Chapter 13 - Aboard the Gold Fall

Jack stood at the helm of the pearl, focused on the dark mass he could make out through his spyglass.

Danny was up in the crows nest studying the target, "We're definitely catching up captain", he hollered down to Jack who received the information with a stern nod. It was obvious they would catch them, the pearl was the fastest ship in the caribbean, what wasn't clear was why they had taken Louise. Jack had his suspicions, some making more sense than others.

Ana nervously tended to her duties nearby, she wanted to probe Jack for answers, find out what he thought about the situation, after all Louise had been a good friend to Ana. However she knew when not to talk to Jack and the steely concentration in his eyes told her right now was the time to leave him be. But it wasn't just Ana who seemed concerned by Louise's disappearance, most of those aboard had become accustomed to her presence, it wasn't just a woman they were going after, she was one of them, a part of the crew. Abrey only worried because he found his plan slowly slipping away with her disappearance but most were too busy working to notice his unusual determination. Ana made note of the fading day, it was still afternoon but the sky had darkened, a foreboding storm loomed ahead, which had not started yet but nothing would stop the pearl. It was a sticky mixture of nervousness, apprehension and determination that kept everyone occupied.

Meanwhile Louise had passed out onboard Cray's ship, the Gold Fall, she had struggled against the men, kicked, screamed, punched, she even made a run for the ledge hoping to jump, she would rather brave sharks than face this crew. But they had caught her easily, it seemed hopeless, she wondered if anybody even knew she was gone, had they even checked her room yet? By the time they did she may be half way across the world with no hope of escape. What if they had checked her room but deemed her rescue to be too much hassle? No, no, Jack would come for her, and if he didn't Ana would make him. Before she had fainted they had tied her hands behind her back and in her unconscious state her mind replayed the moments of clarity. The greasy hands of one man as he stroked her cheek, the dirty face of another as he attempted to kiss her face which she desperately thrashed about.

That's when she felt the harsh blow across her cheek, tasted the coppery taste of blood inside her mouth and as she slipped away in a merciful blank uttered one word, "Jack".

Cray sat in his room, studying a map carefully. The words of the gypsy woman kept repeating themselves in his head, 'Find the one who doesn't belong, they are the key you seek'. At first he had scoffed, told her to spin another story to someone who cares but she had stood on the spot in front of him, her knowing stare telling him everything he needed to know. That whoever she meant was the key to the treasure he sought. She given him no further clues to who or where he would find them but as soon as he had spoken to Louise, heard about her 'strangeness' from around Tortuga he knew it was her. Now all he had to do was figure out how exactly he was to use her. Should the legend be true there was a ancient ritual to follow, he had studied it carefully. His line of thought was suddenly interrupted by the sound of running followed by knocking.

"Aye?"

A spanish man burst in as if the devil was on his heels, "capitano, capitano", he paused to catch his breath. Cray raised his eyes from the papers on his desk waiting for him to continue.

And as he did Cray's face drained of colour, "sir the black pearl is gaining on us".

Louise opened her eyes, scared of who or what she might see but as her eyes adjusted to the light she found she was alone, although in a unfamiliar room, meaning it hadn't been a nightmare and she really was on the gold fall and not the pearl. She sat up, a little too fast for her pounding head, she felt sore and assaulted. Her brain tried to process every feeling within her, and figure out what had happened but it only made her head thump more. Her dress had been ripped, a lot of the skirt was laying across the floor in pieces, the front had been moved and pulled about but not torn. She tried to reassemble herself and figure out why she had been left alone, the last thing she could remember was the burning eyes of the men as they took in every inch of her, that and the stinging pain. She raised her hand gingerly to her cheek, flinching as her fingers pressed upon a fresh wound, obviously whoever had struck her had a ring on. Louise looked around the room it looked like a storage room, there were a few crates and boxes lying around, that's when she heard a gun fire. Followed by another and another, she fell to the floor as the last hit rippled through the ship. Louise was overcome by déjà vu a fight taking place and she was left in a room, but was it locked? She steadied herself and reached for the handle of the door. Turning it she grinned despite the situation, the door was unlocked. She walked out of the door and into the surprisingly empty corridor, finding she was a little unsteady on her feet, she wondered if it was concussion. Louise walked down to the right and came to some stairs which she took coming to another corridor then she heard the sound of someone running. Not wanting to be discovered she slipped into the first door on her left, finding herself in yet another room full of boxes, she pressed her ear to the door and listened. The footsteps ran in the direction she had come in and she thought maybe they would be looking for her. Slipping out of the room she ran and quietly as possible down the corridor and up the stairs she came to. Suddenly she was out on the main deck, she felt rain fall on her head and almost laughed. Daring to glance around she saw everyone was busy, a man was shouting orders out while she saw a silhouette that could only be Cray, he had his sword brandished and was screaming something. She studied him for a few seconds, trying to see what was provoking him without coming too out into the open.

"There ye are whore", she felt the cold of a blade against her neck and her eyes flickered up to see a man, possibly the one who had ran to her room. He was medium height with long tawny hair and muscular arms.

He saw something she couldn't in the direction she was trying to look in, "come on, ye ain't going nowhere, we like ye too much", he attempted to smile but with the rain falling thick and fast it came out more of a soppy grimace. He raised the sword making her rise with it. She was now facing him, his blade at the neck he grabbed her and turned her around, his hand holding a fistful of her hair, she hissed and he just smiled.

"I'll scream", she threatened unable to move. He chuckled against her, pressing his face to hers and now holding the blade against her abdomen intimidatingly.

"Go on then slattern I like it rough" he pulled back her hair a bit more bringing her head to his shoulder, his mouth next to her ear, "I bet ye do too, aye?".

She fought back the tears welling in her eyes, she wouldn't give him that satisfaction. He shoved her down the stairs and she shouted out at the pain of the fall as she looked desperately back at the deck seeing the grey sky and hard hitting rain which had felt like freedom only moments ago.

Ana was on deck of Cray's ship, the rain made it harder to fight but she had more skill then most. She fought against a man who's long hair hung limply over his face in the weather, remaining stony she knocked his sword from his hand and ran him through. Visibility had been reduced in the storm and most could only just make out whoever they were fighting. Ana turned a man around thinking it was Gibbs but instead he was crossing blades with Gibbs.

She placed a well powered blow to his jaw that sent him to the floor, Gibbs looked at her his sword still in midair, "thanks". The pearl had attacked the gold fall with brute force paired with a certain amount of elegant cunning. Cray's crew had been waiting, but Jack's sheer determination had given his crew added spur. Jack had swung over to the gold fall more covert than anything, he intended to find Louise and get her back to the pearl at all costs. He made his way across the deck slipping in between the fighting crews, he came to the opening leading below deck and with his pistol raised he made his way down.

"I'll teach ye to scream", he had shoved her against a wall and ran a strong hand over her hips. Louise struggled and whimpered in protest but his other hand held her strongly in place. "Ye like that?" he asked mockingly.

Louise felt sick to her stomach, "you disgust me", she informed him through gritted teeth.

He laughed at this and the sound sneeringly echoed along the hallway. He pressed his lips up to hers which remained tightly closed, he narrowed his dark eyes on her uncooperative face.

"We'll be more comfortable in 'ere", he pushed open a door to a small dingy room with a dirty looking bed against the wall, throwing her on top of this bed he closed the door behind him.

Jack held his pistol readily as he caught a deep laugh further down the corridor, he followed it as it was the only noise he had heard, the ship had been eerily quiet and he had assumed everyone was on deck. Coming up to a door he heard noses inside, including a familiar female voice. Jack stepped back and kicked the door open, there stood a medium build man, a sardonic smile across his sweaty face. He stood over Louise who was pressed against the wall, trying to get as far away from him as possible, he froze at the sound of the door opening but still stayed in his position ready to pounce on her.

"That's not very nice", the look of fear on her face made Jack's trigger finger itch.

The man scoffed, "ye can 'ave it after me".

"Here's the problem mate, you ain't having 'er", he turned to Jack visibly annoyed at being interrupted. As he turned around he puffing out his chest slightly, but upon seeing the pistol he deflated.

His eyes skimmed over Jack trying to place the face, "says who?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow", if the assailants face could have gone any paler it did then. "I take it you've 'eard of me?", He seemed to think it best not to answer but then he realised Jack had interrupted over Louise.

"What do ye want 'er for? She's just a whore", Louise still paralyzed in fear against the wall felt angry again.

"She's me cook actually and I came to get 'er back".

He looked from Louise to the pistol ready to shoot and apparently decided she wasn't worth the hassle of fighting captain Jack Sparrow for. He stepped back a look on his face that resembled a child who didn't get a birthday present.

Jack held out his free hand to Louise who ran at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest, "Jack" she sniffed.

He didn't let his pistol drop for a second but instead placed his free hand on her head comfortingly, "it's alright luv".

The rain seemed to get worse and worse as the crews continued to clash. Louise stepped out onto the deck behind Jack, he stopped abruptly and turned to look at her momentarily, before taking her hand and leading her stealthily across the deck. Louise couldn't help but allow herself a small grin, it didn't matter that she was in the middle of two crews bloodily fighting all around her because Jack was taking her back to the pearl. She was saved, and as she felt this warm sensation of safety spread throughout her she also felt something being pushed into the back of her head.

Stopping she turned to see Cray, pistol ready to fire, "ye aren't leaving us already Miss Roberts?"

--Authors Notes--

Hey guys.

Hope you liked the chapter, this has taken me a while to write as I kept changing my mind on a few things. Next chapter we will be back on the pearl :) Anyway please read and review, and thanks to everyone who reviewed thus far and added the story favorites, it always makes me smile to see the stats go up. Thanks for coming this far.