Chapter 3 - Blood and Dirt

Elizabeth caressed Will's shoulder, trying to keep him comfortable. Any time she was waiting for the three murderous men to come back and whip them again. Them, Jack. She could barely see him now, the candle light was dimming, all there was was the outline of his body.

She leaned closer to Will. "I'm going to check on him." Will nodded and kissed her hand.

"Jack. Jack, are you okay?" She asked and touched his shoulder, squinting to see him. Suddenly he grabbed her arm and she screamed a little. "Jack?"

"I'm trying to rest."

"Are you okay?" She asked, reaching for his face.

He swatted her hand away. "I'll be better if you let me rest."

Feeling dejected Elizabeth went back to Will. He had his back to the wall now. "What did he say? I couldn't hear him very well."

"He doesn't want help. I think he wants to die here." She said lowly so the pirate couldn't hear her. "What do we do?"

Will took a deep breath. "I don't think there's anything to do. I suppose we just have to hope for the best."

Jack laughed, the sound was loud in their confined space. "Hope! What hope? Haven't you noticed that we are all chained to the wall? We can't move, save for Elizabeth. Our lovely guests haven't provided food. I suppose next time we could try to live on the water they give us to wash ourselves, but then what? How long are you willing to suffer?"

Both Will and Elizabeth were speechless, they had never heard him speak in such a way. 'Captain Jack Sparrow' always looked optimistic even if the chances were slim to none. Perhaps this was the new Jack, or maybe even the real Jack Sparrow himself, behind the flamboyant exterior. And almost positively the right Jack.

"Hungry gents? And lady?"

It was Rex, he had come with food for them, or so it seemed.

"Depends on what you have." Will said, pulling Elizabeth closer as the other man's eyes traveled over her body. Rex glared at them then looked to Jack.

"Enjoying life Sparrow?" When he didn't get an answer in return he gave Jack a hard kick in the leg before putting what looked like food down on the floor. "Enjoy."

Elizabeth looked at the plate and saw three cups of drink and some bread. Picking up the bread she broke it in half only to have it crumble in her hands. Handing some to Will she picked up one of the cups and gave it to Jack.

"Here Jack, please drink this."

The pirate didn't even look at her as the drink was placed in his hand. Raising the cup to his mouth he sipped it before spitting it out and calmly sitting down on the floor. "It may not be any good to drink but if you want to wash your cuts in it, it may help."

Will took one of the cups and looked into it, the liquid looked clear enough. "What is it?"

"Vinegar."

Jack's voice was raspy and rough as he hadn't used it in a while and with the lack of drink it was dry.

"I'm sorry Jack. I didn't know or I would have,"

"Don't apologize Elizabeth."

She ringed her hands. All she wanted to do was help but it seemed she was just putting him in more pain and suffering then possible. "Do you want something to eat?"

Jack sighed and took some of the bread. "I might as well try some first huh? Make sure it's not poisoned. Would hate for something to happen to one of you."

His voice sounded sarcastic but not in a fun loving way, but in a bitter, serious kind of way. Elizabeth wanted to take it back but he had already put it in his mouth. The other two looked at him, waiting.

"It tastes like dirt."

Will took some next and ate it. "He's right."

Elizabeth ate some but couldn't swallow it, it was too dry and she was sure she didn't want to drink vinegar. She looked to Jack who's eyes seemed to have glassed over again.

"I'm sorry Jack, please!"

"What would you like me to say Julien? Oh, it's alright darling, lets just forget it ever happened." He said and glared at her, turning his back.

"No. I don't expect you to forgive me but we can work it out. We can try Jack. Don't you want to try?" She asked, her deep blue eyes looking like the sea. Her lips were pouted in a sorry expression.

"I was trying. I didn't even know there was something wrong!" He started to raise his voice, bringing a scowl to her face.

"Of course you didn't! You're never around. I was hoping when you come back I could get prgnant so I could have someone to love and someone who would love me unconditionally." Her eyes were tearing, and to Jack's surprise so was his.

"I did love you! I would have done anything for you. I have never been unfaithfull even when the opportunity presented itself. I loved you."

Julien looked to the floor then back into Jack's eyes. "I'm sorry, but you told me pirates don't fall in love."

Jack smiled and nodded. "And now I know why."

A shiver brought him back to reality. It was cold. Turning to Will he saw him with Elizabeth wrapped in his arms, warm. Jack didn't know why he was feeling this way, he had put it all behind him so long ago. Perhaps it was the fact that he knew he was going to die. His conscious was examining itself without his knowing it. Not that he hadn't been close to death before but he knew this time there was no hope. He would die here with Will, what would happen to Elizabeth he wasn't sure.

"Up on your feet you two!" Ash bellowed as the door was opened.

"Before you do anything gentleman, check their injuries." Crane said, holding a whip.

Ash and Rex moved Elizabeth away and pulled the two men to their feet. Their back's were healing, the wounds no longer open.

"It looks like they'll make a full recovery sir." Rex said before laughing.

"Let's make sure they don't."

Jack closed his eyes and felt the first cut of the whip. He stiffened when that was it. The pirate didn't dare turn around to see what the hold up was. Then there was pain he had never felt before. A dagger was cutting his back up on his right shoulder. Cranes face was at his ear.

"A little something to remember this fun time."

Tears of pain started to fall from Jack's eyes. He let out pitiful whimpers, all the while the cracks of the whip forming angry marks on Will's back. Elizabeth's sobs from the other side of the room was faint, her hand to her mouth, her eyes open wide in horror.

Jakc could feel the blood running down his back, the insane captain had carved his intitials into his back.

"A work of art don't you think mates?"

Will had fallen to his knees and Elizabeth rushed to his side. "Will."

"Get out of the way woman!" Rex yelled and went to whip her. Jack put his arm out and the whip wrapped around his arm.

"Leave her be."

Crane smiled and held the dagger and Jack's neck. "Don't like to see women hurt do ya Jack?"

He stood still, felling his enemies unpleasent breath at his neck.

When Jack said nothing Crane put him against the wall again. "You'll take her beating then. She needed to be taught a lesson. Now it will be yours."

"No! Leave him alone! You've done enough to him!" Elizabeth yelled.

"Rex!" Crane yelled and his crony picked her up and forced her to watch as Jack got whipped into oblivion.

TBC