Hey guys! Sorry it took so long to update! I was suffering from writers block but it's passed now I think. ; Thanks to all reviewers! Sorry about any typos, it's the homework's fault!

Chapter 9: The Black Mark

They had been sailing northwest all day. The skies were darkening and the air was beginning to chill. The clear blue sky had become cluttered with dark storm clouds as the day passed.

Jack sighed, he knew for sure now that the compass had been pointing in the direction of Port Royal. Meaning the heart was there... but who was in posession of it? Norrigton? Will? Beckett? He hoped with all his being it was Will.

If Beckett had the heart he was in trouble. No... everyone was in trouble. He closed his eyes in thought, trying to remember the last time he saw the heart. It was on that island... when they had first found it and he placed it in the jar of dirt. The only ones anywhere near the jar were Pintel, Regetti, and Norrington.

Pintel and Regetti in Port Royal didn't make any sense at all. It had to have been Norrington then. Had Norrington already given the heart to Beckett? He didn't know, but it was a good possibility. Oh how he hated going to Port Royal...

Port Royal was the economic center of the Caribbean but Jack, though he never showed it, loathed the city for its accomidation of privateers, pirates, and gambling houses. The East India Trading Company... how he wished he could take back the days of ever working for such scum. Though he had to thank them, after all he wouldn't be the most known and successful pirate in the Caribbean if it hadn't been for them.

"Jack. Are you ok?" Michelle asked, startling Jack, who's eyes were still closed in thought. He quickly gathered his composure and nodded, "I'm fine. Was just thinking that's all." Michelle nodded and eyed him warily, she could tell something was bugging him. He wasn't acting normal. Then again he never acted normal, more like.. he wasn't acting as his usual self, which definately was not normal.

"Hmm ok. Well.. are we almost there?" She asked with a smile, looking up at the darkening skies above her.

Jack couldn't help but laugh, "Almost there? Port Royal is almost six-hundred miles away from Curacao love. With weather as it currently is we're probably going to cover about a hundred and ninety miles a day so... altogether I'd say it's going to take us three days." He explained.

"Oh I see. You're really good at this stuff." Michelle said, amazed at his knowledge of the locations and the ocean.

"Pleasure in being captain puts perfection in it as well." He replied, moving the large wheel in front of him slightly to the left.

"Jack where do you think your crew is?" She asked suddenly. He thought about it for a moment, "I've no idea but I have a feeling we'll end up finding eachother again somehow. We always do."

She nodded at the response and looked up again when a small droplet of water fell on her right cheek. She wiped it away and looked back to Jack, admiring his leadership once again.

He noticed her staring and raised an eyebrow, "What is it love? Something on my face? Or am I just that good looking aye?"

She blushed and looked away, "Oh n-no! It's nothing! I just-" She tried to think of a subject that would convert from the current one, "Always wondered what it'd be like to captain a ship? You know, the wheelie thing and all."

She smacked herself mentally, was that the best she could come up with? Wheelie thing! What the heck was wrong with her? Usually she was sarcastic and aggressive towards people, especially men, especially Jack. Being apprehensive or shy was not something Michelle did.

Jack gave her a look of curiousity and took a small step back from the wheel, executing his absurd hand gestures which indicated he wanted her to take the wheel.

She pointed at herself nervously, "What? Me?"

"Well come on then, we've got the time. Let's have it."

"But Jack I can't-"

"Oh nonsense." He said, clutching her wrist gently and pulling her in front of him. She felt her face flush with redness and was grateful her back was to him.

He took her hands and placed them on two of the handles that connected to the wooden wheel. He kept his hands on top of hers, showing her it wasn't really hard at all."See? Easy aye? Much more so than you thought it'd be I imagine." He said, causing her to shiver a little. She couldn't remember a time when she felt so comfortable or happy with anyone before. It was nice.

"That's only cause you're guiding me Jack. I can guarantee if you were to let go we'd be off course in a matter of seconds." She said, looking up at him finally when she was sure her redness had gone.

"Well then perhaps I shouldn't let go then aye?" He said, bringing his face closer to hers. Just before their lips touched he stopped abruptly when his eyes caught sight of his left palm. The large black spot had returned and Jack felt as if he was having a de ja vu. One that he didn't want to have.

Michelle stared at his sudden wide-eyed expression with concern. What was wrong with him all of a sudden? Was it her? A feeling of insecurity washed over her and she looked away, "What is it Jack...?"

Jack looked back up to her finally and moved his hand quickly behind his back, "Michelle, I know this is weird, but just... stay here. Mind the ship. I'll be back."

"Wait what? What's going on? Well fine! I don't know what I did wrong but-"

"No! It's not you. At all. It's me. Quite literally. Please just trust me and stay here." He replied running off hastily into the ship.

"Jack? What the heck? You ok there?" Angie asked, stopping him in his tracks as he ran by her. He swallowed the lump in his throat and turned to her, "Ok? Yes! I'm great actually! Thanks for asking!" He said, smiling at her and turning back around.

Angie grabbed a part of the back of his coat and he stopped again, "Not so fast. I can tell something is going on. What is it? Not letting you leave until ya tell me Jack."

Jack surrendered to her quietly and pulled her aside into one of the cabins. Angie raised an eyebrow and just stared at her friend as he walked back and forth a couple of times. He finally stopped in front of her and took a deep breath.

"Alright. Look. Angie. Of no circumstances that have anything whatsoever to do with me, we're in trouble. Big trouble." Jack said, scaring Angie a bit. She'd never seen Jack so nervous or filled with horror before.

"Well, what is it? What's the problem? Does Michelle know?"

"She doesn't know. I was too fidgety at the moment to tell her." He said with his usual drunken hand gestures.

"Ok... so what is it? We'll tell her whenever you want to." Angie said, trying to calm him down a bit.

"Well.. remember the stories I told you of Davy Jones and his pet beastie?" Angie nodded, "Yea I remember."

Jack didn't say anything in response. He just held his left hand up towards her and revealed the very dark and unnerving mark on his palm. She put a hand to her mouth and gasped, her eyes trailing back to his. "Oh shit..."

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