Next chapter everyone! Thanks to all who have read this far!

Abby POV

I jumped and tore my concentration away from my book at the sound of cannon fire. Lizzie and I jumped out of her bed and ran to the balcony. Even through the thick fog that had gathered in the harbor, I could make out a ship firing at the fort and town. My eyes widened as I saw the ship had black sails.

"It's the ship!" She told me, her body trembling. "It's the same ship I saw 8 years ago."

"I know, it's the Black Pearl," I said. We both jumped as we heard someone pounding on the front door. We ran to the top of the stairs and spotted a butler going to open the door.

"Don't!" Elizabeth shouted, but it was too late. The butler opened the door and was promptly shot. I stared in horror at his fallen body as Elizabeth let out a startled scream. A hoard of pirates came streaming into the house.

"Up there!" One of them, Ragetti if I remembered correctly, shouted to his buddy Pintel, pointing to Elizabeth and me. I grabbed Elizabeth's hand and bolted back up the stairs and into Elizabeth's room, locking the door behind us. We turned around and Elizabeth let out another startled scream as we ran into Estrella.

"They've come to kidnap you," Estrella told us.

Elizabeth frowned in confusion. "What?"

"You're the Governor's daughters."

I grabbed the maid's arm and drew her off to the side as the pirates started pounding on the door. "Estrella, they haven't seen you. You need to hide and run to the fort the first chance you get."

"But what about you?" Estrella asked worriedly.

"We'll have to find another way out, now go!" The maid nodded. "Come on!" I grabbed Elizabeth's hand and took off further into her room. I heard the pirates smash through the door and run after us. I quickly snatched the bed warmer from under the covers of Elizabeth's bed and ran back to the door. I swung my new weapon and connected with Pintel's face with a resounding clang. I swung it again at Ragetti, but he grabbed it.

"Gotcha!" He said, grinning. I smirked and pressed the lever, releasing the burning coals. Ragetti let go as he cried out in pain. "It's hot! You burned me!" I dropped my weapon and Elizabeth grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room and back down the stairs. We skidded to a halt as Ragetti jumped the railing and landed in front of us. We turned only to find Pintel grinning smugly at us. We were trapped. I mentally cursed myself for not running to get my cutlass hidden in my room. We were all distracted as another pirate came out of one of the rooms, arms ladened with jewelry. Suddenly, a cannon ball came flying through the walls and smashed into the pirate. I glanced up as I heard cracking and dragged Elizabeth out of the way of the falling chandelier, giving us just enough time to bolt into the dining room and lock the door. Elizabeth shoved a candlestick holder over the handles. I spotted a display sword on the wall and grinned. My grin quickly vanished as I went to pull one of the swords out and got the entire wall mount.

"Come on!" I growled, desperately trying to shake the sword loose. I looked up as the pirates banged on the doors. "Hide!" Elizabeth and I quickly hid in a nearby cabinet.

"We know you're 'ere, Poppets," Pintel called. "Come out...and we promise we won't hurt you." It took all my willpower not to scoff. I knew better than to trust those two knuckleheads. "We will find you, Poppets. You've got something of ours, and it calls to us. The gold calls to us." I glanced at Elizabeth as she fingered her medallion. My heart skipped a beat as a shadow fell over us. "'Ello, Poppets." The doors swung open and we found two swords aimed at our throats.

"Parley!" Elizabeth shouted in panic.

"What?" Pintel asked, frowning in confusion. He was probably wondering how a well bred girl such as Elizabeth knew that word.

"Parley," she repeated. "I invoke the right of parley. According to the Code of the brethren, set down by the pirates Morgan and Bartholomew, you have to take us to your captain."

"I know the code," Pintel growled.

"Then that also means you know that if an adversary demands parley, you can't do anything to harm them until the parley is complete," I said, following along.

"To blazes with the code," Ragetti muttered.

"They want to be taken to the Captain," Pintel snapped. "And they'll go without a fuss." He gave a warning smile and I dreaded to think what they would do if we made a fuss. "We must honor the code." We were unceremoniously dragged out of our hiding place and hauled out of the house. The town was in chaos. Explosions went off here and there and pirates were everywhere, reeking havoc on the town and its citizens. "Come on!" Pintel shouted as he dragged Elizabeth and Ragetti hauled me along. I turned my head and spotted Will a few yards away.

"Will," Elizabeth whispered. I saw Will mouth our names as we were dragged to the harbor. I twiddled my thumbs nervously as Elizabeth and I were rowed to the Black Pearl.

"Elizabeth, when we get on board, let me do the talking, ok?" She gave me a small nod. I could tell she was scared. I placed my hand over her's, offering what comfort I could. Though outwardly I appeared calm, it was nothing but a facade. I was scared. My heart was pounding so loudly in my chest I wondered how no one else could hear it. These were ruthless, cutthroat pirates, willing to do anything to get what they wanted and not caring who they hurt in the process. In the last five years, I had heard my fair share of tales of the Black Pearl, her crew, and the man that captained her. Suffice it to say, it was taking all of my will power not to tremble. Once we reached the black ship, Pintel went up first with Elizabeth and Ragetti followed with me. I glanced around the ship as I was hauled aboard. I spotted a tall, dark figure standing by the helm and knew immediately he was Captain Barbossa, if the large feathered hat and monkey on his shoulder were anything to go by. A large African man, Bo'sun, approached us.

"I didn't know we was takin' on captives," Bo'sun said gruffly.

"They've encoded the right of parley with Capt'n Barbossa," Pintel explained.

I jerked my arm from Ragetti's grip and stepped forward. "We are here to negotiate -" My head suddenly snapped to the side as Bo'sun backhanded me. Elizabeth cried my name, struggling in Pintel's grip. I held a hand to my reddening cheek and glared at the pirate.

"You will speak when spoken to," Bo'sun snapped. A hand grasped Bo'sun's wrist tightly.

"And ye'll not lay a hand on those under the protection of parley," Barbossa told him, his tone conveying an unspoken warning.

"Aye, sir," Bo'sun said. Barbossa released his wrist and turned his cold blue eyes to me. I did my best not to squirm under his calculating gaze. The pirate was even more intimidating in person than on screen. He had an air of authority about him and he knew it. I honestly couldn't think what Evie had seen in him.

"Apologies, Miss," Barbossa said, offering a smile that was by no means warm and welcoming. I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders.

"Captain Barbossa, we are here to negotiate the cessation of hostilities against Port Royal," I announced, being careful to keep my voice steady.

Barbossa chuckled. "There be a lot of long words in there, Miss. We're not but humble pirates."

"It means we're here to bargain."

Barbossa raised a brow. "And what is it that you want?"

"I would think that would be obvious," I said, crossing my arms. "We want you to leave and never come back." Laughter rippled through the crew.

"I'm disinclined to acquiesce your request," Barbossa replied. I narrowed my eyes and Elizabeth glanced at me, unsure what he meant. He smirked at our confusion. "Means no." I straightened slightly. Time for a change in technique then.

"How about a little incentive then?" I offered. Barbossa cocked an eyebrow. I turned to my sister. "Lizzie, could I have the medallion, please?" Elizabeth gave me a confused look, but obliged, pulling the medallion from around her neck and handing it to me. As I walked to the edge of the ship, several pirates made a move to stop me. I held the medallion over the side of the ship. "Wonder what would happen if I were to 'accidentally' drop this?"

"Me holds are burstin' with swag. That bit of shine matters to us?" Barbossa said, trying to sound nonchalant. His gaze sharpened. "Why?"

"It's what you've been searching for, isn't it?" Elizabeth piped up, drawing Barbossa's attention. "I recognize this ship. I saw it eight years ago on the crossing from England."

"Did ya now?" Barbossa questioned, gazing at her curiously. I narrowed my eyes at the captain. I didn't like his sudden interest in her.

"Whether she recognizes this ship is neither here nor there," I said, trying to get the pirates' attention back on me. "If this medallion is really worthless, then I don't see any point in keeping it." I opened my hand and let the medallion slip through my fingers a few inches.

"No!" Barbossa gasped, he and his crew surging forward a few steps. I smirked in triumph. Barbossa chuckled darkly and walked towards me. I quickly grabbed the medallion. "Ya have a name, Missy?"

"Abigail Brooks," I replied after a moment's hesitation. Even though they were here for the medallion, I knew it wasn't safe to give them my adopted name. "I'm a maid in the governor's household," I added with a small curtsy.

Barbossa turned his icy gaze to Elizabeth. "And what about you?"

"Elizabeth...Turner," Elizabeth answered. "Also a maid." Barbossa's eye widened slightly at that name.

"Miss Turner!" Barbossa repeated, turning to his crew. Murmurs spread through the pirates.

"Bootstrap!" I heard Pintel mutter to Ragetti.

"And how does a maid come to own a trinket such as that? Family heirloom, perhaps?" Barbossa inquired, his interest once again turning to Elizabeth.

"I didn't steal it, if that's what you mean," Elizabeth replied coolly. Barbossa was quiet for a moment, thinking over our proposal, at least I hoped he was.

"Very well. You hand that over, we'll put your town to our rudder and ne'er return," he decided, holding out his hand. I narrowed my eyes, not trusting his word. I glanced at Elizabeth for her opinion and she nodded. I slowly dropped the medallion into the captain's hand. He gave the medallion to his monkey who darted off. I watched apprehensively as our only bargaining chip disappeared.

"Our bargain?" I demanded. Barbossa turned away and nodded to Bo'sun.

"Still the guns, and stow 'em!" Bo'sun shouted to the crew. "Signal the men, set the flags, and make good to clear port!"

"Wait!" Elizabeth shouted, hurrying after Barbossa. I rushed after her. "You have to take us to shore! According to the code of the Order of the Brethren -" Barbossa cut her off as he wheeled around.

"First. Your return to shore was not part of our negotiation nor our agreement, so I 'must' do nothing," Barbossa snapped. "And secondly, you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply, and you're not. And thirdly...the code is more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner." I clenched my fists and let out a frustrated growl. Trust him to find a loophole. Barbossa jerked his head in my direction. "Take Miss Brooks back to shore."

"Wait, what?!" I shouted as Ragetti came up behind me and grabbed my arm again. "No! I'm not leaving her! Let me go!" I struggled so hard against Ragetti's grip, another pirate had to come over and help. The pirates only rowed me halfway back to shore before tossing me over the side and rowing back. I treaded water as I watched the black ship sail away with my sister still aboard. I cursed myself at my own stupidity as I swam back to shore. I should have known better than to make a deal with Barbossa. Dragging myself onto the beach, I began my trek back to Port Royal, hoping to find Will and my father, and maybe a way to fix this mess.