Andy

Nearly an hour later, Will and I were on our way to the berth, um…shopping for a ship.

We found one. It wasn't the fastest or the newest, but it was the smallest, which meant it would be harder to find when missed. The ship was named The Falcon so, of course, its figurehead was a falcon with its wings outspread. It seemed to soar across the water as we set course and began our journey southwest toward Tortugas where I'd arranged for us to meet Jack and then move to The Pearl.

Finally, after a journey that seemed to last a lifetime, we arrived at our destination.

I led Will through the town, where he'd been no more than once before, until we reached the tavern…the obvious place to meet a pirate. We got inside and my eyes immediately searched for my brother. Though I could not see him immediately, something told me that he was infuriated. It could be because I've always had a way of knowing his feelings, but perhaps it was because he was passing the bar chasing after Hookman, a new crewmember, yelling "You did what?" at the top of his lungs.

Without delay, I made my way through the crowd and got myself between the two men before Jack could throw a punch that would surely land Hookman in a state of unconsciousness.

This action of mine didn't go over very well with my brother though, seeing as he almost threw me aside attempting to grab hold of Hookman.

"Jack!" I was ignored. That was when I grabbed him by the coat collar and made him look at me. As long as he didn't look at Hookman, he was all right. "What happened?"

He'd been drinking—I could tell that much. How much and for how long are not for me to say, but he stank of hard liquor. I could smell it as he responded, giving me an explanation. "He lost The Pearl." He got to the direct point, aiming a finger at Hookman, faster than I'd expected.

"What?"

"'He lost 'er, tha's all." He re-explained, gesturing mindlessly. 'That's all' was an extreme understatement. Anger brewed in Jack's voice as he spat out the words.

"How?"

"The bloomin' idiot bet it in a card game when the other man…" He pointed. "Right there had a royal flush." He seemed to have calmed down a bit, but I couldn't risk releasing him yet. "You can let go now." He seemed to read my mind, and leaned in so that I could feel his hot breath on my face and neck when he made up my mind for me. I let my hands drop from his jacket to my sides.

Jack looked unsure for a moment, and then leaned forward again to whisper in my ear. "Can I kill him now?"

"Jack…"

"Please?"

I heavily sighed. I couldn't deny him the right to kill his betrayer, but then he was drunk; I didn't know how well he'd be able to aim. Eventually, though, I had to agree.

"Go ahead."

"Thanks mate." While nodding absently, he commended me. With one swift movement, his sword was in the stomach of the former Hookman. His drunken state had not allowed him to be perfectly accurate, so I was lightly scratched on one side in result of his blade's short passage.

Only then did Jack notice Will standing by the entrance. Lifting a mug of rum, he greeted. "Welcome to the Caribbean, mate…" And then he added, "again," with his head shaking slowly from side to side as if he was either very confused or very disbelieving about something. And perhaps he was.

With that he took a large swallow and slammed the glass onto the bar before buying another pint, which he offered to me. I accepted, but insisted that we all left as soon as I was finished. His initial response was. "I'll drink to tha'!" as he straightened, lifted his mug, and raised a finger from the free hand in the air to catch the bartender's attention.

Meanwhile, Will, seemingly the only one of the two that appeared to have noticed my injury, made his own path through the crowd until he reached my side. "Are you all right?" He anxiously questioned, pulling a handkerchief from one pocket to hold on the wound. I realized that he only wished to be helpful and stop the bleeding, but I considered his reaction to my wound unnecessary …as well as somewhat useless, since I had naught but a scratch. Why was he so worried?

"Yes; I'm fine." With that being said, I took his hand in mine and moved it from the wound.

He looked up, searching my eyes. "Of course you are…sorry."