Hiya everyone. The author has another note for you!

Fondest greetings to you all! I sincerely apologize for the extremely lengthy time between updates. I fear I don't have a viable excuse except for perhaps lack of time and/or writers' block. Hopefully, this chapter will make up for it. Also, thank you to all of those who reviewed last chapter. You have my deepest regards. Here is another matter to be addressed: there will unfortunately be an unavoidable lack of updates for at least 3 weeks. I apologize for that, but there is nothing I can do about it. And now, as you are surely anxious to read the upcoming chapter, I will leave you for now. Please enjoy this chapter and review when you are finished. I remain, Ladies and Gentlemen, your obedient servant,

O.G.

Chap. 7

Corlona led Jack deep into the bowels of the ship. They passed through the crew's quarters, a couple of holds, and the brig. At the far end of the brig, after the last cell, was a trap door. It was well-concealed, blending in easily with the wood of the deck. Jack wouldn't have noticed it at all, save for the fact that Corlona produced a key and inserted it into the door. With a flick of his wrist, the lock clicked and he lifted up the lid. Corlona turned to Jack with a secret smile and said, "He waits for you below." Yes, things were going extremely well indeed for Corlona. He was inwardly laughing as his plan approached its climax rapidly. After Sparrow was dead, he'd dispose of Turner easily. In his his weakened state, it wouldn't take much to kill him. Then perhaps he could take the Black Pearl. Yes, that would add a wonderfully large kill his record. The Black Pearl, the fastest and most deadly pirate ship in the Caribbean. He would still keep his ship, of course, it would just not be as fast. With the Black Pearl under his command, he'd soon be the most feared and deadly pirate in the Caribbean. Sparrow's crew wouldn't want to comply, of course, so he'd dispose of them quickly, as well. Perhaps he could maroon them on an island. They'd quickly die of either starvation or heat.

Corlona's thoughts returned to young William Turner. He'd managed to convince Will that Jack wasn't a real friend. He'd managed to...gain entrance to Will's soul. It hadn't been hard...just torture the boy enough, keep giving him truth serums to cloud his mind, and voila! He'd believe just about anything you told him. But, for now, he just had to concentrate on getting Sparrow killed.

When they were both through the trap door, Corlona closed it. He turned to Jack and another door. As he pushed it open, Jack said threateningly, "If he's in there, take me to him." Corlona smiled sarcastically. "Be my guest, Captain," he said tauntingly. They both entered simultaneously. When he saw what was inside, Jack stopped in his tracks, shocked. Will was standing at the other end of the room, breathing hard. He looked terrible. What was left of his shirt hung in tattered shreds. Bruises covered his body. There were cuts all over his face and arms, and there were burn marks on his back. Jack could only imagine what he'd gone through. Will turned around as he heard them enter and growled angrily. He turned hate-filled eyes upon Jack and seemed to be brimming over with rage, like a volcano about to explode. He hissed. "What are you doing here, Jack? Here to taunt me about Elizabeth's death?" Jack looked thunderstruck. He had gone to rescue Will from the grasp of a madman and when he finally found him, Will was quite angry with him to say the least, and Jack hadn't the faintest idea why. Most likely it had something to do with Elizabeth, since Will had mentioned her. But Elizabeth wasn't dead; she was alive and well and visiting relatives. What was wrong with Will, other than the fact that he had been tortured until he was almost dead?

"William, what in the bloody blazes do you mean 'Elizabeth's death' ? You know as well as I do that she is currently visiting some relatives and/or friends of the family for a few weeks."

Will exploded. "You know exactly what I mean, murderer! You attacked Port Royal just before she left and killed her yourself! With your own hands!"

With this, Will lunged forward toward Jack. Corlona quickly moved out of the way while tossing a dagger in Will's general direction. He managed to catch it and immediately went at Jack with it.

Jack sensed that something was definitely wrong with Will. Somehow, he'd been led to believe that he, Captain Jack Sparrow, had killed Elizabeth Swann. Why in the blazes did he think that?!? After all, it wasn't like he hated Elizabeth. She had burned all the rum, but still, she was a good friend of Jack's. He didn't have time to ponder anymore, as WIll's dagger was just inches from the top of Jack's head. He ducked out of the way just in time, and the dagger sliced only through air.

Jack drew his sword swiftly as he realized that Will intended to kill him for a crime he didn't commit. Actually, for a crime that hadn't been committed. To be exact, for a crime that hadn't been committed, but was thought to have been committed by him even thought the crime hadn't been committed. Well...even if Will had wanted to kill him for a crime that hadn't been committed that he didn't commit, he would have defended himself against Will's attack, but as it was, he would never kill Elizabeth Swann, so it gave him all the more reason to defend himself. Again, Jack didn't have to muse any further on the situation as Will was once again attacking him. Jack blocked the blow easily. Despite all of his injuries, Will fought quite hard. His hatred fueled his waning strength. He started fighting with every bit of strength he had. Again and again Will drove Jack back by attacking and thrusting at him. Jack took the offensive. He didn't want to hurt Will, but somehow he had to save his own skin from Will. Jack smiled wryly as he realized that he and Will were both friends and enemies. Ironic. Back and forth the duel went; the two men fought with skill. It was like an elegant, but deadly dance. Corlona stood out of the way of the two, wearing a malicious smile. Events were proceeding exactly as planned.

Just then, Will lunged forward toward Jack. Jack held out his sword, ready for whatever move Will might try to pull this time. However, as Will moved, his foot caught on an uneven board and he fell--right onto Jack's outstretched sword. Jack stared in disbelief. Had he really just killed his best friend? His and Will's eyes met. The image of Will's face etched itself deep into Jack's memory. Will looked shocked at first; then, his eyes took on a haunted look as he slid off of the sword and onto his knees.

Jack felt as if his heart had been ripped out. He had just driven a sword through Will's heart. He stared at the blood on his sword. Will's blood. How could he have killed Will? He had killed him!!! What had he done?!?!

Jack dropped his sword and moaned as he held his head in his hands. What had he done?!? What had he done?!?!?

Corlona smiled a thin, cruel smile of pleasure. He could not have planned it better. Since Turner would soon be dead, and it was by Jack Sparrow's hand, he had achieved his goal. His revenge was complete. He laughed as he began to speak. "Ah...the sweetness of revenge."

Jack looked up at him with pain-filled eyes. This only made Corlona gleeful as he explained how he had done it. "It was really quite simple, you know. It wasn't too hard to get him to believe me. With the right combination of serums, his mind would become very confused. That, in turn, would make him much more easy to control. That combined with the engagement ring that he was wearing. He was so utterly devastated by the proof and the serums that he didn't even notice that it was his ring that we were showing him, not his fiancée's.

Jack turned away from Corlona and gazed at Will. He was still kneeling there, gasping for breath, the life slowly going out of him. His eyes now focused on Corlona, and he managed to say a single sentence. "You lied to me..." His voice was hoarse.

Another cruel smile spread across Corlona's lips. "Yes...Port Royal was never raided. Your fiancée was never killed. It was all a ruse to get you to kill him or vice versa."

Will turned his head to look at Jack. Horror filled him. He had tried to kill his closest friend for a crime that was never committed. A determined look came into his eyes even as they were getting more and more dim. He mustered up all the strength he had left and grasped the dagger, which was now lying next to him on the deck. He hurled it toward Corlona, who didn't even have time to react as the dagger buried itself in his chest. The dagger had been well-thrown. It had stabbed him through the heart, and he fell to the floor, dead.

Jack acquired an astonished look on his face. It took him a few seconds to comprehend what had just happened. He rushed to Will's side as Will slumped down onto the deck. His face was pale, and he was bleeding freely. Jack frantically tore off a piece of his shirt and hastily started bandaging Will's wound. There was still a chance he might live if the bleeding was stopped, as the blow had just missed his heart. Will weakly grasped Jack's wrist. Jack glanced over at Will worriedly. He was clearly fading. Will tried to say something, but all he could manage was a raspy whisper. "I'm sorry, Jack."

That broke Jack's heart completely. If Will died, it would be his fault. He was the one who had caused Will this pain. He continued to work. Will couldn't die! He just couldn't!!! And if he did, Jack would never be able to live with himself. He had stabbed Will. He had dealt the blow.

Will's eyes started to close. Jack frantically tried to keep Will awake. "Will! Stay with me, lad!" Will mumbled in response. "So tired..." Jack forced Will to open his eyes and look at him. "William, you've bloody got to stay awake! You cannot give in now! Stay awake, lad, stay with me!"

Jack hoisted the half-conscious Will onto his back. He could help Will more back on the Pearl. Jack ran to where the trap door was. He violently pushed it open. He wouldn't let Will die if it was the last thing he did. He climbed nimbly up the rungs that were built into the wall. After he and Will were safely out, he didn't even bother to shut the trap door. Jack quickly found his way to the top deck, where his crew was just finishing off Corlona's. He shouted orders to leave them and return to the Pearl. They had gotten what they wanted.

As soon as he was back on his ship, Jack shouted to Anamaria to take the helm. He carried Will inside his cabin and laid him on the bed. He hastily ran outside again and shouted for Gibbs and Cotton to help him. While they got supplies, Jack stayed with Will and removed what shirt Will had left. The two crewmembers who had been sent quickly returned with everything. Jack had a very anxious look on his face. He pulled Gibbs aside and ordered him to heat up a piece of metal. The only way that wound was going to stop bleeding was if it was cauterized. He hated to do it, but if he didn't, then Will would probably die. Unfortunately, Will would have to be awake, as well. If Will passed out now, then his chances of surviving were almost nothing.

As Gibbs hurried to do as the Captain had instructed him, Jack watched over Will, hoping that he wouldn't expire. After what seemed like an eternity, Gibbs finally returned. Jack motioned for him and Cotton to go to either side of Will. When Will saw the red-hot dagger in Jack's hand, his eyes widened in alarm. Jack nodded to Gibbs and Cotton, and they grabbed Will's arms and pressed him against the bed. He struggled, wild-eyed, trying to escape from the inevitable pain that awaited him. As quick as he could, so he could get it over with, Jack pressed it against the wound. Will cried out as he felt excruciating burning pain. Then everything faded to black as he was finally embraced by blissful unconsciousness.

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