Hey everyone!! Finally my friend gave me the next chapter to her story. I want to make a quick comment so people please read this! My friend doesn't go to my school anymore, so I don't see her everyday like I used to. So to the people (or I should say person) who keeps e-mailing me about when she will update. I will probably have to spam you and/or block you. Sorry if that's much… But I'm getting sick and tired of it! Okay, well here's the author note.
Fondest greetings to you all! I apologize for the unannounced hiatus this story took. I assure you, you will never have to wait that long again. Fear not, I shall never abandon this story. Though it seems a bit of a paradox, I have more time on my hands now that it is autumn. So, I am resolved to work on this story at least 15 minutes every day. I will try to update at least once a month, preferably more, but I shall do my best. My most grateful thanks to all of my reviewers. You are very much appreciated, and though I have been quite negligent in updating this story, your reviews are noted and give an incentive to write. Please continue to read it and review; it is my hope that you will enjoy it. Also, my thanks to those of you who take delight in my identity as the Opera Ghost. It is true that I am a very enthusiastic phan. Thus, I take delight in it, as well, and it gladdens me to have made you happy. And now, I leave you to this story, dear readers. I remain, ladies and gentlemen, your obedient servant,
O.G.
Chapter 11
Jack hung from his chains trying to keep as still as possible. His body protested at the slightest movements, and it didn't help that his arms were strung above his head. Audley had had fun with him, alright. Although "fun" was a matter of perspective. If you looked at it from the "subject's" perspective, as he had been so kindly called once in the…session, it wasn't so pleastant. Audley hadn't used his…new toys as much as he had implied, but Jack had a feeling that he wanted to prolong the sense of dread as long as possible. Judging by what little Jack knew about him, that was most likely the answer. He'd just "play" with them later. He wondered just what pirates Audley had run into when he was young. Obviously they had made a lasting impression. Jack grimaced as a wave of pain swept through his body. This was starting to get on his nerves quite quickly. Oh, it definitely got on his nerves once Audley actually started, but that didn't mean he still couldn't decide it was quite annoying. Not to mention it would hinder whatever escape plan he'd be able to dream up while stuck on this rock. He wondered if this was how Will had felt when he had been a prisoner…Will. No. Not now. Not again. He fought that awful guilt back as he had done many times before. No. It wasn't going to take him again…it couldn't. It just couldn't… Jack swallowed as he engaged once again in one of the hardest battles he had ever fought…the battle with himself…
XxX
Audley sighed. He had wanted to have more fun with that pirate, but unfortunately he was stuck doing the duties that being a Commodore required of him. After all, he had to keep up a façade for the men who didn't know what he did to the prisoners that were taken…he did so wish, though, that he could forget about it temporarily…it could get so annoying at times…especially when it got in the way of his breaking those criminals of the sea…
Audley's eyes glazed over as he recalled those events…
-flashback-
He was standing on the deck of the "Jewel of the Sea". His entire family was on this ship with him, and he delighted in watching the waves roll against the side of the ship. He imagined being a pirate, too, and having grand adventures. Oh, his family always told him that pirates were terrible, merciless beings, and that he shouldn't enjoy hearing about them. Besides, they told him, when they are captured, they're bound to be hung by the neck, so you shouldn't ever admire them or their lifestyle. He didn't care, though. He still had his excited, adventurous ideas about them.
Suddenly, he squinted. He thought he saw something on the horizon, but he couldn't be sure. As it came closer, he realized it was a ship. The ship fired a warning shot. Then he heard the crewmember in the crow's nest call out something. "Pirates!" In an instant, all aboard the "Jewel of the Sea" was chaos. People were running around and shouting to each other. He heard one person shout, "Run out the guns!" He was pulled to the side by his mother. She quickly took his hand and led him to their cabin. "You should be safe here, my dear. But don't go out of this room unless I tell you it's alright. Do you understand me?" He nodded in response. His curiosity was piqued by the prospect of meeting pirates, but he was a very obedient child. Most of the time.
He walked around the room trying to keep himself occupied. Soon, though, sounds of steel on steel reached his ears. He pressed his ear up against the door trying to hear what was going on. After a while, things got quiet. He knew his mother had told him to stay in there, but he couldn't contain himself any longer. He pushed open the door and walked out. He stopped, horrified by what he saw. It looked like most of the crew was dead, as there were bodies strewn all over the deck. The group of pirates were walking around searching for valuable things to take. They looked a lot fiercer than he remembered when he had seen some being taken to prison in England. He took all of it in until his attention focused on a small group in the middle, guarded by some especially fierce-looking men. It was his family. There was another man standing in front of them, looking them over. He was wearing a rather big hat and was stretching his hand out to the boy's mother. Slowly, the woman removed her jewelry and dropped it into his waiting hand. She hesitated as she got to her necklace, but when one of the guards tightened his grip on one of her children, she immediately removed it and gave it to the man that could only have been the captain. The boy, still unnoticed by them all, watched this, and wanted to give his mother a hug. That necklace had been something given her by her mother, and her mother before that. He disregarded all the pirates and ran up and did give his mother a hug. She stared at him in both love for her sweet boy and horror that he was now seen by all of them. The captain laughed as he watched this scene unfold. He then ordered that the boy be taken aside and forced to watch what happened next. He then drew his sword and slew the entire family, save him.
The boy was horrified and started crying. He tried to get to them, especially his mother, but he was helpless. He was placed into a boat and heard the captain say something about leaving him as a warning to other ships. Then he watched, terrified, as they burned the "Jewel of the Sea". It was a terrible sight. Through his tears, he could also see them sailing away, loaded with everything they had taken. He looked back at the remains of the ship and continued crying as the flames spread. The last thing he remembered was watching the flames as they took down the ship which now held the bodies of his family.
-end of flashback-
A single, angry tear made its way down his cheek. After that incident, he had quickly realized that the world wasn't as kind as it formerly had seemed to be. That image dissipated and was replaced with one of a cold, cruel world. All his thoughts as he grew up turned to thoughts of anger and vengeance. That was what drove him...that was what was driving him now...a cold look settled over his eyes. That pirate would pay...they all would pay...he hated them...and they would suffer for it...
Audley strode out of the room. He needed something to vent his anger on...and that something just happened to be hanging in chains in a cell, waiting for him...
XxX
Jack glanced up warily. He didn't suppose that Audley had any reason to come int that would be pleasant for him. He was right.
Audley seized Jack by the throat and shook him, relishing the look of raw pain in his victim's eyes. This one would suffer, and suffer greatly. Yes, he could hardly wait. In fact, he wouldn't. He strode over and picked up one of the hooks. It glinted in the small amount of light that was allowed into the room. Quickly, he went over to his prisoner, fingering the sharp point thoughtfully. His calculating gaze ran over the pirate, looking for places of weakness. His eyes came to rest on the pirate brand on this...this...creature's wrist. A slow smile spread across his face, and he wondered that it hadn't occurred to him before. For most pirates, it wasn't a very pleasant experience. He drew the hook slowly along the pirate's arm, feeling delight at the bleeding cut and the sharp intake of breath it earned. Oh...it was such a good feeling, revenge was...yes...now he knew the key...now he knew how to break him...and he would savor each sweet moment. He lightly traced the pirate brand on Jack's wrist as he anticipated using it to shred what was left of the pirate's spirit. He glanced at Jack's face as the prisoner shuddered at the slight touch. A hint of some past fear and something else flitted across his face...Audley wondered what it could have been? Was it...guilt? Well, he could use that against this man as well. Anyone could see that something was gnawing at him. He was simply going to help it along a bit. "I'll be back, Sparrow," he hissed, as he grabbed a small metal poker. "Don't you worry...I'll be back very soon..." He strode away from his captive and out the door, letting it bang shut behind him.
Jack tried to concentrate on escape plans as Audley was gone. There had to be some weakness in this place, small though it may be. If he could only find it and use it to his advantage...
A short time later, Audley was walking back down the hall leading to the room which contained his latest project. His step quickened as he got closer...he could hardly wait...
As he pushed open the door, he watched the pirate closely. He knew the look that was on this one's face...he knew it well. Each of them, all trying to deceive themselves that they could escape, that there was a way out...all had made themselves believe that, and all had failed. All had broken like china in an oven too hot to withstand. This one would break, too...but this one would fall harder than the others. He had a caged Sparrow, and he wouldn't let it fly away...he swished the glowing poker through the air...it was time to clip the Sparrow's wings a bit...
Jack eyed said poker nervously. He didn't like the situation at all. It was too familiar, it was too...like it had been a long time ago...he didn't like it a bit. He watched Audley warily as the officer stepped up to him, dangerous instrument in hand. It brought back too many memories...memories he wanted to forget...
"Remember when you first got that brand, pirate?" Audley whispered, now mere inches from Jack's face. Jack simply stared off into space in response. Of course he remembered...he could still occasionally almost feel the metal searing into his skin, leaving its mark...he had thought he had pushed the memories away...he had thought he had buried them long ago...obviously, he had been mistaken...and he would pay now.
"Remember? It's so delightful to recall old times..." Audley grinned maliciously. "Let's see how good your mind is, Captain..." With that comment, he touched the hot metal to Jack's wrist.
Jack screamed. Waves of mindless panic took hold as the pain assaulted him. Audley's voice seemed to echo around in his head, "Remember...remember..." No...he couldn't listen to it...no..."Remember...remember..." No...he couldn't!! He couldn't go through it again!! His eyes grew wide as his mind caused the image in front of him to blend with the images of his past...it was no longer Audley standing in front of him, holding that awful thing against his wrist...it was Beckett. He was reliving the moment he officially became a pirate...no...it was all happening again...he struggled to get away from that searing touch, but he couldn't escape...Beckett had him...
-flashback-
"You cannot do this!!" he shouted as he struggled with the two soldiers who had a firm grip on his arms. "They are people, just like yourself, just like me! I won't be takin' slaves on my ship! It's wrong!"
"Mercer! Take this man away."
"You cannot do this!" Jack burst out again.
Beckett's back remained turned. "I can and will, Mr. Sparrow. You disobeyed a direct order..."
"...which would have 'urt innocent people!"
Becket continued on as if there had been no interruption. "...you imprisoned a crewmember who had the sense to argue with you to obey my orders, and you purposefully freed the cargo belonging to the East India Trading Company."
"Cargo?" Jack hissed. "You know as well as I do that they aren't cargo. They're human beings, and they should be treated as such!! You told me I was picking up a load of beasts of burden. I arrive and find a shipload of people, chained like dogs, terrified of what would 'appen next!!"
"It makes no difference. You no longer have a place here, pirate."
Jack froze. Pirate. So that's what it had come to, eh? Granted, he wasn't the most honest of people, but when branded a pirate, your punishment was death. He didn't fear death, but he did have a healthy sense of self-preservation. "So it has come to this, Beckett," he spat. "You coward." As he was roughly compelled to move, he fixed on final loathing glare at the man who had condemned him.
XxX
Heat. Darkness. Fire. Was this Hell? Jack wondered vaguely. He knew it couldn't be, though. If it was Hell, Beckett would be suffering the same fate as him, and he wasn't. Jack hadn't been brought in right away; he had been severely flogged first. He supposed it was to make him more compliant and easier to handle. He was now chained, and his arm was held tightly by a soldier. A dull sense of dread came over him as the soldier stretched out his arm in front of him. There was another by a large fireplace in the wall who had just taken something out. As he approached Jack, the soon-to-be-pirate was able to see exactly what it was- a red-hot iron in the shape of the letter P. P for pirate. Jack felt cold as the realization that this was meant for him fully sunk in. He had known it all the time as he was whipped, but he hadn't fully believed it until now. The fire flickered and spat, seemingly rejoicing in the torment it knew was coming. The light given off by it caused long shadows on the stone walls, and it twisted them, giving them grotesque appearances. He didn't know if he was going to get out of this whole terrible ordeal, but he wasn't going to go down without a fight. He struggled furiously against his captor, but it was no good. Then a figure walked in, only his dark form visible at first, framed by the hellish light of the fire. Jack's first thoughts were of the devil, but as the unknown person stepped more into the light, he realized it was none other than Cutler Beckett. Cutler...a good name for him. Cutting down all people who were in the way of his carefully-laid plans for power. Cutting them down by accusing them of treachery and sending them to the noose. Jack glared at him with all the disdain and coldness he could put in a glance. Beckett ignored him.
"Wait," the cold voice of Beckett commanded. Turning his eyes toward Jack, he said in that awful, silky smooth voice of his that sent chills through Jack, "Allow me the pleasure."
He stepped up to Jack now wielding the iron. He proceeded to whisper into Jack's ear so softly that only Jack could hear him. "It's too bad you had to end up like this...you could have been a valuable asset. Ah, well...we can't always get what we want, can we?" With that, he touched it to Jack's wrists. Agonizing pain went through him and he felt his chest constricting. Then, the images before his eyes began to waver and everything was consumed by blackness.
-end of flashback-
Audley hissed through clenched teeth. Sparrow had just lost consciousness, and it didn't please him. He needed him awake as much as possible. He did have the consolation, though, that he now could break the man. It was only a matter of saying the right things at the right times, now that he had allowed the man's unpleasant memories to resurface. Only a matter of time. His frustration began to cool with the hot metal in his hand. Yes, it was only a matter of time. And he could wait. He sat down with his back against the wall and eyed his latest victim. Yes, he could wait, and wait he would...
There. Review please!