Without further ado, I present to you, CHAPTER 12! (finally…)

CHAPTER 12: NARROW ESCAPE

Alicia woke up from the screech of seagulls. Rubbing her eyes, she just had the weirdest dream. She and Will were siblings, and their father is a pirate! The details of her dream drifted around her like a cloud. Could it be simply a dream? Well, they seemed so real. As she reached for her boots drowsily, her hand brushed against the ring in her finger. She stared at it for a while and scrutinized the writing.

"Good grief, it was real!" She smacked her palm on her forehead.

All dressed up, she climbed up on deck with many thoughts winding in her head. She walked towards the sails in a daze that she carelessly bumped into someone.

"Sorry, sorry." Alicia looked up and saw that it was Will.

Will smiled at her. "Good morning, Alicia. What a night isn't it?"

Alicia eyed him warily. "What happened last night?"

Will looked at her thoughtfully. "Well, you passed out after I told you we were siblings."

Alicia looked at him hesitantly. "So you're saying that, what happened last night was for real? I really am a pirate? You really are my brother?"

Will nodded. Alicia's eyes lit up suddenly and she screamed as she jumped forward and hugged Will by the neck.

"I've always wanted to have a brother! And a brother that's a pirate! Then I get to be a pirate too!"

Will was entirely taken aback at Alicia's reaction that he couldn't help but laugh. Alicia chuckled and hugged Will tightly. They stayed that way for a long time, until they noticed someone standing beside them.

It was Jack. He was eyeing them cautiously, his foot tapping impatiently on the floor boards. Alicia let go of Will and smiled at Jack.

"Good morning, Captain. I'll be on my way to my post."

Alicia skipped away and Will walked towards Jack.

"She was so happy. She said she also wanted a brother."

Jack sighed. "Why doesn't she do the same to me?" He shook his head. "After all I've done for her…"

Will patted him on the shoulder. "Cheer up Jack. Now that Alicia is my sister, I can try to tie up the strings between the two of you."

Jack grinned. "Thanks mate." Jack started to walk towards the wheel, but turned around so suddenly that he almost slipped.

"Forgot to tell ye mate." He motioned Will to come closer and whispered at his ear.

"We be at Port Royale tonight. Where do ye think is the best place to stop so as not to get caught?"

Will thought for a while. "How about that old bell tower where you jumped off during your escape?"

Jack snapped his fingers. "Great idea! Then bell tower it is."

-----

Lynne waited until Alicia left the room before she rose from her bed. After last night, she found it difficult to talk to Alicia. After all, she was the main reason why Alicia never knew of her own parentage. She sat beside the porthole of their room, gazing at the blue sea, wondering how it is to follow Alicia in her dreams to become a pirate.

All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door. Lynne hesitated to open it; she wanted to spend more time to herself. Surprisingly, her visitor didn't plan to wait for any reply. The door opened, and Will entered the room.

"Good morning, Ms. Andrews."

Lynne nodded in greeting and continued to stare through the porthole. Will sat down opposite her. Seeing that she seems to be avoiding him, he cleared his throat.

Lynne faced him. "Is there something you want to say, Mr. Turner?"

Will cleared his throat again. "First of all, you can call me Will. Secondly, we weren't able to talk last night after Alicia passed out, so…"

Will paused. When he saw that Lynne was listening, he shifted closer to her and continued.

"I just want to know, did Alicia's mother want her to know of… our father?"

Lynne was silent for a while. "Yes. But Mother was afraid that Alicia wouldn't understand then, so she told me to tell her the truth once she turns twelve."

"But she's almost twenty! Why didn't you tell her?" Will blurted out.

Lynne stared at Will, her eyes starting to glisten with tears. "I was afraid to lose her. The day she entered our house when I was seven, I've already treated her as a sister. After Mother died, we used to play near the sea. Then she would tell me how much she wanted to live near the sea, and would wonder why she ever thought of that. Of course, I knew why she felt that way, because it's in her blood. So I was afraid that once she knows of her roots, she would leave me and go to sea. I couldn't let her go, I just couldn't."

Tears started trickling down her face, but Lynne didn't bother to wipe them. Will looked sympathetically at her.

"I understand how you feel, but why did you change your mind? What made you tell her last night?"

Lynne sniffed. "I just realized how much she wanted to be a pirate, to the extent that she would leave me. If that's the case, there's no need to hide it from her. Since she wants to be a pirate, I thought I should at least let her know that she really meant to be one."

Will smiled at her. "You did a good job. I'm not being selfish or anything, she is your sister too anyway, but it is good of you that you finally let her go."

"I guess you're right." Lynne forced a smile on her face. "Well, is this the reason why you came?"

"Actually, I wanted to tell you that we'll be arriving at Port Royale in the evening. If… you change your mind, you can stay with us." Will paused. "I believe Alicia would be happier to have both brother and sister with her."

Lynne thought for a moment. Then she smiled. "Thank you so much, Will, but I guess it is time I put her under your care. Besides, she can be a better pirate than a lady."

They both laughed. Will couldn't help but notice Lynne's eyes: amidst the sadness was a glint of familiar cheer and brightness. It was as if he's seen those eyes before, from someone else, he just couldn't remember where, when and who.

After a long, awkward silence, Will stood up to leave. Lynne watched as the door shut behind him. Once she's gone, this man would be the only person she can entrust Alicia to.

-----

Night fell over the Black Pearl as she wound its way through the dark waves. Jack Sparrow held on to his spyglass, keeping an eye on the faraway land they were approaching. Will stood beside him, gazing at the same direction. As Port Royale slowly came into view, Will nudged Jack and pointed out the direction.

"There's the bell tower. We'll just move closer to it and the stairs would come into view."

Jack lowered his spyglass. "Are ye sure the stairs are… usable still?"

"Back then, I used those stairs when I go fishing. I suppose they'll be more worn out and slippery by now, but it will do."

The bell tower was finally in sight. Alicia leaned against the edge of the ship and strained her eyes. There's the stairs! She said to herself. They were narrow stairs, good for only one person to walk through at a time. The solid rock had grown mold, thus making it slippery and moist.

The Black Pearl moved closer. Alicia was afraid it would crash into the old bell tower, but of course Jack wouldn't allow that. Just in time, Jack shouted:

"Drop anchor!"

There was a loud splash as the anchor dropped into the waters. Jack turned to Will.

"This can't take long, mate. Where's our friend?"

"I already sent Gibbs to call her."

Alicia remained silent and stared at the opening towards the cabin. Soon enough, Gibbs emerged from it, closely followed by Lynne. Will guided her towards the edge of the ship. Everyone was silent, even the waves seemed to have stopped, as if they recognized the solemnity of the occasion.

Lynne silently walked past Alicia, her head bowed down. She was about to step onto the stairs when Alicia finally spoke.

"Lynne, before you leave, I want to tell you that I don't blame you for anything."

Lynne stopped in her tracks and turned around. She was crying, and she saw that Alicia was crying too. Unable to control herself, she ran towards Alicia and they hugged each other.

"I'm sorry Alicia. I'm so sorry."

"Hush. Don't say that." Alicia faced Lynne eye to eye. "I should thank you, Lynne, for being a wonderful sister all these years and for letting me live my life the way I wanted."

Lynne smiled. "I'm happy for you."

Alicia smiled too and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm not driving you away. It's just that the lives we've wanted are entirely different. Maybe we're meant to choose different paths."

Lynne nodded in understanding. After a few moments of silence, Lynne broke free. She patted Alicia on the shoulder.

"Farewell. I hope we see each other again. Take care of yourself."

Lynne stepped over the stairs and started climbing. Will followed close behind her as the stairs were steep and slippery. Finally, the pair arrived at the bell tower. Lynne looked around her; it was her first time at Port Royale, she didn't know where to go.

Will seemed to have sensed her worry and whispered in her ear. "Just go down those stairs and walk straight ahead. Once you reach the main road, you'll meet Navy officers who can help you."

Lynne whispered back. "Thank you, Will. Alicia is yours now."

Will gave her a short nod and made his way back to the ship. Soon, she heard a shout and the Black Pearl started to move away. For the last time, Lynne turned to look at the departing ship. Alicia still stood at the edge, waving at her. She waved back and at that same time, she heard a loud explosion behind her.

-----

Everyone aboard the Black Pearl turned towards the direction of the sound. The ship was gradually making its way towards the open sea, but Alicia could still see lights on the far side of the island, moving towards the old bell tower. Lynne still stood there, looking from the Black Pearl to the approaching lights behind her.

Alicia cried out urgently. "We have to go back! Lynne is still there."

"No Alicia, we have to leave at once. The Navy must have discovered us. Lynne will be safe with them." Will laid an assuring hand on Alicia's shoulder.

Will's words calmed Alicia a bit. "You think so?"

"Yes. She'll be safe. If we don't leave, we'll be the ones in danger."

Jack on the other hand shook his head. "I don't agree with ye, mate." Jack said urgently, as he watched through his spyglass. "Based on my pirate instincts, the Navy didn't even see us. They were chasing something else."

"What then?" Will retorted.

Before Jack can answer him, a series of explosions were heard, followed by a huge cannon ball zooming towards their direction.

"Get down!" Will shouted as she pushed Alicia flat against the floor. The cannon missed them for a few inches, and landed on the water beside them with a loud splash.

Then, the shadow of the Bloody Anchors came into view. Clearly, Tom Smith was on their trail but, in the meantime, they were also being chased by the British Navy.

"It's Tom Smith!" Will shouted over the sound of bombs and explosions aimed right at them.

"Get those sails working! Hurry!" Jack was shouting urgently.

Alicia turned towards the bell tower. Before the Navy had reach her place, the crew of the Bloody Anchors had already spotted Lynne, and were firing aimlessly at her. Alicia watched as Lynne ducked the shots and in a desperate act to get away, Lynne jumped off the bell tower straight into the roaring waves!

"No!" Alicia watched in horror as she saw Lynne's tiny figure drop into the water.

Before anyone could stop her, she jumped off the edge of the ship and plunged into the ocean.

Will, who was standing beside her, didn't expect Alicia's sudden action so he wasn't able to pull her back. "Alicia!" He shouted as he watched her dark figure swim towards the bell tower, with cannon balls zooming overhead.

Alicia dived into the cold water, staying as low as possible to avoid the falling cannon balls. She kept swimming and finally saw Lynne sinking towards the bottom. Quickly, she swam forward and caught her before she fell even deeper. Alicia quickly pulled Lynne towards the surface.

"Lynne!" She shook her sister as she tried to catch her breath.

Lynne was breathing slowly now. Alicia took a deep breath and was about to dive into the water when suddenly, a cannon ball dropped into the water beside her.

"Alicia, no!"

From afar, Will watched helplessly as both Alicia and Lynne sank back down into the water. Suddenly, something unexpected happened as he heard another loud splash beside him. He turned around and saw that Jack was no longer by the wheel. He looked back into the water and he saw Jack's shadow swimming rapidly towards the spot where the two girls sank.

After a few minutes of frantic waiting, even Gibbs and Anamaria joined Will by the edge of the ship. Jack's head suddenly popped out of the water. Will quickly lowered down a rope and with the help of Gibbs and Anamaria, they pulled the three to safety.

Once they were laid down, Lynne came to at once. She immediately noticed Alicia lying down beside her, who was still unconscious then.

"Alicia!" She screamed.

Alicia was hardly breathing. Her left shoulder was badly burnt, and her head was bleeding. Will knelt beside her and was about to treat her burns when Jack pushed him aside.

"She's not breathing." He said urgently.

He quickly performed mouth to mouth resuscitation, forcing the water out of Alicia's lungs. Will had never seen Jack this nervous. Anamaria brought a cloak to cover Jack's soaked body, but Jack shoved her away and instead, yelled at her.

"Get back to the wheel and bring us out of this hell!"

Anamaria scurried back to the wheel. At that instant, Alicia vomited a lot of water. Slowly, her eyes opened and she whispered.

"Jack…"

"I'm here, luv, just here." Jack grabbed his cloak and covered Alicia with it.

She went on. "Where's Lynne?"

Lynne quickly knelt beside her and held her hand. "I'm here, Alicia. Stay with us. Promise me to stay with us."

Alicia smiled before she finally went unconscious again. Overhead, the bombs and explosions were lessening. Jack carried Alicia in his arms and said to Lynne. "Follow me to your room and give her a change. Then we'll treat her wounds."

Then he turned to Will. "Mate, you leave your sister to me, I leave the Pearl to you."

Before Will could answer, both Jack and Lynne had disappeared below deck.

Finally! It took me a week to write this. So review!