It was silent as we rode to shore, mostly because Will and I were staring at the artifact around and below us. To my left was a skeleton with a sword sticking out of it's spine; I cringed and shared a 'I really don't want to be here' look with Will who only shrugged.
Ever since we had gotten off that blasted ship he had not said a word. I wanted to think it was because he was tired, but I knew it was because he wanted to get to Elizabeth as fast as we possibly could. I sighed and turned around; there was no point in talking to him if he was probably just going to give me a one word answer or a shrug.
"What Code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?" Will suddenly asked; making me jump unexpectedly.
"Pirate's Code." He replied, still rowing the boat along. "Any man that falls behind...is left behind."
Will and I shared a look. We both were thinking the same thing.
"No heroes amongst thieves, eh?" I told Will, more as a statement than question. He nodded in agreement and Jack smirked.
"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates you two are well on your way to becoming one." He said smuggly.
I turned around to face this delusional idiot. "We have obeyed the law all of our lives-"
He scoffed. "Have you?"
"Yes." I snapped at him, and his smirk became wider.
"So running away from an orphanage is obeying the law?"
HOW THE HELL DID HE POSSIBLY KNOW THAT?
I felt my face become very warm. I knew I was blushing. I hardly ever blush unless I'm extremely angry. I threw him a glare before turning around in a huff and crossing my arms across my chest.
I'm gonna kill him.
Will raised an eyebrow at me before turning his gaze to the Jack-ass behind me. "What makes you think we're going to become pirates?"
I felt Jack's eyes on me for a moment before he spoke. "Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga."
...I have to say that he had a point...I hated that. I clinched my fist together and exhaled a deep breath. "That doesn't mean that we'll turning into rum-soaked pirates."
Out of the corner of my eye, something glittered in the water below us. Out of curiosity, I leaned over the side to see many gold pieces glittering in the water. I felt my jaw drop along with Will; that was more money and gold than I had ever seen in my entire life.
"And you, sir, are completely obsessed with treasure."
We both turned to glare at him when the boat suddenly hit land. We jumped out and pulled it ashore so it wouldn't float away when Will confronted Jack.
"That's not true. I am not obsessed with treasure."
I almost scoffed. Yeah right! He spent an hour one day complaining how we never had any money, which wasn't completely true because I had about two hundred shillings stashed away under my bed that I was saving up in case something happened.
Maybe I can pay my way out of jail when we finally get out of this...
I snapped back into reality and saw Jack looking over some rocks; distantly, I heard a muffled voice.
"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." He motioned us over. I hesitated along with Will; deep down I suddenly didn't trust him.
Will made the first move; he slowly made his way over to Jack and looked out across the rocks. What he saw made is jaw drop.
"What is it?"
No answer; I rolled my eyes and went to go see what the big deal was, and it was a big deal.
Elizabeth.
But she wasn't alone; she was being held captive by some pirate in a big blue hat; I could only guess this was Barbossa by the way Jack was glaring at him.
He was talking to a large group of pirates in front him while standing upon a big pile of gold with a huge chest on it.
"Gentlemen, the time has come! Our salvation is nigh! Our torment is near at end!"
"Elizabeth..." Will whispered out beside me; I knew it was killing him just to sit here and do nothing.
I took a closer look at Elizabeth; she looked a little different than the last time I saw her and it had nothing to do with the fact that she looked like she was praying to heaven almighty to keep her alive.
"Where'd she get that dress?" I suddenly asked aloud. Will and Jack looked at me funny and I felt very stupid. "Never mind..."
Barbossa was continuing. "For ten years we've been tested and tried, and each man jack of you here has proved his mettle a hundred times over and a hundred times again!" The pirates all cheered.
"Suffered, I have!" One called out from the front of group.
"Punished, we were. The lot of us! Disproportionate to our crimes! Here it is-" He threw off the lid of the chest next to him and ran his fingers over the gold that lay inside. I shared a quick glance with Will; we both knew what it was before Barbossa even said it. "the cursed treasure of Cort's himself." He picked up a handful of coins and threw them back in. "Every last piece that went astray, we have returned... save for this!" He pointed at Elizabeth's neck where a medallion rested.
"Jack!" Will started to climb out of the little shelter of rocks we were in but Jack stopped him just in time.
"Not yet!" He grabbed Will and I by the scruff of the neck and pulled us down. "We wait for the opportune moment."
Will looked angry and I knew what was coming. I back up a few inches and tried to listen to what Barbossa was saying.
"-we found but despaired of ever finding the last."
Will interrupted my eavesdropping by nudging me in the gut with his elbow when he went after Jack. I rubbed the spot where he hit me and ran after him.
"When's that? When it's of greatest profit to you?"
Oh boy. This was going to get ugly...
Jack clenched his fist together and walked back over to Will with a strained smile on his face. "May I ask you something?" He didn't wait for an answer but kept going. "Have I ever given you reason not to trust me?"
Good point. He had done everything we had agreed to so far...but...why was I suddenly not trusting him?
"Do us a favor. I know it's difficult for you, but please stay here and try not to do anything stupid."
Ouch. Will's face was calm as Jack walked away but I could by just looking at his eyes that he was outraged. No one (other than me) had ever spoken to him like that, and usually I was joking with him when I did.
His fist clenched together and he quickly made toward the boat.
"What are you doing?" I asked him frantically as I heard Barbossa voice get louder and somewhat more cheerful.
Will reached down and picked up one of the oars. "I'm not dealing with this."
"Will!" I started but it was too late; He rushed out of sight in the direction that Jack had went. I quickly ran after him.
I reached him just about the time he reached Jack. "Will! Don't do-"
I was once again, too late. Jack I turned around at my words and was immediately slapped in the face with the oar Will was holding.
"I'm sorry, Jack, but we're not going to be your leverage."
We both watched as Jack sank to the ground, unconscious. It took me a moment to finally comprehend what was going on; and I was pissed.
"What. Were. You. THINKING?" I slapped Will across the face, the first time I had ever hit him. "He was only trying to help! And whatever he was going to do was probably a damn lot better than what you're planning to do!"
"Cass, he was going to use us as-" He started but I slapped him again.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO!" I shoutedly whispered to him. "AS LONG AS HE DID WHAT WE ASKED HIM TO IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
"But, Cass-"
I didn't want to hear it. I slapped him once more and stomped off, not caring him he come after me or not.