Hey everyone! Sorry haven't updated in a while... things have been really hectic around here and I just haven't found time to write this chapter. Sorry its so short. I wrote really quickly so its probably no good! But I thought I'd show how broken Jack really is now that his love and basically his life have been taken away from him. He'll do anything to make things right... Hope this is good. Please read and review.

Loneliness

Jack paced back and forth, his heart racing. What if he hurts her? he thought to himself.

Jack, you must not worry. Will is a better man than you are. He would never lay a hand on her.

Jack stopped his pacing, his hands clenching into fists. And you think I would?

Well, any hand-laying done by you wouldn't be physically harmful to her, but it would cause great harm to her honor. Would you really want to compromise that?

Jack rolled his eyes. He was proud that not one improper thought about Elizabeth had crept into his mind, and then his conscience had to make him think on such pleasures. You must be the little devil that sits upon my shoulder and tells me to do naughty things. Aye? Aren't you?

No. I am just a figment of your overly active imagination, Jack. I'm really not here.

So I've been arguing with no one?

No, you've been arguing with yourself.

Jack looked around at the two men sitting in the brig with him and after making sure they would not hear, he said out loud, "What the bloody hell does that mean?"

You are arguing with yourself, Jack. I am you and you are me.

Now that makes no sense at all.

Silence followed and Jack sighed in relief. He continued his monotonous pacing and with every step he took within the brig, a new image of Will and Lizzy came to his mind. Every image became more intense with either violence or passion; sometimes even both. For the first time in his life, Jack felt the need to pray to some higher being.

In the midst of one of his steps, he knelt to the dirty floor and held his hands together. "God? I know I'm not the best person in the world. I could be seen as a criminal. I know you cannot forgive me of the many awful things I have done and that you can't forget those things either, for there are too many to count. But if you could answer my prayer, I would surely appreciate it. If you could please protect Elizabeth from all harm. If I could do one thing right by her, it would be to protect her. But seeing as I am not able, I ask you to do the job for me. I think you are able. I hope you are even there. I know-"

Jack could not continue. For the first time in his life, tears cascaded down his face like a waterfall. He felt ashamed that he had let his life turn worthless. He felt guilty that he had given his heart to Lizzy and he felt something else. Some other kind of emotion that he had not felt before. Loneliness.

He shook his head and wiped his cheeks with his sleeves as he heard heavy footsteps approaching. Then a crewman with millions of living coral covering his body came into view and Jack's muscles tensed.

"The captain says that you be needed up on deck, Jack Sparrow." the crewman explained as he unlocked the iron bars. "Time to start payin' off that debt of yours."

Jack nodded and steppe out of the brig, his eyes still swollen from the tears he had wiped away.

Please read and review!!! Thanks so much!!! ~AnnieOakley16