Chapter Two

Jack stood on deck, barking his orders, walking here and there, avoiding cannon blasts, and gun shots skillfully, yet nonchalantly. "Gibbs, give me news." he lent against the railing, lowering his head slightly, just enough to feel the rush of wind as a cannon sailed overhead, crashing into the Mizzenmast. Both men stared at the damage momentarily. "Well Captain----" Gibbs winced as another cannon fire took out the top of the fore mast. "They're blow 'in our deck to bits!"

"Apparently." Jack snorted "What's the damage report on their side?!" Gibbs laughed, flashing a gritty smile, " We have the advantage Captain, as long as we keep her pointed broadside out to sea!"

"Ah! Wonderful!" Jack exclaimed cheerfully, "Just make sure it stays that way, Savvy?" With that Jack turned making his way from the Gun deck to the main deck. "Men! We go ashore!" He cheered, rioting his men, building up their eagerness for a good pillaging. Once they were docked, he began leading his battle ready men towards the small town of Gattis, "Ah!--" he suddenly stopped turning to them. "I forgot one little thing, keep alive men, cause if you get caught, it's a very good chance you'll be dancing the hempen jig (getting hanged). We keep to the code, a man that falls behind, is left behind."

This left his men a little less that thrilled, but he ordered them on, and kept a good eye on where the soldiers were shooting at them from. Once they fought their way into town, they spread out like a plague, destroying, stealing, anything that wasn't nailed down, they took.

Her mind was racing, her feet pumping, putting more and more distance between her, and the only home she even knew. She dared not turn back. She hurried across the old stone bridge, through the fields, into the town where chaos ensued.

She stopped only momentarily, watching the small town of Gattis panic as the pirates made their attack. This was it, she either made it to the docks, or died trying. She muttered a prier under her breath, and ran. She ignored the explosions, the screaming, and even the pirates. It was like running through a nightmare. Smoke clouded and burned her eyes, and scorched her lungs.

She pushed her way through people, got beaten and battered along the way. She could only imagine what they thought of her, as she ran to the very place where the pirates were making their stand. Her mind was so confused by the chaos she hadn't even time to react as a cannon shot by, crashing mere inches from her, the explosion blew her off her feet. She felt herself hit the dirt, hard. The very force of it knocked the air from her lungs. A searing hot pain, shot through her left shoulder. She struggled to her feet, deaf, and disoriented.

She stumbled a few paces, trying to figure which direction she was going. Though everything was spinning in her head, she could make out the distinked shape of a sea vessel. "Uhh--" She gasped clutching her head, it hurt so badly, pounding like a war drum. She staggered forward, with know knowledge of where she was at the moment or where she were going. The noise, people screaming, explosions, chaos, it was all so loud, she wanted nothing more than to escape this hell. She felt gravity pulling at her, and again she met with the ground, but immediately pushed her body up, and carried on.

Moments carried on, her head cleared slightly, but her body was still racked with pains. She had made it through the chaos, in one peace, more or less. She stumbled through the sand, falling onto the surf. Feeling an instant shock when her body connected with the cold water. Before she could pull herself out, the current jerked her away from land. It was as though hands were gripping onto her, pulling her out to sea. She tried to scream, but the very bizarre nature of the sea seemed to silence her.

She began to panic when she realized the current was pulling her directly towards the massive pirate ship. She struggled against the current, fighting with it. She knew it was no use, the current was stronger, so she braced herself, as she smashed against the Stern of the ship. She clutched onto the side for dear live, preparing to be dragged under, but as she waited, nothing happened. The water was calm, eerily calm. She coughed, rubbing sea water from her eyes.

She stared back at the beach in utter disbelief, the current had pulled her a good distance out. She knew she wouldn't have the strength to swim back to shore, she didn't want to risk it. She struggled to keep herself a float, fighting the drenched heaviness of her own clothes. She knew she would have to discard them or be pulled under. With one hand she held tightly to the ship, while with the other she began untying the laces on her dress. Once she had it undone she shrugged it off, allowing it to sink, now in nothing but the white under dress. For that moment, she just floated there, watching it sink, watching this icon of her slavery disappear into the dark abyss.

"Now---" she looked up, seeing an open window on the ship. She didn't know where it lead to, or who might be in there, but right now she didn't care. She took a few deep breaths, dug her fingers into the wood, and climbed. She slipped back a few times, but regained her holding and climbed quickly. Splinters of wood tore into her fingers, and snapped her nails down to the cuticle, but she just kept climbing, biting her lip against the pain there and in her wounded shoulder.

Once she was close enough, she grabbed the railing, with shaking arms she pulled her body over it, allowing her body to hit the deck. She laid there, facing the night sky, every breath she took seemed to catch in her aching chest. Was this freedom? The thought raced through her pounding head. After a moment she stood, weary of her pain, she wanted nothing more than to find a place to sleep. She looked through the window, inside was dark, not a soul to be seen.

She tried to push the window open, but it would not budge, it was locked. No matter, when it came to unlocking, she was the master of such. She slid her fingers all around the edges of the glass, pushing, feeling for any sort of looseness between the small square panes of glass and the seal. When she found one, she pushed it, slowly working it looser, then with one final push the small square of glass popped out. She slid her hand through and unhooked the latch. With one last check to make sure no one was in there, she pushed the window open.

It wasn't a very big window, perhaps just big enough for her to sneak through, or just small enough to get her stuck. At this point of exhaustion, she would take her chances. First she slid her arms through, then inhaled sharply squeezing her chest and stomach through. She thought it was all down hill from there until her hips slid snug with the seal. She now, was stuck. She pulled a few times trying to get free, when that did not work, she tried pushing herself back out, but her his were stuck tightly now. She kept telling herself not to panic, and for a few moments though of the hilarity of it all. She forced her mind clear, and began thinking of ways to get free.

After much thought, she knew there were no other choices, she'd have to force herself in, even if it meant injury. So she braced herself for pain, planted her hands on the wall, and pushed. She squeezed her eyes shut, pushing against the wall with all her might. The pain of her flesh rubbing tightly against the rough wooden frame was almost unbearable, but she forced the tears and sobs back. Finally after a bit or wiggling, and much pain, she slid through. The thumped to the ground, in a heap and let out a soft shuddering sob.

Every inch of skin on her hips and thighs now burned with unbearable pain. She slowly lifted the skirting of her dress and inspected the damage. The skin from her hips, to her thigh was a deep red color, small tears welled up with blood. She sighed swallowing hard, relived what it wasn't worse. When the pain dulled down, she stood walking around, looking about the entire room.

It was a large room, various objects hung from the ceiling, maps and paintings plastered to the walls. There was a large desk pushed against one wall, on it were strewn an assortment of trinkets, coins, jewels, a small knife, and a compass, which appeared to be broken as it's needle spun out of control. She took up a few things looking at them curiously, running her fingers over them ,then placing them down again. This room most likely was the Captains quarters, it fancied the strong smell of rum, and musk, a very alluring smell to women.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the large bed, The crimson sheets were in a bundled mess on the floor next to the it. It looked to inviting to her weary soul. She quickly walked over there, instantly allowing her body to fall over the softness that was this heavenly bed. She lavished the feeling, her achy bones seemed the scream their gratitude, her eyes began to droop, it was only then that she realized how tired she truly was. Using the last of her strengths she pulled the blankets all the way over her. Within minutes she was taken over by sleep, entirely forgetting where she was for the moment.

Jack swaggered out of the local rum stock, a bright smile, and a bottle of rum in hand. He looked up at the sky, seeing the very first rays of sunlight peeking over the cliff sides. "Must be going." he mumbled to himself. "GENTS! Let's put rudder to port!" he gathered his men, leading them and their newly acquired look back to the Black Pearl, leaving the broken town of Gattis to lick their wounds.

"Gibbs! Have the men take all loot to the hold--" He started walking to his quarters, then stopped and turned back, "On second thought, have them bring the rum to me." He smirked. "Aye Captain." Gibbs nodded. With that, Jack went into his quarters, ready for a good night sleep, after what proved to be a tiring event.

As he staggered past the desk he plopped his hat down on the chair, and shrugged out of his coat, allowing it to fall to the floor. He swiftly turned sitting on the edge of the bed, where his unknown guest slept soundly. With a bit of effort he pulled his boots off, and almost fell back when the smell of them reached his nose. "Must remember to get new boots next time we pull into Tortuga." he slurred to himself. He pulled himself into bed, slipping under the covers, with out a thought he slipped his arms around his guest, placing his face against her back.

Only a few moments after, his eyes shot open and he pulled away quickly causing himself to fall of the edge of the bed. Slowly he peaked over the edge, eyeing the sleeping girl in his bed. "How did that get there?" he mumbled, standing. The entire situation was baffling to him, normally he remembers taking a woman aboard, but she was quit unfamiliar to him. Apparently his falling off the bed hadn't even caused her to stir, she still lay there, sleeping………