jack knelt down and pulled the ring off of Forrestal's finger. He slid it in his pocket and started from the alley, ignoring William's questioning glance.
-----------
The crew had responded immediately to the Bosun's call. Under the tyranny of Captain Forrestal, they had learned that a slow response meant harsh punishment. Most were shocked to see Jack Morgan standing in the captain's usual place, rolling something between his hands. As soon as they had all gathered, Jack began to speak.
"Forrestal is dead." He said bluntly, and the whisperers started. "He attacked me and I was forced to kill him." Jack held up the ring, the moonlight glinting off the rather large stone in the middle. "According to his articles, any man who challenges the captain and wins shall have his ship and crew." He smirked, glancing over at William. A smirk appeared on his friend's face as well. "From now on, you'll address me as Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?" There was some murmuring and a few scattered 'ayes.' "What was that?" He shouted.
"Aye!" The crew shouted in unison.
"Good. Get some sleep. Tomorrow we're out on the sea again." The men turned to head to the forecastle, still whispering among themselves. Jack turned to William, awaiting his response.
"You wily bastard." William said with a laugh as Jack walked up the steps to the quarterdeck. He dragged his hand over the wood of the wheel before leaning on it.
"I told you." He said. "Now I have a ship and a crew." He ran his hand over one of the spires on the wheel.
"Under my guidance, the Black Pearl and her crew will become the most feared in the Caribbean."
--------------
Will had not said a word the entire time that Jack had been telling his story, but Jack knew he had been hanging on every word. He studied him carefully, but found that he couldn't read the boy's emotions quite right at the moment. Finally Will stood up, wrapping his arms tightly around himself, almost as if to ward off the cold. He didn't say a word as he headed back to the forecastle to curl up on his small bed in the crew's quarters, his mind spinning with what he'd just heard.
Jack watched him disappear before turning to look out at the horizon himself. Bringing up old memories made him realize how long he had been at this. Forty-three bloody years I've been alive, and over half of them a pirate. It was who he was now, a man of fortune and a bloody scallywag. A part of him was proud that he'd made a reputation for himself, but the other was disappointed. Being a pirate had brought him much more pain than anyone had ever realized.
He swiped his rum bottle off the step and took a deep drink, trying to send the memories to the back of his mind again. Will would have to make his own decision. Jack was done pleading his case.
He finally found him sitting on the stairway up to the quarterdeck, staring over the rail out at the horizon. Jack approached him quietly, two rum bottles clutched in his hand. His intention was to loosen Will up, to finally coax him out of the morbid world he'd been living in as the first step of making him a pirate. The hard part would actually be getting him to drink it. "William." He said, pausing just a few feet from him.
Will turned his head slightly, his neck horribly sore. He didn't say a word, simply looked to Jack and waited for him to speak again, which was just fine with the pirate. He'd never been one for being snapped at. "Brought some rum. Thought you could use a drink." His offer was met with more silence as Will looked back out at the horizon. So he went over and sat down on the steps just above Will, setting the first bottle close to him and opening the second. He tilted his head back, taking a drink of the sugary liquid and swallowing.
"I want to go home." Jack perked up as he heard the soft voice and looked over to Will. He'd shifted so that he could see both Jack and horizon now. In the moonlight, the wound on his neck was red and angry. His normally tanned face had taken on paleness and there were dark circles under his eyes. He looked more like a victim of sickness rather than a man just hanged.
"You can't go home." Jack said bluntly. He'd been expecting and dreading this conversation. He would have to explain to Will why he couldn't go home, and then he would have to explain him his options, none of which the young man would want. Not to mention he hated doing this. He was a pirate and businessman, not a shoulder to lean on. The only person he should've been concerned with was himself and his crew, yet this blacksmith from Port Royal, the son of his best friend, had changed that. He was even beginning to feel like a father when it came down to Will, which he really didn't appreciate either. "You are dead and even if you showed up in Port Royal, they'd hang you again to finish the job. Port Royal is no longer your safe haven, William."
Will stared at him, fury in his dark eyes. "I have to go home, Jack. What about Elizabeth? And Emma? My place is with them, Jack. No where else."
Jack grabbed his shirt collar, tugging him forward. Will winced as he was jerked forward, making him move his chin too quickly and pulling at the healing skin. "Listen to me. You are dead to your bonny lass, savvy? The only thing you can expect if you go back there is to be hung again. I know this will be hard for you to accept, but that life is over for you." He let go of Will's collar and leaned back against the stairs, taking another drink of rum.
Will gently rubbed at his throat, his eyes shut. "Then what am I supposed to do?" He asked quietly. "How am I supposed to live?"
"Become a pirate on my crew. Sign the articles and go on the account with the Pearl. You'll find I'm a fair capt..." He was cut off as Will stood up quickly. He had to clutch at the stairs to keep himself from falling over.
"Never! I will never become a pirate." Will said bitterly.
"Then you have another choice. Take a bit of coin and pay your way on a merchant ship docked here. Find yourself a town where you are unknown and settle down again. Mind you, you've lost your apprenticeship and most of your belongings." Jack said off handedly.
"That's what I'll do." Will told him. "I am not a pirate. I never will be. I never wanted to be."
Jack laughed suddenly, startling Will and making him take a step back. "You think we all set out to become bloody scallywags?" He said, smirking in dark amusement. "You have a lot to learn, lad."
Will had been about to go back to his cabin and prepare to leave, but his strong sense of curiosity rooted him firmly in the spot. "What do you mean?" He asked and after a moment's hesitation, sat back down on the step.
"No man ever sets out to become a pirate, William. Many don't have another choice. Some have a choice, but chose this life because they have hopes that things will get better someday. Being a pirate is not a glorified occupation, it's survival." He picked up the full bottle beside him and held it out towards Will. Will hesitantly took it, staring at it as if it would give him all the answers. Jack could see the mixed emotions in his eyes. The longing to go home, the anger at what had been done to him, the pain as he thought over his future, and a hint of curiosity.
"Why did you?" Will asked quietly, not looking at Jack. The pirate had been expecting the question. He felt a bit hesitant about sharing the past that had remained a mystery to so many for so long. Jack glanced around the ship, looking to see if there were any others on the ship. But it was just he and William. The rest of the crew were spending their shares in the taverns and buying themselves wenches, trinkets, and rum. Which is what he wished he were doing at the moment.
He settled himself into a comfortable position, rum bottle at hand. "Let me tell you a little story..."
------------------
"Not ever?" The young Irish man's eyes twinkled in amusement as he looked over to his dark haired best friend. "Surely you must be joking." He shifted his pack to settle more comfortably on his shoulder and brushed back an escaping strand of hair from the messy ponytail behind his ear. "You've never been on a ship William?"
"I solemnly swear it Jacob. I've never been on a ship before. It's been nothing but odd jobs for me since my father died. My sister would've ended up working the corner had I not found work. I couldn't have that." William Turner said as the two men walked along the dock. A few of the ladies boarding the passenger ships turned to watch them as they walked by. They were both quite young, only nineteen, and quite handsome. Jacob Morgan was the taller of the two by only a bit, dark haired and his eyes always held a mischievous look. William Turner was the more reserved of the two. Both of them were from the lower class section of town and were used to the hard work and poverty that had surrounded them for so long. William had been teetering into disenchantment with life before Jacob had suggested they look for jobs on merchant vessels so that they could see the world.
The ship that had taken them was a three masted vessel named the Siren's Song. Jacob and William had managed to snatch the last remaining places in the crew of ninety. The captain was a friendly man who was reputed to get along well with his crew and treated them as equals. It sounded like a ship that they could've worked on. Jacob caught sight of the rowboats being loaded with supplies and tugged on William's arm. "Come on. We'll catch a ride out to the ship with them." He said, heading towards the boat.
A while later both men were on deck, listening as Captain Haversham went through his traditional welcoming speech and the rules. After that, they were ready to set sail. Jacob glanced over at William as the crew dispersed around the decks to make way. "Open sea, here we come."
------------
Jacob had never been so frightened in his life. The crew of the Siren's Song was down on their knees on the deck, arms tied behind their backs. No less than forty had died trying to defend the ship from the invasion of pirates, but they had failed to keep the ship from being taken. The remaining crew had given up their weapons; their arms were tied and they were made to kneel in a row, facing the other ship as the pirate captain boarded.
He felt his breath catch in his chest, looking over at William. William was staring at the man, his chest heaving slightly as the fear overtook him. The pirate walked to the head of the line, the first man being Captain Haversham. They seemed to be discussing something, but the two were unable to hear so far down the line. Then there was a gunshot and Haversham crumpled to the deck, scarlet spilling out over the wood. Jacob squeezed his eyes shut, fighting the urge to scream in terror. "I don't want to die." He whispered and jumped as he heard another gunshot and a thud as the body hit the deck. Then there was cheering.
Jacob opened his eyes and glanced down the row as he saw two pirates haul the quartermaster to his feet and escort him towards the ship. "What's going on?" William hissed at him. "Did he betray us?"
Jacob shook his head. "No. The captain is asking us to go on account." He whispered back. "He's looking for more men for his crew." His heart thudded in his chest and his mouth had become dry. He did not want to become a pirate, yet he did not want to die. "I recognize who this is. Most pirates will drop off the men who did not go on the account near to a port, but there are a few who straight out murder them instead. That's Captain 'Red Eye' Forrestal." William dropped his head, chin resting against his chest in a look of defeat.
Not too long after, the toe of Forrestal's boot lifted his chin so that the young man would face him. "What about you, boy? Will you go on account or would you prefer death?" There was a tense silence as Jacob waited to hear the answer, not even sure what his own decision would be.
"I...I'll go on the account." William said finally, fighting tears. "I'll become a pirate." Jacob looked over at him in shock. "If I die, there will be no one to take care of my sister and mother." He said in a rush. "This way I can still send them the money."
"But..." Forrestel stepping in front of him, an expectant look on his face, cut off whatever Jacob had been about to say. If it was possible, he thought his heart sped up even faster to the point where he felt light headed. "I..." He looked towards William, who was being dragged to Forrestal's galleon, a large ship with black sails. "I'll go on the account." He said finally, forcing the words out. Rough hands grabbed him from behind and hoisted him to his feet as Forrestal moved on to the next man in line.
Jacob felt horrified at what he'd done, agreeing to become a scoundrel. But he had done it for survival, and he wouldn't be alone.
------------
"Jack the Bloody."
"No."
"Jack Raven?"
"No."
"Jack Sparrow?"
"Why are you so obsessed with changing your last name?" William, now known as Bootstrap Bill Turner, muttered as he pulled his feet off the table and picked up his half empty mug.
Jacob Morgan, known as Jack Morgan for the time being, gave him a dark look. "Because there is already a Captain Morgan on the seas. I want to have a name everyone will remember." Both young men had taken to the pirate lifestyle quicker than they had thought they would. Jacob had been given a name change when the veteran crew had kept forgetting his name and had taken to calling him Jack instead. All he needed now was to change his last name.
"You're not even a captain. Why would you need to worry?" William said, eyeing his friend as he took a drink.
"Because eventually we're going to get out from under the Devil's thumb and be free men." Jack whispered, leaning forward. Captain Forrestal was indeed the Devil to them. He was harsh with his crew and especially abusive towards the younger members. Both Jack and William had their fair shares of marks on their backs from the numerous punishments.
"That would be a brilliant idea. But how would we ever get away from that man without being branded mutineers and have enough money to get our own ship? Or even steal one, for that matter. We are only but two men." William said, thinking out loud. "I'm with you all the way on this. It just needs planning."
"Aye." Jack got up from his seat, throwing two shillings to the serving wench as he and William headed towards the door. "That's going to be the hard...part." His attention was drawn somewhere else as he heard a woman crying out in fear and protest. Before he could stop him, William had drawn his cutlass and rushed towards the small alleyway. Jack did the same and followed after him.
The woman in question was backed into the corner, curling up into a small ball and crying softly, begging for her life. Her clothes were ripped and torn and her dirty face was streaked with tears. One arm was bleeding heavily, the other hand clapped over it but not doing enough to stop it.
Captain Forrestal hovered over her, weaving slightly. It was easy to tell that he'd had a goodly amount to drink. Jack's temper began to rise. Some pirates found it fine to rape a woman, but he was one that found the act disgusting. He would take a willing wench into hid bed from time to time, but forcing himself upon another woman was something he would never think of.
"Forrestal!" He bellowed. "Leave her alone." The drunken captain whirled around to face Jack, nearly falling into the wall. "What'd ye want, boy?" He snarled, staggering towards Jack. "Don't ye know yet not to speak out against the Captain, eh?" He swung his cutlass at the younger pirate, but the rum had slowed his reaction time and Jack was easily able to duck underneath the blow. Forrestal crashed into the wall and spun around.
"Come here you...you...you bastard!" He slurred. Jack jumped back as the captain swung the sword again. Both him and William were good swordsmen, but the captain's swings were unpredictable and unwieldy. The best he could do was try and avoid the swings.
The next swing hit Jack in the hand. He cried out in pain and stepped back as a line of blood raised on his skin. He'd been lucky that he hadn't lost it. William took his turn and found it as difficult as Jack. He was soon nursing a shallow cut across the chest. While the young pirate was looking at his bloodstained hand, Forrestal lunged for him. Jack lunged as well and they both hit the ground.
Jack rose. Forrestal didn't, Jack's dagger embedded in his chest. Right through the heart. Jack stumbled into the wall, breathing hard. He'd killed men before, when taking a ship, but never the captain. William looked to him, eyes wide. Neither of them had any idea what to do.
Behind them, the young woman's sobs had died down and she continued to lie against the wall, staring off into nowhere. William turned around, kneeling down in front of her. "Are you alri..." He was cut off as her hand whipped out and slapped him hard across the face.
"Leave me be, dirty pirate." She hissed at him through clenched teeth. "Be gone!" Tears rose in her eyes again. "Be gone!" William got to his feet and backed up, looking down at her.
"I can't just leave you here. You're hurt and surely another man will take advantage of you in this condition." He told her.
"Just as you would, pirate?" She almost screamed the word at him.
"We have names." Jack told her. "And not all pirates are like him." He nodded towards the dead body. "Let us get you to an Inn. That's all that we ask." She glanced between them, realizing that she was outnumbered and that they could've had their way with her, but didn't.
"He's right. I'm William Turner. And this is Jack...Sparrow." He crouched down by her again.
Her eyes took him in before looking him in the face again. "Anna Farris." She said quietly, hugging herself.
As William helped her to her feet, Jack knelt down and pulled the ring off of Forrestal's finger. He slid it in his pocket and started from the alley, ignoring William's questioning glance.
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The crew had responded immediately to the Bosun's call. Under the tyranny of Captain Forrestal, they had learned that a slow response meant harsh punishment. Most were shocked to see Jack Morgan standing in the captain's usual place, rolling something between his hands. As soon as they had all gathered, Jack began to speak.
"Forrestal is dead." He said bluntly, and the whisperers started. "He attacked me and I was forced to kill him." Jack held up the ring, the moonlight glinting off the rather large stone in the middle. "According to his articles, any man who challenges the captain and wins shall have his ship and crew." He smirked, glancing over at William. A smirk appeared on his friend's face as well. "From now on, you'll address me as Captain Jack Sparrow, savvy?" There was some murmuring and a few scattered 'ayes.' "What was that?" He shouted.
"Aye!" The crew shouted in unison.
"Good. Get some sleep. Tomorrow we're out on the sea again." The men turned to head to the forecastle, still whispering among themselves. Jack turned to William, awaiting his response.
"You wily bastard." William said with a laugh as Jack walked up the steps to the quarterdeck. He dragged his hand over the wood of the wheel before leaning on it.
"I told you." He said. "Now I have a ship and a crew." He ran his hand over one of the spires on the wheel.
"Under my guidance, the Black Pearl and her crew will become the most feared in the Caribbean."
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Will had not said a word the entire time that Jack had been telling his story, but Jack knew he had been hanging on every word. He studied him carefully, but found that he couldn't read the boy's emotions quite right at the moment. Finally Will stood up, wrapping his arms tightly around himself, almost as if to ward off the cold. He didn't say a word as he headed back to the forecastle to curl up on his small bed in the crew's quarters, his mind spinning with what he'd just heard.
Jack watched him disappear before turning to look out at the horizon himself. Bringing up old memories made him realize how long he had been at this. Forty-three bloody years I've been alive, and over half of them a pirate. It was who he was now, a man of fortune and a bloody scallywag. A part of him was proud that he'd made a reputation for himself, but the other was disappointed. Being a pirate had brought him much more pain than anyone had ever realized.
He swiped his rum bottle off the step and took a deep drink, trying to send the memories to the back of his mind again. Will would have to make his own decision. Jack was done pleading his case.