Hey guys! Sorry this chapter is later than I wanted. I finally started my new job! My brain is going to be fried with all the information I have to remember for training. Anyway enjoy!
Evelyn POV
"Haul on the mainbrace, make ready the guns!" Barbossa shouted as we approached the Interceptor. "And run out the sweeps." I raised an eyebrow as I noticed several boxes and barrels floating past.
"Do they really think throwing a few boxes overboard will help them outrun the fastest ship in the Caribbean?" I wondered out loud.
"It's an effort in futility," Barbossa said with a dark chuckle. The Black Pearl continued to gain on the Interceptor, despite their attempts to lighten the load. I cocked my head as I noticed the Interceptor's starboard anchor dropped.
"What on earth?" I muttered. Barbossa didn't say anything, but he narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, the rope went taut and the Interceptor pivoted around the rope.
"They're clubhaulin'!" Barbossa shouted. "Hard aport! Rack the starboard oars!" I quickly grabbed the railing to keep on my feet as the Pearl turned sharply. Both crews started jeering each other as the ships passed. "Fire!"
Abby POV
I jumped as I heard cannon fire. Jack, who was still peering through the hole in the hull, suddenly turned and tackled me to the floor just as a shot blew through the hull, throwing bits of wood everywhere.
"Stop blowing holes in my ship!" Jack yelled angrily.
I cleared my throat sheepishly at our compromising position. "Uh, Jack, can you get off me please?" Jack turned and looked down at me.
"Sorry, luv," he apologized, getting up and holding out a hand.
"Thanks," I mumbled, trying to control the blush rising to my face. I was really glad Evie hadn't seen that or I would have never heard then end if it.
The pirate flashed his signature smirk, showing off his golden teeth. "Anytime, luv." Another blast rocked the ship and Jack quickly wrapped an arm around my waist to keep me from falling over. I noticed Gibbs's flask floating in the ankle deep water and picked it up. Jack grabbed it from me and tried to take a drink, only to pout when he realized it was empty. I glanced at the cell door.
"Hey, Jack," I called. The pirate looked at me then to the hole in the cell door's lock I was pointing at.
Evelyn POV
I quickly moved aside as Pintel and Ragetti hurried past, carrying a chain-shot between them. Guns fired all around as the opposing crews shot at each other. I stayed close to Barbossa as he seemed to know where to be to avoid getting shot, not that it would do him any harm. I noticed he made sure that he stood on the side closest to the Interceptor, partially protecting me from flying bullets and debris.
"Strike your colors, ya bloomin cockroaches!" Barossa shouted as he moved through the crew as they rushed to obey his orders. "Hands! Grapnels at the ready! Prepare to board!" Pintel fired his cannon, the chain-shot flying through the air and smashing the Interceptor's main mast. The mast cracked and groaned as it began to fall. I jumped slightly as Barbossa slipped an arm around my waist.
"What are you doing?" I squeaked, fighting yet another blush rising to my cheeks. What was with me lately? I've gone from being jealous at the attention Barbossa was showing Elizabeth to blushing nearly uncontrollably when he touched me. Though, in my defense, we've never been that physically close before now and his sudden need to have me so close took me by surprise. I eyed the mast nervously as it came towards us. "Shouldn't we be moving away from the giant wooden stick?"
Barbossa smirked and a glint flashed through his intelligent blue eyes. "Trust me." He sauntered forward, bringing me with him. The crew scattered, rushing to get out of the way of the mast. I watched worriedly as the mast fell closer, yet Barbossa continued to walk forward. We stopped and I flinched slightly as the mast and sail crashed in an 'L' shape next to us.
I eyed the fallen mast. "Huh."
"I told ye to trust me, Evie," Barbossa said. He let go of my waist and I found myself once again missing the contact. "Pistols and cutlasses, men! Koehler, Twigg, to the powder magazine! And the rest of you, bring me that medallion!" He shouted to the crew. He took Jack and passed him to me. "Take Jack and find that medallion." I nodded and set Jack on my shoulder. Before I left, Barbossa caught my arm and I turned to him with a questioning look. "Be careful." His tone was softer than I had heard him use before. I blinked in surprise, but nodded all the same. I used the Interceptor's fallen mast as a bridge, dodging bullets as I went. Almost as soon as I reached the Interceptor, one of the opposing pirates attacked me. I quickly drew my cutlass to block his blade.
"Jack, find the medallion!" I told the monkey, ducking under another blade. Jack screeched and jumped off my shoulder, disappearing into the fray.
Abby POV
I followed Jack onto the deck of the Black Pearl, ducking as bullets whizzed past my head. Climbing onto a boom, Jack caught a rope from one of the undead pirates, causing said pirate to fall to the deck with a loud thud.
"Thanks very much," Jack said. "Hold on tight, luv." I grabbed hold of his waist and we swung to the Interceptor. We accidentally bumped into another undead pirate, sending him into the water. The collision knocked me loose and I landed on the deck of the Interceptor.
"Ouch!" I mumbled as I picked myself up.
"Jack!' Gibbs gasped as the pirate captain landed next to him. Jack took the flask from his belt and handed it to Gibbs.
"Bloody empty!" Jack moved off into the fray and I quickly followed, scanning the fight for my sister. I spotted her fighting one of the undead pirates with her musket. The pirate grabbed her arm and raised his cutlass, but Jack calmly grabbed his wrist. "That's not very nice." Elizabeth took the opportunity to smash the butt of her musket into the undead pirate's face, sending him over the side. Jack grabbed Elizabeth by the shoulders and dragged her down as a fresh volley of gunfire shot past. "Where's the medallion?"
"Wretch!" Elizabeth cried as she tried to hit him. Jack caught her wrist and noticed her bandaged hand.
"Ah, where is dear William?" Elizabeth gasped and ran off. Just then, I spotted Barbossa's monkey, a golden coin in his paw.
"The medallion!" I shouted. Jack jerked his head to follow my gaze.
"Monkey!" He yelled and darted after the furry creature. The monkey jumped onto the fallen mast and hurried over. Jack and I scrambled after the capuchin. Jack reached out to grab the medallion just as the monkey reached the other end. Unfortunately, Barbossa had already retrieved it.
"Why thank you, Jack!" Barbossa said with a smirk.
"You're welcome," Jack replied with a tense smile.
"Actually, he named the monkey Jack," a voice spoke. I turned to see Evie standing on the beam behind me, holding onto a rope to keep herself steady. I shot her a glare and she gave me an apologetic shrug. "They need it more than you do."
"Gents, our hope is restored!" Barbossa shouted to his crew, holding the medallion high. The cursed crew cheered. Jack and I were grabbed and put with the rest of the crew. We sailed a safe distance from the Interceptor. Barbossa stood at the rails, watching the Interceptor and fingering the newly acquired medallion. Evie stood next to him, though she kept casting me nervous glances. Ragetti tied us to the mast while Pintel aimed his pistol at us.
"Any of you so much as thinks the word Parley, I'll have your guts for garters," Pintel snarled.
"I don't think my guts would make very nice garters," I commented. I noticed Evie lean towards Barbossa and say something, looking at him pleadingly. He glanced down at her, but I didn't see if he answered as Elizabeth slipped out from underneath the ropes. However, she stopped dead in her tracks as the Interceptor suddenly exploded, sending bits of wood flying everywhere.
"Will!" I heard her gasp. My eyes widened and I gazed at the destroyed ship in horror. Will was still on board? Elizabeth rushed Barbossa. "You've got to stop it!" She shouted, swinging her fist at him. "Stop it!" The undead captain easily caught her wrists.
"Welcome back, Miss," he grinned darkly. "You took advantage of our hospitality last time. It holds fair now you return the favor." He shoved her into the crew who immediately began to grab at her. I broke free of the ropes and tried to rush over to help her, but I was grabbed by a couple of pirates and held back.
"Get your grimy mitts off her!" I shouted, struggling furiously against my captors, but they ignored me.
"Barbossa!" A familiar voice yelled. We all stopped and turned to see a drenched Will standing on the railing. I grinned at the sight of my best friend, completely unharmed. He jumped down and grabbed one of our confiscated pistols and pointed it at Barbossa. "She goes free!"
"What's in your head, boy?" Barbossa demanded, stalking towards Will.
"She goes free," Will repeated. Barbossa stopped right in front of the pistol, unfazed.
"You've only got one shot and we can't die."
"Don't do anything stupid," Jack muttered to Will under his breath. Will glanced at Jack and darted back to the railing.
"You can't. I can," Will stated, placing the pistol under his chin. Elizabeth squirmed in protest.
Jack sighed. "Like that." Barbossa glanced at Jack then back to Will.
"Who are you?" He asked, completely perplexed.
"No one," Jack said quickly, hurrying to stand in between Barbossa and Will. "He's no one. A distant cousin of my aunt's nephew twice removed. Lovely singing voice, though. Eunuch." I rolled my eyes. He seriously expected that to work? Even I knew Barbossa was smart enough not to fall for that.
"My name is Will Turner," Will answered. "My father was Bootstrap Bill Turner. His Blood runs in my veins." Barbossa glanced at Jack, who lowered his head and walked away. It was a ballsy move, I had to give Will points for that. Unfortunately, Will didn't have the bargaining experience that Jack or even I, brief though it was, had with Barbossa. I knew from Elizabeth and I's experience in Port Royal that the cursed captain would exploit every loophole in any deal he made. Jack and I's knowledge of this gave us a bit of an advantage. However, now that Will had revealed his identity, any leverage we had just went overboard. We had no bargaining chip.
"He's the spitting image of ol' Bootstrap Bill come back to haunt us!" Raggetti cried.
"On my word do as I say or I'll pull this trigger, and be lost to Davy Jones' Locker," Will threatened. Barbosa narrowed his eyes, considering the young blacksmith.
"Name your terms, Mr. Turner," he said.
"Elizabeth goes free!"
"Yes, we know that one," Barbossa replied in annoyance. "Anything else?"
"Abby goes free as well," Will added. Jack gestured fervently to himself. "And the crew, the crew are not to be harmed." Barbossa stalked forward.
"Agreed," he declared, showing off his stained teeth. A feeling of apprehension bubbled in my stomach. Barbossa agreed to the terms way too easily. It was impossible to tell what the older pirate had planned, but whatever it was it wasn't good. I glanced at Evie. Her posture was tense and she was wringing her hands, her gaze shifting between her captain, Will, Elizabeth, and finally me. By the look in her green eyes, she knew just as well as I did that Barbossa was going to exploit every possible loophole and it wasn't going to end well for us.