Isla Cruces came closer and closer with each row of the oars.
Elizabeth had heard of the island from a book that she had taken an interest in when she was younger. It was a haunted place, cursed by the death and plague that had rotted upon it. She would be lying if she said she wasn't apprehensive about stepping foot onto the island; even from afar something dark about it could be felt. It was as if all the eyes of the dead watched them make their slow approach, willing them to turn back. It sent a chill down her spine. But she had far more on her mind. Between she and James, they hadn't thought up a fool proof plan. They hadn't really thought of any plan, for it was not two hours later that they had found the island. And what little drabbles of plans they had formed had many glaringly obvious holes that could cause chaos for the both of them. So they planned to wing it instead.
The two turncoats sat side by side, sharing frequent uncomfortable glances at one another, as Pintel and Ragetti argued about what the tentacled beast that had it's eyes set on Jack was called. Elizabeth usually found their arguments entertaining, but she was at such unease that her mind hardly processed their words. She willed her mind to process anything; a sudden plan that came from nowhere would be fantastic. All her hope rested in James to think of something brilliant.
All too quickly the group found themselves pulling the long boat onto the white sand of the cursed island. Jack instructed Pintel and Ragetti to mind the boat and handed James a shovel. After one more desperate glance at James, Elizabeth followed Jack, who was quick to check the needle of the compass that she held and was already ten feet ahead. They walked, and walked, and walked. They walked across beaches, through the shallow waters, and across more beaches as Elizabeth occasionally shouted to Jack to change direction ever so slightly.
Elizabeth stopped and shook the compass, wondering if the bloody thing even worked. James stopped behind her.
'I wouldn't expect anybody to be here,' James mused as he looked at a small crumbling church perched upon a hillside.
'There's not,' Elizabeth informed.
'Do you know this place?'
'Stories,' she breathed. 'Isla Cruces. The church came to the island and brought salvation. . . and disease. And death. They say that the priest had to bury everybody one by one. He went mad and hung himself.'
'Better mad with the rest of the world than sane alone,' James said as he repositioned the shovel on his shoulder.
Jack approached them. 'No fraternizing with the help, love.' He swung out his arm, gesturing for her to walk ahead.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and moved on, compass in hand. She walked another fifty feet and the needle spun backwards. She turned around and within a few steps, it did it once more. Again she turned around, causing it to twitch; this time it pointed to Jack, who stood gazing out at the sea. Elizabeth cringed and shook the compass, but it still pointed towards him. She gave up, retiring to the ground.
'This doesn't work,' she snapped irritably. It was terribly hot and the white sand was too bright for her eyes. She wanted to give up. 'And it certainly doesn't show you what you want most.'
Jack leaned over to see what was on the compass. It pointed at Elizabeth. 'Yes it does,' he said. 'You're sitting on it.'
'Beg your pardon?'
'Move' Jack shooed her away and whistled for James to come with the shovel.
Elizabeth scrambled to her feet.
James began digging where she had sat. He brought up pile after pile of white sand. Elizabeth chewed her lip nervously, wondering what their plan would be once the chest was dug up. Occasionally James looked back at her to give her a dubious stare, as if to check if she had come up with anything. Elizabeth shook her head ever so slightly to say no each time.
Thud
The iron shovel hit something hard beneath the sand. The trio peaked into the hole. After a few brushes with their dirty hands, it was clear. They had found the chest. Or, a chest. Elizabeth wasn't entirely convinced that it was the chest. It looked rather ordinary in her opinion. Certainly not what she imagined as the chest of Davy Jones, the wretched cacodemon of the seas, bringer of death and destruction. It was similar to a simple chest kept under her bed, full to the brim with bric-a-brac. There seemed to be nothing sinister about it.
Jack took the shovel from James and busted opened the latch on the side. Inside were old letters, very old, and dried flowers. It reminded Elizabeth of all the letters and flowers she had kept from James when she was younger. She took one of the yellowed papers and read it.
My love,
I hope the wind blows you back to me soon. I long to be with you, to hear your kind voice and to feel your warm embrace once more. I hurt without you. For I do not know who I am when you're not near. Will you ever return to-
A smaller chest, which Jack had pulled from the larger, distracted Elizabeth from the love letter. This chest seemed a much better contender for housing something so ominous. They each put an ear to the chest, trying to hear the beating heart.
Thump thump.
Elizabeth pulled her head away from the chest in shock. A chill went down her spine. 'It's real?'
The heart thumped again.
'You actually were telling the truth,' James said, awestruck at the fact.
'I do that quite a lot, you people are always surprised.'
'I wonder why,' Elizabeth thought sarcastically.
'With good reason!' a voice came from behind the group.
It was Will. Elizabeth's stomach did flips when she looked his way. Cool pangs of guilt whipped through her body. She felt dreadfully shameful. All she could whisper was, 'Will,' and it didn't sound as happy as she hoped. It sounded more like she wanted to vomit from the unexpected stress. She tried to flash a smile, but the guilt was plastered all over her face, from her raised brows to her pierced lips and to the way she was frozen on the ground, unable to make herself approach him. And yet the meeting wasn't as difficult as she had intended; she thought he would try to kiss her or at least tell her that he missed her and that she would have to tell him the truth or painfully lead him on. But Will didn't even approach her, which stung her pride like a whip from the leather cat.
'How did you get here?' Jack questioned.
Elizabeth was relieved for Jack's words, finally letting go of the breath she was holding, when Will's eyes went from her to Jack.
'Sea turtles mate,' Will joked as he approached. 'A pair of them strapped to my feet.'
'Not so easy, is it?'
'But I do owe you thanks Jack-'
'-you do?'
'After you tricked me onto that ship to square your debt with Jones,' Will announced, calling Jack out proudly for his ill-doings.
Elizabeth stood and looked everywhere but Will. She wasn't glad to have to face him, but she was glad that he was calling out Jack. His confirmation of what Jack had done made her angry, but she didn't want to engage in the conversation. It fueled the flames of her revenge.
'I was reunited with my father.'
'Oh, well, you're welcome then,' Jack smiled cheerfully.
'So it's true,' Elizabeth faced Jack. 'Everything you said to me, every word was a lie?' She wanted to hear it from Jack before she and James took the chest.
'Pretty much,' Jack clapped his hands together, 'time and tide, love - Oi!' Jack shouted as Will dropped to his knees by the small chest. 'What are you doing?'
'I'm gonna kill Jones,' Will nearly put a key into the chest, but Jack pulled a sword to him.
'Can't let you do that William,' Jack pushed the sword closer. 'Because if Jones is dead, who's to call his terrible beastie off the hunt, aye?'
Elizabeth eyed James. Perhaps the discord was their perfect opportunity. As Will reluctantly rose to his feet, James gave her a small nod.
'Now, if you please,' Jack put out his hand, 'the key.'
Suddenly Will took Elizabeth's sword that had hung at her hip. She gasped, but didn't argue. This was just the kind of distraction they needed.
'I keep the promises I make Jack!' Will held the sword firmly in Jack's direction. 'I intend to free my father. I hope you're here to see it.'
James pulled out his sword and faced it to Will. 'I can't let you do that either. So sorry.'
'I knew you'd warm up to me eventually,' Jack smiled before James moved his sword towards him.
'Lord Beckett desires the contents of that chest,' James omitted, sending Elizabeth's eyes wide. 'I deliver it, I get my life back.'
Elizabeth looked down at her feet, hoping that it wasn't obvious that the only way James would have had that information, was if she had told him. She heard his attempt at making it sound a plan solely of his own mind, but she still felt Jack's eyes suspiciously wonder her way. The tension hung thickly in the air.
'Ah- the dark side of ambition,' Jack said in a matter-of-fact tone. Elizabeth felt that the words were meant for her as much as they were for James.
'Oh I prefer to see it as the promise of redemption,' James retorted. He suddenly lunged at Will with a grunt and the fight was on.
The three men were away, and all Elizabeth could do, with no sword, was hope that her partner wouldn't be killed. Especially now when he had brazenly sold her out along with himself. With swords flying it was difficult to see what was going on, but she thought she saw Jack grab the key to the chest. James kicked Will in the chest, sending him to the ground. She felt there was only one thing she could do.
'Will!' she went to her knees to see if he was alright.
'Guard the chest!' He commanded as he stood and ran off.
Elizabeth scrambled over to the chest containing the still beating heart. She took the compass that sat beside it and shoved it into her pocket. If only she had they key, the job would be done. But she didn't so she heaved the chest upwards and held it to her chest. Where was she to take it? To the long boat? She couldn't leave James and they would be caught in no time at all anyways. So she followed after the fight, trying to shift it's current agenda, which seemed to be slicing one another to bits, which was the least bit useful.
'This is barbaric!' she shouted as she tried to keep up. 'This is NO way for grown men to settle-' they weren't listening to her, only drifting further away as she struggled to keep up with the chest in her arms. 'OH FINE! Let's just pull out our swords and start banging away at each other! THIS WILL SOLVE EVERYTHING!' Still, they swung their swords, completely ignoring her. 'I've had it! I've had enough of wobbly-legged, rum-soaked, PIRATES!' She dropped the chest and began throwing stones and shells and the trio of men, shouting at them to stop between breaths. 'ENOUGH!' There was only one thing left she could do. It was an old trick, but there was no way they could resist it. 'Oh!' Not a look was given her way, so she raised her voice and put the back of her hand to her head dramatically, 'Oh! The heat!' Elizabeth pathetically threw herself to the ground, waiting for one of the men to come to the rescue. She peeked out of one eye to see that they continued fighting, not bothered by her lifeless body laying near by. With her mouth gaping in shock for their rude behaviour, she sat up, put her hat back on, and crossed her arms angrily.
Her anger was to be short lived, as she heard passing footsteps. It was Pintel and Ragetti, carrying away the chest and snickering. Elizabeth stood and chased after the two, but had quickly fallen behind. She took another route through the forest, with eyes on the idiots the entire time, hoping to catch them off guard. The bells of the church began ringing, causing them to stop out of curiosity in a clearing. Her chance had come; she sprang into the grassy circle. The smiles faded from Pintel and Ragetti's faces and one rose to hers. She reached for the sword at her hip, but there was nothing there. Elizabeth smiled widely, and dropped her hands, as if she hadn't been reaching for a weapon to use against them. They both smiled and dropped the chest as they drew their swords.
'Hello poppet,' Pintel's slimy voice croaked.
Elizabeth backed up as they advanced, but all of their attentions were paused by a strange sight. A large waterwheel came rolling by, with James and Will fighting atop of it. Shortly following the wheel was Jack, trying to keep up the pace. Pintel and Ragetti momentarily forgot their intentions and gave one another confused glanced. But it didn't last long. Pintel shrugged and they stepped towards Elizabeth once more, but this time they were stopped by an axe, which just missed her head, and embedded itself in one of the coconut palms. They all three turned to see a group of sea creature covered men, if they could hardly be called men, crashing through the bushes and coming towards them. Pintel and Ragetti handed Elizabeth their swords and slowly backed away until picking up the chest and running from the way they had come. Elizabeth ran after them.
'Come on poppet!' Pintel shouted.
Elizabeth shrieked as she heard Jones' men advancing on her. Pintel and Ragetti turned, and in doing so, brought a tree between them, knocking the chest to the ground. The gang of sea creatures was too close to turn back and retrieve it safely. But Elizabeth couldn't give up. She thought of her father as one of the members swung his axe directly at her; thinking quick, she crossed the two swords, stopping the blow. She was determined to fight these men and win.
The trio ran circles around the creatures as a team, trying to make it back to the chest.
'Sword!' Ragetti said as he was tripped by a chain. Elizabeth threw the sword, allowing him to slice open one of the offenders.
'Sword!' Elizabeth said, catching the sword just in time to take out two of the creatures.
'Sword!' Pintel shouted and Elizabeth threw one to him and he used it to fight another, just as she sliced at one of the many others.
'Sword!' she threw hers at Ragetti.
'Sword!' her call was answered with two swords. 'Get the chest!'
They ran, Pintel and Ragetti briefly stopping to pick up the chest as she fought off the creatures that slowly caught up with them. It wasn't long before they made it to the beach, but they didn't stop running. At the water they spotted Jack at the long boat. Elizabeth fought a few others off as they slowly made it away, and just as her opponents grew to be too many, the waterwheel came crashing through, taking down several and nearly herself. But there were still two to be had, which proved to be far more skilled than the others. She swung away, but it seemed to be of no use. She fought hard and it wasn't slowing them down.
'Elizabeth,' James said as he stepped in to assist her. 'I have it. But Jack thinks he has it in the jar.'
Elizabeth was glad to see her ally alive and to know that they possessed the heart. She almost couldn't contain her smile. They fought together, slowly backing towards the boat. She wished she could ask him what their plan was, for what they would do when Jack inevitably checked to make sure he was still in possession, but the others stood not far behind. It was something they would speak of back at the pearl. A thud drew her attention back; Will lay unconscious over the side of the long boat.
'Will!' she exclaimed as she went to check on him.
'Leave him lie!' Jack commanded. 'Unless you plan on using him to hit something with.'
They were surrounded by Jones' cronies.
'We're not getting out of this,' she said to James more than to Jack.
'Not with the chest,' James said. 'Into the boat.' He reached over and took the chest by a handle and then grabbed her arm.
'You're mad,' she said worriedly, unknowing of what he was going to do.
'Don't wait for me,' and he was off, running with the chest, already drawing their enemies away.
'I- I say we respect his final wish,' Jack blurted out.
'Aye!' Pintel agreed.
With that, Elizabeth reluctantly clambered into the longboat with her fellow crewmates. She watched as James ran, willing for him to get away unscathed. Her only hope was that it was a part of some brilliant plan that he had. At least she knew that the heart wasn't inside of the chest; James could hand over the chest, or drop it, and not be bothered by the creatures anymore. It was a big decision to make, but she it was easy. When they returned to the pearl, she would find a way to sneak off and she would retrieve James. Could they make it back to Port Royal by long boat? She doubted it. But they would have the compass and she hoped that would be enough.
The boat moved quickly away from the cursed island, with all members but one eager to get away. Soon they were in the shadow of the Black Pearl, heavy Will's limp body up the side. It wasn't long that they were aboard, probably only a few moments, when a giant ship rose from the abyss. Will had only just had time to be awoken. Elizabeth gasped and backed away from the edge of the Pearl.
'Oi! Fish face!' Jack yelled from the bridge, causing everyone aboard to sigh. 'Lose something, ey?' He held the jar of dirt above his head, which Elizabeth knew held nothing, before tumbling down the stares.
'Oo,' Mister Gibbs winced along with everyone else.
'Got it!' Jack showed that he still held the jar as he stood. 'Come to negotiate, have you? You slimy git! Look what I got!' Jack strode proudly across the deck, confidence spewing from him as he taunted Davy Jones. Elizabeth knew this was because he thought he had the heart, but he was mistaken thanks to she and James' schemes. 'I got a jar of dirt, I got a jar of dirt, and guess what's inside it.' He sung a sing song and held the jar above his head once more.
The large gun ports, which looked like the gaping mouths of spirits, opened, revealing large cannons which protruded far out of the side of the Flying Dutchman. Jack's taunting had gone too far.
'Hard to starboard,' Jack mumbled, almost as if questioning himself.
'Hard to starboard!' Elizabeth yelled at Mister Gibbs, who stood at the helm.
'Brace up the foreyard!' Will yelled.
Slowly the Black Pearl turned away, pulling itself away from the worst of the dangerous cannons. Just as they made headway, cannonade rumbled and shook the Pearl as it hit her stern hard. Elizabeth dodged flying bits of wood as she made her way up the stairs to the bridge. The Pearl had already made it some distance from the Dutchman, but it's triple long range cannons proved to be a challenge to escape. But the Pearl was fast, and before long the cannonballs only hit the water behind her stern; they had made it just out of range.
'She's falling behind!' Elizabeth exclaimed, smiling.
'Aye, we're got her!' Mister Gibbs agreed.
Will came up beside the first mate. 'We're the faster?'
'Against the wind the Dutchman beats us, that's how she takes her prey, but with the wind-'
'-we rob her advantage,' Will finished for Mister Gibbs.
The Flying Dutchman dowsed its canvases.
'They've given up!' Marty cheered, sending the rest of the crew into celebrations.
There was some light dancing, cheers, and lots of rum drinking. Elizabeth spoke lightly with Mister Gibbs of their cunning win. The only one aboard the Pearl who was displeased was Will, who stormed forward to speak to Jack. She didn't care, she was happy for the win. For a moment she had lost hope that she may make it back to her father, back to Lord Beckett. . .
A rumble shook the ship, jarring it's movement, and sent all of the crew to the deck, including Jack's jar of dirt, which shattered across the wood, sending glass and sand everywhere. He made a strange noise and rushed to check on the damage to the heart, which Elizabeth knew would be missing. She was more interested in what caused the moment of chaos.
'We must of hit a reef!' one of the many crew members shouted.
Elizabeth worried her brow at the bubbles that were coming to the surface around the Pearl. Were they taking on water?
'It's not a reef!' Will shouted, before harshly grabbing Elizabeth, pulling her from the side of the ship. 'Get away from the rail!'
'What is it?' her voice shook. Sinking or stalled, they could be dead either way.
'The Kraken!' Will shouted. 'To arms!'
'All guns, defend the masts,' Mister Gibbs barked at the crew.
'It'll attack the starboard, I've seen it before!' Will pulled out his sword. 'Run out the cannons and hold for my signal!'
Elizabeth ran, shaking, to the other side of the ship. There were more of the bubbles. She had read stories about the Kraken, written by those who supposedly survived an attack. Not many had. But by what she remembered of the words she read so many years ago, the rising air at the sides of the ship were the first sign if the ship had not yet been jarred by it's clutches. She took a steady breath and pushed herself from the side of the ship. 'You have to survive this,' she told herself, thinking of her father, who worried for her back home. As she wiped a tear from her eye she grabbed one of the many harpooning spears from a pile. When she returned to the edge of the ship, she saw massive tentacles working their way up it's wooden sides. Slowly but surely they appeared over the edges, sending Elizabeth and the other crew members on the deck stepping back. The Pearl creaked and groaned as the tentacles held a deathly grip on her hull. Elizabeth's boney knuckles went white as she clutched onto the spear, her only protection. They came higher and higher, but the crew waited on Will's command.
'Will?' Elizabeth questioned, wondering if he knew what he was doing. She heard him steadying the crew below, but the tentacles had risen to the ships height. 'Will?' The Pearl groaned louder than ever. 'WILL!'
'FIRE!'
The explosions of all the cannons going off at once sent the ship rocking. A giant tentacle fell, sending Elizabeth crashing to the wooden deck to get out of the way. Her ears rang loudly for all of the explosions that had happened in such short succession. Elizabeth covered her head with her hands as she heard another crash and one more tentacle fell near her, before sliding off of the ship. The Kraken hissed loudly as it pulled it's injured limbs away. The air reeked of burning flesh. As quickly as the attack had begun, it seemed to be over. But Elizabeth wasn't prepared to smile just yet; it didn't feel over, not if what she had read held any truth. The Kraken was a ruthless beast.
'It will be back,' Will confirmed her thoughts. 'We have to get off the ship.'
Elizabeth had been just about to suggest the same, but had spotted the pile of wood that had once been a long boat. Escape wasn't an option, and she realized she also wouldn't be able to retrieve James. 'There's no boats,' she could hardly get the words to pass her lips.
Will stepped forward; Elizabeth knew he would think of something else. For all his faults, being quick on his feet was not one. 'Pull the grates! Get all the gunpowder onto the net in the cargo hold!' He turned and handed Elizabeth a long gun. 'Whatever you do, don't miss.'
Elizabeth gave a firm nod. Really she didn't feel as confident as she tried to look. But she knew she had to be for her fathers sake. She was not going to let him live alone in Port Royal for the rest of his days. 'As soon as you're clear.'
With the gun in hand and a bit of false confidence, Elizabeth stormed across the ship, giving orders to the crew as they rushed about. She was headed towards the bridge, which she figured would be the best place to aim from. But something in the water caught her eye. The something was a long boat, rowing away, with Jack Sparrow aboard. 'Oh you coward,' she hissed to herself with the upmost distaste for the pirate captain.
Once more, the ship jarred. Elizabeth caught herself on some ropes. With a deafening sound, the Kraken shoved its tentacles through every crack and crevice in the ship, weaving in and out, destroying the structure from inside out. Screams filled the air as men were taken in its slimy grasps, and killed by its crushing weight. The ship rocked back and forth, shaking under all the action. Elizabeth struggled to make it across the ship. It was an obstacle course of tentacles, gun fire, debris, and bodies, both dead and alive. She winced as she watched Mister Gibbs try to keep hold of a crew member held by the beast, but he lost the fight. A tentacle wrapped itself around the mast and pulled, sending everyone scattering. Elizabeth stood in front of the captains quarters and pointed the long gun at the net full of explosives, now hanging in mid air, with Will attached by the ankle.
'Shoot!' Will screamed at her. 'Elizabeth shoot!'
Elizabeth's finger was tight against the trigger, ready to shoot. In the moment she didn't think of Will. It hadn't occurred to her that once she pulled the trigger, the explosives would erupt and Will would be dead. It was such an intense moment and all that she could think of was how to kill the Kraken. Just as she moved to pull it, a tentacle grabbed hold of her ankle and pulled her along the deck, though the captains quarters. Elizabeth's fingernails dug into the wet wood as she tried to stop herself from being pulled into her watery grave. She screamed loudly and kicked, even though she knew it was of no use.
Just when she thought it was the end, just before she was ready to think of her father for the last time, an axe came down before her and cut the tentacle away from her ankle. It was Ragetti; Elizabeth knew there was a reason she always liked him. She gave him a short smile and rushed out, back onto the deck. Her long gun was in the hands of another crew member, who was quickly picked up and flung off of the ship. The gun had landed on the bridge; Elizabeth rushed up the stairs, having to go to her knees to take them, as to not be battered by the rocking ship. She reached for the gun, but there was a boot on it. She tried to pry it away before looking up at who it was; through the rays of sun, she could see it was Captain Jack Sparrow.
Elizabeth smiled. She still thought he was a traitor and she didn't feel guilty for stealing the heart, but at least he could shoot, unlike she. He took the gun and aimed at the net of explosives. Just as Will managed to cut himself free, Jack pulled the trigger. In seconds the barrels of gunpowder were lit up, booming, and burning the Krakens tentacles. Elizabeth covered her ears and shut her eyes, unwilling to see what would happen next. But she didn't hear anything crushing, or anyone screaming. She peaked though her long lashes to see the tentacles gone and what was little of the crew left emerging from the fire and debris. Her hand went over her mouth and she stifled a cry in happiness. There was a chance for her yet.
'Captain, orders!' Mister Gibbs, one of the first out of the rubble demanded.
Jack took the stairs quickly down to the midship deck and Elizabeth followed. 'Abandon ship,' he said, handing the gun to Mister Gibbs. 'Into the long boat.'
'Jack! The Pearl!' Mister Gibbs argued.
'She's only a ship, mate,' Jack replied solemnly.
'He's right, we have to head for land,' Elizabeth said. The only land near was Isla Cruces. Despite the destruction, she and James' plan was on track. But she knew that they would never make it through that much water without being detected by the Kraken. Not with Jack.
'That's a lot of open water. . .' Pintel worried and Ragetti agreed.
Will stepped forward. 'We have to try. We can get away as it takes down the Pearl.'
Mister Gibbs nodded. 'Abandon ship. Abandon ship or abandon hope.' He was the first to make the move to get into the long boat and the others followed suit.
Elizabeth's soft brown eyes watched Jack with the intent of a killer. She was not going to be kept from her father, alive or dead. And she certainly wasn't going to feel sorrow for a man who couldn't have cared less for the lives of anyone aboard his own ship. As she had told herself in the carriage before she left her father; she was not going to be the damsel in distress. She had to save herself and this was the only way she could see how. Slowly, Elizabeth matched Jack's pace, watching him as he admired the Black Pearl for the last time.
'Thank you Jack,' her voice was soft and delicate; so far from her intentions.
'We're not free yet, love,' he sighed.
The way he spoke pulled at Elizabeth's heart. She remembered the man, who despite other malicious intent, had saved her from the water on that day that now seemed so long ago. The man who danced around a fire and sang with her. Who had made her laugh and see what life really should be. But she had to harden her heart; a few good deeds didn't make up for all the hardship and hurt he had intentionally brought to those around him while thinking only of the benefit to himself.
'You came back,' she said, stepping closer to him. 'I always knew you were a good man.' She was lying through her teeth. She didn't think he was a good man. He was a bad man who sometimes chose to do good things. Elizabeth gazed into his sunken eyes, still moving closer. Until her soft lips touched his. She kissed him, pushing his body back to the mast, where shackles meant for prisoners hung. Her hand deftly took hold of the iron and clamped it around his wrist. The two parted and Elizabeth gave him a smoldering look of hatred. 'It's after you, not the ship,' she breathed through gritted teeth. 'It's not us. This is the only way don't you see?' her voice trembled and her eyes burned with the threat of tears. Jack wasn't arguing with her, and so Elizabeth didn't know who she was trying to convince that he needed to die. Something told her it was herself. 'I'm not sorry,' she whispered, closing her eyes, unable to look at him when she said it.
When she finally opened them, she he was smiling curiously back at her. 'Pirate,' he called her in a hiss.
Elizabeth tightened her jaw and stormed away, unable to cope with what she was doing already. She climbed down to the long boat, already feeling like all eyes were watching her, knowing what she had done.
'Where's Jack?' Will asked, giving her an accusing stare.
'He elected to stay behind to give us a chance,' she forced herself to say. No one responded to what she had said. 'Go!' she commanded, hard faced.
Marty let go of the ropes, setting them free of the Pearl. Elizabeth felt like vomiting as she watched the rope floating in the blue waters. They were off, Pintel and Ragetti moved the oars quickly, desperate to get away from the soon to be sinking ship. Elizabeth watched as once more, the giant tentacles embraced the ship. It made quick work of the Pearl this time, crushing it's wooden hull in it's grasps. In a matter of moments, the ship with black sails was pulled down to the crushing abyss, with it's captain with it. Elizabeth stifled a sob with her hand as she thought of what she had done. She told herself over and over again that there was no other option; that she had helped more than she had hurt. It was for the good of the many and not the few.
'Father, Will, James, Mister Gibbs, Marty, Cotton, Pintel and Ragetti,' she repeated in her mind. 'All those lives for one.'
For the second time that day, the long boat found itself approaching Isla Cruces. Elizabeth eyed the ruins of the church once more and hoped that James had gotten away safely. Their approach had slowed, as none aboard were worried about the Kraken coming to sink their little boat in three feet of water. But with no sign of James on the beach, Elizabeth felt her stomach balling up with each passing moment. The urge to know his fate became too great for her to wait; she went over the side of the boat and into the clear water that rose to her waist.
'Where are you going?' Will demanded to know of her.
With a short glare, she pushed through the water until she reached the dry sand of the beach. It wasn't far from the spot they had departed from. Her eyes scanned the tree line, trying to spot him. 'James!' she yelled, her voice cracking from all the shouting she had done that day. 'Commodore Norrington!' There was no answer, save for the singing birds in the distance and the hums of cicadas. Elizabeth ran up the beach in the towards the spot where she had last seen James disappear into the forest. Her boots sloshed with sea water, slowing her steps. She kicked them off in a fit of anger, enabling her to run freely. 'James!' She made her way to the edge of the forest and screamed for him again.
There was only silence. Elizabeth threw her back against a coconut palm and slid to the ground, uncaring how its rough surface scratched her back. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed in defeat. After a few moments, footsteps approached. Without looking up, she assumed it was Will, who she didn't want to speak to for a handful of reasons. She didn't want to speak to anyone. 'Go away,' she dismissed.
'Elizabeth,' it was James. 'I saw the Pearl go down. Who's with you? Does Jack know that the heart is missing?'
Elizabeth shot up from her pathetic state. She didn't know what to say; she was happy, and sad, and every other emotion she had ever felt. It was all too much, and she could only shake her head. Where would she begin? How where they going to get back to Port Royal? What would happen when she was inevitably found out for all she did?
'James,' she whispered. 'I've done something terrible.' It was only when the words passed her lips that it truly occurred to her the calamity of what she had done.
Before James could respond in any way, Elizabeth vomited on his boots.
WRITERS NOTE
SO this is a much longer chapter than I would usually do. && I have received a few messages usually asking 'WHERE'S THE BECKABETH AT?' I did say this would be a slow burn. Real slow. (which I know can be annoying to read, but that's also why I have tried to update so often, rather than once a week) As a person who writes often, and not fanfiction, I can't do a story without all the explanation. As much as I can enjoy fanfic with little context to anything, I cannot write it. I like having all the details and I liked the original POTC story, hence the reason I'm doing more of a 'what we didn't see' kind of style and altering conversations and thought processes' to my liking. I also typically write realism, and in the real world when lovers have oceans between them and it's the 18th century, there's really no way they would have contact often. HOWEVER. . . Soon that will all change.
SPOILER ALERT:
Next chapter will contain beckabeth
