Disclaimer: I don't own anything from POTC and blah blah blah…ohh hell with it! You know the rest.
Chapter 18: Shattered BarriersLia's POV:
As I slept, vivid memories of many moments flooded through my brain, a montage of one memory after another. So real it felt like I was reliving it.
Either sad, frightening or wonderful…
I saw myself running around a room, the innocence of youth fresh upon my face. My face was red and wet from my tears.
I watched as I saw my twelve-year-old self throwing anything from a shoe to a chair, screaming in horrific pain, a pain that burned from the inside out.
Suddenly the room was gone; I was on a ship's deck, black sails hovered around. I was running and laughing, a bottle tightly clutched in my hand. I smiled as I watched myself run.
"I didn't want him to get me." I said to myself, remembering that night.
Then I was on the floor of a ship's cabin, I could feel the splinters of the wood against my back. A man was hovering on top of me, roughly rocking back and forth, and grinding his hips into me. A mix of pain and disgust shot through my body, igniting my nerves. I couldn't see the man's face but I knew who it was…
I jerked awake and gasped, wide eyed. My breathing was quick and heavy and I was covered in a cold sweat. I was back in the cot, the moonlight bouncing off the wall, making little shadows of silver light. It was still nighttime.
It was just a dream, just a stupid dream.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, pushing most of the images out of my mind.
'It wasn't real, just a dream…'As I opened my eyes, I furrowed my brows as I saw a hand resting on my hip. I turned my head to the left and saw Will. His eyes were closed and his breathing was steady and slow.
I smiled a little as I remembered our events that took place earlier.
I pulled his hand off me and set it down on the pillow near his face. I slowly crawled over him and got off the cot.
I stretched my arms up high, arching my back. I hadn't felt so relaxed in a while.
I ran my hands through my hair trying to tame it. Sleeping on it caused it to rat out all over. I was still trying to get used to my short hair.
I stopped suddenly as I heard a creak. I whirled around and saw that the door was open.
But how…?
I grabbed the dirk that was set on the nightstand. The door being opened didn't seem to feel right.
Something was wrong.
My first thought was that somebody from the crew was here to be rid of Will and myself but it didn't seem possible because I knew they were planning something else.
My breathing began to quiver as I slowly approached the door that led to the darkness of the ship's corridor.
I felt the dirk become slippery from my sweaty palm and I tightened my grip on it. I put my hand on the rim of the door and slowly opened it as I walked out of the room.
I jumped out and held the dirk out in front of me, ready to fight.
Nothing but the darkness…
The only noise I heard was my quivered breathing and my heart, which was pounding so hard that I could feel it pulsating through my veins.
I slowly let out air as I realized that probably the door just unhinged. I looked back to Will who was still asleep, his back towards me.
"Can we get out of here?" I whispered to myself.
The chance felt very slim since I knew Mateo ordered precaution to prevent it. I knew there were pirates on guard up on deck.
I turned to go back in the room when I felt a hand grab my wrist and pull me back.
Before I could scream for Will, a hand clamped tightly over my mouth, preventing my cry for help.
A blade was brought to my throat and I felt someone's chest pressing against my back.
"Drop it!" the man hissed.
I relaxed my hand, letting go of the dirk. It fell to the floor and someone's boot kicked it away.
Another pirate stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. He was bald with a goatee and really bad looking teeth.
He smiled as he reached behind him and shut the door to the room where Will remained asleep.
The pirate from behind lowered his blade and pressed his cheek against my hair. He chuckled; I could feel the perversion in his laugh.
"Well, look what we got here, Wiggins." He said with a smirk.
The pirate called Wiggins eyed me up and down. His eyes were glistening.
"Seems she got out of 'er bloody ropes."
The other pirate kept his grip on me. I could feel his dry lips traveling down the side of my face, barely touching the skin.
"Heh, she is quite the feisty one, ain't she?"
I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a muffled moan of disgust as he ran his slimy tongue over my ear. I grabbed his wrist and sunk my nails into his flesh, hoping it would make him drop me.
He didn't even flinch. I continued to struggle.
Wiggins pulled out a knife. He put his hand on the doorknob that led to Will. He looked at me, menacingly.
"Ye might wanna stop that!" He hissed, "Or I'll burst in this here room and gut yer friend like a fish, while Levi forces ye to watch!"
I closed my eyes and shook my head, whimpering at the thought of him doing that to Will. Levi laughed evilly while Wiggins stepped away from the door.
He came close to me, pointing the blade at my throat.
"So will ye be a good girl?" he asked threateningly
He couldn't tell but I was gritting my teeth. Knowing I was in this situation and couldn't do anything to help myself set off a spark in me.
I narrowed my eyes, giving him an icy death glare as I nodded my head.
He smiled evilly as he ran his calloused fingers down my face, tracing my jaw line. I recoiled from his touch.
"Good."
Will's POV: Next MorningMy eyes fluttered open as the brightness of the sun hit me. I put my hand up, shielding my eyes as I sat up.
As I sat up, I turned around to check on Lia. She was gone!
In a slight panic I looked to the nightstand, the dirk was gone too.
My breathing began to pick up as my mind scanned through all the possibilities.
Did Lia attempt to escape without me?
"No, that would be crazy." I said out loud.
Almost as if waiting for a cue, the door burst open. It bounced against the wooden wall with a loud bang.
Two pirates stood at the door, laughing. Lia was in their grasp. They threw her on the floor in front of the bed. She was conscious and didn't show signs of pain when she hit the floor. Not a sound or anything.
She lay there, not moving. Her hair was tossed around and had some ripped out from the side. Her breeches were loose around her and had fallen down to just above her thighs. Her shirt was ripped and tucked out from her pants. The string that tied up the neckline of the shirt was gone.
She sat up, breathing really hard and looked to the pirates at the door.
"Scared ye didn't we?" asked one of the pirates as he read my expression. I had to admit I was scared, for Lia mostly.
It was somewhat surprising how many possibilities could run through your mind when you feared for someone, especially in less than a minute.
"Just thought we would have our fun with the little wench." Commented the other pirate with a sickening grin.
My heart thudded as I looked to Lia, who was breathing fiercely through her nose. She hung her head, fighting an outburst.
I didn't want to believe this was real. I could feel the anger and hate coursing through my body.
"I gotta say it was the most fun I've had in a while." Said the other pirate.
Lia cringed at his words. A spark ignited in me.
"I swear to god…!"
I ran to the door. Before I could reach it, they shut and locked it. I began to pound on it. Their laughing continued from the other side.
"I'll kill you if you touch her again!"
Of course my threats meant nothing since there wasn't anything I could do from behind a locked door. They laughed even more before I heard their footsteps moving away.
"They can have me all they want…"
I turned to Lia. Her voice was hoarse and her eyes were black with hatred. I looked at her with outrage.
"How can you say such a thing?" I demanded.
She stood up and pulled her pants up, buttoning them. She matted her hair down with her hands.
"It's not the pleasure they want."
I furrowed my brows, "Then what is it?"
She wasn't making sense.
"Just to see me suffer." She said, "It's a fate worse than death."
She turned to me, walking slowly. A fierce look of determination shadowed her eyes.
"But I will do much worse to them!"
It shocked me at first, seeing how much she was giving into them. But as I listened to her words and felt her persistence, I knew it wasn't really a surrender.
It was an act of rebellion. She knew there would be a time for revenge. She believed it so much that I almost felt it. Her longing for revenge took me in, swallowed me up like a vast cloud.
She walked over and sat by the only window that was in the room, gazing idly out at the never-ending ocean. She frowned and stood up, her gaze focused on something.
"Is the Black Pearl supposed to be tailing us?" she asked.
"What?"
I walked over to the window. My head peered over Lia's shoulder to see what she was talking about. She was right.
The Black Pearl was indeed sailing right behind us.
"Mateo probably ordered someone to commandeer it." Lia said, answering her own question.
I nodded slowly.
I jumped as the door burst open and the same two pirates from earlier walked in.
"Time to go." Growled the bald one.
Instinctively I stood in front of Lia and held an arm out to protect her.
Lia pushed my arm out of the way and stood up, glaring at the two men.
"I don't need you to protect me." She whispered.
Before I could say anything, I felt myself fly forward. I was grabbed by my shirt and roughly pushed against the wall.
"No!"
Lia of course, was being stubborn and refused to oblige. She ducked out of the way as the pirate lunged out at her.
She ran for the door but was grabbed again. She kicked and flailed as the pirate kept his grip on her.
I pushed off the wall, wanting to help her but was held there by the other pirate who forced my hands behind my back and wrapped a rope around my wrists tightly.
Lia was roughly pushed against the wall next to me and they quickly bounded her wrists before she could try anything else.
We were pulled roughly away from the wall and pushed out the door.
Jack's POV:
I fought it for almost the whole night but I eventually gave in to the weariness of sleep. It had been a hell of a week and sleep was something I did not find easily during my pursuit for The Mystic. I was actually surprised how easily I gave in.
I supposed that there was really nothing I could do.
My eyes fluttered open as I felt the sleep slowly die away.
Anamaria and Mr. Gibbs were sprawled out in front of me; their heads leaned against each other as they slept.
Mr. Cotton sat against the corner, sleeping. His parrot perched on his shoulder with its head tucked into its wing.
Soft rays of sunlight seeped in from the various knotholes on the walls. I lifted my head for a brief moment, pondering whether or not to go back to sleep.
I shrugged slightly and laid my head back down on my arm, sleep overwhelming me once again. As my eyes began to close, they quickly snapped open and I jerked up in surprise as a loud banging rang around the brig.
"Bloody 'ell!" I exclaimed in annoyance. Anamaria, Mr. Cotton and Gibbs jumped awake as well.
I heard a chuckle and my attention was immediately turned to a greasy faced pirate with an old rotted tooth grin.
I raised my brows at him with a sarcastic smirk, "Are ye lost?"
The pirate huffed at my remark, "Mateo wants you on deck."
He pulled out a pair of keys and started to unlock the cell.
"He's got a bit of a surprise for ye."
I furrowed my brows as he laughed roguishly.
"And boy do I love surprises." I commented mockingly.
He stopped for a minute and flashed a small glare before continuing with the lock.
I stood up as the cell door opened and the pirate motioned for me to step out. Anamaria and Gibbs stood up as well. The pirate held up his hand to stop them.
"Just Mr. Sparrow."
I turned back to the pirate, "That's Captain Ja…"
"Shut up!" he growled as he pushed me away from the cell.
Anamaria and Mr. Gibbs were both fighting the urge to laugh. Small smiles played on their lips. I looked to the floor, pushing back my feeling of amusement and self-satisfaction.
The pirate finished locking the door and grabbed my arm. He roughly led me up the stairs, around a few corridors and up to the top deck.
He pushed me up the ladder and I pushed up on the grating and stepped up onto the deck.
I stood with my arms crossed as I waited for the pirate to climb out of the hole. He closed the grating and turned to me roughly shoving me forward.
"Keep moving!"
He shoved me in front of two pirates who were busying themselves with a box of cigars. They turned their heads to me as I was pushed near them.
"He is so touchy." I said to them, pointing to my "escort".
"Jack, glad you decided to join us."
I turned to the side and was immediately faced with Mateo who was looking rather pleased.
I shrugged, "Can't say the feeling's mutual."
"Is that so?" his mouth curled into a smug grin.
He took one step to the side revealing Will and Lia.
They were both bound by their wrists and gagged. They sat with their back leaning against each other, facing me. An extra rope was wrapped around their torsos, keeping them from moving
Their eyes went wide when they saw me. Their words were stifled as they tried to speak. They moved around, trying to free their hands but it was useless.
Quickly I also noticed The Pearl sailing right next to us.
"Being such a grand ship, I figured it would be lovely for dear Mr. Richards." Mateo explained as he pointed to the rudder. Mr. Richards was steering The Pearl. He looked to me and gave me a mock salute. I glared at him.
"It seems we have arrived, Captain!" he shouted to Mateo.
"Arrived where?" I asked.
Mateo pointed behind me toward the front of the ship. I turned around and saw an island.
It was just a strip of land with palm trees and a mountain, which told me there was a lagoon in there somewhere.
I turned back to Mateo who was still grinning.
"Told ye I had somethin' planned." He said menacingly.
I leaned over a bit to see Lia. Her head was down and her body was moving with her breathing. Her eyes were closed, I could hear soft whimpering with her harsh breathing.
For a minute, I wanted to believe that we weren't here. What would we be doing this very minute if we just woke up the next morning and took off on The Pearl like we were supposed to?
"Now its time I kept to my word." Mateo's words brought me out of my trance.
Mateo walked over and knelt down by her. She bit down on the gag and her eyes squeezed shut as Mateo grabbed her by her hair and pulled her to her feet.
I stiffened but didn't move. There was nothing I could do.
She cringed as Mateo pulled out a knife and with one swish of his arm, ran the blade across the gag. It slipped off and fell on her boot.
She coughed a bit before opening her eyes. She faced Mateo.
"You fucking bastard!" she screamed in his face.
Mateo ignored her and turned to me, "Like I said Jack, we won't be needin' yer daughter anymore."
The crew laughed as Mateo pushed Lia into the waiting arms of two pirates. She struggled and kicked as they dragged her to the plank and forced her on it.
She turned to Mateo, absolutely bewildered, "You can't be serious!" she screamed, "I can't swim with my bloody hands tied!"
Mateo rolled his eyes, she was stating the obvious, "That's the point, darlin'."
He began to laugh as I ran to him.
"You goddamn son of a bitch!"
I jumped on him and tackled him to the floor. An uproar rose around me and before I could even swing a punch at Mateo, I was hoisted up by four pirates.
I continued to lunge at him as the pirates held me back. Mateo stood up and grabbed his hat, which flew off when he went down. He put it back on and slowly approached me.
Suddenly without warning, I was suddenly hunched over in pain. Mateo had delivered a hard blow to my stomach with his fist. Everyone around began to laugh and I was forced up. I heard Lia cry out as the punch was delivered.
They pushed me near the plank and held me there, forcing me to watch Lia take those few steps that would lead to her death.
Lia took a few timid steps toward the ledge. The plank wobbled as she walked.
Lia's POV:
"Come on! Walk the plank!"
"Off you go!"
"We 'aven't got all day, missy!"
I looked back to see all the pirates, pointing their swords and shouting with glee.
I looked to Jack who was staring at me. Our eyes immediately locked. I felt everything around us begin to fade; the cries of the pirates were not longer there.
All I could see was Jack. But…
No. Not Jack. He was gone.
In his place was someone I should have seen a long time ago. Someone I knew that I thought I didn't have.
I turned completely around and faced Jack, seeing him in a new light.
"Father?"
Jack's POV:
My head immediately perked up. Hearing her say it made it sound as real as calling me by name.
I gasped softly, both amazed and shocked by what she had just called me.
She shook her head softly, her eyes welling, "I don't hate you."
Her voice quivered as she spoke but she remained calm.
I bowed my head in a single nod, "I know, sweet."
She smiled sadly as I referred to her by her nickname.
Lia's POV:
"I'll be waitin' for ye."
I saw a small glow of confidence in my father's eyes. He probably thought I would come up with some miraculous escape from drowning.
I simply smiled. I didn't want him losing hope.
I turned around and looked back down to the water. The blue rippling mass that would lead to Davy Jones's locker awaited me. For once I didn't feel scared.
The pirates continued to shout and jeer as I looked at the ocean water.
"Hey Lia!"
I turned around and saw Mateo at the front of the crowd. In his grasp was Will who was still bound and gagged.
"Thought ye could use some company."
Will's eyes grew wide as he was immediately shoved forward onto the plank. Before he could stop himself, he collided into me.
I lost my footing and we both fell off the plank. I let out a small shriek as the wind whipped past me.
I quickly filled my lungs with air as the ocean rushed up to greet me.
In a few seconds I tore through the blue mass and I slowly began to sink.
I looked up to see Will sinking above me. Along with that was the reflection of the sun that seemed to drift further and further away…
Jack's POV:
The pirates continued to laugh after hearing the splash.
I closed my eyes, I didn't want to fear and believe they were dead. I knew they would get out of it somehow.
Mateo turned around and laughed in a way of addressing his crew. All the men laughed with him.
He stopped laughing and immediately went into captain mode, "What are ye standin' around for! Move forward to the island!"
"Aye!"
The ship began to move faster. The Black Pearl still trailing behind us.
I leaned over the railing to see.
The island wasn't too far from us.
Frantically I began to scan the water, seeing for any signs that Lia and Will were alive.
Unfortunately I didn't get to look long.
"Take Captain Sparrow back to the brig." He ordered, slightly mocking when he said captain.
I was grabbed roughly by two pirates and yanked away from the railing.
I kept my eyes on the ocean, as I was lead down below deck.
'Please be alive…'A/N: Well…heh, heh…
Lia finally got off the ship. :ducks from flying objects: I hope you enjoy this chapter and I really can't promise anything with chapter 19. Oh and to Carmen, I hope you have the time to humor me with one of your TBG reviews, lol!