A/N: Badness, I procrastinated on this chapter. But it still got done, and if my friends were not grounded or busy, then they could read it. But anyways, there is whipping in this chapter, heads up. Please, please, please review! Is anyone out there? Can anyone hear me! (echoes around).

Chapter 9

"No Rummy, don't do it!" Will spoke urgently in my ear, but it was too late.

"We have a contract." The captain drawled. I could just see the hunger in his eyes as he looked at me. "Welcome to the Flying Dutchman. I hope you'll find your stay comfortable, you'll give me your labor for one hundred years."

It was then that I realized the immensity of my decision. Was it really worth it? I would have Toby back, but what if he had to stay here? I didn't know.

I had not even given thought until now, but I recognized that this was Davy Jones in the flesh. My memory had been so preoccupied with everything around me.

"Well? Are you going to hold up your side of the deal?" I challenged.

"Certainly miss…"

"Rummy."

"Ah, I know. Yes my little pet, I will give you what you want." He took a step toward me, "The Kraken had fun with him." He whispered.

I felt a searing heat and brightness in my temple and closed my eyes, but as I did so, it only got whiter and hotter. I felt myself get knocked to the ground. My spine arched tightly and I felt my whole body tense up. Just when I thought that I couldn't bare the pain any longer, it suddenly stopped and I felt a refreshing wind blow over my face.

My hazel eyes fluttered open and at first I had no idea where I was, I was lying in a grey sand, dust floated down from the sky covering everything like snow in white powder. There was no sun, just a weak glow of light above. It seemed to be a vast desert. Occasionally there would be a few dismal rocks in the distance, but other than that it was very plain.

Something was at my feet. I bent down and picked it up, and curiously looked at it. It was mine, one of the nautical instruments that I had kept in my cabin. It looked different now. The once gleaming brass looked dull and dirty. The lenses were fogged up with beads of condensation.

I twisted around slowly and saw my ship looming eerily above me. I was taken back by how different it looked. Here it was, cracked in two, masts broken, wood splintered. A remnant of that terrible day. I was standing in a graveyard, Toby's graveyard. It was so soundless, so still, I almost believed that it had been always down here, always forgotten as if shut up in an attic never to be used again.

I walked slowly toward it, dust and sand swirling around me. The bottom of the sea was an alien place; nothing could come close to the amount of loneliness and secrets it contained. So many mysteries and parts of stories ending here. Toby's story had ended here.

"What is it?" A familiar voice echoed strangely around, I couldn't tell where it was coming from.

"Toby!" I called, swirling around and around, trying to locate where it was coming from.

"Rummy? Is that you!" Toby asked.

I saw someone standing amongst a pile of wood and wreckage. It was the proverbial figure that I had been so lost without. I could see the tall, strong outline standing there, head held high. He wore the tattered white shirt as the same day of the attack and long dark pants that flowed around his feet. His clean shaven face smiled up at me and I started to run up to him joyously. Everything would be all right, but I stopped about three feet away, hesitantly.

"Toby, is it actually you?" I asked, disbelievingly.

"Yes… I don't know what happened, I just remember being dragged down, away from you." He replied mystified.

My face was wet, I tried to hold it in, but couldn't. "I've been such a wreck since you passed away."

The distance was too far, he rushed up to me and held me tightly, I felt so secure in his arms, this was all I ever wanted. This was all I ever needed.

"It's alright Rummy, you're gonna be fine." He comforted me. He just held me for a moment, us both silent, us both remembering. I took a step back quickly, uncomfortably. Emptiness flowed into my heart.

"No, it's all messed up. It's my fault that you died; I should have done something and killed that thing." I spoke with self loathing, "And now your family, what about Christine?" I asked.

"Don't do this to yourself; it's not your fault, Rummy. You were a brilliant captain; I'm honored to serve under you." He spoke respectively.

"But you were the most devoted friend I ever had; you've been there for me my whole life. I let you down."

"No, don't ever say that!" He looked into my eyes, "If it weren't for you, I would have died down at the docks, remember?"

"Yeah," I did remember, suddenly I felt this sudden panic that time may be slipping away, the sun was growing brighter and Toby seemed to be fading.

"Listen Toby, I- I made a deal with Davy Jones to see you, I don't have much time left." I articulated urgently.

"You what?" His sharp and surprised tone of voice made me jump, "Rummy, don't tell me you have to serve him!" His eyes contained a strong emotion; I couldn't tell what it was.

I felt a sinking in my heart, "I did," I admitted.

"No! Rummy, you've gotta get out of that!" His strong arms grabbed me, but were weakening their grasp.

"I can't! He's- I made a deal! I can't back out of it, he agreed to let me see you. I can't lose you again!" My emotions welled up inside of me, it was almost time to go back, real life was dragging me with it. I wanted to stay down there with him forever; I never wanted to go back.

Toby was so faint; I could see right through him, but he managed to get one last thing in, "Rummy, I never said anything but I-

His voice cut off, and all I could see was blinding light once more. The hot throbbing in my head returned and I could feel hot tears run down my face as the intense light refused to let up. I felt jerked back into my body, thrown back onto earth.

Finally, I regained the ability to move my muscles and my eyes flew open. I gasped for fresh air, feeling my lungs move and my heart pound. I was back on the Flying Dutchman. It felt like my heart had been torn in two from that short encounter. Davy Jones had tormented me with what I could not have.

Will stood over me, concern in his eyes. He pulled me up to my fate. Davy Jones had his back turned to me disinterestedly.

"You've had enough diversion for today! Get to work you slimy bungling fools!" He shouted and then slammed the door behind him; we all heard the thump of his wooden leg as he descended down the stairs.

After that incident, the crew began to get back to their rhythm of work. Will and I were put immediately to employment, rising and lowering the sails, running from one side to the other, scrubbing the decks. Most of the crew looked at me with a mixed expression of interest and contempt. They were either really pleased to have a woman on board or they hated it. I tried to ignore their rude comments as much as I could. After a couple of hours, I barely took notice; I tried to remain as aloof as possible, not drawing attention to myself.

It seemed to always be dismal on the Flying Dutchman; dark clouds covered the sky, blanketing it from any sunny hope. A very fitting organ music rose from below the hull as if to accompany the mood of gloominess.

"Heave! Heave! Heave! Heave! Heave! Heave!" The crew yelled as they all pulled in unison to raise the mast tackle up which was attached to one of the large iron cannons being hoisted up.

"Secure the mast tackle, Mister Turner! Step to it!" A big, ugly manfish barked, who's name was Bo'sun. I knew not to cross paths with that thing; he was the second in rank amongst the crew. Will and I were at the bottom as we were new arrivals. Bo'sun's time was probably almost served.

Will and another man ran up to catch the slipping rope. This sailor's transformation had not been completed yet. He wore a grey, wool cap with the rest of his grungy cloths and had a starfish plastered to the side of his grey head. Long, straggly hair fell out from beneath his cap as they both tried to carry out Bo'sun's orders.

"Step aside!" Will shouted.

"Regain yourself!" The other crew member replied.

"Back!" Will yelled, getting distracted by the other man, meanwhile the rope was sliding away, off the deck.

"Let go, boy!" The man cried as they stumbled, getting in each other's way.

They both were straggling to get a grip on it when the sailor abruptly dropped the line and Will was dragged across the deck from the weight. The cannon fell with dead weight, it's momentum too strong. We all flinched as it crashed through the deck and the eerie organ music stopped, leaving only silence.

"Haul that weevil to his feet!" Bo'sun ordered, pissed.

Will was roughly pulled up, and stood with courage in front of the fuming monsters before him.

"Five lashes to remind you… to stay on em'!" He bellowed.

"No!" The sailor who had dropped the rope in the first place cut in.

"Impending me duties? You'll share the punishment." Bo'sun ordered with fury.

"I'll take it all." The man replied bravely, even though he stuttered.

"Will you now? And what would prompt such an act of charity?" Davy Jones came up from behind, everyone turned to stare at him expecting him to be furious, but only amusement played on his face.

"My son. He's my son." I heard him say just audible.

I was shocked, I had no idea Will's father was a pirate, but then again I didn't know anything about him at all. It looked like Will was even more surprised than me.

"Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha! What fortuitous circumstance be this! Five lashes be owed. I believe it is." Davy Jones shook with laughter.

Jone's tentacle curled around the shaft of the whip, handing it heavily to Will's father.

He begged, "No. No, I won't!"

"The cat's out of the bag, Mister Turner. Your issue will feel its sting be it the Bo'sun's hand, or your own." Davy Jones made a good point.

"No." Senior Turner still refused.

"Bo'sun!" Jones called. (Whipping ahead, just to forewarn you guys. I know some of my readers don't like this part.)

"No!" But he did reluctantly take the whip. The crew tore Will's white shirt off, exposing his bare back. At first, I thought he wouldn't do it, but somehow, Will's father gathered up the courage and cracked the whip. Will flinched as it struck his bare skin, his muscles tensing. A red, bloody welt was left, to serve as a reminder for the rest of his life. I could only imagine how much pain Will must have been in, but he took it like a man and held his tongue.

Another crack, with the same results. All of the pirates watched, their thirst for violence being quenched. Will's body tensed again, as if going into spasms. He gripped tightly onto the mast, trying to focus his pain on something else.

The third one made contact with the same results. Dark, red blood trickled down Will's back. He almost was knocked down to his feet. It sure didn't look like Will's father was going easy on him.

The fourth one came down, and I felt a force inside of me rise up, this had to stop, I couldn't let this go on any longer. It was too painful to watch. How could a father do this, let this happen to their child?

On the fifth one I burst out through the crowd and outstretched my arm. I felt the wind and the high pitched sound of the cord slashing through the air. An instant later, it burned into my arm and the black cable wrapped around my limb like some poisonous snake. I hulled it foreword, yanking it out of the hands of Will's father.

"Do what you want with me! Just let this interminable torture end!" I cried fiercely.

Everyone was silent at first, and then an outcry of rage erupted from the crowd. Davy Jones looked at me, "I knew you had fire in yer belly, it just proves how you women can be quiet difficult sometimes." He huffed.

"You had it easy, boy! Ha ha ha!" I heard Bo'sun yell.

"Whip her!" Some yelled, "The witch should be punished!"

I held the whip tightly in my hand, ready to defend myself if possible.

I raised the whip over my head and brought it down with as much force as possible onto Davy Jone's slimy head. It whistled through the air as it came slicing down. A flash of metal sprang up and in a split second, the cord was in two pieces. Jones held up his sword, face set like steel.

With that same lightning fast speed he struck me square in the chest, and I collapsed to the ground. I struggled to get air into my lungs; it felt like my heart had been jolted out of me. My ribs ached and my lungs burned. It seemed like I had forgotten how to suck in air, was I choking? I felt my body shake with coughs. I lied their, forcing my self to take short, small breaths. Every breath was an effort and I felt my chest tremble. I just managed to see Jones walk away, just like he had done when I had awoke from my vision of Toby. He acted again like he didn't care.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I still struggled to breath, someone stood over me. I looked up and saw Will's father. He held out a hand, I took it gratefully.

"You…you stood up to him." He spoke quietly, sadness in his voice.

I sat down heavily, gradually recovering from the wind being knocked out of me. "Is that…is that not… common?" I struggled to get out, hoarsely.

"No, no it isn't. But thank you." He replied.

"I can see Will… gets his kind heart… from you." I panted, looking up at the older man.

"He hates me, I can tell."

"No. Just go over…and explain to him." I tried to encourage him. Will's father wasn't a bad man. I'm sure Will could learn to see that.

"I'm, well people call me Bootstrap by the way." He introduced himself.

"I'm Rummy, go." I spoke as I saw him hesitate, but he gathered up the courage, entering down onto the lower decks carefully, where Will was.

"William!" He called.

"I don't need your help!" Will shouted back at him, his back still a bloody mess and inflamed.

"The Bo'sun prides himself on cleaving flesh from bone. With every swing."

"So I'm to understand what you did was an act of compassion?" Will's angry voice rang out; I had never heard him so mad.

"Yes." Bootstrap replied.

At that, Will began to lose his grip on his temper and it slowly began to leave his face. I had finally caught my breath and came in to where they stood silently. Will looked at his feet and his father looked anywhere else, but not at his son who he had injured.

"Will, are you alright?" I asked coming up to him.

"Yes…no."

I wetted a rag with what was at least the cleanest water I could find on the ship and carefully dabbed his wounds, trying to clean them up so they wouldn't get infected. Will remained still, looking at his feet.

After putting on a clean shirt, Bootstrap lead us down into the interior of the ship. We entered a hallway lit by torches; the walls were encrusted with coral and sea scum.

"One hundred years before the mast, losing your world, bit by bit. Until you end up- end up like poor Wyvern here. Once you've sworn an oath to the Dutchman, there's no leaving it. Not until you debt is paid." Bootstrap said darkly.

"I've sworn no oath." Will told him.

"Then you must get away."

"Speak for yourself." I drearily replied.

"Not until we find this. The key." Ah that thing, I had forgotten all about it. It hardly seemed important now, that had only mattered in the life before, when I was only under the bondage of Beckett and not the supreme lord of the sea.

Wyvern's eyes opened, he seemed to break himself away from the wall at the mention of the key, leaving his brains behind.

"The deadman's chest."

"What do you know of this?" Will asked.

"Open the chest with the key and stab the heart. No-no-no-no. Don't stab the heart. The Dutchman needs a living heart, or they'll be no captain. And if there's no captain, there's no one to have the key." He exhaled this information upon us.

"So the captain has the key." Will questioned.

Wyvern retracted his head back into the wall and tightly shut his eyes.

"Where is the key?" Will tried again.

"Hidden."

"Where is the chest?"

"Hidden."

A/N: Okay I gotta go cuz it's almost 11 and it's thundering out. I'll Update and all the stuff I usually put in ect. And the storm alarms go off...