/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /
Chapter Eight
Coming to the top deck, Bootstrap Bill held out his arm, making Will and I stop. Glancing up over his arm, I saw what was making us stop so abruptly. It was Barbossa with the whole crew behind him. Searching the crew, I saw that Jack was right behind Barbossa, his hands in chains. Obviously Barbossa's feelings for Jack hadn't improved much.
Stepping foreword, Bootstrap Bill held out his hand. "It's nice to see you again, Barbossa."
Barbossa didn't take Bootstrap's hand, just stared at him in horror and shock. I quickly realized that Bootstrap's looks weren't all that appealing and probably sickened the captain despite his uncaring ways of keeping himself and the crew clean.
"Where in God's name did you come from, Bootstrap?" Barbossa finally asked. "Last time I saw you, you were jumping off the ship with nothing more than a name and a memory."
"Funny how our luck changes, wouldn't you say, Barbossa?" Bootstrap Bill said calmly. "We think we got rid of the pests that we absolutely hate and when you least expect it they come back to bite you."
Barbossa laughed harshly. "You were always the one for analogies, Bootstrap. I never knew how much I missed them until now."
"I see you have found my dear friend Jack again. It's amazing how you're always at odds with each other," Bootstrap Bill said calmly.
"It would appear so," Barbossa exclaimed. "So how did you get out of the desperation of the sea and come to this state that you find yourself in now?"
Bootstrap Bill grunted. "That's a long story to tell in a short amount of time. I've come here to warn you."
Barbossa laughed. "Warn me about what?"
"Get off this ship as quick as you can. There's no money for it," Bootstrap Bill stated.
"And why would you have me do that, Bootstrap? You're always running me off my ships and look what it's got you in for," Barbossa sneered. "A run with Davy Jones no doubt. I bet he's got you all coseyed up and you two are going to have a run of the seas together?" Barbossa scorned.
As quick as lightening, Bootstrap Bill had his hand around Barbossa's throat, his hand tightening ever so slowly. Gasping from surprise and the lack of air, Barbossa struggled against Bootstrap Bill's strong grip. Failing to get away, he stood and breathed slowly, glaring with fury etched in every line of his face.
"Do not underestimate the power and strength of Davy Jones, Barbossa," Bootstrap Bill said calmly. "You may think you're the terror of the seas, but Davy Jones is the devil himself. I wouldn't risk it if I were you."
"Then what do you expect me to do?" Barbossa growled. "Sit stranded on the side of the river until the heathens come to take us all?"
"That's not a bad idea, mate," Jack interrupted, springing in front of Barbossa and Bootstrap Bill, his iron chains clanging about him. "They plan on making me their king. They might give us a favor as they all love me, savvy?"
"If you're their king, how come they tried to cook you and eat you for their dinner?" Will spoke up skeptically. "Some loyal dominions you have there, Jack."
Jack paused, his fingers twirling his moustache thoughtfully. Will smirked with grim satisfaction. I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I wondered if men were not just plain heathens all on their own.
I pushed my way into all the mess and put a hand on Will's shoulder. "Let's just get off the ship now and we'll think of what we can do later. There are plenty of trees around here. Why not just build our own ship?"
"Now that's an idea," Jack exclaimed dancing around Bootstrap Bill and Barbossa with glee. "Then we won't get ourselves in trouble, savvy?"
Bootstrap Bill loosened his grip on Barbossa's throat and slowly dropped his arm to his side. He wanted Barbossa to be well aware that he could do it again, only next time Bootstrap Bill wasn't going to let Barbossa live. I watched Barbossa closely. Surely he wasn't going to risk the crew for simple greed.
Barbossa finally shook his head. "I cannot do that. It will take at least a year to build a boat big enough to accommodate all of us. This is the only ship we have and I'm not going to be stupid enough just leave it. We might not have another chance to get out of this god-forsaken place."
My stomach lurched. The fool. I should've known he was only caring for himself. Foolishly I had thought he would have changed after somehow coming back alive, but no, he was still the same old Barbossa as before. I went foreword in anger, meaning to wring the life out of Barbossa. Before I could get closer, Bootstrap Bill pushed me roughly to the ground.
"No. He's not a man to be underestimated of," Bootstrap Bill growled. "Go to the boats and row like you've never rowed before. Go now!"
I started in surprise at Bootstrap Bill's barking orders. Before I could protest, Bootstrap Bill had already turned back to Barbossa, pulling out his sword, the sound ringing out in the commotion that the crew had suddenly began making.
I moved foreword to get to Bootstrap Bill's side when I felt someone grab me by roughly by the shoulders. Struggling against my captor was a hopeless cause.
"We need to get to the boats, and quickly by the looks of things," the man said behind me.
I turned to look at my captor and saw that it was Gibbs. How he got to my side so quickly I had no idea but the next thing I knew I was being pushed into the boat and soon I felt the boat moving quickly down the side of the ship.
Looking around me, I saw that the boat contained Will, Cotton, Gibbs, Pintel, and Ragetti. On either side of us was filled with the other crewmembers trying to get away from the wrath of one of Davy Jones' own. But there was one man that was missing.
Turning to Will, I gave a questioningly. "Will, where's Jack."
"I don't kno—" Will began. Just then a yell emitted from the ship's deck and a blur of a person jumped from the side of the ship.
With a splash beside our boat, Jack's head broke the surface, gasping for air. Quickly Will went to the side of the boat and helped the pirate into the boat. Spitting out water at the edge of the boat, Jack spit water out over the side. Turning back to us, Jack glared.
"What are you mongrels waiting for? Row like the devil's behind you and don't look back!" Jack yelled.
Jumping into the seats, we rowed as hard as we could. Stealing one more glance back up the ship's deck, I could only see the flash of swords as they tried desperately to defeat their opponent. Going back to rowing, I hoped desperately no harm would come to Bootstrap Bill. I had grown fond of the old man. I knew all too well the sting of losing a loved one and I didn't to feel the bite of sorrow again.
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Author's Note: Here's chapter eight for everybody, and I hope you've enjoyed it. I'm sorry if it's taken me a few days to update, I've been really busy and I didn't have time to think about writing and updating. I'll get chapter nine up as soon as I can. Thank you to those who've reviewed as well as the ones who've waited patiently for me to update. I promise your waiting isn't in vain. I hope everybody will keep reading and don't forget to review, it makes the writer happy!