Ok, this is short...and evil...and not that good. There is a reason I don't write when I'm frustrated, but you know what? I updated it. This alone is a good thing. I guess I felt so bad for abandoning this when I wanted to start a new PotC that I had to return, regardless if anyone read or not.

Now, to warn you, I was mean in this chap. Really mean. So if William hurt bothers you, seriously don't read, cause I can't deal with flamers currently, ok? Thank you so much. :) Rescue is coming tho, butdon't forgetthe warning: angst.
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William couldn't remember much of his time spent in that small tavern in the years to come, but the first few months of his captivity stayed with him with cold clarity through it all. Some nights, after a long day of hard labor, torment, and mockery, he would wish he could remember nothing of his new life, instead dreaming of his life before, of his mother, his swords...Elizabeth. On especially cold nights, Will would wrap himself in a warm cocoon of memories of her sweet smile, despite the ache the reminders caused. He knew going with Barbossa had been a mistake, but all he had been able to think of at that cursed cave was Elizabeth, marooned with Jack. If he could have even assured that she was rescued, his sacrifice would have been worthwhile. As it happened, sometimes he wondered if he would ever know, and the thought caused an ache that nothing could fill.

The first few months, William used every waking moment trying to plot how to get away. He spent his time healing and plotting, then in desperate escape attempts. Unfortunately, William quickly became known all over the small town, his fine features and marks of slavery pointing him out in a crowd as surely as Jack's distinctive walk set the pirate apart. Getting off the island was impossible, especially when the tavern owner made it clear that whoever returned Will would receive gratitude, normally in the form of rum and whores.

Every time William was brought back, whether by his owner or someone else, the beatings got worse. Each time the tavern keeper would lament buying Will, and it was never the last time he would say that. William would return to healing and plotting, but each time his resolve weakened as he became sure that Elizabeth was dead or had been rescued and moved on, and with the knowledge that his attempts brought nothing but suffering. He never gave up trying, but the frequency and the determination began to fade in the face of endless days of serving and laboring and just trying to continue living.

It was the last beating that had finally broken William of the attempts. Cursing, the tavern owner had dragged a snarling, furious Will to the back of the tavern where the deliveries of rum were stored. He had tied William's bound hands to a post in the far corner of the room and proceeded to beat the boy into unconsciousness. William teetered between the living world and the next, returned violently to an unnatural sleep whenever he awakened by either his owner or whoever he had watching the blacksmith at the time. He wasn't sure how long this continued, his body weary from lack of water or food, but he did remember when the cycle changed, violently so. His owner had come back and demanded to know if William was sorry for his behavior. Thinking back, William knew now it probably wouldn't have mattered what he had said, his determination had still showed in his eyes, and the tavern keeper had seen that. His face taut with rage, he had wordlessly turned. William had wearily rested his head on his forearms, preparing for another beating, but that was not the punishment planned.

A hand fisted in his hair, pulling his head up, not enough to see the man above him, but enough to make his face visible. Something ran across the left side of his face, dripping down onto his left forearm and hand. A few moments later, a burning sensation had invaded his senses, pushing all other pain from his mind. The agony was extreme, the worst pain coming from his left eye, and with a scream, William had panicked and shut his eyes, incoherently trying to get away from whatever was causing the pain, but the damage had been done. In later times, when he had finally recovered from the brink of death back to coherency, he would learn that the tavern keeper had burst into a fury, throwing lantern oil onto the boy and lighting him on fire, furious beyond reason. It turned out that Will had been rather lucky. Most of the oil had run off him and headed for the stash of rum across the room, and suddenly in a panic at his ill-thought out actions his owner had quickly put the fire out, including the flames tormenting Will, but the damage had been done.

The scarring on his arm and hand eventually healed, but made the skin alternately numb to some things and sensitive to other, and lifting things with that arm became a bit of a trial. His face had been scarred on one side, the worst of it running off the side of his face and across his ear, a part of his lower scalp so burnt it no longer grew hair, which made Will hesitant to pull his hair back anymore. His left eye suffered the worse, however. Upon waking, the worst pain had come from the bandaged eye, and he was told by the half-drunk doctor, rather carelessly, that he would never see from that eye again.

The lack of mobility and sight made life difficult, but it was the disheartening that weakened Will the most. With so much time gone by, and with this added, the fire seemed to slowly go out of him after that, much to his owner's joy. The days blended together till Will could hardly tell them apart. It wasn't till a newcomer to the tavern took and interest in William that things began to change.
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looks around to trembling fingers all pointed accusingly at the screen I know, I know, I hurt Will. I scarred him. I blinded him. I'm a horrid person who needs to die. I'm sorry, I had to break him somehow, and Will is such a strong character! It was hard to think what I could do! I was as nice as I could be. Sorry, Will. Soothes Will's hair back...away from scar. He glares at her. Ouch...swallow Well...uh...um...see ya next time! runs from angry Will and fans.-