Chapter Five - Lightness and Darkness of Piracy

The horizon was unblemished. A dull, orangish sun sat pleasantly in the sky, casting the day's last hour of light upon the calm ocean surface. I was nothing but a tiny speck in this enormous world – and it was absolutely diminishing. I'd never felt more intimidated in my life. Standing innocently near the bow of the ship, looking for some trace of human life, I knew I was alone.

The pirates were resting, and the ship was momentarily peaceful. Few men still remained on the deck. I noticed Jack sitting at a table Gibbs had carried up from below deck earlier that afternoon. The pirate captain must've been engaging in some sort of debatable conversation because his voice would rise just a bit when he'd slam his hand down on the table.

It wasn't much of a surprise when a fight broke out – the surprise was in that it wasn't where the heated conversation had been occurring. Closer to me, two pirates who I didn't recognize had drawn their swords. It was quite subtle, and it happened faster than I could've ever imagined. The first man's sword whipped swiftly through the air, slicing the other pirates throat with his promising blade. For a moment, I thought it was fake and at that very second, I would awaken in my bed.

Blood spattered the deck. The blade reflected tainted light and the pirate's own blood glistened with unexplainable malevolence. Emotions I'd never experienced tore through my conscience. I felt myself tumble off my own feet and stumble backward. My vision clouded just as the man's dead body thudded to the deck. A puddle of blood spilled from his neck. His dead eyes stared at me.

"Carrie!"

Jack's shout registered in my mind, but I suppose it was too late, because in the next moment, I was in the air and the ocean was rushing toward me. Every one of my muscles tightened when I hit the water. My ribs felt like they broke one by one. I opened my mouth to scream in pain, but was instead choked by saltwater. I stayed above the water, catching my breath and trying to forget the brutal slaying I'd just witnessed.

When Jack dove straight into the water next to me, I used his shoulder to hold myself up, giving my legs a rest. I felt his arm latch around my waist.

"They're hoistin' us up, all right, love? Hold onto me."

I did as he asked, hugging him to me, with my hands laced around his back. He must have done most of the lifting, because when we were propelled out of the water, I lost all of my senses as the cool wind hit my wet skin.

I landed softly against the deck. I didn't breathe for a moment, and could only move when I felt Jack get to his feet next to me. My neck rolled to the right and my cheek was against the cool deck. Breathing steadily, I opened my eyes, catching sight of the corpse only feet away from me. For a moment, I was that corpse, but this kind of life was about fighting. Possessing the strength to gain control of myself, I pushed myself to my feet and swayed only once.

A few of the pirates still at the table chuckled. I glared daggers their way. My confidence drowned when Jack pulled me against him into a hug, using himself to shield me. It was then I realized that his white shirt had been lost somewhere in the fall, and I was left only in my tiny tank top. Gibbs handed Jack his black, knee-length jacket and he pulled it over my shoulders.

I shoved my shoulder into Jack's chest, humiliated and overwhelmed. "I told you. I don't need you to take care of me. . ."

I was unable to meet his gaze. When I took off past the snickering pirates and down the stairs to the cabins, I realized my bruised ribs were hurt a bit more than I'd been anticipating.

Much to my dismay, the door to Jack's cabin was locked. I spotted a few pirates making their way to the galley and I was in no mood for awkward company. The only place to reside that I could find was near the bottom of the stairs.

From my spot seated on the bottom step, I heard the men drop the body into the ocean. I planted my head in my hands, afraid for my life. Where had that pirate who had killed that man gone? There surely were others just like him – maybe Jack. It wasn't like he was actually letting me in.

Wearing only Jack's jacket draped over my shoulders, a measly tank top and old pajama pants, my arms and legs were shaking. As a pirate would occasionally pass me, I pretended to be content and bold. They would remain quiet mostly, or let out a single, short grunt that was supposed to intimidate or taunt me in some way. The moment I would fall into my quiet pensiveness, I was once again interrupted.

"Look, mate – she ain't got 'er brave ol' capt'n with her. For once." He was disgusting and toothless, and he was way too close for my own comfort. Another snickering, sniveling, little jerk chuckled behind him, posing ridiculously as the silent, so-called "cheerleader" of the instigator. Needless to say, I wasn't amused.

Crossing my arms, I got to my feet, subtly making sure the black jacket covered me entirely. "Shut up."

"Stuck all alone on a pirate ship – big, bad pirates all 'round."

I shook my head, unable to place the face I was eyeing. "Are you the one who killed that man?"

"Jus' so 'appens I've killed many of men. So, I'll need a bit more than that." He smiled a revolting, lopsided grin.

"Just now – on the deck. Was that you?"

The pirate straightened up and stamped his foot, glancing back to glare at the other man. "An' we missed it! Blast. . .!"

I watched as his entire act collapsed and he pouted like a child. "Hey," I said suddenly, grabbing his attention. "It could've been one of your friends – the guy who was on the other end of the killing. Have you thought of that?"

He stared at me like I was completely incompetent. "There's no friendship in piracy, poppet."

"You call yourselves righteous."

"Never said such a thing, pretty lass. Fight for ourselves, that's all."

I shook my head. This wasn't my place, but I could leave some mark. "You live with these men, and you don't care for their well being whatsoever?"

His aged, sun-worn face twisted into restrained fury – not the defensiveness I'd been prepared for. His low voic9/e sent dull shivers through my spine. "That's jus' about enough from you."

I jumped back when a short blade swiped up between our faces. My heart raced. Instinct immediately kicked in – I braced myself to run. The more I inched backward, the closer the knife came to my throat.

"What do you think?" He queried. "Tell the bleedin' Cap'n ye fell overboard, aye? Maybe claim we thought you were a special present to the crew?"

"Wouldn't do that if I was you, mate," the pirate behind him urged nervously. "Captain'll 'ave your head if you touch 'er."

I locked eyes with the monster in front of me, his blade inches from my throat. I watched his eyes flame+89. My back touched the wall – I was trapped. My heart beat wildly in my ears, my head pounded, my hands grasped Jack's coat.

So this is how you die. It's one of those questions you have your whole life, and finally, you just don't wonder it anymore. . .

The blade touched my throat, and pressed hard. His yellow-green eyes flashed with insanity and his hand holding the knife twitched – my eyes snapped shut. My heart skipped a beat, and then began again. I opened one eye, then the other.

He was laughing and waving the blade in my face – the clean blade. My hands shot up to my throat. I was alive, he hadn't killed me.

The two pirates said nothing, but backed away quietly before disappearing up the stairs. I watched after them, my hands still groping my throat. When I realized I wasn't breathing, I had to catch my breath, settling myself on the bottom stair.

It was only seconds later when I heard Jack's lazy, yet graceful steps descend the stairs. "Carrie?"

"Yeah – yeah, fine." I slid up the wall into a standing position, letting my hands fall to my sides.

He opened his mouth to speak, observed me, then closed it. Tilting his head, his hesitant gestures toward the upper deck let me know he was very much suspicious. "That, love. . .was the pirate I just happen not to trust."

I cleared my throat and shrugged. "And why's that?"

Jack never broke eye contact. Evenly, he said, "I've got my reasons."

"Reasons," I repeated. "So why do you let him stay?"

"Good pirate. Most of us aren't very trustworthy from the beginnin', darlin'," Jack said simply. "You've got your reasons, too, I'd imagine." He took a step closer. His boots thudded like my heartbeat against the wooden floorboards. Jack's jaw raised slightly and his voice was low and expectant, "What'd he do?"

Not realizing my fingers were curled lightly around my throat, I averted my eyes. I had no intention of telling Jack any of what had happened – not if I was trying to prove to him I could take care of myself. He wasn't fooled. His dark eyes trailed from my eyes to my hand. Reaching up, he slid my hand from my throat and lifted my chin with his finger. I slid from his gaze after a moment, knowing he had to see the light indentation the blade must've made.

"I see it, love," he said grimly.

I turned away from him. "What happened to that pirate? The one that killed that man?"

"He's locked in the brig. You don't have to worry."

"Gee, I've heard that one before. 'I've warned them, love, captain's orders'." I winced inwardly at my dull impression of Jack. "The next minute, I'm attacked with a blade by a psycho pirate."

"An' yet just a moment before that, you said you didn't need me to look after you."

"Jack! I don't. I just don't know my way around, I don't know who to avoid. Just help me out a little, that's all. Even if you just keep your eye on that pirate. He is your guy, right? You're the boss."

"He won't be doin' that to ye again, love, you can trust that."

"Well, what else really was I expecting being aboard a pirate ship?"

"Don't let 'im fool you. Not all of us are like him. There are good men, too. Like Gibbs."

"And you," I added with no delay.

He nodded humbly. "A crew like my own – unconventional, really, but good pirates." Jack paused, then gestured toward his cabin. "Now how about we get you out of those wet clothes, aye?"

I smiled slightly at his word choice which I knew he snuck in purposely as if I wouldn't notice. "You mean how about I get me out of these wet clothes?" I smiled and disappeared into the cabin.

From inside, I heard him sigh and lean against the door. "An' it's jus' that time, love. What say you to goin' up on the deck for a bit? Show you a lot about the life of a pirate?"

I was hesitant, but slowly, I agreed out of pure curiosity. "Okay. I'll be out in a second."