Hello! How is everyone?
Lol, Smithy! I'm sorry, but Will has to suffer: )
Thankyou to everyone else who reviewed! I love you all!
Jimbo stood at a distance from the crowd, his hat creating a shadow over his eyes as he watched the woman standing on the scaffold. The hangman was standing quietly with his hand resting on the lever that would soon send Maggie to her death. A priest climbed the steps and asked Maggie if she would like to be prayed for. Jimbo didn't see her reaction, but the priest walked off the scaffold, looking offended.
The hangman put the noose around Maggie's neck and went back to the lever. The man reading the list of crimes looked up from his scroll and nodded. The lever was pulled and Maggie fell through the hole. A few people in the crowd cheered. Jimbo felt his heart twitch slightly as he watched his lover die.
Her eyes were searching frantically through the crowd for Jimbo. Surely he wouldn't leave her here to die? She was so sure he loved her; she was so sure he'd come and rescue her. She couldn't see him- she couldn't find him. What would Ruby do without her?
Panic shot through Maggie's body and she struggled against the thick rope. It was choking her; her vision clouded.
"Jim!" She gasped, as the crowd blurred and faded.
Jimbo shut his eyes sadly.
"I love you, Maggie." He whispered, and walked away, back to his ship.
Johnny peeled off the bandage carefully and slowly, so as not to rip off any new skin. Jack tapped him foot impatiently next to him.
"Come on, we 'aven't got all day!" Jack muttered and Johnny winced and let go of the bandage.
"Shut up, this hurts!" Johnny snapped. Jack rolled his eyes and pulled the bandage off quickly and sharply.
"Oww!" Johnny screeched.
"Wimp," Jack said, grinning. "Honestly, you people just can't handle pain!" He re-bandaged Johnny's hand and stood up to leave.
"Jack?" Johnny asked suddenly, as Jack stretched out his hand for the door handle.
"What?" Jack said, turning around.
"Where's the sword?" Johnny asked, standing up and facing the pirate captain. It suddenly struck Jack just how tall he was getting.
"Locked away safely in my cabin." Jack replied, knowing which particular sword Johnny was talking about.
"Do you think… maybe it could be … well… taking over Ruby?" Johnny asked hesitantly.
"What d'yeh mean, boy?" Jack asked, his face turning serious.
"Well, before she got it she was fine, but recently she'd kinda becoming obsessed with it. She's always asking about it, since yeh took it off her." Johnny said slowly.
Jack's face darkened.
"Well, it's a good thing we're going to destroy it then, isn't it?" Jack said, and left the cabin. Johnny sat down on his bunk and stared at the opposite wall, going over what he had just told Jack. He had been thinking of telling him for a while, but he kept putting it off.
Ruby's behaviour had become almost erratic after Jack had taken the sword from her, and, although she never said anything to Jack about it, she had been moaning about it being hers for the past couple of weeks. Johnny had found it annoying at first, but became rather alarmed when he saw a red glow in her eye as she rambled on about its power. He had assumed it was a trick of the light and put it out of his mind, until he saw her standing outside Jack's cabin, muttering to herself. The same red glow was in her eye then, but much stronger this time.
Johnny had tried to talk to her about it, but she had just ignored him and muttered something inaudible.
Someone knocked at Johnny's door.
"Come in." He called. Ruby opened the door and entered the cabin, shutting the door behind her.
"Hi." She said quietly.
"Hi." Johnny returned, quickly scanning her eyes. They were still brown.
Ruby sat down next to Johnny and laid her head wearily on his shoulder. He frowned, unsure of how to react.
"John?" She said, sighing deeply.
"Yeah?" Johnny said, her hair itching his neck.
Ruby sighed again and raised her head, looking into Johnny's eyes.
"John, I'm…" She paused. "I… that sword… Johnny, I think it's calling me!" She finished uncertainly.
"What d'yeh mean, 'calling' yeh?" Johnny asked, his frown growing deeper.
"Well, whenever I walk past Jack's cabin I hear this whisper, and I really want t' go it and get it, but I can't." Ruby explained.
"Maybe it's a good thing Jack keeps the door locked." Johnny replied.
"Yeah, obviously." Ruby returned dismissively. "It's just a part of me doesn't want to destroy it. I know it killed my father and it tortured Jack and you and Will, and it hurt me too, but it belongs to me, and I just feel like a part of me's missing." Ruby stopped and watched Johnny carefully for a reaction.
"Well," Johnny said slowly. "I don't really know what t' say, Ruby. Maybe you should take yeh mind off it."
"How?" Ruby asked, fidgeting. Johnny shrugged.
"I don't know, Ruby." Johnny said, sighing. "How long till we get to England?"
It was Ruby's turn to shrug.
"About two weeks, though I don't know what Jack wants to go there for." She said and slid off the bunk. "See yeh later." She left the cabin.
"Bye." Johnny said and lay back on his bunk.
Will opened his eyes as the Commodore opened his cell door.
"Good morning, Mr Turner." Norrington said, smiling slightly. Will didn't reply, but gave him a cold stare, before leaning back on the wall, and shutting his eyes.
A guard walked into the cell and heaved Will up.
"What d'yeh want?" Will demanded, pushing the guard off him.
"There's no need for rudeness." Norrington said. "We just want to question you on the events taken place three years ago."
"Oh." Will said, crossing his arms. "Fire away."
"I'm sure you realise if you do not cooperate we are entitled to use a certain amount of force." Norrington said, as the guard tied Will's hand behind his back.
"I'm sure you'll use a 'certain amount of force' even if I do cooperate." Will returned as the guard pushed him out of the cell, and down the stairs to the 'questioning' room.
"Well, Mr Turner," Norrington said, standing by the door, as the guard sat Will down at a small wooden table and untied his hands. "Can you tell me where you were when you disappeared?"
"I went to visit my cousin." Will said simply.
"Really? Can your cousin confirm this?" Norrington asked.
"I expect she could." Will replied, meeting Norrington's gaze.
Suddenly Will's shoulder exploded with pain, as the guard pressed all his weight onto his shoulder, and dislocated the bone.
Will grunted and screwed up his face, trying not to cry out. An image of the cursed sword flashed into his mind and he winced.
Norrington smiled grimly. As much as he disliked Will, he hated using force on people.
"Mr Turner," He said, stepping forwards and pushing the guard out of the way. "Where were you when you disappeared?"
"You mean; was I involved in piracy?" Will muttered, putting a hand to his shoulder.
"Well, were you?" Norrington asked, leaning on the table.
"Would you believe me if I said no?"
"I doubt it." Norrington replied. "Tell me, where is your son?"
"At my cousin's." Will said stonily.
"Do you realise if you are found guilty of piracy you'll hang?" Norrington said.
"I'm well aware of that." Will said.
"Which is why you're lying."
Will frowned and didn't reply.
"I'll assume that as a yes." Norrington said, walking towards the door and leaning on the wall next to it.
"Your gonna hang me ain't you?" Will said, letting his grammar fall, and picking up the accent of the pirate. Norrington raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting." He said quietly. Will smiled, reminded of Jack.
"Indeed." He said curtly.
"Well, Mr Turner, unfortunately I am convinced you were involved in piracy and committed acts of piracy whilst on board a ship known as The Black Pearl." Norrington said, pulling out his sword. "This means you'll hang as soon as we can get in contact with your son and your er… cousin, if, indeed, this cousin does exist." Will blinked. Norrington looked at the sword in his hand."It's a pity, Will. You were a good blacksmith."
Hehehe! I'm sorry Smithy, but it has to be done. But don't worry! He'll see his son again soon. Mwahaha.