Whoever had me dragged me out the back door of the tavern into a back alley. Once outside, my assailant ripped the belt from my hips and I was thrown roughly into the wall of the shop next to the tavern.
I groaned and sat up, leaning my back against the wall. What the... I thought, dazed. I must have hit my head against the wall. Sure enough, when I brought my hand to the back of my head, I felt warm blood already starting to dry in my hair.
"Didn't think you could get away that easily, did ya?" a voice growled above me. I wearily looked up in time to see the huge man from earlier toss my belt away.
Terrified, I tired to inch away along the edge of the wall. He chuckled and kicked me in the ribs.
I gasped in pain and slumped against the wall. The man laughed again and knelt, bringing his face close to mine.
"Now you haven't got your bold friend here to help you," he hissed. I winced at the disgusting smell of rum on his breath.
Before I could reply, the man spat in my face. "Now you're going to pay for hurling that mug at me!" he growled furiously.
Geez, this guy needs anger management, I thought, my hand dropping to the ground beside me. If only I could find something blunt...
I have to keep him distracted, I thought wildly. I didn't have much of a voice, but I'd have to try my best.
"I didn't throw that mug," I said hoarsely. The effort of coughing up those words exhausted me, but I was slowly recovering from my head wound. My hand continued searching the ground, scrabbling through the dirt.
"Oh, really?" He leered at me, clearly finding my lack of voice amusing. Suddenly his hand was around my throat, gently pressing it into the wall. I gasped in fear and surprise.
"Really," I choked out. "That wasn't me..."
"Huh," said the man, tightening his hold on my throat. "Somehow, I don't believe you!"
He started to crush my windpipe as my hand fell upon a large, jagged rock.
"Well, believe this!" I croaked, slamming him on the side of the head with the rock.
He didn't make a sound--just crumpled on top of me. Horrified, I slowly removed his hand from my throat and gasped for air.
I pushed his huge frame off of me--believe me, that took forever--and rolled to my side, panting. I groaned again as I pushed myself up, panting pathetically. When I stood up, I swayed dangerously, but managed to stay up. Relieved, proud of myself, and just a little shocked at what I had just done, I walked back into the tavern, head held high.
I made my way to our table, where Jack and Gibbs were still conversing quietly with the three Indian men. No one noticed me as I returned, so I guessed no one had realized I had disappeared.
"We have an accord!" Jack shouted suddenly, flinging his hand out to shake with what I presumed to be the leader of the small group of men. The man just looked at his hand with distaste, stood up, and stalked off. His buddies did the same.
Faster than I could say, "I just knocked some big jackass out in the alley," the three empty chairs vanished, no doubt to be used as weapons in some fight or another. I huffed an irritated sigh and half-sat, half-leaned on the table, trying to look smug but almost falling over from dizziness and clumsiness.
"Where's your belt?" Jack asked curiously.
I froze, eyes wide. I looked down stupidly, even though I knew it wasn't there. "Oh, I must have left it in the alley," I said under my breath, embarrassed. Still, this would be a good chance to show off my handiwork with the rock.
My muttering was overheard by Mr. Gibbs. "What were you doing in the alley?" he asked, frowning. He probably thought I was working some kind of voodoo magic to kill him in his sleep.
"I was...well, let me show you," I said hoarsely, pleased. I turned on my heel and marched proudly out the back door, hearing Jack and Gibbs get up to follow.
When we reached a more quiet area of the tavern, I stopped to explain what had happened.
"...and so I banged a rock against his head, and I knocked him out! He's probably still lying there unconscious. Sweet dreams, buddy!" I said, straining to make my raspy voice heard over the raucous yelling and cheering in the tavern. I allowed a triumphant laugh into the end of my little monologue, crossing my arms proudly and waiting for them to speak.
"But why is your belt gone?" Jack asked.
I huffed in annoyance and turned to walk out the door. Must've had too much to drink, I thought, shaking my head. But they'll both be impressed when they see his huge ass lying there in the dirt! I thought triumphantly.
I stepped out into the alley, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. I squinted around, looking for the huge lump that was the man's body.
"I don't see anything," Jack said dubiously, twirling around on the spot. "Wait, there's your belt!" he said happily, handing it to me helpfully.
I didn't take the belt, as I was busy searching the alleyway for the huge man. I couldn't even find the rock I had used to beat him over the head with. I was starting to get worried. Where the hell is that guy? I thought nervously. He couldn't have woken up that fast--could he have?
"I knew she was lying!" Gibbs said, pointing an accusing finger at me. "She lured us out here to--"
"Oh, would you shut up already!" I shouted. "It got old about three days ago!" Gibbs froze, looking terrified. He dropped his finger to his side as I turned to Jack.
"Jack, I swear, I left him out here, he was laying right there! You believe me, don't you?"
Jack hesitated, frowning. Finally, he said, "Well, I think we'd all just better be armed, just in case." He handed me my belt again, and I took it worriedly.
"But I don't even know how to fight!" I exclaimed, hanging the belt on my hip.
"Well, there's no better time than the present," Jack said grimly. He then turned around haphazardly and walked back into the tavern.
I followed him, not wanting to be alone for too long. Jack noticed this and put an arm around my shoulder.
"Don't worry, love, it'll be all right," he said, smiling down at me. He then abruptly looked up above my head and grabbed a bottle with the hand that had been around my shoulder.
"Why am I not reassured?" I muttered darkly. I followed Jack out of the front door of the tavern, Gibbs close behind me.
I kept my eyes on the floor, not wanting to trip over a chair like I had done earlier. I walked out the door, not expecting to slam into someone.
"Umph!" I looked, up, disgruntled, and realized I had run smack into Jack's back. I stepped around him, miffed, and froze just as he had. I heard Mr. Gibbs gasp behind us.
The huge man was standing just in front of us, looking very pissed off with a huge red lump on the side of his head and a sword in his hand.
The three of us stared in shock. Well, I know I was, anyway. Jack didn't look as horrified as I thought he should. Must be the rum, I thought. And I couldn't see Mr. Gibbs, but I was sure he was just as scared as I was.
"Hello, there, little miss," the huge man growled, breathing heavily. "You couldn't have thought I'd be done in by a little rock, could you have?"
I watched in horror as he held up the rock I had used against him and smashed it into powder with one huge hand. He grinned at my expression, dusting the powder off on his pants.
I heard Jack drop the bottle he had been holding. Well, I guess he is scared! I thought.
"Don't even think about drawing your pistol, pirate, or I'll chop your pretty friend's head off!" the man roared, brandishing his sword. His weapon looked like a toothpick compared to his overly large frame.
The man continued his little speech, keeping us frozen there. I began hoping someone would come out of the tavern to help us, but no one came. I noticed the streets were almost deserted, too. How strange...
"So, who wants to die first, then?" the man growled, running his hand along his sword lovingly. "How about you...pirate?"
As the huge man lunged for Jack, I reacted without thinking. I dove for the dropped bottle and hurled it at the man's oversized head.
For the second time that night, the man collapsed in front of me.
We stood there for a moment, relieved, breathing hard as if we had just sprinted a mile. After a long silence, Jack turned to me.
"Thanks for that."
"No problem," I replied hoarsely, wiping the dirt from the bottle that had stuck to my hand on my pants.
We turned to face Mr. Gibbs, who was staring at me in shock.
"You saved our lives," he breathed, still staring at me wonderingly. Wanting to look humble, I simply shrugged.
"Well...I guess I was wrong about you," Gibbs said apologetically. He reached out a hand.
I stared at it, hardly daring to believe it. I hesitated, and then took it. Gibbs shook it heartily, smiling at me.
"Oh, please, you're making me blush!" I squeaked, grinning.
When he was done abusing my hand, Mr. Gibbs turned back to Jack.
"Back to the ship, Cap'n?"
Jack thought for a moment, looking me over as if sizing me up. "Yes...but not to sail. We will spend the night there, but return ashore in the morning. I will teach Miss Connors to fight here. And we still don't know where Anamaria has gone."
Oh, yeah, I thought. I forgot about Anamaria... I then did a double take. "What--teach me to fight?"
"Oh, you don't want me to?" Jack asked incredulously. "That's all you've talked about for days!"
"No, no, I want to," I said hurriedly. "I'm just...excited!"
"Fine. We'll get some rest, and return in the morning," said Jack, turning in direction of the path to the docks. He clearly didn't think he was doing anything special, but to me, he was a god. He was going to teach me to fight! I was exultant. What could possibly ruin my mood now?