I awoke early in the morning as the sunlight touched my face through the broken window. Rubbing my head, I hauled myself upward, feeling dizzy. I was covered in ash and had bruises on my forehead. I could barely walk to a chair when I heard a voice yelling from the hall.
"Brenna!" It came closer.
The door to the library swung open, revealing James. He rushed over to me and held me. I didn't object, but I didn't hug back.
"Thank god you're alright!" He exclaimed, kissing my forehead.
He noticed the broken glass and a part of the wall missing, realizing it was a miracle I hadn't been blown to pieces.
"Get dressed. I need you to come with me to town." He said, pulling on my wrist for me to move.
Quickly as I could and without any complaints as to him ordering me around, I dressed. Within ten minutes we were standing at a table in the middle of the market. James began to look at maps and pinpointing places on it, suggesting she could be here or she could be there.
"Who are you looking for?" I asked James, the answer already on his face.
"Miss. Swann was taken last night." He said, not even daring to look into my face.
"Figures…" I mumbled under my breath.
From out of no wear, like a little creep that he was, Will Turner came into the open room where the table stood. "They've taken her. They've taken Elizabeth."
I held back my laughter at the love sick puppy that stood in front of us, trying to look heroic.
"Mr. Murtogg, remove this man." James fired back coolly.
"We will have to hunt them down. We must save her!" Will thundered back.
This time, the Governor turned to him, coming from his deep thoughts. "And where you propose we start? If you have any information concerning my daughter, please share it."
Mr. Murtogg, in all his idiocy intervened. "That Jack Sparrow. He talked about The Black Pearl."
"Mentioned it, is more what he did." Mr. Mullroy covered his friends blubbering.
Will jumped right on the thought without any hesitation. "Ask him where it is. Make a deal with him. He could lead us to it."
"No," James shook his head in refusal before continuing, "the pirates who invaded this fort left Sparrow locked in his cell ergo they are not his allies." He turned back around to the Governor. "Governor, we will establish their most likely course…"
James was suddenly cut off by a blow to his map through an axe, making me jump with shock. James looked at me for a second, then at the axe before pulling it out of its hole. "Mr. Turner, you are not a military man, you are not a sailor. You are blacksmith and this is not the moment for rash actions." James dragged Will over to opening of the room, whispering to him. But it was just loud enough for me to hear.
"Do not make the mistake thinking you are the only man here who cares for Elizabeth." He handed him back his axe and began studying his map once again.
My heart shattered into my stomach. He admitted it. I walked over to James, not coming close enough for him to touch me. "May I be excused?"
James looked up from his map and saw my face, crushed by pain and resentment. He nodded, sighing through his nostrils. "Yes, but don't go too far."
I didn't get mad because I knew why he would worry. I could go jump off the docks and kill myself, there could be pirates looming around somewhere that he hadn't searched yet, or I could faint from the loss of breath. But did he really think I was going to listen?
Feeling completely innocent of disobeying James's orders, I crept upon the docks and onto The Interceptor. I had been on it many timed before, but now it was empty with the exception of a few foot soldiers prancing about. I wanted to be as far away from James as possible…and it was either this or The Dauntless, which was out in the middle of the bay. Just as I had gotten onto the boat, I saw James coming down the docks, furry on his face. My heart quickened and without thinking, I hid in his office.
"Great, the most likely place he'll search for first." I mumbled to myself as I closed the doors behind me. I saw James's figure appear on the boat. He reached for the handle of it, but his attention was drawn to something else. Before I could even pour myself a glass of wine to calm my nerves, the boat was moving in the direction of the open sea. I picked up my skirts and hurried outside, looking over the railing.
We were headed straight towards The Dauntless, making spectacular time. I had never actually been on The Interceptor when it sailed, but it's tales of lightning fast action was proved to me as it glided through the waters, coming alongside of The Dauntless.
"Brenna!" James hissed from behind me. "I thought I told you to stay close. You could have-"
"Commodore, get ready to board!" A man yelled from the wheel.
James sighed and hurried off onto a plank that had just been placed, linking the two ships together. The whole crew emptied onto the other chip, looking for something. I was left alone on the ship without any knowledge as to what in the bloody hell they were looking for. I starred off into the distance, but the next moment I was on the floor again, with a large body on top of me. I pushed it off and stood up, my bun loosening and strands of hair falling out. I climbed the steps to the top of the ship and was followed by the person who had landed on top of me.
Without anytime to react, the man grabbed hold of the wheel and turned to look back at The Dauntless.
"Thank you, Commodore, for getting us ready to make way! We'd have had a hard time of it by ourselves!" The man bellowed.
I had dashed to the railing, clutching it with tight fists as we speed off, giving The Dauntless no chance to catch up. I watched James's figure disappear as he watched mine, our eyes pleading for each other.
"I love you…" I whispered, thinking I'd never see him again.