A/N: I recently took another glance at this story and realized how poorly written it was. So I've decided to polish it up one piece at a time. I don't know if anyone is still reading it, but for my sanity, I am going to retool it chapter by chapter. Maybe I will be struck with new inspiration and finish it.
Disclaimer: I own neither Pirates of the Caribbean nor any of it's characters, names or locations. This is a simple exercise in creativity that I will not try to sell or profit from. All credit goes to Disney.
What was happening now looked like something from a nightmare. Though it was early morning, the sun had disappeared. the sky around them swirled an angry gray. The rain still pelted them, now indistinguishable from the waves that beat down on the ship. A grizzly old pirate that Hayden knew only by the name Cotton slid across the deck as the saltwater slicked the hardwood. Laura was struggling to keep her footing. Hayden tightened his grip on her, steering her toward the railing. Gibbs raced as quickly as he could toward the two of them.
"Here," he handed them a length of rope, "tie this round your waist." Gibbs hurried off before Hayden could ask him for clarification, leaving him looking around, the rope hanging slack in his hand. Other crew members were scrambling about, each with a tightly knotted rope securing them to the ship. The end of each was tied around the mast, creating a spider web sort of appearance. Jack was helping Anamaria wrap the rope around her waist. The two were tied together as the crew had ran out of extra rope.
"Laura!" Ana yelled at her sister from across the ship. "Tie yourself together, now!" As though on a cue, a wave rocked the ship again, nearly spilling the pair over the side. Hayden quickly swung the rope around Laura's hips, but she pushed it away.
"Tie yourself first!" she shouted to be heard over the sounds of the storm. "You're heavier and a better anchor!" Hayden nodded, quickly knotting the rope through the belt loops of his pants. He passed it to Laura. She was halfway through the process of securing herself when the unthinkable happened.
A wave rose out of the water like a wall, blotting out the sun and casting the whole ship in shadow. The crew was yelling, frantically trying to get away from the edge of the ship. The wave curled over the deck, soaking the occupants and throwing the Pearl around like a child's toy in a tub. Hayden reached for Laura but he wasn't quick enough. With a muffled scream, she lost hold of the rope and went sliding away. He watched in horror as white water licked around her body, pulling her over the railing and into the murky recesses of the darkness below.
He could hear Ana's terrified screams and Jack's shout of surprise faintly over the din. Without thinking, he clambered to his feet and took a running leap over the edge and after her. Water rushed into his ears, deafening him. The world around him churned, tossing him about like a rag doll. He panicked for a moment, struggling to get his bearings. Foam whirled around him and he squinted, trying to clear his vision. All at once he saw her. Laura was spinning under water, trying in vain to kick her way to the surface. With a massive effort he propelled himself toward her, fighting against the rope pulling him backwards toward the ship. Laura sighted him as well and began to fight her way toward him. She surfaced first, coughing salt water from her lungs. Hayden followed her, gasping into the rain.
"Grab on!" he shouted hoarsely at her. Laura lunged for him, her arms coming around the back of his neck. They treaded together, ducking under every so often to avoid the waves bearing down on them. Hayden felt a tug around his waist. He looked back at the ship, not a hundred yards away but barely visible in the melee. The rope grew taut and the two of them began being dragged back to the ship. They kicked, trying to speed up the process.
When his back hit the wood of the hull, Hayden breathed a sigh of relief. It was going to be okay. With another uncomfortable tug, he felt the seat of his pants rising, pulling him up and out of the water. Laura wound her legs around his waist so as to avoid bouncing off the side of the ship. Hayden could feel her heart pounding against his through the soaping fabric of their clothing. Keeping one hand firmly on their lifeline, he grasped her tightly with the other arm. She was shivering uncontrollably. He suddenly remembered her cold. It was a miracle she had even been able to push to the surface in her condition.
So concerned was he with the woman in his arms that he failed to notice a second perilous wave rising up. It bore down on the Pearl, sending the nose temporarily under water. Hayden and Laura were submerged again, trapped under the figure head of the ship. The rope yanked harder, catching on the arm of the wooden figure. There was another mighty tug, then all at once the rope gave way. It snapped in the middle as the figurehead splintered under the weight, tossing Laura and Hayden back into the elements. They hit the water with a splash, their bodies stinging with the impact. Laura held tight to him, her energy spent. Desperate and panicking, he kicked out again. The tide caught them, tossing them around underwater. His lungs were burning, he didn't know up from down. Laura wasn't faring much better. The only thing there was to do was to hold on tightly to one another and pray.
Something large and hard hit him against the back of the head. Instinctively, Hayden reached for it. His hand clasped around what felt like a human hand. He gave one mighty kick and climbed aboard. It was the figurehead of the Pearl. The wooden woman was bobbing like a cork among the waves, her hand outstretched to them like a savior. He pulled himself aboard, tugging Laura with him. She grasped the figure tightly. Hayden hung on behind her, pinning her body to their makeshift life boat with his own. The remnants of their lifeline hung pitifully behind him like a tail. He reached forward, managing to tie the severed end in a sloppy knot around the piece of wood.
When the adrenaline of their near death experience began to fade and his breathing began to regulate, Hayden chanced a look around. His stomach rolled sickeningly when he realized he could not see any sign of the Pearl save the piece he clung to. Panic spread through him like a virus, heightened by the feel of Laura's feverish skin beneath him. She wasn't going to last very long out here. She was trembling like a leaf.
"Are you ok?" he had to lean in and whisper it directly in her ear to be heard. She nodded weakly. Hayden didn't believe her. He quickly tried to find a way to lift her out of the ocean before realizing that the water was warmer than the surrounding air and did the job of protecting most of their bodies from the elements. "Hang on tight," he instructed, "We'll make it through." she gave another weak nod.
The day they spent was the worst of his life. Waves and currents tossed them around unmercifully, keeping them in a constant state of fear. Laura began to wheeze, her breathing becoming more labored and her temperature rising. Hayden tried in vain to keep her warm, terrified that he would lose her. Salt water filled all of his senses, his ears, his nose, his mouth. Hours later, the wind had died down enough for him to be able to pull the two of them on top of the figurehead. He nestled them between the wooden arms. Unable to hang on any longer, Laura had slipped into unconsciousness. Hayden monitored her fearfully.
He must have drifted off at some point because he felt himself jolted awake as the figure head scraped over something. He sat up dizzily, unaware of their surroundings. The world around them had calmed down; the wind had stilled and the waves rocked lazily, all signs of the terrible storm gone. Hayden thanked whatever luck he had that they had made it. He chanced a look down, unable to see much in the fading light. He made out some dark, jagged shapes beneath them. Tentatively, he used his foot to feel them. Coral. They had run ashore on a coral reef. He glanced around wildly, searching for a shelf big enough to rest on. Out in the distance, maybe a quarter of a mile away he saw the unmistakable shape of a small island. Without thinking he swung off his perch, landing in the water. He pointed he and Laura in the direction of what was to be their savior and kicked for all it was worth. His muscles, bruised and tired, screamed out in protest. He ignored them, using his last store of energy to ride the waves in. When he felt he could go no further, he felt sand beneath his boots.
As though God knew their dilemma, a large wave pushed them forward the last few yards. Wet sand and foam licked up his body as his torso came in contact with land. He shuddered, hardly believing their luck. He had half thought the island was a mirage. He crawled up the beach, unable to stand, until they were just beyond the water line. Hayden reached for Laura, pulling her slack body off of the figurehead and into his arms. Satisfied, his head fell backwards as he slipped into darkness