2

The Compass

"Jack?" said a voice from reality. "Cap'n? JACK!"

Jack sat up quickly, reaching dangerously for the pistol in his belt. "Fight me you unlucky fo-" he opened his eyes, seeing the source of the voice. "Mr. Gibbs!"

"Beggin' pardon Cap'n, but the crew needs a captain or else we will go astray!"

"Of course." Jack stood shakily, laughing as Mr. Gibbs walked away singing his usual early morning shanty.

Jack stretched lazily, and then looked down at his wrist at the lace tied tightly for security. He once truly knew what he wanted; who he wanted.

"Lilliana," he whispered to himself, touching the worn lace gently. "What would you think of me now?"

He thought back to years long gone, his heart pounding at the memories. He had been so different; innocent; in love. Something about her; about Lilliana, had taught him never to give up. To fight for what he wanted. But what he had wanted so long ago was just an innocent existence with Lilliana by his side. But innocence and normality were not in Jack's fate; he couldn't just stop being the wanted pirate he was and live secretly with his dear Lilliana. No, that was not an option.

So all he had left of Lilliana was that piece of lace and the memories of the short time they had spent together.

"Cap'n?" Mr. Gibbs' voice interrupted Jack's daydreams as he opened the door urgently.

"Yes Mr. Gibbs?" Jack replied in annoyance. "If it is about my not being above deck, I am allowed to take my own bloody sweet time!"

Mr. Gibbs turned to the door, saying over his shoulder, "Sorry Cap'n!"

Jack followed behind Mr. Gibbs, slowly making his way up the stairs to the deck, the crew's voices growing louder with every step. He sighed as Mr. Gibbs opened the door, letting in the warm morning sun and mist of the sea.

"Cap'n, we have our heading?"

Jack looked up with a cough, nervous. "Umm, of course, Mr. Gibbs, of course." Jack grabbed for his compass with anxious haste, opening its top. As he watched it spin madly, he looked around as if to see the source of the compass' confusion. When he glanced back down at it, it was pointing at something behind him, so he looked back, fearing what he might see.

"Oh!" he let out unexpectedly, his eyebrows arching in surprise. "Elizabeth!" he mumbled, as he shook the compass wildly.

He looked down at his compass again, finding it stilled, pointing towards his left. "Mr. Gibbs! We have our heading!"

"Aye, Cap'n!" he laughed, turning to the crew. "You heard Jack! Get on with it then you bloody lubbers!"

Jack stood at the rail, staring down at the turquoise water, feeling lost in its depths, so lost in his thoughts that he didn't feel the gentle tap that touched his shoulder.

"Jack?"

He looked up, smiling forlornly. "Ah, Elizabeth, what service might I do you today?"

"Nothing you might have in mind" she said, rolling her eyes. "Jack, you know that I long for honesty. So tell me, will finding Davy Jones' heart really help me save Will?"

"Lizzy, when have I ever led you astray? You can trust me."

"I thought you could never trust a pirate." she smiled.

Jack moved in closer, grinning mischievously. "I'm an exception."