Chapter 24: Sea Lily

Jack dropped the rest of the way into the hold. He stared silently at the appalling image before him. He convulsively grabbed his left arm and muttered a soft curse. He turned as he heard other's drop in next to him.

"Free them," he whispered in horror, "free them." Sin walked over to the first row of Africans and pulled the chain out of the wood. He drew it quickly down and as he did the chain slid through the manacles holding their hands and feet.

The Africans climbed slowly and painfully to their feet as Sin went and repeated the same with each row.

Jack stared down the hold in silence. It seemed to go on forever, stretching into an eternity of horror and death. He felt something tug on his jacket and he looked down. He stared into the solemn black eyes of a little girl.

"You look for White Star," she stated firmly.

"White Star?" Jack muttered back.

She grabbed his hand and led him down the hold. Jack watched the expressions of happiness grace the faces of the people that Sin had just freed. He wasn't sure how long the little girl dragged him, but it sure seemed like an eternity.

Finally, she stopped. She pointed sadly at a limp, white body. "White Star," she whispered firmly.

"Morgan," Jack sputtered in terror. Was she dead? Oh, please don't let her be dead! He rushed to her side and fell to his knees next to her. Her eyes were closed, and her bare chest heaved with heavy breathing.

"Morgan, what have they done to you?" he whispered. He stroked her cheek and lifted her slowly from the atrocious deck. She hung in his arms like so much meat. He clutched her to him and turned slowly.

The little girl was gone. He frowned, where did she go? Most of the Africans had already climbed up onto the top deck; the last few were trickling up the ladder. Jack followed them and gently repositioned her so he could climb up the ladder.

He emerged blinking into the sunlight. The Africans were huddled in groups, talking happily to one another. Kenwick looked up as Jack came towards him.

"There are well over two thousand-" he froze when he saw Morgan. "Dear Lord."

He rushed up and touched her forehead. "She's burning up, we need to get her to Port Royal; I know a good doctor there."

Jack nodded. "Hold her," he whispered. He tipped her naked body into Kenwick's arms and spun around. He heard the crack of a whip and was startled but pleased to see one of the freed Africans whipping Rogers.

Jack strode forward and watched silently. The man stopped and looked up at Jack. He pulled a set of heavy manacles out and jerked his head towards Rogers, and then towards the ocean. Jack understood at once.

"Unchain this man," he said. Gibbs unlocked the chains and then violently kicked him across the face.

Jack took a step back and gestured with his hand. The black man smiled maliciously and chained Rogers' feet together. The white man looked horrified.

"May Davy Jones keep you well, and may your trip to hell be painful and long," Captain Jones hissed at Rogers. Jack nodded at the black man. He shoved Rogers hard in the back, taking him closer and closer to the rail.

"Wait, you can't do this! Parle! Parle!" Rogers screamed. "According to the code-"

"You have to be kidding me! The code is just a set of guidelines!" someone yelled. Jack ran a hand through his blood soaked hair.

"Make 'im sleep with the fish."

The black man placed a foot firmly on Rogers back and pushed. Rogers fell into the water with a scream. They stood on the edge of the Reaper's deck and watched as Rogers floundered and struggled to come up.

The chains began to take their toll, and with one last infuriated scream, Rogers sank beneath the waves.

Jack spun back amidships and walked to Kenwick, who was still holding Morgan. Andrew walked up and joined them.

"We need to get these people back to Africa," Andrew said softly. Jack swung his jacket off and wrapped it around Morgan. He pulled her away from Kenwick and held her lightly.

"Maybe some of them know how to sail," Kenwick said.

Jack shook his head, "A ship this size needs people who are sure of themselves around the rigging." He looked at Andrew.

"Are you and the crew of the Star willin' to accompany the Reaper back to the mainland?"

"Aye, Jack."

"Good mate, very good."

Andrew called his crew over to him and they began conversing. Jack turned back to Morgan. She looked dead.

"We need to hurry," Kenwick muttered softly. Jack nodded. Time was running out.

Jack stood sullenly staring out to sea. Morgan was resting on board Marja's Memories, waiting for the return trip to Port Royal. But there was something that needed to be done first.

Who was that little girl that had led him to Morgan?

He turned to Sin, who was deep in conversation with an African Chieftain. He walked up and waited for them to finish conversing.

"Sin, ask him about a little girl…she wasn't chained up…she led me to Morgan. Sin turned and spoke the rapid language of some African tribe. The Chief shook his head and looked thoroughly confused. Sin's brow furrowed and he turned to Jack.

"He said the only little girl they had on this ship was named Sea Lily, and that she died nearly four weeks ago."

AN: Holy crapola. I UPDATED:does a happy updated dance: YIPEEE! I know it's been, well, forever, but since marching band season took my life up, and my horse has been sick all winter, I haven't really cared about much, just been writing short stories mainly (see CSI and SGA).

Anyway , thank you so much for all the reviews and I hope to have another chapter up before I loose interest again.

Please keep reviewing, I love you all.

Silent Cobra