Chapter 5

Will grew increasingly worried. Jack had left the ship half an hour ago and was still nowhere to be seen. Will feared that the Black Pearl would not be able to hold position much longer - they were running out of cannon munition and the Arrows' interminable firing had injured many of Jack's crew. Will was forced to decide between sailing off and saving the crew from more damage or waiting for Jack, trusting him to appear soon. He chose the latter; he could not just leave Jack now, especially since Elizabeth was involved too.
Suddenly a shout was heard, and Bo'Suns' mocking voice boomed over the battle cries. All attention turned to him - and the comparatively ridiculously small man next to him: Jack Sparrow. Will gasped in horror, caught by surprise: Jack Sparrow, the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow had been captured? How ever could that happen? What had made him act so rash?

While wildly trying to come up with a plan, Jack tried to catch Will's attention: he was waving his arms around frantically, obviously telling the Turner boy to take the ship and leave. Which was also what Bo'Sun recommended...

"Ye stupid scallywags, listen up here, might be o' importance to y'all if ye ever want te see yer sorry excuse fer a captain again!" Bo'Sun sounded extremely content with himself, having control over his former Captain now, who was squirming under his grip.

"Here be the deal: ye'll all sail off with that lil ship o' yers, hand over all yer plunder and I might jus' reconsider tyin yer lil captain to a canon right away." His words were accompanied by a roar of satisfied laughter, to which Jack rolled his eyes.

Worried mumbles arose from the Black Pearls crew. It was Will who spoke up first.

"How do we know you won't harm him later? And what of Elizabeth? What did you do to her?"

"Yer prissy whore's is still alive, don't ye worry bout that lad…and she'll be getting some fitting company soon." Bo'sun shoved Jack forward, nearly causing him to topple of the ship. The Arrows' crew jeered and Jack cringed.

Will clenched his fists, unable to suppress his anger and frustration any longer. He had now already lost two of his dearest friends to those bloody pirates!

"Forget it Bo'Sun! The Black Pearl is not going to give up! The only way we'll be leaving will be with Jack and Elizabeth!" The crew of the Black Pearl stared incredulously at Will and then back to Jack, who was letting his arms drop in despair, knowing that Will had, once again, done something incredibly stupid. But before he was able to shout anything else to Will Bo'Sun, a grim expression on his face, brought him down hard to the floor and dragged him down to the brig.

About an hour later, the defeated Black Pearl sailed as quickly as the tattered sails would allow it to the save haven of Port Royal. The main mast was broken and merely a stump was left. The sails were torn and useless and water leaked through the many holes on the side of the ship. The crew looked no better - all hammocks were occupied by exhausted men, many seriously injured. Will looked worried, defeated, anxious, angry - but most of all he looked guilty. He had left his two friends to a terrible fate - possibly death and he hadn't managed to rescue them. He relived the last hour, seeing Jack's crew trying their best to get the cannons loaded in time to defeat the Arrow. But none would do - the Arrow was better equipped, had more cannons, a larger crew and extra munition. To avoid any more deaths, the Black Pearl had had no choice but to give up…

Meanwhile Elizabeth sat on the cell-bed, wondering whoever that man was who came bursting in a while ago and who had seemed so terribly familiar… She had just caught a glimpse of him, but what she had seen had confused her totally. She knew this man who possessed this dark beauty, she remembered his rough voice, his slurry accent, his odd clothes. She searched her mind, trying to remember the slightest thing in connection to this man, but could not grasp anything. Was he her friend? Her lover? Her enemy? No, he didn't seem like an enemy, after all he had come to rescue her...or not? Elizabeth threw up her hands in frustration - if only she could remember something...

Jack cursed softly, not wishing to awake the sleeping Ragetti who was watching over him. How could he have been so careless? Did thinking of Elizabeth make him throw all caution into the wind? Was she so important to him that he could not think of nothing else than rescuing her the fastest way possible? Sighing, he admitted that it was that way. He was a pirate, aye, and should care for no one but himself - definitely not risking his life for others. He was supposed to be egotistical: take and give nothing back... But he sensed a change. He no longer wanted to keep everything for himself. He wanted to share his feelings, the freedom of sailing, the joy of the spray of seawater on his face with someone else - with Elizabeth.

'Shut up, ye mushy eunuch', he cursed himself. 'Yer gettin all sentimental. If I ever want to tell Liz how I feel, I must first find a way to get her and me outta here quickly!' Letting his eyes roam about his cell, his gaze fell on Ragetti and a cunning smile tugged at the corners of his lips as a thought crossed his mind.

Jack wiggled his finger through one of the iron bars and pinched sleeping Ragetti in the chest. A loud snore was the only answer. Cheek squished against the iron bars, Jack tried to get even closer to reach Ragetti's vest. Ragetti shifted and Jack quickly drew his hand back. After a few moments he tried again. Slowly he reached for the left vest pocket - nope, no keys there. Stretching even further Jack's hand made its way across Ragetti's chest to the right pocket. His fingers felt something cold and Jack smiled.

"Good ole Ragetti...I can always count on ye."