Chapter 22: Jim

"Nope, the commodore says they are to be hung this afternoon and no later…jus' between you an' me I think he's scared they'll escape again. Plus putting her in that cell? Anyone could pass things through the bars to her an' we'd be none the wiser,"

"But all the other cell's are full! What with this new security thing an' all,"

I sat with my head pressed firmly on the bars of my nice little cell straining my ears to hear what the guards were talking about behind the door. Of course a smirk came over my face at the sound of Norrington getting afraid that we may escape because, of course, we would do exactly that whether we were hung this afternoon or the next morning. We always did. That was the hope I clung onto.

It was a bit lonely in my cell. Jack was in a different part of the prison so that we couldn't plot and scheme about how to get out of our sticky mess. At least Norrington would be able to think he was getting smarter making it so much more fun when we finally did escape.

"Leave off I would never sleep with Mary-Leah even if you paid me…those pimples make me wan' t' smack 'er one!"

Their conversation had turned away from the highly dangerous prisoners held captive and I lost interest.

Standing up I made my way over to the small window, a whole two steps. These cell's surely were the height of luxury. Peering out I regarded a large courtyard where peasants roamed, it was the changed look of Jamaica and let me tell you it was not a nice sight. New buildings had sprung up making it look cluttered and it was apparent that the Kings Navy had moved in. Hence the reason why we were captured un-aware.

"Oi! Look it's a pirate!!! A REAL pirate!!!" It was a small mousy haired kid who was sat on a nearby rock just outside the 'window' I had been privileged with. The boy was pointing straight at me signalling to his friends who were playing in the dirt with what looked like an a few sticks.

"WOW! It really is!" another of the boys had noticed me and his face was lit up with excitement. "Do you think he'll hurt us if we go close?"

I smiled to myself, as if I could ever have the heart to harm a child. The four lads cautiously stood up brushing off the worst of the dust and began to approach the small rectangular window. My eyebrow raised…they stopped dead in their tracks.

"I don't think we should go closer…e might…" one lad began before turning and running off towards home kicking up the dust behind him.

"Go on Jim…you go closer!"

"Why me?"

"Because you spotted 'im,"

"Doesn't mean I should…oh…"

The boy, presumably Jim, took another step closer holding his breath as though I could swipe out at any moment and kill him. Oh it was good to have power even if they were only children.

"Oi! 'E ain't no man e's a girl!" Jim gasped.

"Nice of yea to notice," I said suddenly.

The other boy, who up until now had remained silent, squealed and ran off leaving two of them behind.

"I…I'm sorry miss, I only ever saw one woman pirate before in me whole life," Jim continued.

"None of this 'miss' lark you hear?" I frowned, "the name's Annie and you might just well be what I need."

The boy gulped but knelt of the ground so he could be closer to the bars and hear me properly despite his friends warnings not to get too close.

"As you might have noticed I'm a bit trapped here and if I don't get out before the end of this day I won't ever see tomorrow morning…if you get my meaning,"

The boy nodded but I noticed him gulp rather nervously. "I could help you miss….uh…Annie. I ain't got nothing better to do and me pa always told me pirates weren't as bad as folk say."

"Aye," I looked into his eyes. They seemed true enough and innocent, maybe the kid was reliable. "And what is it your pa does?"

"He owns the tavern down the road, he said pirates used to come all the time to drink there until…they came," It was obvious he was talking of the Navy and their dealings in this town.

My mind raced for a way this boy could help. And then it hit me, "I only ever saw one woman pirate before"…of course!! He must have been talking about Anamaria.

"Tell me, this woman pirate you met before…was it here?" I questioned.

"Aye, it was the other day she came,"

"And did she have long brown hair and a tanned face?"

"…Aye, you know her?"

"Listen to me…you have to go and find her for me ok? Ask her is her name is Anamaria and if it is tell her where I am savvy?"

"Aye aye!" he said standing up and giving me a childlike salute which made me wince.

"And one word to anyone else about this and I'll have your throat," I added ensuring that my plan would not get discovered. The boy's face turned an ashen white but he nodded fiercely and ran as fast as he could to find her.

I sighed gratefully and let out a small laugh. Of course there was no need for the boy to realise that there was no way I could 'have his throat' unless he successfully found a way of getting me out.

Now all I had to do was wait. I sat myself on the cold stone floor and began to muse on what I would do once I was free. I settled on drinking rum and getting drunk, that would do me fine. Not a lot happened during the next half an hour. I shifted about a bit on the floor and played with the buttons on my jacket for a while.

"Psst!" came a noise suddenly from the window.

I peered up, shading my eyes from the sun, but saw nothing. Standing up I moved closer to the window and the small face of the boy swept into vision.

"Well?? Did you find her?" I asked.

"Aye! She gave me this to give to yea," his small boney fingers pushed a letter through the bars. "I'm sorry but I have to go now," he continued, "my ma wants me home,"

"Wait," I said taking the letter and rummaging in my pockets, "here, for your troubles," and into his palm I squeezed out two gold pieces.

His face lit up with amazement, "Th…thankyou miss! I mean…Annie!"

I smiled at him, "now go before someone noticed you,"

The boy looked around warily, thanked me again and sped off.

I turned around and focused my attention onto the letter. Taking no time to notice the tattered state of the paper I ripped it open and read:

Glad to finally hear you are finally safe…well as safe to the fact that you are still alive.

Our plan we shall keep a secret encase this letter falls into the wrong hands.

Be ready for the two quarters.

Anamaria

I read the letter through twice to make sure I took in the whole meaning. Ready at the two quarters? I pondered this riddle for a while and found myself staring out of the window at the clock in the courtyard. Two quarters? Well one quarter would be…three o'clock? So two must be 6 o'clock. But that would be too late! Jack and I were due to be hung this afternoon.

I paced the cell a few times thinking hard about what to do, and then I noticed the forgotten envelope which I had to hastily torn off. I picked it up and regarded the outside. Although torn and battered there was nothing of interest on it. I thumbed with it for a moment or two before pulling it open and staring at the insides. There, scratched in tiny writing at the bottom, was another note.

Opposite, door open.

I paced the cell again. 'Door open'…they needed the cell door to be open! But 'opposite'? I pondered for a while but decided to go back to the time issue.

And then it hit me. 6 o'clock…the opposite of that was…midday! They were coming at midday and my cell door needed to be open. I carefully folded up the letter and tucked it into my trousers. It was half past ten…I had one hour and a half.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the late update again but I finally finished this chappie! Hope you all had a great Christmas and have a good new year! Thankyou so much for the reviews I love reading them!!

Please review again!!