Chapter Eight

You had been floating in your boat for what had felt like years. The hot sun had burnt your skin into a fine tan, so your once pale skin was now a light brown. You were boiling underneath your dress, even though you were only wearing your first layer. The white material looked bleached against your skin and you could almost see through the fabric. But it was far better than being boiled alive in a dress that consisted of what felt like fifty layers. You sighed and stared up at the sun, squinting your eyes in order to do so. You knew it had only been two days in that boat, but you felt so distorted from time and space that you could swear that you were the last person on Earth. You hadn't come in contact with society, and you were beginning to wish that you had brought some food with you. You only had your dresses, but they were worthless to you. And Jack's compass of course...you turned your head, now staring at the red arrow. It was pointing to Jack, staying firmly on target. You smiled, watching it gave you a tiny bit of hope that you were going to live through all this torture. You picked it up in your hand, tracing your fingers lightly around the edges. It sort of calmed you down; the burns from the sun seemed to be cooling as you stared blankly at the black box. You put it back and started staring back up at the sun. You hadn't bothered about rowing the boat; you just lay back, resting your head on the pile of cloths. The sun soon began to set, and before you knew it the moon had rose into the sky. The stars began to shine and twinkle, just as they had every night before this one. You wished that you could get up and dance with them, escaping from this pain. You wanted to climb up their and perch on the moon, falling back to Earth gently when you saw the Black Pearl sail underneath you. You sighed, closing your eyes and starting to drift off into sleep. But just as the darkness surrounded your mind, you heard a crack of lightning shoot out across the skies.

"Bugger." Your heart began to race inside your chest. This wasn't part of your plan...you had never expected a storm when you were thinking it all through. What a fool you were!! You saw waves starting to form around you...the whole world had gone black. The booming clouds had coated every star in the sky, so you couldn't see very well at all. The moonlight that flickered through the clouds occasionally was the only light that you had by your side. You grabbed the compass, shoving it in between your breasts inside your corset. It wasn't exactly the best place for it, but you didn't have a belt or any pockets inside your dress. The thunder boomed around you, every sound causing you to shake inside your thin dress. A wave toppled over you, causing you to fall out of your boat as the unexpected water washed you clean. Your dress clung to you as you tried to pull yourself back on the boat, but another wave sent you back. You spat out the water in your mouth and finally succeeded. Pulling yourself back up, you found your dresses floating around you. Looking around the horizon, you saw that the oars were floating off in the distance as well as your gowns. You had lost all direction...things just weren't working out for you. A distant roar in the background told you that another wave was coming...

...the last wave you'd ever see...

It towered over you, nearly fives times as taller than the tiny girl floating below it. You couldn't do anything to stop it; it just kept looming over and over...until finally...the water crashed down on you, sending you in nearly every direction at once. You felt like the whole world was trying to tear you apart and crawl inside of your body. You swirled around, clutching your chest and Jack's compass. You weren't going to lose it, not if you died in this never-ending battle. You couldn't hold onto your breath for much longer... your eyes were stinging as the salt water slipped around your eyes. You tried to swim your way to the surface but waves followed the last one on a continuous loop. The last thing you could see was a ship in the distance...its white sails looked as if it had veins of its own. You don't know how it had appeared here, but it was a ship nonetheless. You waved your hands, praying that someone would notice you.

"Help!" you tried to scream. "Someone please help me!!" Water spilled into your mouth, causing you to swallow it all down. Your sore throat was only made worse by this, for the salty liquid hurt your insides. You tried to swim towards the distant object, but the ocean just kept pulling you back. Your arms started growing limp and useless...you couldn't go on. You started to sink into the water...falling further and further into the dark...

You woke up with a start, your mind hazy and confused. Your throat was stinging and your whole body felt numb. You began to sit up, trying to recognise where you were. You had never seen this room before in your life. There was a large organ that stretched all the way to the top of the ceiling, the wide hollow tubes and keys were coated in a thick layer of dust. You searched the room for a familiar sight, but none seemed to come to you. You were out of the water, which was one thing to be happy about. Your eyes could barely open, they were crammed with salt and sand as well as stinging with seawater. No one else was in the room, but you could hear people working outside on the deck. Good...that was just what you needed. You started to untie your corset, slowly since your fingers were trembling at the cold. You managed to make it loose enough so that you could fit your hand inside, too. You smiled as you saw the little black box in between your breasts. Pulling it out, you tied up the corset once more and began to sit up straight. Just as you had finished tying it all together, the door swung open to a gentleman dressed in a blue jacket. He had dirt on his white shirt, which was tied up loosely, and a smile on his face.

"I see that you're awake," he said. You covered up your body, tucking your knees under your chin like a child. Although he seemed friendly, you hid the compass away behind your body.

"Where am I?" you asked quietly. Your voice sounded a bit hoarse from both the salty water and the fact that you hadn't had anything to drink for three days. The figure crouched down beside you, somehow managing to understand how scared you really were.

"You're aboard the Flying Dutchman, Miss Christopher."

"How do you know my name?" you asked quickly.

"You've been serving on Captain Sparrow's ship, the Black Pearl. Am I correct?" You nodded, and in response to your confused look, he replied: "News travels fast around the Caribbean..." You smiled at him, slowly beginning to trust the fine stranger. Then you actually noticed the other part of his first reply. The Flying Dutchman...it was a ship boarded by the undead. Had you died out in that ocean? You heart skipped a beat at the thought of Jack waiting for your return...but never to get it.

"Oh God..." you whispered. "Jack...I'll never see him again..." The stranger's smile faded away as a tear dripped silently down your cheek. He wiped it away with his finger, causing you to look at him in the eye. They seemed to be pleading for explanations...and you immediately gave them to him.

"I died...I can't be with him now...I'm destined for the white lights while he's forever sailing on that ocean." The stranger started to chuckle, making you feel hurt by his actions.

"You haven't died, but you were certainly close to it. We just came and saved you, that's all." You blinked back your salty tears, relieved by his words.

"So...were you rescued like me? Or did you die a gruesome death like all the others on this ship?"

"I'm the captain of this ship..."

"...you're Davy Jones?" you whispered. You had heard all the rumours of the captain, but they had never been so wrong. Jones was said to be part of the sea, a cruel and heartless man. But this captain before you...he was so...alive. You could never see him unleash a foul monster onto a ship... he was actually rather dashing if you liked that sort of thing.

"No, he's...moved on from his post. I'm William Turner," he replied to your gawping mouth. You had heard that name before...but where? Jack had said something about him...you were sure of it.

"Oh! You're Elizabeth's husband?" He smiled at you and nodded, making you smile back. How sweet...and tragic. He could only see her for one night every ten years...you felt awful for him.

"So...am I forever damned to this ship? Am I now a slave or...a fish-person?" You felt at your neck, looking for gills. Will chuckled, his eyes smiling back at you. No wonder Elizabeth liked him...but you didn't really like him that much. You'd always love Jack more than anyone else.

"Don't worry, Miss Christopher. We're going to send you back to the Pearl in a few moments time." Your eyes went big with shock; this was the most surprising thing that ever happened to you. One minute you were scrambling onto your long boat in the middle of a storm, the next moment you were in a stranger's arms and going back to what you wanted most of all.

"Really?" you asked. Everything seemed so strange now...as if you were dreaming it all up. Will stood up, bowing over and holding out his hand. You smiled and took it, clutching it tightly. You were still rather damp from last night's events, so you slipped over and back onto the floor. Will fell with you, ending up on top of you with his face hovering above yours. You stared at him, blushing a bright red. Not only was he married, but you had a boyfriend. Plus the fact that your white dress was still semi-see through...the whole situation was just embarrassing. (For his fangirls who happened to wander across my story...thanks for reading, guys!!)

"I...I'm so sorry," you said after many blank thoughts. Will chuckled and looked over beside your head. He smiled and got up, picking up whatever had been lying beside you. You sat up and looked at what he was holding...Jack's compass.

"This will make things a whole lot easier," he said. He threw it to you, letting it fall into your lap. He seemed not to have noticed anything that had just happened. You sighed, thankful that he had.

"Do you know where Jack could be?" he asked you. You didn't need his hint in order to fulfil his wish. You were already opening the compass and watching it spin around in a slow circle before stopping directly west. Will smiled at you as he looked onto the compass' face.

"So you really do love him?" You nodded, smiling at the little word that he used. Love. It was nothing at all, really. It was only made up with four letters and was used in the most common of situations. But...love. You appreciated the way it sounded, how it made you feel deep down inside. It summed your feelings for Jack in every way possible...even if it was just one stupid word. Will snatched the compass out from your hands and walked out of the room. You sat up and began to follow him, looking around at the ship's unique design. You walked onto the deck, looking around into the night. The storm was still raging and every star was out in the sky. The crew was bracing themselves for something, clinging to the railings and looking into the direction Will was pointing. He was pointing just where the compass was, looking out into the horizon. Just as he was making his way to the helm, he noticed you out of the corner of his eye. He gripped your shoulders and pushed you back downstairs.

"I'm sorry, but you can't be up here."

"Why not?"

"Just please...it's all really quite hard to explain." He closed the door in your face, which you stared at blankly. You tried to open it up, but the door was locked. You banged on the door, demanding that he told you what was going on. But you fell backward as the ship lurched forward in a sudden motion. You could swear that the ship was going...down? Impossible! But then again...the life you had been leading for the past few months was becoming more and more confusing. You looked back at the door; water was leaking through the woodwork and spraying onto your face. You spluttered as some hit your mouth and pressed your ear against the door. You could hear bubbling, as if you were trapped in a river. Or an ocean...this was bizarre on so many levels. Just as you thought you had reached the bottom of the water, you were suddenly lurching upward again. The ship felt like it was flying into the sun, it never seemed to end. You finally heard it break through the surface of the water, and the ship seemed to rest at last. Will opened up the door, letting the cold air rush inside the ship.

"We're here," he said. You blinked, swearing that the events that had passed in the last few minutes were part of some crazy dream. He led you outside by the hand, seeming to understand why you were shaking. You were nervous, cold, wet and overall...scared. You usually weren't this afraid of anything, but you were worried about seeing Jack again. Gibbs was standing on the edge of the ship, looking over to you and Will. His mouth was wide open as he rushed to the captain's quarters. You chuckled, happy that you weren't the only startled one there. There was a board that would lead you onto the Pearl after a few short steps. In those few short steps your whole journey would have come to an end. Will smiled at you and led you to the bridge, looking across to the Pearl. Just as you were about to step onto the plank of wood, you turned to Will with a smile.

"Thankyou," you whispered. He smiled back and let go of your hand, putting the compass in your palm. He closed your fingers over the object and walked off; you were on your own now. You had tears in your eyes as you walked slowly across the board and onto the deck. When you jumped off, the crew was smiling back up at you. The Flying Dutchman was sailing off, Will at the helm. He looked over his shoulder to you, a smile on his face. You smiled back, thankful beyond words at what he had done. Looking around, you couldn't see Jack anywhere. But when you looked over to the stairs that lead inside the ship, the door was wide open and a figure was standing in the doorway.

"Jack?" you whispered. He stepped from the shadows, a smile on his face. It was Jack...right there in front of you. It had been so long since you had seen him...it was hard to tell that it was all reality. You walked over to him, tracing his face in your hands, he held onto your wrists gently, as if not bearing to let you go again. You guided your fingertips over his eyes, nose...lips. You stared into his hazel eyes, fixated at what you had before you. The moments you had spent with him flashed by...especially the kiss that the two of you had shared only a few nights ago. But it felt like there were years between then and now...you wanted him so badly. He seemed to know what you were thinking; he had the cheeky glint in his eyes that could only possibly mean one thing.

"Is this really happening?" you asked him. He chuckled and pulled you closer, a smile on his face.

"Only if you want it to," he replied. Your lips were only a centimetre from his...any closer and you wouldn't be able to contain your emotion for him. You couldn't hold it all in for much longer, you kissed him without a care in the world. He returned it; you could feel the smile on his lips as you wrapped your arms around his neck. A loud crack of thunder was echoing across the sky...the storm was following you home. You looked upwards, staring into the dark clouds that hovered above the ship. Rain slowly started to pour down, the beginning of the storm. Looking back at Jack, he was looking into your eyes. There was a smile on his face as he led you inside the ship and to his quarters.

"Let's get you out of that rain..."

CrazyA: AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS IT! Weak ending, I know...but still! YES! It's finally out fo the way!! Now I can write my other, more preferred stories (aka, my Dark Knight stuff) Thank you sooo much for reading and I hope you enjoyed it!